Disney Playing catch up with Universal... Potter Disney's biggest mistake in 20 years...

flynnibus

flynnibus

Premium Member
Someone should put this sticker on the back of the Weasley car... or on the Knights Bus

dragons.jpg
 
TeriofTerror

TeriofTerror

Well-Known Member
CinematicFusion said:
From Jim Hill Media dated May 2007. Link...
Why (For) Disney doesn't feel all that bad about missing out on the theme park rights to "Harry Potter" ?
Click to expand...
It was also covered quite well (in my humble and unconsidered [is that a word?] opinion) in Len Testa's "Disney Dish with Jim Hill" podcasts. I know JH isn't exactly considered crème de la crème in these parts, but I really enjoy those podcasts. And since I'm in confession mode...
My name is Teri, and I'm a Disney addict. And Harry Potter. And Star Wars. And Marvel. And Star Trek. And... well, I have to go now, because the men in the white coats are coming up the 'walk.
 
wdisney9000

wdisney9000

Truindenashendubapreser
Premium Member
nor'easter said:
Well, DisneyDaddy is still here, and from his posts it looks like he just took big hit .
Click to expand...
I think he spelled out his name with powder, rolled a Disney dollar nice and tight and started snorting like Scarface in the last shoot out scene. I hope he isn't floating face down in a pool somewhere after watching a video of Daigon Alley and realized Fantasyland Expansion was outdone and then jumped off the roof in a magical last stand.
 
Last edited:
dennis-in-ct

dennis-in-ct

Well-Known Member
Our group of four visited Disney and Universal 13 months ago. We stayed off-site and was really looking forward to seeing Hogwarts (see my profile pic) and tasting the butter beer. So yummy and magical. Truly. The self regenerating foam was mind blowing.

After seeing all the Diagon Alley offerings coupled with the newly built Universal "Value Resort" we are planning our first on-site Universal (no Disney) Orlando trip. I can't see myself spending more than three days in the Universal parks but I still intend to stay at Universal. "I can go to Sea World one day" I thought. I can also hang by their pool and visit the Parliament House (great Drag shows) and entertain ourselves without involving Disney. I have no interest in visiting Downtown Disney as it looks like it would be just one big construction zone.

I am curious to see how I feel after the trip. I do remember visiting Uni 13 months ago and then going to Disney and thinking "wow, there's no comparison. Disney does 'it' way better" .... yet I am still being drawn to the idea staying at Universal. I feel like I want to give Universal a chance. Curious to know how my perceptions will be after having STAYED at Universal. I am thinking I will feel very different.

The interesting thing to note is this Jan. trip has turned into a large group of my friends who are motivated to book and stay at Universal. A couple from NYC, and two or three other couples here in Connecticut. That is 10 middle age gay men who are squealing at the thought of (to borrow the Jimmy Fallon comedy gag) playing with our wands !

January ... Universal ... on-site !!! Here we come.
 
Unplugged

Unplugged

Well-Known Member
WDW1974 said:
You are a fan of Harry Potter, yet you may go see it ''sometime''? And you have already stated that it won't win you over? Is WDW a religion for you? Does riding Small World make you feel baptized in the joy, the wonder, the MAGIC? I do think you are being honest, which is more than many Disney fans ... but I just wonder why? Why is Disney viewed as a religion or political affiliation? Why can't they ever lose your business, your support, your money?
Click to expand...

First, I've been to Universal ample times to know it doesn't really appeal to me any more. They're well themed, but the studios concept has worn thin, (both Uni and DHS) and IOA doesn't offer content that is appealing to me. I'm not into Marvel, so even if Disney wrangled that back it wouldn't impact me much. While I'm a fan of HP, I'm no fanatic, so while I may fully appreciate the work they did, it wouldn't bring me back. Heck, as it stands, I'm not fan enough to justify going over there for a full day just for HP.

Second, provide the exact text where I stated they can't ever lose my money, support, or business. I was speaking on the Disney to Universal comparison only. In fact, Disney has already started losing my business as I spend far less at WDW now then I used to. They simply have too many issues to make anything over 5 days a year fun. My last vacation experience has left me skipping a few years in hopes that all the work underway will rejuvenate my interest. I've even sold off DVC points until I see some improvement.

...and for the record, while I do appreciate the history and artwork of it's a small world, I can't stand that ride.

There ya go. More honesty for you to pick apart.
 
Horizons1

Horizons1

Well-Known Member
EpcoTim said:
That was actually going to be my next point. I if it were company pride, something new or from the vast portfolio would have been used. Personal pride, is, what I believe, brought in an entirely unneeded outside IP.

