Universal Orlando Getting Bigger, Better, Wetter, Wilder

MotherOfBirds

Well-Known Member
Avatar's success won't ride on the popularity of its IP, unlike Potter. I was impressed by the video posted yesterday featuring some of the plants and other elements. If it looks anything like what we've seen so far, Avatar will draw crowds by being a really interesting and immersive environment that you can't find anywhere else.
 
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Goofnut1980

Well-Known Member
I have a great friend I work with... She and her daughter have always loved Disney... But the last three years, their trips have only been to Universal and they skip Disney all together. She said she loves Disney, but they haven't done anything to ask her to spend her money there. They stay at Universal and spend at Universal. Their Express Pass is 100 fold better than Disney's sad 3 fast passes you can pre-book 2 months in advance. She hates the FP+ system.

I see her point and when we go in May, we are going to give Universal one day to park hop and check it out. Then i can truely chime in on the subject.
 

TP2000

Well-Known Member
Remember five years ago when Universal's new Potterland had just opened and folks here were using the term "Potter Swatter" to describe all the fabulous new E Tickets and park upgrades that TDO would inevitably begin soon to stop Universal from growing their attendance?

Whatever happened to all those Potter Swatters?
 

Pixie VaVoom

Well-Known Member
Remember five years ago when Universal's new Potterland had just opened and folks here were using the term "Potter Swatter" to describe all the fabulous new E Tickets and park upgrades that TDO would inevitably begin soon to stop Universal from growing their attendance?

Whatever happened to all those Potter Swatters?


From the appearances - or LACK THEREOF...they got swatted DOWN !!
 

TalkingHead

Well-Known Member
Remember five years ago when Universal's new Potterland had just opened and folks here were using the term "Potter Swatter" to describe all the fabulous new E Tickets and park upgrades that TDO would inevitably begin soon to stop Universal from growing their attendance?

Whatever happened to all those Potter Swatters?

They became Disney exec bonuses?
 

imagineer boy

Well-Known Member
I don't know, the new video that DisneyParks just put out is very impressive. The model they showed in that blog post and some of the technology going into Pandora are very impressive.

True, but even then, I doubt it will be very marketable. It's not like people are gonna be like "wow, WDW has an avatar land now? Hell yeah we are SO going back."
 

Mike S

Well-Known Member
True, but even then, I doubt it will be very marketable. It's not like people are gonna be like "wow, WDW has an avatar land now? Hell yeah we are SO going back."
People could end up saying that after seeing the sequel. I think it's obvious they'll show an ad for it before the movie.
 

sshindel

The Epcot Manifesto
Disney does not really need to worry about drawing new customers, it's concern is how to keep them from spending time elsewhere. I think that turning DAK from a 1/2 day to a full day park will potentially make people question the logic of purchasing 1-2 day passes to Uni at an elevated rate over the extra day at a Disney park. Time will tell if the expansions to DAK will really make this happen. Personally, I'd jettison a day at Epcot for Uni, if the prices were equal. Since they are not when buying a single day ticket at UNI, I keep walking through those tombstones.
 

TP2000

Well-Known Member
True, but even then, I doubt it will be very marketable. It's not like people are gonna be like "wow, WDW has an avatar land now? Hell yeah we are SO going back."

Bingo. Yet another Halloween went by and not a single child or adult in my busy neighborhood was dressed as any character from Avatar. There were a gazillion Disney Princesses and Marvel characters, some Pixar characters, and plenty of Star Wars (especially the parents). But not a single Avatar anything at Halloween, and the shelves in Toys R Us and Target are devoid of anything Avatar. It simply doesn't exist in the pop culture consciousness.

I think Disney will really struggle to market Avatar Land as a concept worth planning vacations around, especially when it opens in 2017 and their Star Wars Land is under construction in Orlando, with Star Wars Land and Marvel Land under construction in Anaheim.

Halloween costumes chosen by Americans don't lie. And Avatar isn't a thing.
 

Frankie The Beer

Well-Known Member
Motley Fool contributor Rick Munarriz owns shares of Walt Disney. He also operates a few theme park-related websites. The Motley Fool recommends and owns shares of Walt Disney. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. Bring the magic of dividends to your portfolio: Check out our free report on our favorite high-yielding dividend stocks.

Motley Fool is known as clickbait within the investment community. You get one sided stories that push agendas, usually of the writers and the stocks they are currently trumping. I put no faith in the context of this article as nothing more than just some persons opinion.
 

raymusiccity

Well-Known Member
2020s maybe, considering Avatar is likely going to be phased and opening starting in 2017, and Star Wars isn't even likely until 2019 (to start). It would fall better into the next decade. 3/4 of the decade had pretty much nothing (NFL excluded)

Also I doubt Universal really slows down in all that time either. There still is a LOT more coming after Kong and the water park.

Don't really see a LOT more coming. Google Map shows Uni is pretty much land locked. (I especially like the High School Track right behind Potter)
 

twebber55

Well-Known Member
Bingo. Yet another Halloween went by and not a single child or adult in my busy neighborhood was dressed as any character from Avatar. There were a gazillion Disney Princesses and Marvel characters, some Pixar characters, and plenty of Star Wars (especially the parents). But not a single Avatar anything at Halloween, and the shelves in Toys R Us and Target are devoid of anything Avatar. It simply doesn't exist in the pop culture consciousness.

I think Disney will really struggle to market Avatar Land as a concept worth planning vacations around, especially when it opens in 2017 and their Star Wars Land is under construction in Orlando, with Star Wars Land and Marvel Land under construction in Anaheim.

Halloween costumes chosen by Americans don't lie. And Avatar isn't a thing.
then perhaps we should applaud Disney for not going the merchandising angle and not being greedy and wanted to make a land based on creativity not merchandising
 

Funmeister

Well-Known Member
People need to give more credit to Universal.

What they are doing with King Kong is genius if they play it right...which I think they are. When Disney bought Lucas, Universal knew it would just be a matter of time before that ip would be exploited in the parks. They planned for it. Universal will not have to announce a huge expansion to combat Star Wars. They are going to hit Disney with a much easier and cheaper option. The big ape!

By building Kong on a somewhat accelerated schedule (not Avatar) they are just about in position to use this weapon at will. Sure some will say that everyone knows about Kong because it is the worst kept secret blah, blah, blah. The general family that vacations in Florida is not aware of King Kong. King Kong is a loaded marketing cannon waiting to go off when needed.

This is what I predict will happen. Universal will hurriedly finish off the rockwork and exterior of the attraction to make it "camera ready."

Disney will announce Star Wars Land (most likely towards the end of this year) with a half dozen beautiful colorful conceptual drawings.

Meanwhile on the same day (or very close to it) Universal will announce the return of Kong with a real tangible attraction for people to see. Sure, they will not be able to ride it but the fact they have a themed building and some show elements suggests to folks that the opening is imminent.

Talk about stealing Disney's thunder. It's going to happen.

So big deal. Big deal? Star Wars is the biggest U.S. Disney theme park development since the opening of DCA and DAK. Please do not say Avatar...stop.

Things are getting interesting and Universal will be/is a much bigger player than the naysayers believe.
 

twebber55

Well-Known Member
Avatar's success won't ride on the popularity of its IP, unlike Potter. I was impressed by the video posted yesterday featuring some of the plants and other elements. If it looks anything like what we've seen so far, Avatar will draw crowds by being a really interesting and immersive environment that you can't find anywhere else.
I also think this goes for all lands and rides..... if its quality it doesn't matter
 

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