Harry Potter IS making a difference!!

[flavious27]

IoA closed to capacity more than MK. Just sayin.

? IOA had to cut people off at the gates twice this month, the first time in its history. MK was closing due to capacity almost half this month, along with many times in the summer and spring. Also, MK holds more people than IOA can. It is like comparing the capacity of a focus to an excursion.

 

[flavious27]

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.

I think sometime in April.

As for IOA and universal in general, their numbers have been in a decline through the years. In 2007 they had a combined 11.6 million guests, by 2009 they were down to 10.1 million. Between those same years Seaworld's and WDW's numbers were stable. Whatever increase IOA had is impressive but they lost almost a million guests in less than 2 years, which is a fifth of their '07 numbers.

 

[flavious27]

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.

Well disney isn't going to spend the time or resources to compete against a park that is an hour away that might get a million guests after the first 5 years. Has Busch Gardens added a new super ride or expanded? Their numbers have been hanging steady at 4 million a year; with nothing new, they won't be taking guests away from wdw.

As for universal soaking in money, wb and rk are getting a cut of that and universal is going to need to actually keep ioa fresh each year, not every decade. If their numbers drop back down under 5 million annual guests, they will be losing money having wwhp in their parks.

 

[JimboJones123]

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.

Another adjustment tha can be made is for those that didn't go earlier in the year to IoA as they wait for HP to open.

 

[marni1971]

? IOA had to cut people off at the gates twice this month, the first time in its history. MK was closing due to capacity almost half this month, along with many times in the summer and spring. .

A bad example, yes, but didn`t the MK only go at most to phase 3 when IOA had the equivilent of a 4?

 

[flavious27]

A bad example, yes, but didn`t the MK only go at most to phase 3 when IOA had the equivilent of a 4?

well being closed due to capacity is still being closed to capacity to day trippers. IOA doesn't have the phases because they don't have the amount of on-site guests that factor in. it would be like comparing a play getting sold out to a club that has reached its capacity, one has a client base that is not turning over and the other is turning over.

 

[flavious27]

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.

well uni and ioa combined already had slightly more guests than either dhs or dak, but they wouldn't have more than both of them combined. The amount of the increase 36%, which I am going to say is for IOA, will put IOA back to their 2007 numbers. It will be seen in 2011 and 2012 if that increase was a stepping stone to more growth or it is was a huge increase due to novelty and florida residents visiting IOA for the first time in a couple of years.

 

[stingrock23]

I'm just glad this is getting people in the door. I've been spending 1-2 days at Universal every trip since 1996, and it just boggles my mind that some of you won't step foot on that property. Yes, we're all Disney fans at heart, and that's how our theme park obsession started, but why limit yourself to the Disney empire when other companies are trying to entertain you? I haven't been in 2 years and will be looking forward to my fall trip where we'll be going to Disney, Universal, and Busch in Tampa.

As far as I'm concerned, all of you who dismiss Universal because you're "Disney 4 life" are just ignorant. All you're doing is shorting yourself from experiencing something else. I'm not necessarily a Potter fan, but I can't wait to see all of the new land over there.

You're just shortchanging yourself by not going.

 

[tirian]

I'm just glad this is getting people in the door. I've been spending 1-2 days at Universal every trip since 1996, and it just boggles my mind that some of you won't step foot on that property. Yes, we're all Disney fans at heart, and that's how our theme park obsession started, but why limit yourself to the Disney empire when other companies are trying to entertain you? I haven't been in 2 years and will be looking forward to my fall trip where we'll be going to Disney, Universal, and Busch in Tampa.

As far as I'm concerned, all of you who dismiss Universal because you're "Disney 4 life" are just ignorant. All you're doing is shorting yourself from experiencing something else. I'm not necessarily a Potter fan, but I can't wait to see all of the new land over there.

You're just shortchanging yourself by not going.

Imagineers visit—and ENJOY—other theme parks all the time. Tony Baxter frequents Knott's Berry Farm. It's just part of enjoying life (and seeing what the competition is doing).

 

[Monty]

I'm just glad this is getting people in the door. I've been spending 1-2 days at Universal every trip since 1996, and it just boggles my mind that some of you won't step foot on that property. Yes, we're all Disney fans at heart, and that's how our theme park obsession started, but why limit yourself to the Disney empire when other companies are trying to entertain you? I haven't been in 2 years and will be looking forward to my fall trip where we'll be going to Disney, Universal, and Busch in Tampa.

As far as I'm concerned, all of you who dismiss Universal because you're "Disney 4 life" are just ignorant. All you're doing is shorting yourself from experiencing something else. I'm not necessarily a Potter fan, but I can't wait to see all of the new land over there.

You're just shortchanging yourself by not going.

We went. I bought Premier Passes for my son and I for the purpose. We wanted to give the parks a fair chance.

While I appreciate that others would enjoy it, it just isn't for us. We didn't have a horrible time, in fact we thoroughly enjoyed the new Harry Potter area and we enjoyed a few of the rides throughout the two parks. It simply wasn't over all worth it to us.

I'm glad you do enjoy it, having people spend time and money at Universal is not something I would discourage. I've even recommended it to friends that I feel would enjoy it more than I or my son did.

