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

Prince-1

Prince-1

Well-Known Member
FutureCEO said:
As much as I love Harry Potter, the books are way better than the movies. As for the movies I am in the minority that think the last few movies were horrible. First three were better.
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You are correct sir (said in my best Ed McMahon impersonation) you are definitely in the minority. While books are almost always better than the movies, HP movies got so much better as they progressed. The first few were very simple and adequately directed by Chris Columbus but the last few were much more adult, intense and more awesomer!!! (It's a word, look it up ;)). But you know what they say about opinions.....mine are always right!
 
Tony Perkis

Tony Perkis

Well-Known Member
FutureCEO said:
Isn't the new coaster having trouble or something?

As much as I love Harry Potter, the books are way better than the movies. As for the movies I am in the minority that think the last few movies were horrible. First three were better.
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The first two are awful. Three is the best.
 
Mike S

Mike S

Well-Known Member
To me many of the films pale in comparison to the books which had so much more info. As an example
How do you skip Dumbledore's funeral in the sixth movie?!?!?! It was such an integral part of the story!!!!!!! :mad:
 
cw1982

cw1982

Well-Known Member
Tom Morrow said:
The first two Harry Potter films are little more than generic kids films. Unfortunately you have to watch them to understand the rest, probably even if you've read the books. The rest are legitimately good films on their own right and get pretty deep and dark. IMO.
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I agree except for the part I bolded. Those first few movies do a pretty good job of staying true to the books, so anyone who has read them should be able to start with the third or fourth film and be just fine.

The books and the films are among my favorites in their respective categories.
 
cw1982

cw1982

Well-Known Member
Mike S said:
To me many of the films pale in comparison to the books which had so much more info. As an example
How do you skip Dumbledore's funeral in the sixth movie?!?!?! It was such an integral part of the story!!!!!!! :mad:
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I agree. I think part of the problem is that the HP books, especially the later ones, are so intricately detailed, that some of the important stuff gets kicked to the side, for better or worse (usually worse) when film makers try to turn it into a movie. Not that I like it anymore than you do.
 
dstrawn9889

dstrawn9889

Well-Known Member
gsam4ever said:
You are correct sir (said in my best Ed McMahon impersonation) you are definitely in the minority. While books are almost always better than the movies, HP movies got so much better as they progressed. The first few were very simple and adequately directed by Chris Columbus but the last few were much more adult, intense and more awesomer!!! (It's a word, look it up ;)). But you know what they say about opinions.....mine are always right!
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10492428_777645098940863_4267431289195102304_n.jpg
 
Tom Morrow

Tom Morrow

Well-Known Member
Since is the current "Universal vs. Disney" thread, I figured I'd share something I thought about as I just experienced Diagon Alley for the first time and then walked around Universal before and during the Cinematic Spectacular.

First, Universal has completely turned around what was, only 5 or 6 years ago a stagnating park into what I'm tempted to call the premier theme park in Orlando. With a few exceptions (Shrek, Twister, maybe T2), this park is fresh and full of quality attractions, the atmosphere is vibrant and exciting. The MAGICal feeling everyone talks about from Disney, if you don't also get some semblance of that while walking around Universal at night, especially in the prelude to the Cinematic Spectacular, then theme parks are lost to your brand loyalty.

Second, I have a harder and harder time suggesting WDW to anyone as a first time trip, especially if they reach adulthood before ever having visited. Without any prior knowledge of the place and it's history and relevance, or ever having experienced it in their youth, I feel like I would have to constantly explain why something is good or was once good. The parks do not speak for themselves as much as they used to.

With Universal, what people like about the place is obvious. It's there, right in your face. Lots of quality attractions, crammed into one area, with little to no advanced planning or knowledge needed. Pay, go in, have fun, pay a little more to wait less if the lines are long. That's it! Just like Disneyland. With WDW for a first time visitor is a massive process and their experience will probably not be very positive if they just wing it. I know many of you like to plan, but think about the average person who just wants to get away for a a little bit. I can't even imagine how many people these days leave WDW absolutely hating it, having dropped thousands of dollars to be thrown into a confusing and stressful mess. You can defend this all you want, but a WDW vacation is a process and most first time visitors would not enjoy that.
 
marni1971

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
Tom Morrow said:
First, Universal has completely turned around what was, only 5 or 6 years ago a stagnating park into what I'm tempted to call the premier theme park in Orlando. With a few exceptions (Shrek, Twister, maybe T2)
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Oh indeed they have.

