Harry Potter IS making a difference!!

[jt04]

Listen, you are not going to see major change until Disney has a DISNEY ATTITUDE AGAIN.. and that may not happen until the company plus a General Motors.. and takes a giant dive.

Disney is going to operate on the condition that people are coming, we can raise the rates, and no one is complaining.. much.. not enough to change anyone's minds in coporate HQ.

when, suddenly the crowds THIN OUT. and the parks stop being clean , and people get totally MAD,THEN and only then, will the bean counters be swept out the door.

but in the mean time its status quo.. which means Disney is slowly sinking.. you can't see it.. or hardly measure it. But it's like a freight train. it starts out slow.. and slowly builds up speed, TO THE POINT WHERE NO ONE CAN STOP IT..

its like the first leak in the Titanic.. you really don't notice or feel it.. until its TOO LATE..

and any good business man would tell you the same.. if you are standing still , you are going backwards.. and right now, truly,

DISNEY IS STANDING STILL and we are all watching it happen.

This seems a bit dramatic considering two major attractions are being built and we still have not seen the reimagined phase 2 of the FLE.

Let me add some perspective. First, Legoland is opening in October. Everybody (except me and most likely Disney) is underestimating the impact it will have on the MK. I say Disney because they are obviously rushing to finish the LM attraction. I think this is the primary reason we don't see any movement on the FLE other than Mermaid and BatB. They are receiving all the attention. But there is more....

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-fun-spot-expansion-20101230,0,7159627.story

Fun Spot is tripling in size. This is a threat because it will keep some Universal guests in the I-Drive area rather than traveling to WDW. But even more interesting is that a Six Flags style park may be going in nearby. So, between these, Sea World and Universal, a tourist could easily spend a week in the area and not run out of things to do.

Bottom line, Disney has unlimited ideas and will be forced to react. And sooner rather than later IMO.

 

[Alektronic]

Details make Potter the pick of the litter

Dewayne Bevil on Attractions
Theme Park Ranger
December 30, 2010

Maybe the power of Potter was underestimated. My theory, before Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened at Islands of Adventure in June, was that Universal must keep the centerpiece ride, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, in top operating shape. Otherwise, my thinking went, you'd have a bunch of guests asking, "Is that all there is?"

After all, Potter's place sounded like a handful of stores, two repurposed roller coasters, a restaurant and a place to stand around. But those Hogsmeade elements, it turns out, were not content to be merely in the shadow of Hogwarts castle. They've been instrumental in making Wizarding World an transformative experience that captures the imagination of theme-park visitors and caused a surge in IOA attendance.

The Forbidden Journey ride has been an entertaining and dependable performer, but little, unexpected features make Wizarding World a winner.

•Best crowd control in a restaurant: The line sometimes extends out the door of Three Broomsticks, but the system inside creates a pleasant dining experience. A Universal team member assigns a register for each party. After ordering and paying, the food is picked up at a corresponding counter. The group is then seated by another employee. This process keeps groups from "saving" tables, avoiding the annoying trend of people at tables with no food and people with food but no tables.

After you finish your meal, a worker frequently takes away the debris. It's a subtle message: Move along, you're done.

•Best new souvenir: The wands lead the pack of new merchandise, which, overall, is an upgrade from the usual Universal fare. Folks wait for hours to have the Ollivanders wand shop experience, even though the $30 props can be purchased elsewhere in the park.

•Best queue: Although wait times for Forbidden Journey are typically an hour or more, the queue that winds through Hogwarts castle wins top honors in the bang-for-buck division. There's much to absorb, including appearances by key Potter characters, talking portraits, statues, scenes as seen in the movies and the Sorting Hat with a cautionary tale.

•Best minor retooling: TheFlight of the Hippogriff coaster (formerly the Flying Unicorn) received remodeled ride vehicles, new theming and an animatronic, but the new view, which looks onto the village and up at the castle, makes the mild thrill ride a must-do.

•Best photo op: Take your best shot. From the Hogwarts Express engine at the entrance to Wizarding World, past the detailed shop windows and butterbeer wagon and around the corner to the imposing castle, it's hard to find an angle that reveals you're in a theme park, not in a far-off land.

•Best scapegoat, in theory: It's practically a parlor game. See something you don't like? Blame J.K. Rowling, billionaire mastermind of the Harry Potter books. Shops too small? That's what J.K. wanted. Want a Coca-Cola? That's too bad — J.K. forbids it. Universal executives consistently referred to Rowling as a great partner, but they would never confirm details of what she wanted or vetoed. That's how J.K. wanted it. (We kid, we kid.)

 

[PalisadesPkteer]

Just for the record. I was at Universal and IOA on Sunday December 12, 2010.

Weather was pretty good from 9 - 11:30 or 12:00. Then the drizzle and cooler temps came in. The wait times except for Ollivanders was I think never more than 30 minutes or maybe 45 at most. (Maybe becasue it was a Sunday with drizzly rain.)

HP FJ ride was great. Liked the Hippogriff also. (Hope they lengthen this ride somehow). Do not ever do upside down coasters so did not do Dragons Challenge. Line for Dervish and Banges also.

The Butter Beer was fantastic! Tried both regular and frozen but liked the regular much better. Did not try the Pumpkin juice.

Food at 3 Broomsticks was very good. It was expensive but so is WDW.

Will go again in future trips. Will be even nicer when they expand the area in future.

Extremely well themed through out the area. Wonder if they could use the Discovery Center area of Jurassic park for expansion.

I guess it does seem to make more sense to use the Lost Continent area although the Sinbad show and the Poseidon attraction is nice also. If you do this though then what do you do with Mythos? This is supposed to be the best theme park restaurant in the US or something right?

 

[thelookingglass]

Let me add some perspective. First, Legoland is opening in October. Everybody (except me and most likely Disney) is underestimating the impact it will have on the MK.

Oh god, here we go again.

I love how with every post, you have this smug attitude that you (just some poster on an internet message board) have everything figured out and somehow are able to predict how everything will turn out.

I highly doubt you ever even went to Cypress Gardens, and I doubt you have ever even been to the town of Winter Haven, FL. So please, go visit this DUMP of a park that is an hour drive from WDW with tons of stop lights through towns with a high crime rate before making your baseless assumptions.

 

[flavious27]

More like conversion rather than expansion.

Maybe.

I hope not, its the universal route to do things. Are there any rides that are left that aren't pulling their wait at mk that haven't be converted before?

With the capacity of MK being hit, an expansion will stop guests from being turned away and make the park more attractive.

 

[flavious27]

Listen, you are not going to see major change until Disney has a DISNEY ATTITUDE AGAIN.. and that may not happen until the company plus a General Motors.. and takes a giant dive.

Disney is going to operate on the condition that people are coming, we can raise the rates, and no one is complaining.. much.. not enough to change anyone's minds in coporate HQ.

when, suddenly the crowds THIN OUT. and the parks stop being clean , and people get totally MAD,THEN and only then, will the bean counters be swept out the door.

but in the mean time its status quo.. which means Disney is slowly sinking.. you can't see it.. or hardly measure it. But it's like a freight train. it starts out slow.. and slowly builds up speed, TO THE POINT WHERE NO ONE CAN STOP IT..

its like the first leak in the Titanic.. you really don't notice or feel it.. until its TOO LATE..

and any good business man would tell you the same.. if you are standing still , you are going backwards.. and right now, truly,

DISNEY IS STANDING STILL and we are all watching it happen.

Isn't this why Eisner was canned 5 years ago?

 

[flavious27]

This seems a bit dramatic considering two major attractions are being built and we still have not seen the reimagined phase 2 of the FLE.

Let me add some perspective. First, Legoland is opening in October. Everybody (except me and most likely Disney) is underestimating the impact it will have on the MK. I say Disney because they are obviously rushing to finish the LM attraction. I think this is the primary reason we don't see any movement on the FLE other than Mermaid and BatB. They are receiving all the attention. But there is more....

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-fun-spot-expansion-20101230,0,7159627.story

Fun Spot is tripling in size. This is a threat because it will keep some Universal guests in the I-Drive area rather than traveling to WDW. But even more interesting is that a Six Flags style park may be going in nearby. So, between these, Sea World and Universal, a tourist could easily spend a week in the area and not run out of things to do.

Bottom line, Disney has unlimited ideas and will be forced to react. And sooner rather than later IMO.

Fun spot is adding 10 acres, this would only be a threat to Morey's Pier if it was happening in wildwood. As for Orlando Thrill Park, IOA is more thrill than wdw.

And with legoland, it is over an hour away from wdw. Not alot of people are not going to waste 2 hours of their day traveling to a kid's park that isn't going to occupy their whole day.

 

[Monty]

its like the first leak in the Titanic.. you really don't notice or feel it.. until its TOO LATE..

I'm always a fan of analogies, but...

The Titanic hit an iceberg! It wasn't exactly something nobody noticed or felt! It didn't just spring a leak that got outta hand!

 

[wm49rs]

I'm always a fan of analogies, but...

The Titanic hit an iceberg! It wasn't exactly something nobody noticed or felt! It didn't just spring a leak that got outta hand!

You mean it didn't start out as an innocent drip, one tiny droplet at a time? Perish the thought!

