Overview
- Both resorts now expect guests to manage visits through apps for mobile ordering, reservations, live wait times, hotel check-in, and occasional virtual queues.
- Annual pass programs resemble subscription tiers, with access, blackout dates, parking benefits, and discounts scaling by price.
- Paid line-skipping—Lightning Lane at Disney and Express at Universal—delivers shorter waits for buyers and creates a two-speed experience for others.
- Attraction development centers on recognizable franchises, including Star Wars, Frozen, Moana, Harry Potter, Nintendo, and How to Train Your Dragon.
- Seasonal programming has expanded as a revenue focus, from Halloween and holiday parties to Universal’s Mardi Gras and EPCOT’s rotating festivals.