Disney-Fox deal: What does it mean for Orlando theme parks?

Mickey Mouse and Bart Simpson are two of the most recognizable animated characters in the history of entertainment.

As of this morning, there is another thing they have in common: They both now fall under the same corporate umbrella.

In one of the biggest media deals ever, Disney finalized it's $71 billion takeover of Fox's entertainment business last night.

That means the company now owns the X-men and Deadpool franchises, two natural fits with it's Marvel brand.

The deal also gives Disney ownership of Bart Simpson and all the other dysfunctional Simpson characters.

Several News 96.5 WDBO listeners asked us this morning how that will impact attractions at Universal Studios Orlando and Walt Disney World Resort.

Universal Studios has an area dedicated to the Simpsons, complete with a ride and recreation Moe's Taverns, where guests can grab a Duff's Beer.

Those attractions will likely not go anywhere in the interim as Universal Studios currently owns the rights to use the Simpsons, and Disney's deal doesn't cancel that out.

The same thing happened when Disney purchased Marvel in 2009 for $4 billion dollars.

Several Marvel rides were already staples at Universal Studios Orlando at the time of the deal, including Adventures of Spider Man, The Incredible Hulk Coaster, and Doctor Doom's Fearfall.

However, nearly 10 years later, those rides have remained unchanged, aside from improvements.

So this time around with Disney's new brands like the Simpson's, there will likely be no large scale changes at Orlando theme parks for the time being, unless a separate deal is struck.