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

[WDWDad13]

I'm serious. If you think Bob Iger is sitting at home on the toilet right now, thinking about what effect Potter is going to have on Universals Attendance than your nuts. Iger knows how to fix attendance. Iger has the ability to fix an attendance issue. But Bob doesn't have an attendance issue.

No, right now Bob is sitting at home, on his toilet, probably looking at himself in the mirror, but also pondering the merchandising that Potter is going to bring in for Universal. That Bob can't have. That's something Bob won't get with Pandora either. Bob could have it with his other franchises, but Bob needs to step up and offer unique at specialized items. Thats what Bob is thinking about on his toilet this morning. If Universal can get away with huge profit margins, even bigger than his, by offering unique and localized merchandise, than Bob needs to figure out a way to offer that same sort of merchandise.

Right now, as Bob sits on his toilet, attendance doesn't matter. Unless potter drastically draws from WDW's numbers then Potter attendance really, really doesn't matter. Bob knows that. Bob doesn't care about that this morning. As Bob fans the air around him, what he wants, besides an open window, is Universals ability to create creative and profitable retail experiences.

LOL! Bob & his magical throne

 

[seascape]

I'm serious. If you think Bob Iger is sitting at home on the toilet right now, thinking about what effect Potter is going to have on Universals Attendance than your nuts. Iger knows how to fix attendance. Iger has the ability to fix an attendance issue. But Bob doesn't have an attendance issue.

No, right now Bob is sitting at home, on his toilet, probably looking at himself in the mirror, but also pondering the merchandising that Potter is going to bring in for Universal. That Bob can't have. That's something Bob won't get with Pandora either. Bob could have it with his other franchises, but Bob needs to step up and offer unique and specialized items. Thats what Bob is thinking about on his toilet this morning. If Universal can get away with huge profit margins, even bigger than his, by offering unique and localized merchandise, than Bob needs to figure out a way to offer that same sort of merchandise.

Right now, as Bob sits on his toilet, attendance doesn't matter. Unless potter drastically draws from WDW's numbers then Potter attendance really, really doesn't matter. Bob knows that. Bob doesn't care about that this morning. As Bob fans the air around him, what he wants, besides an open window, is Universals ability to create creative and profitable retail experiences.

What sells more merchandise Frozen or Harry Potter?

 

[ABQ]

What sells more merchandise Frozen or Harry Potter?

I'm going to guess, no stats to back it up at all, that within the park properties, Potter makes more in margin of sales of merchandise. They have more sales from both genders, higher price point, older general audience. The vast majority of Frozen merch sold in the parks are to girls and are lower price. However, when you take in all of Disney's merchandise sold in retail locations outside the parks. Your Walmart's, Target's and so forth, units sold of Frozen are probably higher than HP.

 

[CinematicFusion]

Actually, they would panic.
Disney is probably counting on the Alley expansion to drive an overall increase to Orlando (including their own parks) for the next couple years.
If that doesn't happen, everyone hurts.

Disneys numbers are popping with or without universal.
Show me stats to prove your theory? Not jumping on you, but I haven't seen numbers to back that up.
Disneys name and franchises pull people to their parks. Numbers support that.

Remember they still have the top 4 parks in Orlando and it isn't that close.

Could that change? We have to wait and see.

Disney isn't counting on another park to pull people in to their park.
Sea world is, they hope people come to their park after booking a Disney trip.

 

[CinematicFusion]

I'm serious. If you think Bob Iger is sitting at home on the toilet right now, thinking about what effect Potter is going to have on Universals Attendance than your nuts. Iger knows how to fix attendance. Iger has the ability to fix an attendance issue. But Bob doesn't have an attendance issue.

No, right now Bob is sitting at home, on his toilet, probably looking at himself in the mirror, but also pondering the merchandising that Potter is going to bring in for Universal. That Bob can't have. That's something Bob won't get with Pandora either. Bob could have it with his other franchises, but Bob needs to step up and offer unique and specialized items. Thats what Bob is thinking about on his toilet this morning. If Universal can get away with huge profit margins, even bigger than his, by offering unique and localized merchandise, than Bob needs to figure out a way to offer that same sort of merchandise.

Right now, as Bob sits on his toilet, attendance doesn't matter. Unless potter drastically draws from WDW's numbers then Potter attendance really, really doesn't matter. Bob knows that. Bob doesn't care about that this morning. As Bob fans the air around him, what he wants, besides an open window, is Universals ability to create creative and profitable retail experiences.

We are on the same page. Disney doesn't have an attendance issue and at this point isn't concerned with Potter.
I agree with you.

It was the point I was making in my first post. Disney would have to see a drastic change in attendance on the upside in universal and on the downside at Disney parks to warrant a major shift in policy.

As of right now. Universal must create exciting new rides to bring in people. They are doing that.

Disney hasn't built many new rides recently and are still the number one destination in Orlando. Not really even close at this point in time.
Will things change?

 

[CinematicFusion]

I think they will increase attendance over last year... but I don't think the jump will be quite as high as it was year to year from when we saw the the first potter expansion.

It will be interesting to see how the numbers stack up this year.

 

[seascape]

It will be interesting to see how the numbers stack up this year.

My bet is Universal up 15 to 20 percent and Disney up 6 to 10 percent. Based on hotel occupancy and the increase in park hours that looks like a reasonable estimate.

 

[TubaGeek]

I'm going to guess, no stats to back it up at all, that within the park properties, Potter makes more in margin of sales of merchandise. They have more sales from both genders, higher price point, older general audience. The vast majority of Frozen merch sold in the parks are to girls and are lower price. However, when you take in all of Disney's merchandise sold in retail locations outside the parks. Your Walmart's, Target's and so forth, units sold of Frozen are probably higher than HP.

You're absolutely right to point out the difference between in-park and global sales. I would venture further and assume that Frozen hasn't outsold Potter overall (obviously), but has outsold them Q4 of 2013, all of 2014, and probably into 2015.

I'm just worried that we'll eventually see Disney do what it did with Cars and many other franchises and milk Frozen to the point that it's a bastardized version of the original which people loved so much.

 

[ABQ]

You're absolutely right to point out the difference between in-park and global sales. I would venture further and assume that Frozen hasn't outsold Potter overall (obviously), but has outsold them Q4 of 2013, all of 2014, and probably into 2015.

I'm just worried that we'll eventually see Disney do what it did with Cars and many other franchises and milk Frozen to the point that it's a bastardized version of the original which people loved so much.

Oh there's not enough Bag Balm in the world to prevent Disney from milking the udder of Frozen till it's bone dry.

If they build entire lands around it as Uni has done with HP, they'd be fine to milk milk milk, but overlays, meet and greats, dance parties, those run thin. Carsland in Anaheim does well, but is so local to that one park that as you stated, at least outside of DCA, Cars is pretty stale.

 

[TubaGeek]

If they build entire lands around it as Uni has done with HP, they'd be fine to milk milk milk, but overlays, meet and greats, dance parties, those run thin. Carsland in Anaheim does well, but is so local to that one park that as you stated, at least outside of DCA, Cars is pretty stale.

Amen.
Theme park lands? The best possible option.
Theatrical releases of sequels and pseudo-sequels that were supposed to be direct to DVD in the first place? Downward spiral of quality.

 

[ABQ]

Amen.
Theme park lands? The best possible option.
Theatrical releases of sequels and pseudo-sequels that were supposed to be direct to DVD in the first place? Downward spiral of quality.

With Star Wars they have exactly what they need to respond to Uni's HP. Sure, everyone will compare and contrast it to Uni, and some will and moan that it's not a home grown IP but just something they bought. So what, if it's enjoyable, I could give a crap who first thought it up. Trouble is they are years late in development. Had they had SWland already under construction, they could milk Frozen in the interim, develop and create a legitimate sequel to that movie, open SW Land and then get going on a real Frozen attraction and not screw with Maelstrom.
In the mean time, all we have on the horizon is Avatar, something I don't care for, but if the land blows me away all the same, I'll be happy, but they better break ground on SW in January else I'll be part of the diminishing attendance figures at WDW and spend my money solely at Uni.

 

[raymusiccity]

You're absolutely right to point out the difference between in-park and global sales. I would venture further and assume that Frozen hasn't outsold Potter overall (obviously), but has outsold them Q4 of 2013, all of 2014, and probably into 2015.

I'm just worried that we'll eventually see Disney do what it did with Cars and many other franchises and milk Frozen to the point that it's a bastardized version of the original which people loved so much.

I don't think there's anything 'obvious' that points towards Harry Potter merchandise outselling Frozen 'overall' . (Unless you're including book sales).

I've yet to come across a merchandise aisle in a retail store featuring Potter items or wearing apparel featuring 'the boy wizard'. There's probably a huge demand at Comic-Con, but, that about covers it.

 

[ABQ]

I don't think there's anything 'obvious' that points towards Harry Potter merchandise outselling Frozen 'overall' . (Unless you're including book sales).

I've yet to come across a merchandise aisle in a retail store featuring Potter items or wearing apparel featuring 'the boy wizard'. There's probably a huge demand at Comic-Con, but, that about covers it.

well I think if you include DVD sales and other such things since 2001? Though Frozen has been a phenomenon, I don't think it's outsold 13 years of head start that HP has had.

 

[CinematicFusion]

My bet is Universal up 15 to 20 percent and Disney up 6 to 10 percent. Based on hotel occupancy and the increase in park hours that looks like a reasonable estimate.

I could see that

 

[twebber55]

I think they will increase attendance over last year... but I don't think the jump will be quite as high as it was year to year from when we saw the the first potter expansion.

USF had a 14% increase just by opening Transformers...I look for a 25% increase at USF and a 10% at IOA
just my opinion of course

 

[raymusiccity]

well I think if you include DVD sales and other such things since 2001? Though Frozen has been a phenomenon, I don't think it's outsold 13 years of head start that HP has had.

I thought by 'sales', you were were referring to a brand that would generate a constant demand. DVD sales not withstanding, I don't think there's a market for wands, owls or dark brown attire outside of Uni's gates.

 

[TubaGeek]

I don't think there's anything 'obvious' that points towards Harry Potter merchandise outselling Frozen 'overall' . (Unless you're including book sales).

I've yet to come across a merchandise aisle in a retail store featuring Potter items or wearing apparel featuring 'the boy wizard'. There's probably a huge demand at Comic-Con, but, that about covers it.

Why wouldn't you count the books? That'd be like not counting Frozen's DVD sales.

And the in store Potter merch isn't as prolific as it once was, but there are still sections of toy aisles dedicate to it. To be fair, though, I live in Orlando, so they may be tapping into the fan base that makes the pilgrimage here. Can anyone confirm or deny Potter stuff at their Target or Walmart?

Either way, there are still popular video games and Lego sets in addition to the books and movies.

 

[dadddio]

Something that any person can see. Something that is shown in the films and then repeated in the advertisements. Something that was intentional by design. Something that was said about Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmead. It's a bland observation that constantly repeating adds nothing of value to a conversation, especially since it was all supposedly without any greater point.

Given that it was such a 'bland' observation, one wonders why you guys jumped all over it. It wasn't because it was a slight negative against Universal, was it?

 

[dadddio]

No. Just for your use of the word "no one".

Ummm, those are two words.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Ummm, those are two words.

Well worked out.