Review of new Potter Land

[marni1971]

I read somewhere that the ride experience would use the same technology as the KONG ride at the California universal park. Is this true? I am envisioning the "windows" of the train being HD monitors and the train cabins to have some motion-based platform where the riders can have some thrilling adventure..

Kind of. The views will have a 3D appearance without glasses using tech similar to the parallax displays of Mission:Space but several generations beyond. There will also be a number of other physical effects, including motion.

You may also be pleased to hear the ride profile of FJ has been toned down around the edges since you visited and is being further refined.

 

[71jason]

The highest grossing film of all time not relevant?

Um, I think I will pass on that one.

Jimmy Thick- Scanning IMDB...

Box office does not equal relevance in the zeitgeist. Else we'd have a Brother Bear mini land, not a Little Mermaid mini-land.

 

[dennis-in-ct]

thank you Marni for the comments. I am so happy to know the motion on forbidden journey is being adjusted otherwise I am not sure I would have taken the ride again.

 

[GoofGoof]

It is more about Disney's reaction afterwards. I just do not see a scenario where fans of themed entertainment actually win. It is either a success and Disney is further convinced that franchises are what is important or it bombs (especially in terms of merchandise sales) and Disney is again convinced that going big is a bad idea.

This is a concern for me too. I think Avatar succeeding and further convincing Disney that franchises are important is the lesser of 2 evils. I'm probably thinking too short term, but the success or failure of Avatar could directly impact Star Wars related projects. Assuming they don't decide to fast track SW Land at DHS (doubtful) Star Wars should be in the beginning design and construction phase when Avatar opens. If Avatar bombs I could see them slashing the Star Wars budget and even cutting out rides or attractions. If Avatar succeeds it will further support the decision to build Star Wars. Of course when that succeeds too it will solidify the thinking that franchises are a must. I'm willing to take that lesser evil for the short term gain of a good Star Wars project.

 

[KJC]

This is a concern for me too. I think Avatar succeeding and further convincing Disney that franchises are important is the lesser of 2 evils. I'm probably thinking too short term, but the success or failure of Avatar could directly impact Star Wars related projects. Assuming they don't decide to fast track SW Land at DHS (doubtful) Star Wars should be in the beginning design and construction phase when Avatar opens. If Avatar bombs I could see them slashing the Star Wars budget and even cutting out rides or attractions. If Avatar succeeds it will further support the decision to build Star Wars. Of course when that succeeds too it will solidify the thinking that franchises are a must. I'm willing to take that lesser evil for the short term gain of a good Star Wars project.

Any chance that Disney will learn a different lesson from Universal, which is speed matters? If Avatar is a failure, the lesson might also be that they took too long building it.

We put off going back to Disney for two years until this February. We were waiting for the Mine Train, which when we first planned the trip, was slated to be open by then. It will not be open when we go.

Universal counterpoint: We were disappointed that we'd miss the Despicable Me ride on one of our trips, because we were booked to be there a month earlier than its slated opening. We got to ride it twice, thanks to technical rehearsals.

 

[danlb_2000]

Any chance that Disney will learn a different lesson from Universal, which is speed matters? If Avatar is a failure, the lesson might also be that they took too long building it.

We put off going back to Disney for two years until this February. We were waiting for the Mine Train, which when we first planned the trip, was slated to be open by then. It will not be open when we go.

Universal counterpoint: We were disappointed that we'd miss the Despicable Me ride on one of our trips, because we were booked to be there a month earlier than its slated opening. We got to ride it twice, thanks to technical rehearsals.

But to the average guest does speed, in and of itself, really matter? A lot of guests don't even know a new ride has been built until they get there. If Avatar is a failure because it was to long after the movie then it was a bad choice to begin with because a theme park attraction is likely to be around for 10 to 20 years, if not more ,and needs to continue to be a draw during that time.

 

[GoofGoof]

Any chance that Disney will learn a different lesson from Universal, which is speed matters? If Avatar is a failure, the lesson might also be that they took too long building it.

We put off going back to Disney for two years until this February. We were waiting for the Mine Train, which when we first planned the trip, was slated to be open by then. It will not be open when we go.

Universal counterpoint: We were disappointed that we'd miss the Despicable Me ride on one of our trips, because we were booked to be there a month earlier than its slated opening. We got to ride it twice, thanks to technical rehearsals.

I don't think speed matters a whole lot. You build a ride to last 30+ years so whether Avatar opens in 2015 or 2017 won't make any difference in 2025 or 2040 when people are riding it. If Splash Mountain opened 3 years later than it did it would still be my favorite ride today. I still don't see a whole lot of correlation between speed of construction and quality of attraction.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I do have a question of the Hogswart Train ride. I read somewhere that the ride experience would use the same technology as the KONG ride at the California universal park. Is this true? I am envisioning the "windows" of the train being HD monitors and the train cabins to have some motion-based platform where the riders can have some thrilling adventure. THAT would be cool. Can't wait to revisit Universal after Diagon Alley opens. And I wish they Poseidon attraction in the Lost Continent section would be reworked into a Chamber of Secrets experience.

What you are envisioning is correct. King Kong uses projections on a tunnel wall as the trams are open-air vehicles.

 

[Magenta Panther]

avatar land as a whole sounds exciting...bringing Pandora to the table also sounds exciting what worry's me is that early information provided by @marni1971 shows the apparent E ticket attraction as a projection based soaring on steroids....and the idea itself i have no issues with but to anchor a new land and to compete? i will hold judgement until completion and may i only hope that there is some real pixy dust in the pipeline because the is universals 80s.

the harry potter expansion aside the rumors swirling for the entire property are huge (new JP ,return of kong, more resorts after cabana) plus theres the finer details that many may overlook.

Harry Potter has cross-generational appeal...whereas Avatar only appeals to geeks, nerds, and other anti-socials. Universal's engineers are probably laughing their heads off at WDW's Pandora plans. They're certainly not shaking in their boots.

 

[Minnie_girl]

Box office does not equal relevance in the zeitgeist. Else we'd have a Brother Bear mini land, not a Little Mermaid mini-land.

lol....yes?

 

[luv]

Nothing can compete with Harry Potter. There isn't another group of current books that were as well-loved as those books were (by children AND adults, no less)...not to mention the movies. Disney cannot compete with that by adding any one land. They just can't and they shouldn't even try.

Disney can only compete by doing what they did best - having wonderful parks that are clean, pretty, in good shape and that have most rides as things everyone can enjoy...with a couple baby rides and a couple serious thrill rides thrown in. Theme them well, engage people and have the staff be nice.

If Disney did what Disney used to do, they wouldn't have to worry so much about stupid things like billion dollar wristbands.

Disney really has no idea how to run theme parks any longer. Sad to say, but it's true. IMO.

 

[RandomPrincess]

Nothing can compete with Harry Potter. There isn't another group of current books that were as well-loved as those books were (by children AND adults, no less)...not to mention the movies.

Those older Harry Potter kids are now having/had kids. My DD has a friend at preschool who is obsessed with Harry Potter already (Potter parents). He's introducing Harry to all the other 4 yos in his class. DD was asking if I knew Harry Potter? LOL Got to explain to her she shares her name with a character in the books and it blew her mind! Now my kids are playing wizards and flying on brooms around my house. Never having seen the movies or read the books.

 

[luv]

Those older Harry Potter kids are now having/had kids. My DD has a friend at preschool who is obsessed with Harry Potter already (Potter parents). He's introducing Harry to all the other 4 yos in his class. DD was asking if I knew Harry Potter? LOL Got to explain to her she shares her name with a character in the books and it blew her mind! Now my kids are playing wizards and flying on brooms around my house. Never having seen the movies or read the books.

My son is very anti-theme park. Just doesn't want to go. He said he might like to go check out the Harry Potter area, lol. Maybe ride Rip, Ride, Rockit. (Maybe, lol.)

I know when he has kids, he will totally take them to Uni. Uni was always his favorite, anyway. His kids won't get out of toddlerhood before he takes them there. (And I really hope he settles down and has some grandchildren for me soon, though I've never said anything. It's time to get married, kid!!)

 

[RandomPrincess]

My son is very anti-theme park. Just doesn't want to go. He said he might like to go check out the Harry Potter area, lol. Maybe ride Rip, Ride, Rockit. (Maybe, lol.)

I know when he has kids, he will totally take them to Uni. Uni was always his favorite, anyway. His kids won't get out of toddlerhood before he takes them there. (And I really hope he settles down and has some grandchildren for me soon, though I've never said anything. It's time to get married, kid!!)

There is something magic about those well themed environments. My FIL has no connection to Harry Potter never saw a single movie but he love Hogsmeade! There is something magic about the area. They did something so well it doesn't matter it you know anything about it or not.

 

[Figment2005]

As has been said many times before, no matter what an attraction, land, restaurant, bathroom is themed after, as long as it is done well people will visit/use the facility. As an example, from what I have seen, even though mermaid may not be a top notch attraction and not up to what many believe to be Disney standards, the land around it is done so well that it draws the guests inside. People take pictures with the scenes and facades, and 7 dwarf's will only enhance that experience with an even more detailed theme and a hopefully solid attraction addition.

I feel the exact same thing is bound to happen with Pandora: The World of Avatar. The differences being that Pandora will, hopefully, have a more solid attraction lineup and the detail of the land will be even more enthralling than what Fantasyland offered. The land itself, just like Fantasyland, will be a main attraction with its own draw.

Both of the Harry Potter areas in Universal have the exact same traits. The land itself draws the guests inside, then the land is supported by the attractions within. Space is the biggest difference between the two theme parks. Fantasyland, and most likely Pandora, have plenty of guest room to stand around soak in the environment. Unfortunately Hogsmeade, and what I have seen of Diagon Alley, are not blessed with that amount of space. Universal had to use what it had available and I feel did a great job. As I have said before, my only complaint with Hogsmeade is Universals lack of hiding the show building to make the land 100% disconnected from reality.

 

[TubaGeek]

I don't think speed matters a whole lot. You build a ride to last 30+ years so whether Avatar opens in 2015 or 2017 won't make any difference in 2025 or 2040 when people are riding it. If Splash Mountain opened 3 years later than it did it would still be my favorite ride today. I still don't see a whole lot of correlation between speed of construction and quality of attraction.

I'd much rather make an annual pilgrimage to a theme park and have new, exciting, ground-breaking attractions than one addition every few years.

 

[GoofGoof]

I'd much rather make an annual pilgrimage to a theme park and have new, exciting, ground-breaking attractions than one addition every few years.

I agree and I doubt anyone would disagree with that.

My point is that once the attraction opens and operates for many years its completely irrelevant how long they took to build. I see people discount Mine Train and call it a fail because it took so long to build. The same is being said about Avatar too. Comments like "the concept art looks good, but it won't open for 3 years". While it is disappointing to have to wait 2 to 3 years for something new, once the ride opens that long build time doesn't have an impact on my ride experience.

 

[cheezbat]

Everyone seems to be giving the new Fantasy land a fail but compared to a walled off piece of dirt it's an improvement. For that matter I think it's serving it's purpose since that part of MK is where all the families with little kids go, not sure what people expected??? Would I have liked something different?? Yes but my kids are getting older now so I'm looking for something more lively but I know the kids love the new Dumbo with the little play ground in between. They still like the kiddie coast and for that matter were disappointed the new coaster isn't finished yet. There's one big problem, the kids were in a stroller when construction began, now they're headed over 54 inches so it's taking so long to finish FL that's it's almost comical.

New Fantasyland's biggest problem is its comparison to Hogsmeade. It almost seemed to be a reaction to Potter...even though it was planned before the opening of Potter.
It works for what it is, but when you see The Wizarding World, Carsland, Grizzly Gulch, Mystic Pointe...it just makes it seem so minor. It's missing a major E-ticket.
The Wizarding World Hogsmeade was a game changer. Diagon Alley will be another step up from that. Can Avatarland compete? I'm sure if they follow the details of the artwork that it will indeed be a fantastic new addition, but will the rides be anything to truly write home about?
WDW's true chance at a game changing land is Star Wars. We all know it. Disney needs to get off their butts and build the thing already. Fans have been clamoring for it for years. If done right, it will be the true cash cow answer to Potter that Disney's been looking for for years.

 

[xdan0920]

I agree and I doubt anyone would disagree with that.

My point is that once the attraction opens and operates for many years its completely irrelevant how long they took to build. I see people discount Mine Train and call it a fail because it took so long to build. The same is being said about Avatar too. Comments like "the concept art looks good, but it won't open for 3 years". While it is disappointing to have to wait 2 to 3 years for something new, once the ride opens that long build time doesn't have an impact on my ride experience.

All REASONABLE people would agree with you. Once built, build time, goes out the window. What is being effected is the experience at the parks in the mean time. They are pretty doggone stale at the moment, and with Avatar many years off, they are going to stay that way.

 

[RandomPrincess]

Everyone seems to be giving the new Fantasy land a fail but compared to a walled off piece of dirt it's an improvement. For that matter I think it's serving it's purpose since that part of MK is where all the families with little kids go, not sure what people expected??? Would I have liked something different?? Yes but my kids are getting older now so I'm looking for something more lively but I know the kids love the new Dumbo with the little play ground in between. They still like the kiddie coast and for that matter were disappointed the new coaster isn't finished yet. There's one big problem, the kids were in a stroller when construction began, now they're headed over 54 inches so it's taking so long to finish FL that's it's almost comical.

I think new FL is wonderful and well done over all. I think if they had opened the whole land all together circus area, SWMT, Ariel and Belle areas along with the new parade it would be a much bigger deal in peoples eyes. The staggered openings really sucked the wind out of NFLs sails. Opening it over 3 years really was a fail on Disney's part.