Disney and Universal Compete to Attract Visitors With Themed Areas

Park operators at Universal Studios are happy with the profit from their investment in "The Simpsons," a ride in the newly opened Springfield area in the Florida park, according to NBC News. Disney has been expanding at a similar rate, as the two theme parks compete over increasing visitors.

The company has invested billions of dollars in new attractions and innovative technology during the last few years, with the major players in the industry benefitting financially. The investment has resulted in an increased number of visitors and higher guest spending, as well as cash reserves that hint at additional development to come.

"There's been a huge boom in capital investment," Hank Fishkind, the president of Fishkind & Associates, a Florida financial consulting firm, said. "Not only did we have Harry Potter (in 2010) but Disney rebuilt Fantasyland, LEGOLAND came in and SeaWorld opened Antarctica."

Fishkind estimates that the cost of recent projects has been approximately $2 billion. Disney's California Adventure, which included Cars Land, which cost an estimated additional $1.1 billion.

Disney theme parks drew almost 126.5 million visitors last year, up 4.7 percent from the previous year, while Universal attracted 34.5 million, which is an increase of 7.9 percent, according to Themed Entertainment Association.

Ticket prices have increased the profits at the parks, though a large portion of the growth can be attributed to the opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which opened at Universal Orlando Resort in 2010. Diagon Alley is also set to open.

"What Harry Potter showed the industry was that you could take a storyline and do more than just a single ride or attraction," John Gerner, the managing director of Leisure Business Advisors LLC, said. "You could do an entire themed are with shops, restaurants and street scenes."

Universal has seen a similar popularity from the expansion of The Simpsons and the Springfield area of their park.

Both Disney and Universal have clearly figured out that themed environments and improved technology are the keys to attracting an increase in visitors, which, in turn, lead to greater profits. Universal is set to open "The Cabin In the Woods," based on the 2012 film.