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

[TalkingHead]

I did watch the video of the Hogwarts express...and yes it does look nice but really it's just a tv screen and some audio effects..other than that its just a train ride. Some of what they have done at Universal reminds me of how they do their movies overdo the budget under achieve the story

Which is probably why you shouldn't judge an attraction based on a Youtube video.

 

[TalkingHead]

I've been on the Hogwarts Express and can tell you from experience, just like every other ride, it's better in person and more than "just a TV screen". IMO the most impressive part of it isn't the window display, but the view outside your cabin within the train. The effect looks incredibly realistic and very believable. It looks much better in person obviously but this picture should get the point across.View attachment 58626 The window display is pretty high quality too but looks best if you don't sit right next to it.

I actually thought the window display looked fantastic. The closer you look at it, the more depth the image reveals. Certainly nothing you could capture on a iPhone video.

 

[Voice of Disney sanity]

I did watch the video of the Hogwarts express...and yes it does look nice but really it's just a tv screen and some audio effects..other than that its just a train ride. Some of what they have done at Universal reminds me of how they do their movies overdo the budget under achieve the story

Yeah kind of like star tours...except only when you get off HE you're in a different place and when you get off Star Tours you're in the same place and its time to go back to you hotel and swim cause you've done everything in the park.

 

[cw1982]

But if the execution and content is better than why are you so far behind your competition? It's a fail to understand how to get your audience to invest in you. Universal will throw together an attraction to any movie that makes 200 million without even caring how fast it will be obsolete

How is a movie defined as "obsolete?" If we're saying a movie is obsolete when it is no longer current, then I challenge you to name one Disney park that is completely free of attractions that are based on obsolete films. Movies lose their popularity over time... it just happens as newer movies come out. This is far from an indicator that a film has lost its potential to be the focus of a great attraction.

 

[Mike S]

I actually thought the window display looked fantastic. The closer you look at it, the more depth the image reveals. Certainly nothing you could capture on a iPhone video.

I agree, the whole experience is great. I just was really surprised how great the shadows on the cabin door and windows were. The only thing about sitting close to the window display is that the closer you are the easier it is to see the material of the screen. But I agree there is so much depth to it. At one point on the trip to London I put my head close to the glass and actually noticed the front of the Hogwarts Express ahead on a turn. They really went all out with this ride.

 

[raymusiccity]

Actually, he did...



I think he meant to emphasize the narrow appearance of the area, but the use of the word "dull" threw many people off when they read his post.

Narrow.....Dull...

 

[cw1982]

Narrow.....Dull...
View attachment 58632

Lol... I'm trying to remain objective here!

 

[Voice of Disney sanity]

There is the factor of guest going to Orlando to see both parks to factor in. Some might not go to Orlando to just see WDW or just see Uni, but they will go to see both parks as they see it as a better return on their money to get two sets of parks from one trip. Therefore both Disney and Uni benefit from each other, and would lose some turns at the gate if the other was not there. There relationship will always be as rivals but they do benefit each other as well. I would say that Potter 2 is clearly helping turns at Uni, but some of those guest are going to WDW "since they are in Orlando anyway" to see Potter 2. When Avatar opens it will be the same thing in reverse.

Less than a week ago MK closed due to capacity, in the middle of the hype of the Potter 2 craze no less.

No doubt each would like to steal share from the other, they would be crazy and incompetent at their jobs if they did not. But I do think they both realize a healthy WDW is good for Uni and and healthy Uni is good for WDW. The trick is to be the healthier one

Wow what I said went right over your head. Let me try again....
If a shake stand is right beside a burger joint YOU would obviously say that they both help each other do business because the burger joint draws people to it that go next door and get shakes too. And YOU would also apparently say that the shake place helps the burger joint cause people stop by and get a burger with thier shake but they are both losing sales to the other because the smart business man builds a Dairy Queen right next door and sells burgers and shakes and puts them out of business. I can't make this any simpler but not everyone has a head for business. Every penny UO makes comes from WDW's pot. Every single penny. If disney had UO's exact product, very few people if any, would go there.

 

[marni1971]

I did watch the video of the Hogwarts express.

And that was your error.

 

[kucarachi]

Disneyland does have to squeeze or fold anything in. There's space for a new attraction. But you're right, USH will be more exciting in 2016 when Potter opens. Even better, next year in 2015 will be exciting once Springfield and the new nighttime version of the studio tour opens. With that being said, I'm looking forward as well to the new offerings next year at the DLR, even if it's not a new ride. I'm patiently waiting until July 17th, when everything will be announced for next year's celebration.

I'm not looking forward to the crowds for Potter...it's a good thing I work for Universal and will get to see everything before the general public does. Hehe.

You can't tell me Universal Studios in CA is more than a one day park

that would be like calling Soarin an over sized erector set some random thought up over thanksgiving weekend...other than that it's just a movie theatre

For the record, I love Soarin

 

[EpcoTim]

Not once did he call it dull. He called it narrow.

Hilarious. I take it reading isn't your strong point.

 

[kucarachi]

I agree soarin is not much more than a scratch n sniff book set to a low fi movie...but it's not claiming to be the greatest thing ever imagined like some people are making this train ride out to be. Universalites have something to be proud of for once but don't tell me hog warts express is any kind of technical marvel

 

[marni1971]

but don't tell me hog warts express is any kind of technical marvel

I would do but you've said you wont listen...

 

[wm49rs]

I agree soarin is not much more than a scratch n sniff book set to a low fi movie...but it's not claiming to be the greatest thing ever imagined like some people are making this train ride out to be. Universalites have something to be proud of for once but don't tell me hog warts express is any kind of technical marvel

Because after all, seeing a video online tells the full story. But I'm sure Universal will be ever so grateful for your words of praise....

 

[tirian]

You can't tell me Universal Studios in CA is more than a one day park

And nobody is talking about that.

You can't tell me you're doing anything more than trolling at this point.

Everyone doesn't have to agree all the time, but repeating the same unsubstantiated opinion without listening to any other point of view means someone is either incredibly narrow-minded or a troll.

(1) Every film or TV property gets stale and you can't tell me that American Idol, Terminator 3-D, Stitch's Great Escape, Shrek 4-D, Circle of Life, HISTK playground, and It's Tough to Be a Bug haven't outlived their welcome. While we're on this topic, Disney kept HISTA and Sounds Dangerous on life support a decade past their expiration dates.

(2) Excellent rides based on "stale" films don't matter if the ride is excellent or the movie becomes a classic—or both.

(3) It's a fact that Uni has more areas of less compelling IP than Disney, but it's also true that they're finally doing something about it.

(4) The Hogsmeade Express concept you so blithely denounce is based on the Japanese bullet train ride that was supposed to be built at Epcot. It wasn't due to $$$.

(5) Like Star Wars, Harry Potter is a modern classic, not a fad. Avatar was a fad when the movie broke B.O. records, and DAK is only getting Pandora because Iger panicked and announced something—anything—when he realized WWOHP was going to be successful at IOA. WDI didn't know they were building this until Iger told the media.

(6) Pandora should be amazing, proving point #2 that a stale IP can still have an excellent ride. Of course, Splash Mountain has been proving that since 1992.

(7) I have a real life with a real job and don't have time to monitor this post and respond to arguments.

Edited for spelling.

 

[wm49rs]

And nobody is talking about that.

You can't tell me you're doing anything more than trolling at this point.

Everyone doesn't have to agree all the time, but repeating the same line without listening to any other point of view means someone is either incredibly narrow-minded or a troll.

(1) Every film or TV property gets stale and you can't tell me that American Idol, Terminator 3-D, Stitch's Great Escape, Shrek 4-D, Circle of Life, HISTK playground, and It's Tough to Be a Bug haven't outlived their welcome. While we're on this topic, Disney kept HISTA and Sounds Dangerous on life support a decade past their expiration date.

(2) Excellent rides based on "stale" films don't matter if the ride is excellent or the movie becomes a classic—or both.

(3) It's a fact that Uni has more areas of less compelling IP than Disney, but it's also true that there finally doing something about it.

(4) The Hogsmeade Express concept you so blithely denounce is based on the Japanese bullet train ride that was supposed to be built at Epcot. It wasn't due to $$$.

(5) Like Star Wars, Harry Potter is a modern classic, not a fad. Avatar was a fad when the movie broke B.O. records, and DAK is only getting Pandora because Iger panicked and announced something—anything—when he realized WWOHP was going to be successful at IOA. WDI didn't know they were building this until Iger told the media.

(6) Pandora should be amazing, proving point #2 that a stale IP can still have an excellent ride. Of course, Splash Mountain has been proving that since 1992.

To say nothing of dragging back a 20+ year-old show at both parks to capitalize on the death of a pop star....

 

[kucarachi]

And nobody is talking about that.

You can't tell me you're doing anything more than trolling at this point.

Everyone doesn't have to agree all the time, but repeating the same unsubstantiated opinion without listening to any other point of view means someone is either incredibly narrow-minded or a troll.

(1) Every film or TV property gets stale and you can't tell me that American Idol, Terminator 3-D, Stitch's Great Escape, Shrek 4-D, Circle of Life, HISTK playground, and It's Tough to Be a Bug haven't outlived their welcome. While we're on this topic, Disney kept HISTA and Sounds Dangerous on life support a decade past their expiration date.

(2) Excellent rides based on "stale" films don't matter if the ride is excellent or the movie becomes a classic—or both.

(3) It's a fact that Uni has more areas of less compelling IP than Disney, but it's also true that there finally doing something about it.

(4) The Hogsmeade Express concept you so blithely denounce is based on the Japanese bullet train ride that was supposed to be built at Epcot. It wasn't due to $$$.

(5) Like Star Wars, Harry Potter is a modern classic, not a fad. Avatar was a fad when the movie broke B.O. records, and DAK is only getting Pandora because Iger panicked and announced something—anything—when he realized WWOHP was going to be successful at IOA. WDI didn't know they were building this until Iger told the media.

(6) Pandora should be amazing, proving point #2 that a stale IP can still have an excellent ride. Of course, Splash Mountain has been proving that since 1992.

 

[kucarachi]

So it's trolling to say I'm not impressed with a train ride...but this whole topic is saying how bad the fle sucks...tell that to the millions of kids who enjoy it with their families. Universal is not set up to do most things with small children and they never will. They cater to older kids and movies young kids can't even watch...it's why they won't ever catch up in revenue. You think the family with 2 teenagers in skinny jeans with smartphones as faces are going to bring their kids anytime soon...by the way I think Harry potter is the best franchise of all time and glad it's something we all can experience in person

 

[EpcoTim]

So it's trolling to say I'm not impressed with a train ride...but this whole topic is saying how bad the fle sucks...tell that to the millions of kids who enjoy it with their families. Universal is not set up to do most things with small children and they never will. They cater to older kids and movies young kids can't even watch...it's why they won't ever catch up in revenue. You think the family with 2 teenagers in skinny jeans with smartphones as faces are going to bring their kids anytime soon...by the way I think Harry potter is the best franchise of all time and glad it's something we all can experience in person

I have to admit that the image of you forcing your 19 year old skinny jean wearing son onto little mermaid while screaming how magical it is cracks me up.

 

[seascape]

So it's trolling to say I'm not impressed with a train ride...but this whole topic is saying how bad the fle sucks...tell that to the millions of kids who enjoy it with their families. Universal is not set up to do most things with small children and they never will. They cater to older kids and movies young kids can't even watch...it's why they won't ever catch up in revenue. You think the family with 2 teenagers in skinny jeans with smartphones as faces are going to bring their kids anytime soon...by the way I think Harry potter is the best franchise of all time and glad it's something we all can experience in person

Universal and Disney are not fighting with each other. They go after slightly different demographics but they do better together than either one would do alone. This is why you always see car dealers next to each other. Which one you like does not really matter. Does anyone here think universal could attract the million of people a year who go there without the 34000 hotel/timeshare rooms on WDW property? Also do you think universal or any other company would have built in Orlando if Disney hadn't done it first. Both companies will experience major at tendance ncreases this year. WDW will announce expansion soon and hopefully they will be great. They in turn will help Universal and the other parks grow.