Harry Potter IS making a difference!!

[backinaction]

Recently returned from a 7 day disney trip with my gf. On the last day, she insisted that we do IOA for Harry Potter. Now, i'm not much of a HP fan but i decided to give in and see what the hype was all about. We went on DEC 7 and boy was it cold(there was no wait for any of the rides including the one inside the new castle)! The new HP land looks incredible and the ride inside is something that Disney has yet to duplicate. It's like soarin on steriods, and the actually castle itself rivals the wdw castle. Everyone had on 30 dollar scarfs and hats. Everyone was drinking massive amounts of butter beer. Even on the plane ride from NYC, the people on the plane were talking about it. So for all you Disney fans who think HP will not make a dent in Disney, YOU ARE WRONG. I haven't visited Universal in over 5 years and this addition To IOA will be stealing a large amount of visitors directly from Disney. Disney better start getting there act together in terms of new rides and attractions. I hope that FLE will prove to be a HP type deal for Disney.

 

[lebeau]

I hope that FLE will prove to be a HP type deal for Disney.

Those in the know around here indicate that will not be the case. That was never the intent of the FLE. It was only meant to fix some capacity issues with MK which I am sure it will do nicely. But while Disney has plans for Potter-killers, none of those plans have been put into play (that we know of).

 

[reactortrip]

Those in the know around here indicate that will not be the case. That was never the intent of the FLE. It was only meant to fix some capacity issues with MK which I am sure it will do nicely. But while Disney has plans for Potter-killers, none of those plans have been put into play (that we know of).

Does Disney have anything that can draw the tweens like Potter? Unless they get a twilightland, I don't see anything drawing the tweens like that. At least nothing I can think of off the top of my head.

 

[slappy magoo]

More or less unrelated, but some of the defense-of-Disney-Uni-will-fade-away remarks on here remind me of one of the chapters in Howard Stern's second book "Miss America," when he's talking about the first time he was able to simulcast his radio show in another market, in this case, Philadelphia. The local DJ that was number one was a "Zookeeper" named John DeBella, who in repeated interviews never ever indicated that he thought Stern was a threat, that in fact, Stern's act would grow old and tired very very fast. That was in the mid-to-late 80s. And as we have all seen, Stern has faded away to obscurity and John DeBella is America's most dynamic radio personality.

So...yeah, Disney has nothing to worry about. This whole Harry Potter thing is totally going to play out, Universal will absolutely not try to capitalize on this momentum, and things will always be as they've been. Disney should just stay the course. That way lies eternal Number-One-ness.

 

[Krack]

Does Disney have anything that can draw the tweens like Potter? Unless they get a twilightland, I don't see anything drawing the tweens like that. At least nothing I can think of off the top of my head.

Lucasland would be bigger. Star Wars appeals to both kids and men in their 40s. Depending on the success of the upcoming films (Captain America, Avengers, Spiderman reboot), Marvel could conceivably compete.

 

[reactortrip]

Lucasland would be bigger. Star Wars appeals to both kids and men in their 40s. Depending on the success of the upcoming films (Captain America, Avengers, Spiderman reboot), Marvel could conceivably compete.

With what Lucas did with the last 3 movies, I refuse to admit are part of the Star Wars TRILOGY, I hope he stays away and doesnt ruin it any further.

Although I do love Jo's unwillingness to budge and complete input into WWOHP.

 

[Krack]

With what Lucas did with the last 3 movies, I refuse to admit are part of the Star Wars TRILOGY, I hope he stays away and doesnt ruin it any further.

But that's just it, the new films suck and kids love them. The original films are all-time greats and adults (men) love them. They share a universe. You build a land around that shared universe and you're pulling from all demographics to feed its popularity. Throw in Indiana Jones (beloved by many) on the outskirts and you have a starting point that has every bit as much value as Potter. What they build on that starting point is a completely different issue.

 

[lebeau]

Does Disney have anything that can draw the tweens like Potter? Unless they get a twilightland, I don't see anything drawing the tweens like that. At least nothing I can think of off the top of my head.

I don't think they do, but I don't think they need a literal answer to Potter as a property. They just need to stop up their game and be the leaders they have a reputation for being.

 

[lebeau]

Lucasland would be bigger. Star Wars appeals to both kids and men in their 40s. Depending on the success of the upcoming films (Captain America, Avengers, Spiderman reboot), Marvel could conceivably compete.

I've had this conversation a few times on this board and maybe a few times with you (I don't remember.) But rather than repeat myself, I'll just note that I disagree that Star Wars would be bigger than Potter.

In any event, the point is moot. Disney's not going to build it.

 

[reactortrip]

But that's just it, the new films suck and kids love them. The original films are all-time greats and adults (men) love them. They share a universe. You build a land around that shared universe and you're pulling from all demographics to feed its popularity. Throw in Indiana Jones (beloved by many) on the outskirts and you have a starting point that has every bit as much value as Potter. What they build on that starting point is a completely different issue.

Yeah, but would they do something like it? It would work, but I don't see it happening. Also for it to be as valuable as HP, it would need Lucas. Would Lucas get involved into as intimately as Jo did? Probably not.

Uni could go after LotR/Avatar, that would bring in the adults for them.

 

[lebeau]

Also for it to be as valuable as HP, it would need Lucas. Would Lucas get involved into as intimately as Jo did? Probably not.

Speaking solely for myself, Lucas' involvement is not desired. Disney can do better without him.

 

[janoimagine]

Which is why rides like Splash Mountain don't get long lines any more. Clearly, the crowds have moved on to the latest and the greatest.

[\sarcasm]

Ok princess.