When I returned to FLA in October some friends were going to HHN, I joined them since I had my pass and a voucher for HHN. I really didn't enjoy myself at all other than the company I was with. I'm glad the voucher got me in because paying for it would have upset me. But there were loads of people there having fun, more power to them.

 

[flavious27]

I'm just glad this is getting people in the door. I've been spending 1-2 days at Universal every trip since 1996, and it just boggles my mind that some of you won't step foot on that property. Yes, we're all Disney fans at heart, and that's how our theme park obsession started, but why limit yourself to the Disney empire when other companies are trying to entertain you? I haven't been in 2 years and will be looking forward to my fall trip where we'll be going to Disney, Universal, and Busch in Tampa.

As far as I'm concerned, all of you who dismiss Universal because you're "Disney 4 life" are just ignorant. All you're doing is shorting yourself from experiencing something else. I'm not necessarily a Potter fan, but I can't wait to see all of the new land over there.

You're just shortchanging yourself by not going.

I wouldn't go back to IOA because the only thing that was added since '01 was forbidden journey and I don't think that uni is worth the $90 per day vs paying $58 or $50 for a 5th or 6th day at wdw. when comcast rids uni of its management and spends real money to add new attractions, then maybe we will spend a day less at wdw.

 

[cheezbat]

Well disney isn't going to spend the time or resources to compete against a park that is an hour away that might get a million guests after the first 5 years. Has Busch Gardens added a new super ride or expanded? Their numbers have been hanging steady at 4 million a year; with nothing new, they won't be taking guests away from wdw.

As for universal soaking in money, wb and rk are getting a cut of that and universal is going to need to actually keep ioa fresh each year, not every decade. If their numbers drop back down under 5 million annual guests, they will be losing money having wwhp in their parks.

Busch Gardens added a big Sesame Street play area in 2010, and the HUGE new Cheetah Hunt coaster and area is being added in spring 2011. Busch is continually adding and upgrading things at that park.

Universal always brings in around 5 million to each of the parks...Universal Studios has at times seen between 8 and 9 million guests. This year I think IOA's numbers will finish off close to 7 or 8 million. While not Disney numbers, still a VERY GOOD number, and taking away from WDW's attendance.

 

[cheezbat]

I wouldn't go back to IOA because the only thing that was added since '01 was forbidden journey and I don't think that uni is worth the $90 per day vs paying $58 or $50 for a 5th or 6th day at wdw. when comcast rids uni of its management and spends real money to add new attractions, then maybe we will spend a day less at wdw.

You don't think $90 a day is worth it....well i don't think $90 a day is worth it at the Disney parks either. Some of us don't buy like 7 day tickets, since i live here and it's pointless for someone like me to buy a multi-day ticket like so many of you out of staters do. As for season passes...way too expensive as well.

Why so much hate for Universal's management? What did they do? They're looking at adding more stuff to the parks down here already....they AREN'T Team Disney Orlando. :lol:

If you don't want to come to Universal and enjoy what it has to offer, then don't. The parks are already crowded enough. lol

 

[jakeman]

What's the capacity of both parks?

 

[JimboJones123]

You don't think $90 a day is worth it....well i don't think $90 a day is worth it at the Disney parks either. Some of us don't buy like 7 day tickets, since i live here and it's pointless for someone like me to buy a multi-day ticket like so many of you out of staters do. As for season passes...way too expensive as well.

Why so much hate for Universal's management? What did they do? They're looking at adding more stuff to the parks down here already....they AREN'T Team Disney Orlando. :lol:

If you don't want to come to Universal and enjoy what it has to offer, then don't. The parks are already crowded enough. lol

Bang or the buck, IoA is right up there. I would pay $90 for a single day at MK, but never for the other parks.

 

[RSoxNo1]

From an Attraction lineup standpoint for adults, IoA is as strong as any Disney World park.

 

[thelookingglass]

I wouldn't go back to IOA because the only thing that was added since '01 was forbidden journey and I don't think that uni is worth the $90 per day vs paying $58 or $50 for a 5th or 6th day at wdw. when comcast rids uni of its management and spends real money to add new attractions, then maybe we will spend a day less at wdw.

IOA started out as a complete park with a stellar lineup, unlike DAK and DHS, which TO THIS DAY do not have as much to offer as IOA.

 

[flavious27]

Busch Gardens added a big Sesame Street play area in 2010, and the HUGE new Cheetah Hunt coaster and area is being added in spring 2011. Busch is continually adding and upgrading things at that park.

Universal always brings in around 5 million to each of the parks...Universal Studios has at times seen between 8 and 9 million guests. This year I think IOA's numbers will finish off close to 7 or 8 million. While not Disney numbers, still a VERY GOOD number, and taking away from WDW's attendance.

Well they brought in 5 before, last year it was in the lower 4's. To have 7 or 8 they would have had to fill their capacity everyday and reported better numbers a few month back. I don't know if they are taking away from disney, while ioa was losing almost a million guests in 2 years, everyone else stayed constant.

 

[flavious27]

IOA started out as a complete park with a stellar lineup, unlike DAK and DHS, which TO THIS DAY do not have as much to offer as IOA.

They both have just as much to offer, they have different attractions than ioa. I would agree that IOA opened with a stellar lineup, but it is a lineup that hasn't changed in a decade.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Hadn't.....