Disney's Reaction to Harry Potter Details?

[Buried20KLeague]

Where's whylightbulb when you need him? :lookaroun

 

[wdwmagic]

Where's whylightbulb when you need him? :lookaroun

Busy getting HP ready for us!

 

[christopherscob]

I think Disney are already trying to cash in on the HP land at Universal but in subtle ways, I noticed this year if you book at a resort hotel from the UK from 5th july to nov you are getting free Dining. I thought this was odd as that covers the main school holidays in jul/aug and they usually only offer this later in the year. I think this is a way of them getting the UK visitors for HP to stay on property with good offers and go to see Universal for a day or two and then spend the rest of there time at WDW.

 

[Rosso11]

The fact that the Walt Disney Company invented the Theme Park can never be disputed...because Walt Disney DID create the Theme Park. Now whether or not they will always be the reigning power in theme part design is definitely a feasible question, but your basing the whole theme park throne on a 15 acre area of one Universal Park? Again, I think you have to keep it into perspective instead of just looking at this as FLE versus HP Land.

I'm talking about a theme park experience to a theme park experience. Not park to park. Many times we talk about ride vs. ride but this seems to be so much more. That's what I'm getting at. Non of us will know for sure until it's open but there does not seem to be an experience this immersive offered anywhere on Disney property.

And I don't think George Lucas is jealous or would ever be jealous of JK Rowling and Harry Potter land. He's not banking the meaning and worth of his life over the kind of presence he has in Theme Parks.

You’re taking it to the extreme. Who would ever say that? George Lucas chose to let Disney use his characters in their theme parks for a reason. I'm sure it has a lot to do with them being the best. He didn't just haphazardly give them to any park.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Personally I am hoping that HP does raise the bar, and gives the whole industry a kick. Competition is great and only serves to benefit us, the consumer.

However, I think a lot of people are seriously jumping the gun. Universal have a very sketchy record with past attractions. I'm concerned about the ride system reliability, capacity, and the actual quality of the experience. Universal are great at hype, and they talk a good game. However, the implementation often doesn't measure up in my opinion.

I'm very much looking forward to riding it, but I'm going to wait on my predicitions of how good it is until I've seen it. Same for Little Mermaid.

I've been saying this for quite some time. As fans of Disney, we should all be rooting for Harry Potter to succeed. I'm a Disney fan first, but I recognize Universal Studios' greatness as well. Disney has yet to top Islands of Adventure from a ride standpoint - what they have done is market their own attractions better.

I hope the marketing problems that hurt Islands of Adventure at the beginning are over with, and they really get that part of it right with Harry Potter. My first time in Islands of Adventure, I didn't know what the Spider man ride was, and didn't go on it. I know that's not going to be possible with Harry Potter, but I'm still a bit worried.

I've hypothesized previously that I think that Universal Studios' main park, then Animal Kingdom, and then Hollywood Studios will be affected most (attendance wise) by The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. If Disney sees a decline in attendance at any of their parks they will act. I just hope it's on a grand scale.

 

[devoy1701]

haha. I definitely agree with you on Lucas, but this is more than just 15 acres of theme park. It is all the detail that goes into it. And although Disney parks are still top knotch Universal has gone right up there with them and in some later cases trumped their experiences, but the issue for them is, is in the name and reputation Disney has. Many people just presume all Florida theme parks are Disney World. Its not just about Potter, but it does say something when we have a topic going on this long and you are even able to question what Disney should be doing. They should be stomping anything that even draws attention away or matches them.

Both companies have their pros and cons, but the line of seperation is so thin.

But if people want the truth. Fantasyland Expansion and Star Tours are the plan against potter. They only became greenlit because of Universal having this big project. Some people don't want to admit that, but it is what it is.

I don't know if i would consider FLE and Star Tours as a direct response to Uni... if you think about, Disney needs to be carefuly about how they react because if they give the impression that they do feel threatened by Harry Potter land, then their reign as King of the Theme Park world would actually be in question then. Disney's wait-and-see-non action plan is probably the best response they could give. If they really did announce something big to counter HP, then they would basically be admitting that Uni one-upped them...which despite if anyone on here things they did or not, Disney would not admit.

 

[devoy1701]

I'm talking about a theme park experience to a theme park experience. Not park to park. Many times we talk about ride vs. ride but this seems to be so much more. That's what I'm getting at. Non of us will know for sure until it's open but there does not seem to be an experience this immersive offered anywhere on Disney property.