Did you read the back half of my post? I think it said something about good maintenance and plussing to the attraction as well? Splash mountain goes down once a year for re-painting, maintenance and upkeep to keep the attraction looking great.

Lets put everything back into context.

The initial point of my post was that Harry Potter is drawing away some of Disney's attendance, because people typically rush to what is new and fresh, it happens with everything from movies to cell phones. Some fad's die out, some stand the test of time (like splash mountain and star wars, there are always exceptions to the rule), I think Harry Potter will do the latter if it hasn't done so already, but if it will make a dent in Disney's long term attendance, that remains to be seen.

 

[Krack]

I don't think they do, but I don't think they need a literal answer to Potter as a property. They just need to stop up their game and be the leaders they have a reputation for being.

I agree with the bolded part. The "name" properties are essential to Universal's success because it gives people a reason to go to Universal for a day and see that it's not a second-tier resort/parks; they are fighting uphill.

On the otherhand, all Disney has to do is build great attractions and the property is pretty much irrelevant. Look at Disney's great recent successes - Splash Mountain (50 year old film that Disney pretends doesn't exist), Soarin (no characters or story), Tower of Terror (45 year old television show), Expedition Everest (90 year old Tibetan myth).

 

[janoimagine]

They just need to stop up their game and be the leaders they have a reputation for being.

Quoted for Truth.

 

[lebeau]

I agree with the bolded part. The "name" properties are essential to Universal's success because it gives people a reason to go to Universal for a day and see that it's not a second-tier resort/parks; they are fighting uphill.

On the otherhand, all Disney has to do is build great attractions and the property is pretty much irrelevant. Look at Disney's great recent successes - Splash Mountain (50 year old film that Disney pretends doesn't exist), Soarin (no characters or story), Tower of Terror (45 year old television show), Expedition Everest (90 year old Tibetan myth).

That's what I was trying to get at! Thanks for making my point better than I did.

 

[reactortrip]

Speaking solely for myself, Lucas' involvement is not desired. Disney can do better without him.

True to story and conceptual design, I would rather go with Lucas on this one unless Walt himself has been resurrected. As a Potter fan, seeing Jo's world through her eyes made it special. I want to see what Lucas wanted us to see.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Harry Potter is NOT really making a difference on Orlando. It's just a new land in one of the city's top-notch theme parks. I think the event that made the most difference on Orlando is the opening of the Magic Kingdom. That turned a sleepy swamp town in Central Florida that almost nobody knew about into a metropolis that everybody knows about.

well said!

In 1989/1990 When Universal Studios opened, Disney beat them to the punch with MGM Studios. The result was that Universal Studios didn't hurt Disney at all, largely because Disney beat them to the punch, and Universal Studios had several problems/growing pains.

In 1998/1999 Animal Kingdom and Islands of Adventure opens. While elements of Islands of Adventure were "indirectly" lifted from Beastly Kingdom concepts, it did not hurt Disney's attendance either.

In 2010 Universal opened The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Disney opened a Duffy Meet and Greet. The initial effects have been an increase in attendance to Islands of Adventure, and a decrease to Disney's attendance. In that respect it is making a difference.

What seem to have happened is that in 1989/1990 Disney was proactive and it paid off. In 1998/1999 Disney wasn't really proactive, but had a plan in place should they need it.. In 2010, it really seems that they were caught off guard. I think the 2010 reaction (or lack of reaction) is more to do with arrogance. They didn't need to respond the first two times, so the thought was they wouldn't need to respond this time. It turns out they were wrong. Now it's time to see how they recover from this.

 

[reactortrip]

In 1989/1990 When Universal Studios opened, Disney beat them to the punch with MGM Studios. The result was that Universal Studios didn't hurt Disney at all, largely because Disney beat them to the punch, and Universal Studios had several problems/growing pains.

In 1998/1999 Animal Kingdom and Islands of Adventure opens. While elements of Islands of Adventure were "indirectly" lifted from Beastly Kingdom concepts, it did not hurt Disney's attendance either.

In 2010 Universal opened The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Disney opened a Duffy Meet and Greet. The initial effects have been an increase in attendance to Islands of Adventure, and a decrease to Disney's attendance. In that respect it is making a difference.

What seem to have happened is that in 1989/1990 Disney was proactive and it paid off. In 1998/1999 Disney wasn't really proactive, but had a plan in place should they need it.. In 2010, it really seems that they were caught off guard. I think the 2010 reaction (or lack of reaction) is more to do with arrogance. They didn't need to respond the first two times, so the thought was they wouldn't need to respond this time. It turns out they were wrong. Now it's time to see how they recover from this.

Unless Universal builds on this plan, Disney will keep increasing by doing nothing and IoA will go back to normal. Even as a huge potter fan, there is not enough to keep me going back multiple times.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Does Disney have anything that can draw the tweens like Potter? Unless they get a twilightland, I don't see anything drawing the tweens like that. At least nothing I can think of off the top of my head.

Harry potter has not been a tween property since the first book came out. Those kids are now ten years older. There are young kids reading the books for the first time. There are adults reading and watching the films. To call Harry Potter a tween franchise is to totally ignore the reality of the size and demographic diversity of Harry Potter. Twilight is nothing remotely close to Harry Potter, it has a very limited audience and very little limited mythology is built on the novelty of their contradiction.

 

[hsilarbleahcim]

Harry Potter on ABC Family???

:shrug: If Harry Potter is already making such big waves in Orlando, what is Disney doing (ABC Family) showing a two-day Harry Potter marathon? I understand that ABC/ABC Family is a separate division than the theme parks, and sure, HP probably attracted a good-sized audience = $$$, but it seems like "robbing your left pocket to pay your right" doesn't it. Can anyone say communication breakdown? :shrug: