Interesting stories out of the tourist district in this morning’s Sentinel. Universal and Sea World are forming their own battle plans to combat the almighty Magic Your Way ticket over at Disney, while this front-page feature details the REAL genius behind high ticket prices: more people who opt for the “bargain” multi-day pass on their vacations.

I think the most insightful commentary of all comes from Mike Thomas, whose column was the best I’ve read on the Disney ticket-price issue. He cautions that with such deep discounts on a four-day ticket, the Mouse is positioning to run our other major parks off the map. He cites the example of Pleasure Island, which he alleges is responsible for the destruction of Church Street Station (funny, I thought that distinction went to Lou Perlman). Soon, according to Mike, Shamu and E.T. will be forgotten relics.

Mike comes off as a little anti-Disney, especially since he conveniently forgets to mention that it was Universal’s CityWalk that, in turn, “cannibalized” Pleasure Island. This is war. As he says himself, the tourist industry is reaching a point where Orlando will have few–if any–new parks, fewer major breakthroughs or openings, and the resorts are going to have to fight to keep up with one another. Everyone’s cards are pretty much on the table now. They’ll be forced to work with what they’ve got.

Is it unfair that Disney has such an advantage? I don’t know. They were the first, they came up with the business model to begin with, and (collectively over the years) they’ve probably done the best job executing their big ideas. Universal and Sea World would not be here except for them. Their presence has always been parasitic, leeching the excess tourists who come for a Disney vacation. They’ve done a darn good job of it, too. Wasn’t it only a few years back, with the openings of Universal’s new resorts and the Islands of Adventure theme park, that there were enthusiastic predictions that Universal could now make a serious run at becoming as big as the Mouse? How quickly the media forgets.

The good news for the locals? Two words: CHEAP TICKETS. We have the luxury of sitting around on our butts and waiting for a really, really good deal while there is nice weather and not so many tourists running around, and only then will we grace the theme parks with our presence. Grand openings and trumped-up anniversary parties? Please. We know it’s all window dressing. We can be patient enough to wait until we’re saving big cash and it’s empty, beautiful February, and then we can take advantage of all those deals that will surely be running. Shoot, I hope the park-pass war goes on for years. Good times!