Epic Universe Opening Weekend Sees Lower Than Expected Hotel Occupancy in Orlando
The highly anticipated opening weekend of Comcast Corp.’s $7 billion Epic Universe theme park in Orlando, Florida, saw lower-than-anticipated hotel occupancy, according to a recent analysis by market researcher CoStar Group Inc. The report highlighted a disappointing debut for the new park in late May, with hotel demand significantly weaker than expected on its opening day, May 22. The overall hotel occupancy rate for the Orlando market was just 57.2%, a 7.4% drop compared to the same period last year.
While occupancy improved slightly over the weekend, numbers remained below expectations for the five days leading up to Memorial Day on May 26. Several factors are believed to have contributed to this, including limited availability of single-day tickets, potential visitor concerns about overcrowding, and a major convention held just before the holiday weekend, leading to increased hotel check-outs.
Universal, in an effort to manage crowd control and ensure a smooth guest experience, sold tickets in phases, initially offering multi-day packages with only one day at the park. They also stated, "We have seen strong demand for Epic Universe and our hotels, and we are being intentional about managing park capacity to ensure a great guest experience."
Despite the slow start, the long-term outlook for Orlando's tourism industry remains positive. CoStar's analysis found that while lower-priced hotels saw a decline in revenue, higher-tier hotels experienced gains, suggesting a continued willingness to spend among those seeking more luxurious accommodations. With 2,600 new hotel rooms added in 2024 and strategic capacity management, Epic Universe, the largest theme park to open in Orlando in three decades, is expected to see increasing visitor demand over time.