 

[flavious27]

You mean it didn't start out as an innocent drip, one tiny droplet at a time? Perish the thought!

now that was the dutch boy and the dike

 

[EvanAnderson]

I highly doubt you ever even went to Cypress Gardens, and I doubt you have ever even been to the town of Winter Haven, FL. So please, go visit this DUMP of a park that is an hour drive from WDW with tons of stop lights through towns with a high crime rate before making your baseless assumptions.

My family and friends live in Winter Haven. I live in Orlando, but I'm pretty sure Orlando has a higher crime rate then Winter Haven does. LA, NYC, Vegas, Chicago probably do too. The park isn't even open yet, so I don't think ANYONE knows how "dumpy" it will be. Remember, this is a whole new park company coming in to re-do it.

Disney has stop-lights. :shrug:

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

You are all mental. I blame the tea incident, bloody colonials. Or in Montys case the dual language fiasco.

 

[jt04]

Oh god, here we go again.

I love how with every post, you have this smug attitude that you (just some poster on an internet message board) have everything figured out and somehow are able to predict how everything will turn out.

I highly doubt you ever even went to Cypress Gardens, and I doubt you have ever even been to the town of Winter Haven, FL. So please, go visit this DUMP of a park that is an hour drive from WDW with tons of stop lights through towns with a high crime rate before making your baseless assumptions.

Ah, because Orlando has no crime or stoplights. Got it. :lookaroun

Fun spot is adding 10 acres, this would only be a threat to Morey's Pier if it was happening in wildwood. As for Orlando Thrill Park, IOA is more thrill than wdw.

And with legoland, it is over an hour away from wdw. Not alot of people are not going to waste 2 hours of their day traveling to a kid's park that isn't going to occupy their whole day.

It is not just expanding a small amusement park. It is the totality of all the offerings that will soon be available in the I-Drive area and the fact Legoland will 'intercept' visitors from the Tampa region. It is as if Disney is going to be surrounded. Disney will have to react with new offerings beyond the FLE and HW. Consider it a prediction for the new year.

You are all mental. I blame the tea incident, bloody colonials. Or in Montys case the dual language fiasco.

FEAR THE LEGOS!


:lol:

 

[flavious27]

Ah, because Orlando has no crime or stoplights. Got it. :lookaroun



It is not just expanding a small amusement park. It is the totality of all the offerings that will soon be available in the I-Drive area and the fact Legoland will 'intercept' visitors from the Tampa region. It is as if Disney is going to be surrounded. Disney will have to react with new offerings beyond the FLE and HW. Consider it a prediction for the new year.



FEAR THE LEGOS!


:lol:

so if they expand the toy train set at the german pavilion they should be fine?

 

[cheezbat]

so if they expand the toy train set at the german pavilion they should be fine?

YES! That is exactly the answer Disney needs to retaliate with! :ROFLOL:

Universal and Potter will indeed be soaking up more of my money in 2011...
as will Busch Gardens and Legoland. As for WDW...not so much. That's three years in a row where I've taken my time and money elsewhere...of course Disneyland will probably get a portion again this year instead too.

 

[JimboJones123]

IoA closed to capacity more than MK. Just sayin.

 

[mm52200]

Does anyone know when the annual attendance figures for all the parks in the US will be posted? Those should be real interesting to see, as I wouldn't be surprised if Disneyland surpassed the Magic Kingdom and Universal and IOA surpassed DHS and DAK.

 

[T-1MILLION]

Does anyone know when the annual attendance figures for all the parks in the US will be posted? Those should be real interesting to see, as I wouldn't be surprised if Disneyland surpassed the Magic Kingdom and Universal and IOA surpassed DHS and DAK.

I know one of those are the T.E.A. reports but I believe that they won't be released for a good while later in the year. I could be wrong though.

Be careful, I got lambasted for predicitng that IOA could likely reach higher attendance than DCA for 2010.

 

[trr1]

I know one of those are the T.E.A. reports but I believe that they won't be released for a good while later in the year. I could be wrong though.

Be careful, I got lambasted for predicitng that IOA could likely reach higher attendance than DCA for 2010.

I think they are released in April

 

[_Scar]

Does anyone know when the annual attendance figures for all the parks in the US will be posted? Those should be real interesting to see, as I wouldn't be surprised if Disneyland surpassed the Magic Kingdom and Universal and IOA surpassed DHS and DAK.

I would be surprised if any of those things happened. EXTREMELY surprised. MK would not lose 4,000 guests per day in one year. DL would not gain 4,000 guests in one year. Though I do think Disneyland will gain, MK will stay the same... just not close enough for a change in rank.

I do think IoA will see a HUGE increase... but not threatening WDW's 4 main parks. IoA was, if I remember correctly, WAY behind. I do think it will rise ranks a lot though.

Also, I suspect DCA will rise a rank or two due to WoC.