You’re taking it to the extreme. Who would ever say that? George Lucas chose to let Disney use his characters in their theme parks for a reason. I'm sure it has a lot to do with them being the best. He didn't just haphazardly give them to any park.

you said it in your other post!!! :dazzle:


Originally Posted by Rosso11
Everyone is looking at the financial impact of this but they keep forgetting a few very important things. Believe it or not many decisions that are made in these giant entertainment companies have very little to do with financial rewards and more to do with image and egos. From the sound of things Disney might be dethroned as the ultimate immersive Theme Park experience. If this turns out to be true and this land actually delivers everything it promises then Disney has a problem. Disney sees theme parks as their creation and the obvious leader of the industry. If the general public looks at this Harry Potter land as the ultimate theme park experience then Disney needs to respond. They have an image to withhold.

Ego is another factor that obviously is very important. We all know about Eisner's giant ego and how that affected many decisions over his 20 year span. Bob Iger's I'm not so sure about. But I'm sure there are still some big egos up at the top of the Walt Disney Company.

Then comes the egos that are not even in the immediate company. What about someone like George Lucas? Look at how Universal has bent over backwards for JK Rowling and created this amazing land for her creations. George Lucas is the keeper of both Star Wars and Indiana Jones. If there is any other Movie franchise that deserves its own land I would have to say it's Star Wars. Sure Disney is finally coming out with Star Tours 2 but he has to be looking at what Universal has done with Harry Potter and be a little jealous.

 

[Rosso11]

Being a little jealous is not this:
:brick:

He's not banking the meaning and worth of his life over the kind of presence he has in Theme Parks.

 

[KevinFlynn]

Here's how things are going to go down.

Potter is going to attract major crowds to Universal. Both by hype and word of mouth.

Harry Potter is going to be amazing and raise the bar for theme-park design ten-fold.

Disney is still going to ride on name recognition and open the FLE.

The FLE is going to blow.

Princesses are NOT going to cause an attendance spike. Sure, they're hot. But that does not make me want to go see them. (Unless me and sleeping beauty can get some alone time. )

Mermaid is going to be a D-ticket. I don't care who said what within the company. It's going to be a D.

WDWMagic will be flooded with rabid fanboys and girls who will deny that HP is a much better theme-park experience than the FLE.

A million threads will pop up on the forums with stupid topics and inane dribble about "What's your favorite ride in FLE?" or "Backstage Area Visible from FLE. Walt Would Have Done Something!"


June 18th, I eagerly await your arrival.

Oh, and yea. I found this out using my "crystal ball", and I'm a "Time-Turner?" (No relation to Ted Turner)

 

[Monsterfan99]

The general consensus is that this will help Disney and cab drivers a lot. Why? Universal marketing has confused people into thinking they're getting a new Harry Potter park, enough attractions and experiences to last at least two days. What they're getting is something that'll last them a day max due to lines.

This is the truth. People think this is an Harry Potter park, not a very small land with 3 re-themed coasters and a new ride. Everyone that ask me about the "new Harry Potter park in FL" ends up completely disappointed when they hear it is just a land. People will leave disappointed, which is a shame as IoA is such a nice park.

Honestly, I feel HP has zero staying power past 2 years. The ride has too high of a height restriction for kids (48 inches) and will be too intense for others. The fact they are saying it is "an hour" event, aka the queue line, will do nothing to bring in non-potter. Selling butter beer and buying t-shirts can only go so far.

So DHS and maybe AK take a hit for a year or maybe 2. Then Disney laughs that Uni spent almost a billion total and sees no return visitors.

 

[Figment632]

This is the truth. People think this is an Harry Potter park, not a very small land with 3 re-themed coasters and a new ride. Everyone that ask me about the "new Harry Potter park in FL" ends up completely disappointed when they hear it is just a land. People will leave disappointed, which is a shame as IoA is such a nice park.

Honestly, I feel HP has zero staying power past 2 years. The ride has too high of a height restriction for kids (48 inches) and will be too intense for others. The fact they are saying it is "an hour" event, aka the queue line, will do nothing to bring in non-potter. Selling butter beer and buying t-shirts can only go so far.

So DHS and maybe AK take a hit for a year or maybe 2. Then Disney laughs that Uni spent almost a billion total and sees no return visitors.

I completly disagree the HP ride is a game changer and that is fact not opinion.

 

[Rosso11]

Then Disney laughs that Uni spent almost a billion total and sees no return visitors.

Not sure where you are getting that number from but everything I have heard and read put the total cost around $250 million. I think it will be a great return on their investment.

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

This is the truth. People think this is an Harry Potter park, not a very small land with 3 re-themed coasters and a new ride. Everyone that ask me about the "new Harry Potter park in FL" ends up completely disappointed when they hear it is just a land. People will leave disappointed, which is a shame as IoA is such a nice park.

