By Jason Garcia, Orlando Sentinel11:48 a.m. EST, May 10, 2012 The parent company of Universal Orlando is trying to squeeze as much magic as it can out of Harry Potter's wand.Less than six months after announcing plans to build a clone of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood in Southern California, NBCUniversal's theme-park division announced Thursday that it will build a copy of the wildly popular attraction at its Japanese theme park, too.The Wizarding World at Universal Studios Japan is scheduled to open in late 2014 — more than a year before the California version is expected to debut.Universal executives have also said they will soon "significantly expand" the Wizarding World at Universal Orlando — likely by extending the boy wizard's ... Continue reading →

By Jason Garcia, Sentinel Staff WriterSeptember 2, 2009 While the Walt Disney Co.'s $4 billion acquisition of Marvel Entertainment Inc. does not pose a near-term threat to the future of Universal Orlando's popular Marvel-themed attractions, it could still create headaches for the resort.In taking over Marvel, Disney will inherit the theme-park licensing contract Marvel has with Universal -- along with all of the rights contained within it. As a result, Disney is poised to gain veto power over some of Universal's marketing materials, audit rights over some of its finances, and more.That's on top of the annual licensing fees and merchandise royalties that Universal pays to Marvel -- but, soon, to Disney."It's an unusual situation. Awkward is a good word for it," said Harold Vogel, ... Continue reading →

By Jason Garcia, Orlando SentinelFebruary 2, 2010 Spider-Man has Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando in a web that legal experts say could put the rival resorts at risk of antitrust complaints.The issue stems from the Walt Disney Co.'s recently completed, $4 billion purchase of Marvel Entertainment, the comic-book company that has for years licensed its superheroes for use in Universal theme parks. And it underscores the awkward marriage that has been forced upon Disney World and Universal Orlando, two resorts that have long been intense, sometimes bitter, competitors.Through a 15-year-old licensing contract between Marvel and an arm of NBC Universal -- a contract Disney inherited when it bought Marvel -- Universal Orlando is the only theme park on the U.S. East Coast that can ... Continue reading →

By Jason Garcia, Orlando Sentinel11:48 a.m. EST, May 10, 2012 The parent company of Universal Orlando is trying to squeeze as much magic as it can out of Harry Potter's wand.Less than six months after announcing plans to build a clone of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood in Southern California, NBCUniversal's theme-park division announced Thursday that it will build a copy of the wildly popular attraction at its Japanese theme park, too.The Wizarding World at Universal Studios Japan is scheduled to open in late 2014 — more than a year before the California version is expected to debut.Universal executives have also said they will soon "significantly expand" the Wizarding World at Universal Orlando — likely by extending the boy wizard's ... Continue reading →