NYT: "Universal....Takes Aim at Disney"

[jt04]

You seem to be judging the whole of HP based on peoples reactions to FJ alone. Of course some people will always like other rides better. They are different and varied and everyone has their preferences. But I don't think you can argue that Universal didn't go all out where their presentation...they built the entire Hogwarts castle and a walk through that stands all on its own without the ride. You also haven't been on it to judge for yourself so there is that...

Exactly, not saying that Uni did not go all out. I have no doubt they did the best they could. Never said otherwise. As I said many times I am sure it is a great attraction. But WDI still rules the roost as you will see quite clearly on June 15th.

Truth can be difficult to deal with sometimes but ignoring it doesn't make it go away.

 

[maxairmike]

In my many rides I could probably count on one hand the number of people I've noticed that weren't at least happy with the experience, and most come off the ride bubbling and rushing to tell the rest of their group that didn't ride how awesome Forbidden Journey is. Of course, that's just first hand experience (well, technically probably second hand, but whatever). I also am hard pressed to find a day I can walk on the ride unless its a day where I could also likely walk on most any major ride at Disney as well. Oh, and I'm also at a loss to think of a queue at Disney that's anywhere close to the FJ queue (or has a line just so people can walk through without riding the ride). Yeah, Tower of Terror and RnRC are cool, but not nearly the level of FJ.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

Spare me the talking point that Disney is "freaked" by the success of Potter. It has been proven WDW benefits from the success of Universal Orlando. It brought people to Orlando that would not have been there anyway and Disney benefitted.

I will tell you who is showing signs of panic and that is Uni as evidenced by there recent approval to expand Potter. I am sure they had hoped to ride the phase 1 of Potter a bit further. But the buzz has already diminished as evidenced by decreased wait times.

I have not experienced FJ, don't need to. I have read numerous reviews from people I know are not trolling on behalf of Universal. And even the most rabid fanboys can't disguise the undercurrent of dissappointment. I am not saying it is not great as it likely is but for the vast majority the hype could not equal expectations. Marketing can be a two-edged sword.

I will not revisit the Orlando area until they add enough new content. I have too many other commitments to be able to go to Orlando area regularly. But I have been to Universal several times and have experienced everything except FJ and after.

Again, I read tons of reviews and trip reports and FJ may be the most advanced theme park experience ever but it still lacks that special secret recipe WDI keeps locked in the vault.

When more that one person whom I respect claims to love FJ but that they still think Spiderman is a better experience at Universal, then that is all I need to know. As for me. I will stick with the Haunted Mansion. It has all the ingredients. Created by people who understood committment and have/had a depth of character that is rarely found today. And it shows in the final product.

You and others can rant and rave about FJ all day but you can't change this fact no matter how much you would like to.

Yep, uni is so panicked that they're fast tracking a clone for the west coast. Exactly the right move to make when you're "panicked" about how unsuccessful something is... Build another one!!!

And I said it before... Uni's attendance rose incredibly, and Disney's remained stagnant... Your insistence that TDO is making bank because of Potter is foolish (surprise, surprise). The number don't lie, jt. Attendance at WDW is stagnant. At best. It's there in black and white.

I'll ignore your off base comments about FJ... I'd rather discuss the attraction with someone that's actually experienced it.

 

[jt04]

And I said it before... Uni's attendance rose incredibly, and Disney's remained stagnant... Your insistence that TDO is making bank because of Potter is foolish (surprise, surprise). The number don't lie, jt. Attendance at WDW is stagnant. At best. It's there in black and white.

Laughable spin. There were people here who thought FJ would cause IoA to surpass the MK in numbers. Get back to me when that happens and you will have my attention.

 

[bubbles1812]

Exactly, not saying that Uni did not go all out. I have no doubt they did the best they could. Never said otherwise. As I said many times I am sure it is a great attraction. But WDI still rules the roost as you will see quite clearly on June 15th.

Truth can be difficult to deal with sometimes but ignoring it doesn't make it go away.

June 15th?? Are you referring to the new Dumbo queue? And are you seriously comparing them building the entire village of Hogsmeade (with no "real world" brand integration such as you see with Disney and Star Wars but rather the just did an entirely immersive world only taken from the books and movies) with full themes and full castle to the Dumbo queue and new spinner? Ok...

 

[marni1971]

June 15th?? Are you referring to the new Dumbo queue? And are you seriously comparing them building the entire village of Hogsmeade (with no "real world" brand integration such as you see with Disney and Star Wars but rather the just did an entirely immersive world only taken from the books and movies) with full themes and full castle to the Dumbo queue and new spinner? Ok...

I hope he's referring to Radiator Springs Racers, an attraction deemed too expensive by TDO.

WDI can still do it, or as you say rule the roost. But so can others now.

Btw, sorry JT. I didn't know you hadn't actually experienced Potter or FJ.

 

[maxairmike]

Laughable spin. There were people here who thought FJ would cause IoA to surpass the MK in numbers. Get back to me when that happens and you will have my attention.

That's laughable on its face because it can't physically happen. If you (or anyone else) even entertained the thought for a moment...you're more ridiculous than I thought. That should have been thrown out on its face the moment someone said it, but I'm sure many (like you) held on to the statement to try and throw it back when it inevitably didn't happen.

Again, the raw attendance numbers mean crap, its ratios, financials, percentages and such that matter. And in those things, Uni is making it all count. Heck, has Disney ever done anything in the parks that made back its investment in 2 months? Carsland might, but we'll have to wait at least a half a year to see.

 

[bubbles1812]

Laughable spin. There were people here who thought FJ would cause IoA to surpass the MK in numbers. Get back to me when that happens and you will have my attention.

People who said HP (you keep using FJ...it's not the only attraction by the way, just an FYI, since you seem to think
that it alone is the draw) would cause IoA to surpass MK were overextending. I would never have said that nor would I think most rational people on this thread. MK will be the top visited park in the world for the forseeable future. That being said, as Buried20K said, and others have said, you cannot argue that Universals attendance hasn't soared while Disney's has stagnated. Total attendance numbers are meaningless. It's all about % of increase, ect. And that Uni's has reason while Disney's has stayed the same is a fact. Not something anyone is making up. And there is a reason why.

 

[marni1971]

Laughable spin. There were people here who thought FJ would cause IoA to surpass the MK in numbers. Get back to me when that happens and you will have my attention.

People who thought IOA would surpass the MK in attendence are indeed idiots.

But you can't deny IOAs numbers rocketed and WDWs didn't. That's not spin. That's the fact.

 

[bubbles1812]

I hope he's referring to Radiator Springs Racers, an attraction deemed too expensive by TDO.

WDI can still do it, or as you say rule the roost. But so can others now.

Ahh, ok, that makes a bit more sense. If it was the actual Dumbo queue and new spinner he was talking about...well, let's just say that would have given me a good laugh on a day that's going badly. I was trying think of new things at Disney World that were opening and that is the only new thing so...

And I'm not arguing RSR isn't impressive. I watched that video and it is great! It truly is. That being said...we are talking about Universal and Disney World not Disney Land. Two different management teams. It's kind of irrelevant to talk about RSR in this context. Like you said, RSR isn't exactly something WDW is getting anytime soon. It's not like TDO had anything to do with it...

 

[Lee]

I hope he's referring to Radiator Springs Racers, an attraction deemed too expensive by TDO.

WDI can still do it, or as you say rule the roost. But so can others now.

But you can't really compare the two, I don't think.
RSR is a visual wonder, but you could build nearly 3 FJs for what it cost, no? Imagine what Uni could have done with $350mil.

 

[Todd H]

Looks like I'm finally going to visit Universal in August. I'm actually excited to see what Universal has to offer.

 

[maxairmike]

But you can't really compare the two, I don't think.
RSR is a visual wonder, but you could build nearly 3 FJs for what it cost, no? Imagine what Uni could have done with $350mil.

Had the boy wizard take over that awful show tucked away in the corner of the almost permanently lost Continent?

The Potter expansion priced by WDI probably would have been more than Carsland cost.

 

[flavious27]

I never heard that they had to do anything more than what they did for Potter phase 1.o?? I'm sure there was something in the contracts saying if you reach certain goals, we can explore expanding or something... but either way, not exactly panic when you are making millions upon millions each month.

If I could find a copy of whatever was released, there was wording that they needed to have elements from the last movies in the series included by some point. If they recoup the cost, to have just an update to FJ, some posters and news merch.

I know it will be a while before I see whatever they are planning to do. Our next trip is for fall 2013. I guess we are only going to see wwhp phase 1 for free.

 

[flavious27]

But you can't really compare the two, I don't think.
RSR is a visual wonder, but you could build nearly 3 FJs for what it cost, no? Imagine what Uni could have done with $350mil.

Not taken over most of LC and expanded IOA? Could have built two kingda kas that compete against each other.

 

[bubbles1812]

If I could find a copy of whatever was released, there was wording that they needed to have elements from the last movies in the series included by some point. If they recoup the cost, to have just an update to FJ, some posters and news merch.

I know it will be a while before I see whatever they are planning to do. Our next trip is for fall 2013. I guess we are only going to see wwhp phase 1 for free.

Gotcha. I don't doubt you. Though honestly, even if it wasn't/isn't in their contract, I feel like Universal would have been going to WB to ask to build another area anyways. When I saw the Gringotts scene in the last movie, my immediate thought was that this was somehow going to end up a ride. I saw it on giant IMAX (not just giant screen but like one you find at Science Centers) and I actually felt like I was on a ride for those seconds they showed the characters going through the cavern. Obviously yes if it hadn't been so successful then there probably wouldn't have been the $$$ for expansion but I figured if there was money to do it, we would get a Potter 2.0, it was just a question of when. And they made enough money that it got to be sooner rather than later

 

[danb]

Isn't phase two of wwhp part of the contract that uni signed with wb?

I have seen it mentioned that there was a requirement in the contract that elements from the last two movies eventually be added. I haven't been able to find any actual confirmation of this.

Having been to WWoHP, IMHO it is definitly up to the quality I would expect from a Disney attraction and shows that Universal can match Disney in quality. As for FJ, I thought it was a fantastic ride and feel it's as good, if not better then any ride experience at WDW.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

Laughable spin. There were people here who thought FJ would cause IoA to surpass the MK in numbers. Get back to me when that happens and you will have my attention.

I love how you not only ignore my first and last points, but delete them so as to not draw attention to them by including them in your quote.

Anyone who would have said FJ would make IoA out draw the MK wouldn't be dealing in reality. I don't recall ever seeing anyone say that. It wouldn't matter anyway... That would be OPINION, whereas the attendance reports are REALITY. Two very different things. It would do you well to learn the difference.

 

[Captain Chaos]

I love how you not only ignore my first and last points, but delete them so as to not draw attention to them by including them in your quote.

Anyone who would have said FJ would make IoA out draw the MK wouldn't be dealing in reality. I don't recall ever seeing anyone say that. It wouldn't matter anyway... That would be OPINION, whereas the attendance reports are REALITY. Two very different things. It would do you well to learn the difference.

I don't recall anyone saying IOA would surpass MK, but I do recall some people thinking IOA may challenge DAK and DHS... And the park is only 2 million guests away from being on their attendance level... But MK??? I don't recall that...

 

[BigThunderMatt]