Honestly, I feel HP has zero staying power past 2 years. The ride has too high of a height restriction for kids (48 inches) and will be too intense for others. The fact they are saying it is "an hour" event, aka the queue line, will do nothing to bring in non-potter. Selling butter beer and buying t-shirts can only go so far.

So DHS and maybe AK take a hit for a year or maybe 2. Then Disney laughs that Uni spent almost a billion total and sees no return visitors.

I think that may be the biggest thing going against Wizarding World. People have gotten the idea that this is a new theme park. Its not, and when they head to Universal and find out its only a 20 acre section of IoA, I think many are going to be disappointed. In the end, except for the devoted HP fans who will swoon over it, this addition will probably be summed up with a phrase similar to, "The Harry Potter area is alright. Its pretty cool to walk through and has an awesome ride in the castle, but I thought there was going to be a lot more stuff to do. I thought it was another theme park but it isn't."

WWoHP will be something most people will plan a trip around once, but thats it. I don't think its going to be big enough that people will plan vacations exclusively to visit it 5+ years from now. Disney need not be too concerned me thinks (unfortunately).

 

[devoy1701]

Being a little jealous is not this:
:brick:

i dont think there is any jealousy involved at all. And actually George Lucas chose to do work with Disney because of his personal friendship with Eisner. It was not a matter of Lucas going to different theme park companies and seeing which was the best or could deliver the best product for his franchise. I bet that if Eisner had been head of Uni than we would have seen Lucas Arts presense in those parks instead of in Disney. (the last sentence is my opinion of course!)

 

[devoy1701]

I think that may be the biggest thing going against Wizarding World. People have gotten the idea that this is a new theme park. Its not, and when they head to Universal and find out its only a 20 acre section of IoA, I think many are going to be disappointed. In the end, except for the devoted HP fans who will swoon over it, this addition will probably be summed up with a phrase similar to, "The Harry Potter area is alright. Its pretty cool to walk through and has an awesome ride in the castle, but I thought there was going to be a lot more stuff to do. I thought it was another theme park but it isn't."

WWoHP will be something most people will plan a trip around once, but thats it. I don't think its going to be big enough that people will plan vacations exclusively to visit it 5+ years from now. Disney need not be too concerned me thinks (unfortunately).

I agree. when they first announced this they were toting it as being a new Harry Potter Theme Park...i think that image has stuck with alot of people.

 

[magic2me]

This is the truth. People think this is an Harry Potter park, not a very small land with 3 re-themed coasters and a new ride. Everyone that ask me about the "new Harry Potter park in FL" ends up completely disappointed when they hear it is just a land. People will leave disappointed, which is a shame as IoA is such a nice park.

Honestly, I feel HP has zero staying power past 2 years. The ride has too high of a height restriction for kids (48 inches) and will be too intense for others. The fact they are saying it is "an hour" event, aka the queue line, will do nothing to bring in non-potter. Selling butter beer and buying t-shirts can only go so far.

You are hitting on some of what I said earlier. I am not a coaster fan fo the rethemed coasters are nothing for me. I love HP and I wanted more for the younger crowd and me. I am also worried about the new ride. It maybe too much for me. I will wait and see. I want to see the Castle and Hogsmead.

From a ride point of view I am disappointed. I wanted more that just retheming. I know how costly this was and can understand why they did it. But they may have lost me in the process. As I said, I have tickets and will go later this year. Who knows if I will return.

I be back to WDW and I am looking forward to FLE. I ocassionally did Toontown but I liked it when I did.


ETA: At first I too though it was an entire new park. I was disappointed when I realized I was getting rethemed rides. At one point I did not think I would go but then I saw some of the recent photos and decided to try it.

 

[devoy1701]

I completly disagree the HP ride is a game changer and that is fact not opinion.

it is not a fact because it has not yet opened yet and no games have been changed let alone begun to be played. it will not be fact until public opinion from experience and attendence numbers start rolling in.

 

[KevinFlynn]

From a ride point of view I am disappointed.

Exactly how a lot of people feel about FLE.:wave:

 

[magic2me]

I completly disagree the HP ride is a game changer and that is fact not opinion.

Right now it is an opinion. It certainly has the potential to be a game changer. Only time will tell and then you can state your fact.

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

Right now it is an opinion. It certainly has the potential to be a game changer. Only time will tell and then you can state your fact.

I honestly hope it is. I think Imagineering produces some of their best work when Disney is threatened by a competitor; bring it on. :drevil: