Walt Disney and Comcast compete brutally in central Florida, where Disney World and Universal Studios stand as two of the world's biggest tourist attractions.
The two theme-park companies largely want to serve the same customers, and each has invested billions in trying to outdo the other.
The problem -- and it's a unique one -- is that while Disney World and Universal Studios are rivals, Walt Disney (DIS) and Comcast (CMCSA), are unlikely (and unintentional) business partners.
The two have a relationship because Universal Studios Florida holds the rights to a number of major franchises that Disney purchased after Comcast made licensing deals to use those properties in its theme parks.
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Universal Studios has an entire land at its Islands of Adventure theme park based on Disney's Marvel superheroes. At the time Marvel made that deal, which does not appear to have an expiration date, Spiderman, the X-Men, and the Avengers were merely comic book characters, not the stars of massive movies.
Disney probably can't get its Marvel superheroes back any time soon (or maybe ever), but another franchise it owns has its own land at Universal Studios Florida.
That deal does appear to have an end date and Universal has given a major sign that it may not wait even that long to make a change.
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Universal Studios May Lose 'The Simpsons'
Universal Studios licensed "The Simpsons" before Disney bought the rights to the long-running program from Fox in 2019. The popular animated television family has a land both at Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood.
Neither company has commented on when the rights deal for "The Simpsons," expires, but it's widely expected that the deal will end in 2028. Now, Universal Studios has shared what may be an ominous sign for fans of the cartoon family's theme park presence, Screamscape reported.
"It has been pointed out that the park’s website and map no longer reference the Springfield / Simpsons area of the park as a land. The individual attractions and restaurants are all still there, but any reference to the group as a whole is gone," the theme-park website shared.
In this case, the map in reference refers to Universal Studios Hollywood, but it seems highly unlikely that the theme park company would remove "The Simpsons" at one park and not the other. Screamscape also notes that map changes have been a strong predictor of other changes at the park.
"It’s worth mentioning that the map has already removed the buildings and venues we knew were leaving to make way for the 'Fast & Furious Hollywood Drift' roller coaster project," the website shared.
Universal Has Shared Some 'Simpsons' Signs
Some of the ride screens at the Florida installation of "The Simpsons Ride," the signature attraction in the "Springfield" land, for years have needed a refresh. The lack of renovation has long suggested that Comcast may not see a long future for the ride.
So far, all signs that Disney and Universal may allow their deal over "The Simpsons" to expire (or perhaps even end it early) are anecdotal. Neither company has publicly commented on the relationship.
It makes sense, however, that Disney would want to take back ownership of the enduring characters, given that "The Simpsons" library is a core part of the Disney+ streaming service. The Mouse House could immediately launch character meet and greets with "The Simpsons" if it regained rights to the characters.
A "Simpsons" land would make a lot of sense at Disney's Hollywood Studios, which has some dated attractions that could be turned into something new.
Disney has not suggested this will happen, but it seems like "The Simpsons" leaving Universal has become a question of when, not whether.
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