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

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

If you do just the headliners, yeah. Camp Jurassic, Poseidon, Sinbad, If I Ran the Zoo, the kiddie rides at Seuss, Discovery Center, Storm Force, Hippogriff, Ollivander's, walking around the shops, M&Gs, Mythos, Mystic Fountain, in additions to the 10 major attractions (11 once Kong opens) and the future nighttime show... easy to spend all day at IOA.

Understood, to be clear, I have no children, so my opinion and views are solely based on those of adults w/o children. We normally hit IOA at park opening and the latest we have ever stayed was 2pm.
That was just my opinion.

 

[CinematicFusion]

I know it's not major, but don't forget Twirl-n-Hurl!

oh man, I just ate a frito-pie. Was very good but...
Twirl-n-Hurl sounds terrible right now, my stomach doesn't approve. That's right up there with someone saying, "How would you like a Mayonnaise Milkshake" when you are hung over.
Thanks man

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

Noted and adjusted with King Kong. Yeah..Universal is busy building. Very impressive.
You are right. Star Wars hasn't happened yet and there isn't a public time table yet. So, no reason to get excited about it.
As for New Fantasyland. I have 2 year old twin girls who love Disney and I'll be a very happy Daddy walking through fantasy land with them. Agree continual updates need to happen with the older Fantasyland.

You have no idea how excited I would be to hear Star Wars land is confirmed. I'm not even a big Star Wars fan and I'd be thrilled!
I'm sure kids love Fantasyland. I don't have children, so I can't speak on that. But they layout just throws off the immersed feeling for me personally. I wish they had some more greenery instead of the massive concrete walkway with the two gates.
I know they need the walkway space because they have a stroller problem in WDW but I'd appreciate at least some planters.

 

[mahnamahna101]

Impressive for Universal. Stats speak for themselves plus more to come. Very impressive. Not so much for Disney. Can't wait to hear what new rides are coming to Universal. Maybe someday we will hear the new designs at Disney.

1.The Disney's New Rides for their 4 parks are:
6 rides in 12 years (2 e-tickets)
2006: Expedition Everest. Solid E-ticket Great Ride
2008: Toy Story Mania
2012: New Fantasyland: Little Mermaid opens
2014: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
2017: Avatar:World of Pandora Opens. (2 rides)


2.Universal's rides from 08-2015:
Universal 7 rides in 8 years (4 e-tickets)
2008: Simpsons Ride
2010: Harry Potter Forbidden Journey
2012: Despicable me minion mayhem
2012: Transformers
2014: Gringotts Ride
2014: Harry Potter Train ride
2015: King Kong

Simpsons is an E ticket. So is Despicable Me. 6 out of 7.

 

[Mouse Trap]

The best point made on this is that Universal needed HP way, way more than Disney needed (or ever will need) it. Universal and IOA would essentially be dead right now had they not acquired HP. Disney on the other hand has been, and still is just fine. Sure someone improvements are needed, but Avatar and the eventual Star Wars land will do the trick for Hollywood and Animal Kingdom.

Maybe Disney thinks the theme park audience in the USA is tapped out vs foreign markets? Harry Potter, probably the biggest pop culture phenomenon in the last 15 years added about 2 million people to IOA's attendance. What else, besides Star Wars, has the same popularity? Nothing. So it is safe to assume a number less than 2 million would be added to Disney's attendance.. Disney seems to moved their focus away from Orlando and onto foreign theme parks where they could possibly add 10 million to their overall theme park attendance with an entirely new resort.

Saying Disney is playing catchup is simply absurd, what exactly are they catching up to? Its proven history that a major new attraction in the Orlando area typically results in increased attendance to both Uni AND Disney. I'm sure 0 boots are shaking over in WDW over Diagon Alley's opening.

 

[CinematicFusion]

If you were to put Simpsons in there.. you gotta put Star Tours in there too.

Was Simpsons an old ride that was refurbished? I though it was a replacement for back to the future. I could be wrong.
Yeah I didn't put refurbs in the list like Star Tours, Test Track, The Seas with Nemo and Friends. I just feel older rides need refurbs and I don't view them as new rides. My opinion.

I also didn't include closings of rides to replace other rides which both Disney and Universal have done.

 

[Bairstow]

No one is saying people wouldn't spend time at Disney. However, instead of spending 5-7 days at the WDW resorts (and all of that time at the parks), people will soon be spending 2-3 days at Disney and staying off-site for their entire trip.

That absolutely decimates Disney's revenue opportunities. You're now looking at Disney making maybe 10% of what they are now for the average family vacation. Ouch.

As I keep saying, we'll see.

Your theory assumes that the people who come to Potter are guests who were already going to go to Orlando anyway and were going to be spending all that time at Disney.

What I think is happening currently, and what the actual attendance numbers seem to reflect, is that a lot of people are basing their decision to come to Orlando in the first place at least partially on Potter, and since Disney is still the biggest, oldest game in town, end up tacking on 3-4 days at the Mouse to round at their trip and justify the airfare, a visit that but for Potter, Disney wouldn't be getting.

 

[mahnamahna101]

When you say "mystery plot" do you mean the one were the Triceratops paddock was?

No, the one between MIB and Springfield it can hold a Diagon Alley sized area in addition to another E ticket (MIB sized)

 

[mahnamahna101]

Was Simpsons an old ride the refurbished? I though it was a replacement for back to the future. I could be wrong.
Yeah I didn't put refurbs in the list like Star Tours, Test Track, The Seas with Nemo and Friends. I just feel older rides need refurbs and I don't view them as new rides. My opinion.

I also didn't include closings of rides to replace other rides which both Disney and Universal have done.

BTTF was an E ticket, though. And unlike Star Tours II, Simpsons Ride is completely new. I'd count it. Same with Despicable Me. It's leaps and bound above Neutron and Hanna Barbera in terms of theming and the ride itself.

 

[CinematicFusion]

You have no idea how excited I would be to hear Star Wars land is confirmed. I'm not even a big Star Wars fan and I'd be thrilled!
I'm sure kids love Fantasyland. I don't have children, so I can't speak on that. But they layout just throws off the immersed feeling for me personally. I wish they had some more greenery instead of the massive concrete walkway with the two gates.
I know they need the walkway space because they have a stroller problem in WDW but I'd appreciate at least some planters.

I can't comment, haven't walked through it yet. I will Christmas of 2015 when the grandparents take us to DisneyWorld...how could I say no? First stop is Disneyland in February of 2015. Nafam convention in Anaheim, so making it a family vacation. 2015 will be a Disney year for my family...and yes I'm going to Universal to see Potter!

 

[flynnibus]

Was Simpsons an old ride that was refurbished? I though it was a replacement for back to the future. I could be wrong.

Both were effectively new attractions reusing existing ride systems. Simpsons just included a new theme..

 

[DinoInstitute]

Disney pricing takes a drop once you hit 4 day tickets... so your point?
My most recent trip, we did all of MK except Pooh, Peter Pan, and Astro Orbiter and ate dinner in BOG in 6 hours w/o rushing, watch the daytime castle show, seen FOF, had time to find a seat for the parade, and using FP+ If we had stopped for character M&G it may have pushed us to one full day.
Epcot is half day rides, half day walking around stores.

The other thing is, too, that you are (well, i would assume) a fan of the parks and visit rather often, so you know the best way to attack the day to get the most in. With the day and a half guide, it is for new visitors

 

[CinematicFusion]

BTTF was an E ticket, though. And unlike Star Tours II, Simpsons Ride is completely new. I'd count it. Same with Despicable Me. It's leaps and bound above Neutron and Hanna Barbera in terms of theming and the ride itself.

I look forward to riding them all. Lots of new stuff to ride at Universal when I get there Christmas 2015.

 

[DinoInstitute]

Also, King Kong is actually confirmed? I always thought it was just a popular rumor and coming in 2016??

 

[DinoInstitute]

BTTF was an E ticket, though. And unlike Star Tours II, Simpsons Ride is completely new. I'd count it. Same with Despicable Me. It's leaps and bound above Neutron and Hanna Barbera in terms of theming and the ride itself.