Why would a company that has pride, is run by people with pride in the company; bring in an outside IP when they had zero reason to do so. Why, with such a vast portfolio, with such a backbone of creativity, would a company of such esteem need to source an outside IP?

My answer......lack of company pride. Lack of company vision. Lack of respect for said companies capabilities. Unwarranted ego.
Click to expand...

It's also because Disney doesn't fully understand why HP has had so much success. Their reasoning, and formula, for HP and Pandora goes like this: Harry Potter made a lot of money at the box office, so that must mean if we build a ride around a movie that made a lot of money we can have long lines too! What movie made a lot of money? Avatar! The people wanna ride with the Navi! They clearly want it! Take that, potter!

It's sad really. They fail to understand the whole detail and immersion thing. They can't see that is what makes Harry different and popular. Uni innovated, plain and simple. Disney has stuck it's thumb up it's going "we're number 1 cause we have Frozen and Mickey Mouse!"
 
Last edited:
lazyboy97o

lazyboy97o

Well-Known Member
Horizons1 said:
It's also because Disney doesn't fully understand why HP has had so much success. Their reasoning, and formula, for HP and Pandora goes like this: Harry Potter made a lot of money at the box office, so that must mean if we build a ride around a movie that made a lot of money we can have long lines too! What movie made a lot of money? Avatar! The people wanna ride with the Navi! They clearly want it! Take that, potter!

It's sad really. They fail to understand the whole detail and immersion thing. They can't see that is what makes Harry different and popular. Uni innovated, plain and simple. Disney has stuck it's thumb up it's going "we're number 1 cause we have Frozen and Mickey Mouse!"
Click to expand...
And for Cars Land just replace the box office performance of Cars with its merchandise performance.
 
Cesar R M

Cesar R M

Well-Known Member
kap91 said:
Me too. Which is why I wouldn't buy set of robes (which i could wear when? Halloween?) but would buy a Epcot Center t-shirt with a retro logo on it, or a rain jacket that I can actually use with a Est 71 on the lapel.
Click to expand...

The way you wrote your reply.. Make me wonder.

You're almost dictating like the only stuff you can buy (in clothes) in Universal being only HP only stuff like robes.
Don't they have clothing and other things of the different IPs they licensed or own?
Also, the robes are a MUST for HP fans!! because its part of the lore and life in the books/story. Same as the Wands.

The robes and wands are akin to Disney's mickeyears and Star Wars's lightsabers.
they are collectibles!! not pieces of wear for everyday.

WDW1974 said:
Wow! Another UNI story. Another Disney vs. UNI thread. Eight pages in five hours. And I have been busy working (and eating!) and not a part of it.

I just love summer ... let's see what people are talking about ...
Click to expand...


you are on your way to read a trainwreck of spineless fanboys, who skew everything towards their "GODLY" side.
 
Last edited:
CinematicFusion

CinematicFusion

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
EpcoTim said:
Do you really think (outside of imagineering) that anyone at Disney is worried about pride; other than their own, personal pride? Maybe I'm missing something, but pride seems to have zero part in the current (Disney corporate) culture and it shows no signs of coming back anytime soon.
Click to expand...

Yes I do, I do believe this has hurt Disney's pride. You can feel it.
People will be talking about this one. People are talking about this.
It's the story that resonates, becomes myth, becomes a legend in the entertainment industry. Disney losing Potter to Universal and then getting beat in the game they invented.
Disney will never get over the sting of losing Potter to Universal. It's embarrassing. Getting beat at your own game. It's embarrassing.

Disney won't let it happen again. Good things are coming to Disney,just not as fast as some would like. Maybe this Potter sting speeds up the process.
 
tirian

tirian

Well-Known Member
WDW1974 said:
But, hey, at least you can buy Tink antenna toppers in Liberty Square.
Click to expand...

This leads to a significant point. Disney is jealous of the the $$$ Uni is making on its merch, but Disney already has highly themed lands and the biggest IP library on earth—and they do nothing with it.

The lands encourage unique merch. When the MK opened, the shops in Liberty Square sold custom perfumes and magic shop trinkets because those things contributed to the theme. Guests bought them. Long ago, the Studios sold classic Hollywood paraphernalia and people bought it. There's no reason to mention Main Street USA because everyone knows how much better it used to be.

Moving on to the IP, Disney is so trapped by its late 90s Walmart mentality that it's ignoring the merch possibilities from almost 100 years of beloved animated features. Why sell shirts, plush, and collectibles from some of the biggest movies of all time when you can just slap a new date on the exact same clip art used on every other piece of Disney stuff?

The short-sightedness astounds me.
 

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom