How the Disney-Marvel deal affects Universal

As was noted in Lifthill's previous post on the matter, The purchase of Marvel Entertainment by Walt Disney Co. may affect Universal's properties in the long run. Universal has a massive Marvel superheroes installation in Islands of Adventure and another Spider-Man simulator attraction--similar to the one in IOA--in Universal Studios Japan.

Universal Studios Florida spokesperson Tom Schroder doesn't seem too worried about the new deal. "Our agreement with Marvel stands for as long as we follow the terms of our existing contract and for as long as we want there to be a Marvel Super Hero Island."

Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger says the company promises to honor existing agreements between competing amusement parks and Marvel Entertainment, but will continue to expand the Marvel brand within Disney properties. "Marvel characters have already proven to be strong in terms of theme park attraction and we believe there are a lot of opportunities around the world," Iger told CNBC. "Not in every one of our parks, because there are some existing agreements that we obviously have to honor, but in a number of places for us to use the Marvel characters to basically help us grow our theme park business and better entertain people." [LA Times]