Princesses may not rule fantasy land after all! Frontierland expansion rumor reality?

[wizards8507]

Tom Staggs is awesome!

I would prefer to see something happening in Adventureland rather than in Frontierland - which already has 2 fantastic E-tickets. But I will take what I can get.

A clone of DL's Indy ride wouldn't be that expensive and it would certainly draw a lot of people, but it wouldn't have the same merchandise power as HP does. In fact, I don't think Disney has any franchises that could cause the huge merchandise and food lines we see at WWoHP. The Pirates could sell, but they already have their ride and their store.

Is there anything that anybody owns that could rival Potter strictly as a franchise? I've thrown this out in other threads, but the only "giant" left out there is Lord of the Rings.

Which, by the way, would be fan-darn-tastic.

 

[Mr. Morrow]

Is there anything that anybody owns that could rival Potter strictly as a franchise? I've thrown this out in other threads, but the only "giant" left out there is Lord of the Rings.

Which, by the way, would be fan-darn-tastic.

Star Wars.

Also id Carsland was brought to WDW it's main attraction could come close.

 

[Spike-in-Berlin]

Is there anything that anybody owns that could rival Potter strictly as a franchise? I've thrown this out in other threads, but the only "giant" left out there is Lord of the Rings.

Which, by the way, would be fan-darn-tastic.

True. I don't think that anything single could counter Potter alone, perhaps with the exception of an entire Star Wars Land in DHS but even this is perhaps not strong enough. Concerning LotR I love it (the books, not the Action Jackson movies) but some how I think it doesn't quite fit into Disney. I think that Disney could counter WWoHP (the only reason why we perhaps will finally go to Universal during our next trip) with a multifront offensive, a major addition in several parks at the same time. New rides in all four parks would perhaps pull more guests, especially when they are highly elaborated and unique. New rides in the tradition of HM and PotC, imagineered in the tradition of those rides that didn't need any movie connection to become classics.

 

[Krack]

Is there anything that anybody owns that could rival Potter strictly as a franchise? I've thrown this out in other threads, but the only "giant" left out there is Lord of the Rings.

Which, by the way, would be fan-darn-tastic.

Star Wars could. If they developed a "Lucasland" at DHS and gave WDI carte blanche they could compete with Harry Potter.

 

[lebeau]

A clone of DL's Indy ride wouldn't be that expensive and it would certainly draw a lot of people, but it wouldn't have the same merchandise power as HP does. In fact, I don't think Disney has any franchises that could cause the huge merchandise and food lines we see at WWoHP. The Pirates could sell, but they already have their ride and their store.

I agree. Disney gave that up when they lost the Potter bidding war.

 

[Ignohippo]

The smartest thing to do at this point would be to continue with the Fantasyland Expansion as planned (perhaps change Pixie Hollow to Neverland and make Pixie Hollow a smaller sub-area) and then turn the attention to Hollywood Studios by adding a "mini" CarsLand, a revamped Bugs Life play area and the MI Coaster.

MK becomes the primary destination of girls and HS becomes the destination of choice for boys. This would also ensure families would spend multiple days on Disney Property.

I certainly think a big pirates area at MK and a renovated Tomorrowland would be great, but I think there's enough at MK for the entire family for now. With Pixar, Lucas, and a possible Toon Land, I think HS has the potential to be the #2 gate if it were expanded over time in the right way.

 

[lebeau]

Star Wars could. If they developed a "Lucasland" at DHS and gave WDI carte blanche they could compete with Harry Potter.

As big of a Star Wars fan as I am, I doubt it would match the merch sales of Potter.

There's Star Wars stuff everywhere and there has been for years. Potter fans have been craving good merch forever. There isn't another property I can think of with so many fans and so little merch.

 

[RobGraves]

Star Wars could. If they developed a "Lucasland" at DHS and gave WDI carte blanche they could compete with Harry Potter.

Star wars lost its massive merchandising appeal when lucas put it on the corner every 15 min...

now its got a strange rash and things arent as snug as they used to be... looks too rough for anyone to give it a good ride.

 

[lebeau]

MK becomes the primary destination of girls and HS becomes the destination of choice for boys. This would also ensure families would spend multiple days on Disney Property.

Just my opinion, but a "boys" park and a "girls" park sounds like a terrible idea to me.

 

[Spike-in-Berlin]

Just my opinion, but a "boys" park and a "girls" park sounds like a terrible idea to me.

Exactly and it's more undisneyish (in terms of Walt's original vision of a park for the whole family) than you even can explain.

 

[BrerFrog]

Is there anything that anybody owns that could rival Potter strictly as a franchise? I've thrown this out in other threads, but the only "giant" left out there is Lord of the Rings.