ST2 is more new than simpsons, as ST included entirely new technology. But they were both great attractions

 

[lazyboy97o]

I know it's not major, but don't forget Twirl-n-Hurl!

Like One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, it is a neat variation on an old standard.

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

The best point made on this is that Universal needed HP way, way more than Disney needed (or ever will need) it. Universal and IOA would essentially be dead right now had they not acquired HP. Disney on the other hand has been, and still is just fine. Sure someone improvements are needed, but Avatar and the eventual Star Wars land will do the trick for Hollywood and Animal Kingdom.

Maybe Disney thinks the theme park audience in the USA is tapped out vs foreign markets? Harry Potter, probably the biggest pop culture phenomenon in the last 15 years added about 2 million people to IOA's attendance. What else, besides Star Wars, has the same popularity? Nothing. So it is safe to assume a number less than 2 million would be added to Disney's attendance.. Disney seems to moved their focus away from Orlando and onto foreign theme parks where they could possibly add 10 million to their overall theme park attendance with an entirely new resort.

Saying Disney is playing catchup is simply absurd, what exactly are they catching up to? Its proven history that a major new attraction in the Orlando area typically results in increased attendance to both Uni AND Disney. I'm sure 0 boots are shaking over in WDW over Diagon Alley's opening.

I don't think Disney is playing catch up. But when it comes to creative development and new attractions. They have fell behind. WDW specifically. Because TDS, Ratatouille, and Cars Land look amazing!
I'm positive Disney is paying attention to Uni. Avatar definitely came to us thanks to Potter. Like 74 mentioned, Disney was upset that the Universal Globe was part of the background of the Tonight Show that it was immediately removed. So they are watching Uni. Plus, Disney makes money of Islands of Adventure. That Marvel merch sold at Uni is going into the pockets of Disney.
DA may make them both money but even on these forums, people had stated they are shorten their Disney trips and extending their Uni portions. It will cost Disney. Plus numbers are just number... park attendance never takes into account pass holders.

 

[mahnamahna101]

Understood, to be clear, I have no children, so my opinion and views are solely based on those of adults w/o children. We normally hit IOA at park opening and the latest we have ever stayed was 2pm.
That was just my opinion.

Understood

Camp Jurassic and the Discovery Center are great even if you're an adult. I understand skipping kiddie rides. Ollivanders, Poseidon and Sinbad aren't really kids attractions either. I could probably spend a full day since I generally enjoy everything at IOA except Pteranodon, Seuss Trolley, Poseidon and Doom.

But keep in mind that IOA is getting ready to expand its offerings! I get how you could finish at 2.

Kong
Nighttime show
Toon Lagoon revamp/replacement
Lost Continent revamp/replacement
Seuss expansion
Potter Phase 3
JP revamp/expansion

All of those seem to be on the table for IOA over the next 10-15 years. By the MK's 50th, both Uni parks will be full day for most anyone except babies.

 

[lazyboy97o]

ST2 is more new than simpsons, as ST included entirely new technology. But they were both great attractions

Huh? What is your definition of "entirely new technology"? The specific 3D was new and, at the time, unique. But what else? Four 4K projectors acting in sync was new technology.

 

[UpAllNight]

As I keep saying, we'll see.

Your theory assumes that the people who come to Potter are guests who were already going to go to Orlando anyway and were going to be spending all that time at Disney.

What I think is happening currently, and what the actual attendance numbers seem to reflect, is that a lot of people are basing their decision to come to Orlando in the first place at least partially on Potter, and since Disney is still the biggest, oldest game in town, end up tacking on 3-4 days at the Mouse to round at their trip and justify the airfare, a visit that but for Potter, Disney wouldn't be getting.

I think that's fair. I've wanted to return to Florida since I first went, but Potter has made it a must do so I'm going next year. I will still spend at least a week of my 2 weeks at Disney, despite being very unimpressed with the resorts development since I last visited (purely in terms of attractions).