DHS Soundstage 1 Renovation - Toy Storia Mania expansion

[Mike S]

adding new scenes and such isn't free. Star Tours 2 probably cost as much (if not more) than the little mermaid ride. They basically would have to overhaul everything again.

I thought it was said that Star Tours 2 was actually made in a way that it would be easy to put new scenes in if they wanted to. Basically adding to the current random scenarios. I'm guessing the ride will have to close anyway if they do any serious work to the facade as part of Star Wars Land.

 

[BrerJon]

I thought it was said that Star Tours 2 was actually made in a way that it would be easy to put new scenes in if they wanted to. Basically adding to the current random scenarios. I'm guessing the ride will have to close anyway if they do any serious work to the facade as part of Star Wars Land.

Nowadays many scenes for video games are shot at the same time as the movies they're based on... it's my hope that a new Star Tours destination or two will be made simultaneously with work done for scenes in the new movie.

 

[Mike S]

I think it's pretty much only me that doesn't like them, I realise that now.

The original question was why, when Disney knew what Universal was planning months in advance, did they not build anything to compete?

I thought the answer was because they were planning something guests would find far more appealing in the form of NGE. Other posters have corrected my assumption, and clarified that NGE had no impact on attraction spending and was never an alternative strategy.

So if the answer to the Universal question is not "we got MyMagic instead", then what is it? The original mystery is still unanswered... why did they do nothing, when they heard what Universal was planning?

I think it was said that Disney knew when Jaws was still operating. The reason they didn't react? They simply didn't feel like they had to even though the first Harry Potter area was already a huge success. Real morons if you ask me.

 

[BrerJon]

When did Disney state they are out of the attraction business? They haven't been the most aggressive, actually not aggressive at all over the past decade but things can change rather quickly.

They've stated it implicitly by only building two E-tickets in 10 years across four parks, and only four or five D tickets... no response whatsoever to two Harry Potter lands... I don't care what they say they're building for 2020, or what will open in several years time - Diagon Alley is open *now*, today. If I visit the Disney parks today, and look to see what's new, and what's closed, it feels like they're in the business of reducing attractions instead of increasing them.

Will things change in a few years? I hope so. But I'm comparing what I can experience today, and from the way I see it, WDW isn't a good option for the next few years for anyone primarily interested in new attractions.

 

[SirLink]

Again... you're making stuff up to tear it down. NextGen wasn't funded in lieu of attractions.

Who here is saying the billion plus spent on DCA was done at the expense of WDW attractions?? Both were additional INVESTMENTS - not robbing peter to pay paul.

And whatever money they end of spending here at DHS is not going to be at the expense of adding a ride elsewhere.

How do you know this....just to play devils advocate...you could be making this all up...

 

[Next Big Thing]

But how long before other parks start copying it?

I don't believe that's the point. The point is it is something that differentiates WDW from the rest for the time being and when people do create a similar experience, MM+ will have been in place for so long that it will be seen as whatever park (let's say Universal since they like spending money) copying Disney.

That's the key. The world is moving in the direction of how the whole MM+ system works anyway. Other theme parks eventually will HAVE to do something similar as the public will expect it. Not only because Disney has it, but because the world in general is moving towards it. Just look at the iPhone 6 and the NFC payment feature for example.

 

[danlb_2000]

I don't believe that's the point. The point is it is something that differentiates WDW from the rest for the time being and when people do create a similar experience, MM+ will have been in place for so long that it will be seen as whatever park (let's say Universal since they like spending money) copying Disney.

That's the key. The world is moving in the direction of how the whole MM+ system works anyway. Other theme parks eventually will HAVE to do something similar as the public will expect it. Not only because Disney has it, but because the world in general is moving towards it. Just look at the iPhone 6 and the NFC payment feature for example.

I would argue that the average guest doesn't care who is copying who.

 

[Next Big Thing]

They've stated it implicitly by only building two E-tickets in 10 years across four parks, and only four or five D tickets... no response whatsoever to two Harry Potter lands... I don't care what they say they're building for 2020, or what will open in several years time - Diagon Alley is open *now*, today. If I visit the Disney parks today, and look to see what's new, and what's closed, it feels like they're in the business of reducing attractions instead of increasing them.

Will things change in a few years? I hope so. But I'm comparing what I can experience today, and from the way I see it, WDW isn't a good option for the next few years for anyone primarily interested in new attractions.

They may not be building at a rampant rate like Universal is (and Universal is going much faster than most companies ever go), but i've been to the Magic Kingdom a lot this year and unless i'm crazy, they have a new day parade and a new attraction in Fantasyland.

So no, they are not "out of the attractions business". They're just slacking.

 

[Next Big Thing]

I would argue that the average guest doesn't care who is copying who.

I live in Tampa so I talk to a lot of fair weather theme park goers... they DO pay attention to who does what first. I hear about it all the time.

 

[celluloid]

But ultimately it is not about who does it first, but who does it better. Hence why Disney quickly rose to being the top theme park owner. Walt did not actually build the first amusement park or arguably the first theme park, but he built the first one on its level.

 

[MattM]

So if the answer to the Universal question is not "we got MyMagic instead", then what is it? The original mystery is still unanswered... why did they do nothing, when they heard what Universal was planning?

Howdy, just chiming in to say your lack of understanding of Disney's "response" to Universal is mainly, if not solely, because of your viewing the situation through a lens which time frame is entirely too short.

Or put another way, you're judging how quickly someone will run a marathon based on their 40 yard dash times.

 

[celluloid]

Howdy, just chiming in to say your lack of understanding of Disney's "response" to Universal is mainly, if not solely, because of your viewing the situation through a lens which time frame is entirely too short.

Or put another way, you're judging how quickly someone will run a marathon based on their 40 yard dash times.

Disney had a 19 year head start as the only central Florida Theme park resort in Florida...

I don't think the marathon vs short term analogy is the best.

 

[MattM]

Disney had a 19 year head start as the only central Florida Theme park resort in Florida...

I don't think the marathon vs short term analogy is the best.

The 19 year head start is not relevant to the conversation of Disney vs Universal in the "post-Potter" world and the direction's they are going today.

 

[BrerJon]

Or put another way, you're judging how quickly someone will run a marathon based on their 40 yard dash times.

I get what you're saying. I guess we have to wait until - when, 2020? 2025? And then judge everything Disney has done since 2010, compared to everything Universal has done by then, in order to make a fair comparison.

In the meantime, I'll stick to spending my dollars at Universal who actually have things I can visit today.

 

[MattM]

I get what you're saying. I guess we have to wait until - when, 2020? 2025? And then judge everything Disney has done since 2010, compared to everything Universal has done by then, in order to make a fair comparison.

In the meantime, I'll stick to spending my dollars at Universal who actually have things I can visit today.

Yea, most companies the size of Comcast, Disney, etc don't really have a one or four-year plan.

But I am happy that you are spending your money at Universal. I've always said that I want what's best for Central Florida, not for one particular company. Competition and Diversification never hurt anyone.

 

[Mike S]

I get what you're saying. I guess we have to wait until - when, 2020? 2025? And then judge everything Disney has done since 2010, compared to everything Universal has done by then, in order to make a fair comparison.

In the meantime, I'll stick to spending my dollars at Universal who actually have things I can visit today.

And when Universal has their third park open by then (I'm guessing here) we'll probably have to wait even longer before we can make a "fair comparison." Not to mention the water park that will come MUCH sooner and all the projects for the current two parks. Universal is running the race solo while Disney sits at the starting line twiddling its thumbs in Fantasyland. "They'll never beat me, ever."

 

[DinoInstitute]

And when Universal has their third park open by then (I'm guessing here) we'll probably have to wait even longer before we can make a "fair comparison." Not to mention the water park that will come MUCH sooner and all the projects for the current two parks. Universal is running the race solo while Disney sits at the starting line twiddling its thumbs in Fantasyland. "They'll never beat me, ever."

Ok, now that seems to be a little harsh on Disney, that last quote. It is obvious they are starting to do things, even if they spent a while figuring out what. And you can't make comparisons based on what Disney has not announced vs what you are guessing Uni will do.

I'm done.

 

[doctornick]

Will things change in a few years? I hope so. But I'm comparing what I can experience today, and from the way I see it, WDW isn't a good option for the next few years for anyone primarily interested in new attractions.

Which is certainly reasonable, but I think these boards often get caught up in stuff like new attractions or the latest tech, etc. because there is a large percentage of locals or frequent visitors. The reality is that the vast majority of WDW visitors visit infrequently, so (from the company's prospective) being "fresh" is less important that having an overall quality experience. And, for all the warts, WDW still delivers a great vacation experience to most people. That doesn't mean it couldn't or shouldn't be improved upon, but the way people talk around here it sounds like the place is falling apart and there's nothing of interest to do.

I'm not saying that to defend WDW as much as point out that many guests don't have the same prospective as the frequent visitors on here.

 

[DinoInstitute]

Which is certainly reasonable, but I think these boards often get caught up in stuff like new attractions or the latest tech, etc. because there is a large percentage of locals or frequent visitors. The reality is that the vast majority of WDW visitors visit infrequently, so (from the company's prospective) being "fresh" is less important that having an overall quality experience. And, for all the warts, WDW still delivers a great vacation experience to most people. That doesn't mean it couldn't or shouldn't be improved upon, but the way people talk around here it sounds like the place is falling apart and there's nothing of interest to do.

I'm not saying that to defend WDW as much as point out that many guests don't have the same prospective as the frequent visitors on here.

I have had that thought for a while too. However, my last trip it was over a year since I had last been, and I found a lot of attractions surprisingly underwhelming or not as fun as I remember. Notable ones were PPF and Dinosaur, while great, the first (along with other dark rides) aren't up to today's tech, even if they are classics (which I love about them), and the second, I love the atmosphere, but I think many have said on here that the Dino effects just dont work as well as Indy

 

[doctornick]

They may not be building at a rampant rate like Universal is (and Universal is going much faster than most companies ever go), but i've been to the Magic Kingdom a lot this year and unless i'm crazy, they have a new day parade and a new attraction in Fantasyland.

So no, they are not "out of the attractions business". They're just slacking.

My parents hadn't gone for 2 years before this summer. In the meantime, new stuff included....

* All of the FLE, including Little Mermaid, 7DMT, Belle's tales, new look with double Dumbo, BOG and Gaston's (they ate at both). (Also, the princess M&G and Pete's stilly sideshow but they didn't do those)
* FOF parade
* Test Track 2.0
* Frozen sing a long, plus they caught the procession and the fireworks when they were going on
* Jack Sparrow attraction
* Sorcerer's of the MK and the Pirate's adventure. (Also, the Wilderness Explorer's hunt, but they didn't do that)

Now, I won't say that all of this was amazing, but it was all new since they last were there and gave them some new stuff to check out in addition to their old favorites. "Slacking" is absolutely correct -- it's not as much as we'd want or should be but it's not like they've abandoned the parks.