You'll be pleased to know T2:3D is being plussed behind the scenes with potentially a total overhaul in the works too.
 
ABQ

ABQ

Well-Known Member
There's been such a heavily negative load of news regarding WDW's output for the past, gosh, decade; and it's warranted, however, if as @Tom Morrow and @marni1971 have stated, Uni completely turned around their park(s) in Orlando in 5-6 years, why can't WDW? Sure, nothing says they will and if past performance is any indicator of future output (which is opposite to what any investor will tell you to base a decision on) Disney will NOT. But, I choose to at least believe it's possible. Changes in leadership may certainly stir the pot, if that new leadership isn't just another yes man (or woman).
Still, as someone that loves what WDW once was, still is to a degree, I'm going to use Universal's turn-around as a reason to at least hope it can be again. Though I'm prepared for someone far more informed than I to post some grim news that makes me want to poke a sharp stick in my eye and wake me up from this dream and bring me back to the reality that is an office full of bean counters.
 
Tom Morrow

Tom Morrow

Well-Known Member
And the rejuvenation of US and IOA wasn't just the addition of new attractions. I remember just 5 years ago being annoyed with bad service and bad show at Universal. Now, I'd say the service at Uni meets or surpasses Disney's, and the attractions' show quality is generally good to great.
 
DinoInstitute

DinoInstitute

Well-Known Member
Tom Morrow said:
And the rejuvenation of US and IOA wasn't just the addition of new attractions. I remember just 5 years ago being annoyed with bad service and bad show at Universal. Now, I'd say the service at Uni meets or surpasses Disney's, and the attractions' show quality is generally good to great.
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except for the OCCASIONAL ride not working
 
EvanAnderson

EvanAnderson

Active Member
IDInstitute said:
except for the OCCASIONAL ride not working
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I work at Disney currently in a backstage role. We have access to the MK park operations radio and we can look up the attraction downtime reports. Disney attractions go down just as much as Universal's. Example: Mansion going down because someone got out, or splash for the same reason. Possibly Dumbo here and there for guests standing up on the ride or someone jumping onto the Tea Party turntable while it's moving. Space Mountain went down once due to a flip flop falling on the ride track and lodged itself in the brakes, causing them to dump the queue and evac the ride. Most down times are guest caused.

You do get the occasional ride has technical difficulties situation, which is exactly it. The ride computer thinks something is wrong and stops ride movement. This could be two vehicles getting too close to each other (Gringotts), maybe a coaster going too fast through a brake zone (Seven Dwarfs) or a loss of air pressure which power coaster brakes and other attractions (Doom). These systems are in place for guest safety and the ride is designed to do these stops and procedures. Guests think it's "broken" when in reality it's far from it.
 
marni1971

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
Tom Morrow said:
And the rejuvenation of US and IOA wasn't just the addition of new attractions. I remember just 5 years ago being annoyed with bad service and bad show at Universal. Now, I'd say the service at Uni meets or surpasses Disney's, and the attractions' show quality is generally good to great.
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Oh indeed. I've been lucky enough to visit Uni Orlando every year since 2007 both as a guest and also with insight of backstage and company aspects. The turnaround since 07 in almost every aspect has been astounding. The place was a good but slightly run down and almost ghost town set of parks 7 years ago. I've seen so many changes and improvements year on year it is almost unimaginable. That and the still-not-good-enough mindset from upstairs plus the realisation that large investment in attractions equals huge returns is why I shout from the rooftops. Potter was a last ditch make or break attempt to save the resort. It did so much more. And had it swung the other way I'd be talking about that too.

Its far from perfect but they are trying so hard and improving still each year. And from what I know the best is yet to come.
 
SJN1279

SJN1279

Well-Known Member
All in IMHO:

-Potter books are way more engaging than the movies.

-The best Potter movie was Chamber of Secrets(despite being the weakest book), 5th movie was the weakest, (despite being the best book). I liked the 3rd movie quite a lot though.

-I found the movies to be too dark and less fun as they progressed(although I loved Jim Broadbent's take on Slughorn in movie 6).

-The last 200 pages of 7th book were very satisfying, although I found the first 500 pages a letdown. I also didn't like that major characters got killed in passing.

-The epilogue should have never happened.

-
 

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