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

[71jason]

Just to make sure I'm understanding.. their #1 hard ticket event is a Haunted House right?

A collection of haunted houses, along with streets essentially turned into haunted houses--ranked the best Halloween event in the country year after year. It's a big deal, busier nights the park is near or at capacity. Rumor has it HHN and the Mardi Gras concerts in the Spring are what came the park afloat before Harry Potter came along. It's planned year-round, with construction for this year's event already well under way.

 

[misterID]

A collection of haunted houses, along with streets essentially turned into haunted houses--ranked the best Halloween event in the country year after year. It's a big deal, busier nights the park is near or at capacity. Rumor has it HHN and the Mardi Gras concerts in the Spring are what came the park afloat before Harry Potter came along. It's planned year-round, with construction for this year's event already well under way.

I really wish they'd build a REAL Haunted House ride in UNI. I can't even imagine how crazy it would be.

And use Chucky's Insult Emporium as the queue.

 

[whylightbulb]

You know what? I just heard that the Comcast bigwigs are at UNI as we speak ... and no, they aren't there to discuss terms of handing Spidey and Hulk over to Bob Iger (sorry, fanbois!) ... I wonder what they are doing there?

Yea I saw them. They had a huge checkbook in their hand

 

[bubbles1812]

Yea I saw them. They had a huge checkbook in their hand

Could I get in on that action? If Uni is getting some big checks written to them, I don't see why little ol' me couldn't get some money too...if they pay off my student loans, I promise I'll go to Universal a lot more than I do now

On a serious note, it's exciting they paid a visit to Universal just purely from the standpoint that its obvious they do care and are treating the parks as an asset rather than a hindrance.

 

[cheezbat]

I'm just hoping that big checkbook is indeed being used To pay to green light all of these attractions and rumors we've been hearing lately. If IOA is getting something new in Jurassic Park as well as something elsewhere, the SS44 attraction, Potter 2.0, the Kidzone redo, and something else between MIB and the Simpsons as well as a new waterpark...I think I'll burst!

 

[marni1971]

SS44 won't be an attraction per se. Sadly. But it could be for the best in the long run.

I'm hoping the check book (it's actually a cheque book but hey!) is for the bigger plans. Aside from Potter 2 the rest is small fry.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Yea I saw them. They had a huge checkbook in their hand

As Burbank reluctantly gives TDO a food stamp.

 

[asianway]

Could I get in on that action? If Uni is getting some big checks written to them, I don't see why little ol' me couldn't get some money too...if they pay off my student loans, I promise I'll go to Universal a lot more than I do now

On a serious note, it's exciting they paid a visit to Universal just purely from the standpoint that its obvious they do care and are treating the parks as an asset rather than a hindrance.

How many people's brains on this board would melt if Comcast were to buy the parks from TWDC?

 

[the.dreamfinder]

How many people's brains on this board would melt if Comcast were to buy the parks from TWDC?

I'd say roughly 67.43 percent, but I might be off a percent or two.

 

[COProgressFan]

How many people's brains on this board would melt if Comcast were to buy the parks from TWDC?

Interesting, as Comcast wanted to buy them back in '04...

 

[Lee]

How many people's brains on this board would melt if Comcast were to buy the parks from TWDC?

Won't happen now, but I would be cool with it as long as it were an OLC type of arrangement.

Interesting, as Comcast wanted to buy them back in '04...

Back then Comcast wanted to buy the whole company, not just P&R. That...I wouldn't have liked.

 

[breakin2]

Maybe Apple could buy Disney. They already have a relationship and Apple seems to care about their products.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

SS44 won't be an attraction per se. Sadly. But it could be for the best in the long run.

I'm hoping the check book (it's actually a cheque book but hey!) is for the bigger plans. Aside from Potter 2 the rest is small fry.

I thought you people called it "Ye Olde Cheque Book".

 

[bubbles1812]

I thought you people called it "Ye Olde Cheque Book".

It's just so nice there is an existent cheque/check book, olde or not Sometimes I still feel surprised Comcast actually took an interest...especially considering the parks are relative small fry when it comes to their overall revenue. And then it's even more interesting watching things decline at WDW, considering how important they are to the company's revenue. Oh the irony!

 

[HenryMystic]

It's just so nice there is an existent cheque/check book, olde or not Sometimes I still feel surprised Comcast actually took an interest...especially considering the parks are relative small fry when it comes to their overall revenue. And then it's even more interesting watching things decline at WDW, considering how important they are to the company's revenue. Oh the irony!

Important to note, Steve Burke Comcast VP in charge of the parks is a former Disney guy who loves theme parks.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Maybe Apple could buy Disney. They already have a relationship and Apple seems to care about their products.

Part of Apple's success is that they deliberately avoid just growing into a conglomerate. While there are various iterations, it is still quite easy to list off the primary lines of Apple products. While Disney, like so many others, has shed some of its more unrelated businesses it is still a vast media empire involved in so many different things.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Important to note, Steve Burke Comcast VP in charge of the parks is a former Disney guy who loves theme parks.

Yup. He ran Euro Disneyland in mid nineties, even learned to speak French fluently for the job. The guy's a real go-getter. I hope they trample over WDW in the coming years.
If you want to learn more about him, he's in the book DisneyWar and a Philadelphia magazine profile on him and the Comcast's CEO last year.

 

[misterID]

Oh I'm Sure he is right. Basically I knew of a second phase of MIB that was never built but the land was left open for. You can see the M and the I on the facade? Well, the other part would also incorporate the B. But of they have better use for the land then I hope they go for it.

Does anyone know what the second phase of MiB was going to be?

 

[bubbles1812]

Does anyone know what the second phase of MiB was going to be?

Someone earlier in the thread said I believe it was supposed to be a restaurant? And it was supposed to be a bit more elaborate at the entrance? I believe they were going to have talking AA aliens in the queue or something like that. Though could be wrong, but that's the impression I got from when it was discussed earlier.

 

[WDW1974]

Yea I saw them. They had a huge checkbook in their hand

Oh, are they looking at hiring any Spirited consultants? I'd much rather work for a company that creates real MAGIC than one that pushes the marketing variety!