Which, by the way, would be fan-darn-tastic.

Lord of the Rings deserves a gate of its own, the crowds would be absolutely insane.

Star Wars could. If they developed a "Lucasland" at DHS and gave WDI carte blanche they could compete with Harry Potter.

I hadn't thought about SW, but I agree. Star Tours II sounds pretty amazing, but they would need something bigger and flashier to compete with Potter.

 

[71jason]

A huge reason for the lines in PotterLand is that the stuff isn't available anywhere else--most items can't even been found in Island Trading Co. at the front of the park (the wands were pulled, for example, after one day there). If you want a chocolate frog, you're waiting in line for Honeydukes.

Contrast with Disney Princess merch. Sure you can buy it in Fantasyland...but you can buy the same things in the Emporium...or the gift shops by Splash and Space Mountains...or Mousegear...or a cart in the Norway pavillion...or Dinoland in AK...[cough] or the Wal-Mart on 535...

 

[Ignohippo]

You're completely misunderstanding the idea. It's not a "girls" park and a "boys" park – it's just adding anchors that would cause a boy or girl to say "I want to go there!" There would still be the same universal appeal to both parks as there's always been.

I'm just saying why not spread the love rather than adding everything new to MK which will already see a big influx of guests from Fantasyland. Besides, there isn't much you could add at MK that would have the immediate impact of a mini CarsLand at HS.

 

[Mr. Morrow]

You're completely misunderstanding the idea. It's not a "girls" park and a "boys" park – it's just adding anchors that would cause a boy or girl to say "I want to go there!" There would still be the same universal appeal to both parks as there's always been.

I'm just saying why not spread the love rather than adding everything new to MK which will already see a big influx of guests from Fantasyland. Besides, there isn't much you could add at MK that would have the immediate impact of a mini CarsLand at HS.

I disagree you need to offer a balance in every land, Walt wanted families to be able to ride most things together.

 

[wizards8507]

A huge reason for the lines in PotterLand is that the stuff isn't available anywhere else--most items can't even been found in Island Trading Co. at the front of the park (the wands were pulled, for example, after one day there). If you want a chocolate frog, you're waiting in line for Honeydukes.

Contrast with Disney Princess merch. Sure you can buy it in Fantasyland...but you can buy the same things in the Emporium...or the gift shops by Splash and Space Mountains...or Mousegear...or a cart in the Norway pavillion...or Dinoland in AK...[cough] or the Wal-Mart on 535...

True but with the exception of the non-Disney retailers, a $20 sale is a $20 sale, regardless of where it's made. If anything, having the same items available in multiple locations disipates lines while maintaining sales. If 150 guests want to get into a shop that can process 100 guests/hr, you get a line and your sales are maxed at 100 units/hr. Conversely, open two shops and those 150 guests become 75 and 75, handled without a wait and maximizing on the sales from everyone.

 

[cslafferty]

Sorry, I really would like the Matterhorn in FL. I saw pictures of DL with Snow Whites castle in the foreground and Matterhorn towering behind. It looked nothing less than fantactic! But with the EE in DAK it is absolutely unrealistic to expect Disney build the Matterhorn in WDW ever. And if they would, it would more likely be built as part of the once planned Switzerland Pavilion in WS.

They DID bring the Matterhorn to FL - it's called Expedition Everest!

 

[Krack]

True but with the exception of the non-Disney retailers, a $20 sale is a $20 sale, regardless of where it's made. If anything, having the same items available in multiple locations disipates lines while maintaining sales. If 150 guests want to get into a shop that can process 100 guests/hr, you get a line and your sales are maxed at 100 units/hr. Conversely, open two shops and those 150 guests become 75 and 75, handled without a wait and maximizing on the sales from everyone.

It also dramatically reduces impulse buys, which used to be WDW's bread and butter.

 

[Mr. Morrow]

It also dramatically reduces impulse buys, which used to be WDW's bread and butter.

Yes for more proof of this got to The Disney Store.

 

[Spike-in-Berlin]

They DID bring the Matterhorn to FL - it's called Expedition Everest!

What exactly did I write? That EE, Expedition Everest is kind of the Matterhorn equivalent in WDW and thats why the real Matterhorn will not be built. But it is NOT the Matterhorn, there are some similarities but there are even more differences. You just can't say EE is Matterhorn.

 

[Mr. Morrow]

What exactly did I write? That EE, Expedition Everest is kind of the Matterhorn equivalent in WDW and thats why the real Matterhorn will not be built. But it is NOT the Matterhorn, there are some similarities but there are even more differences. You just can't say EE is Matterhorn.

WDW doesn't need another mountain themed coaster.