Should we still not worry?

[Grizzly Hall 71]

I guess w shouldn't worry cause Disney is just doing a fine job.
:hammer::hammer::hammer:

This is from the second quarter and HP opened 2 weeks prior to the end of it. Just saying but hey.

 

[misterID]

I still love the logic that Potterland is going to make Disney's attendance soar...:lol:

 

[Grizzly Hall 71]

I still love the logic that Potterland is going to make Disney's attendance soar...:lol:

:ROFLOL::ROFLOL::ROFLOL::ROFLOL::ROFLOL::ROFLOL:

Me to.

 

[kapeman]

Ive just googled...ohh err Mrs and Im sure Georgia must have been founded buy Scots theres no other explanation for all that fried food.

Where do I sign.

Are you kidding?

The entire Southeast US, is basically a big Highland games.

I once had a professor that compared the activities surrounding a football game in Tuscaloosa to a medieval Celtic/Pagan festival.

 

[fractal]

I agree with others...

Some serious competitive is the best thing that could happen for fans of WDW and fans of theme parks in general.

Either management will decide to make serious upgrades to the parks or the free-markets will.

 

[David S.]

Attendance up 2.2%, I don't think that is "soaring" at all, especially not since this is the first gain in 2 years. Merchandise up 12+%, that indeed is good, but I would bet the vast majority of that gain is WWoHP. Does WDW need to worry about this? Absolutely not, I actually believe their profits ended up higher than expected.

WWoHP will be great for Uni., but will doubtfully have any negative impacts on WDW. In fact WDW might actually get visitors who otherwise wouldn't have gone to any of their parks but went to Orlando specifically to see WWoHP and also decided to hit WDW. I seriously doubt WWoHP will have any negative impacts on WDW's financial gains. Now, hopefully it will encourage them to add some new rides, fix some existing problems, do more than the FLE, etc., but realistically Uni. does not, and probably will not ever, truly compete with WDW.

Great post, I agree!

 

[Tigger1988]

We get it; you're a Universal fan and down on Disney. Every thread is about how stale Disney has become, or how their ticket price increases are offensive, etc.....

Seriously, me thinks the OP would enjoy himself more on board about Universal. Talk about the soaring 2.2% attendance increase there.

 

[wm49rs]

Ive just googled...ohh err Mrs and Im sure Georgia must have been founded buy Scots theres no other explanation for all that fried food.

Where do I sign.

You're actually coming over during the height of the NCAAF season. But I expect the requirements of your trip may prevent a sidestop in Athens.

Although, UCF has a decent team, and may have some tailgating opportunities. Someone else though would have to provide some information on that...

 

[stlbobby]

Agreed. It's not hurting Disney, it could be helping them. If you think about it, they don't need to respond to WWoHP. They have projects that should bring in new markets (Four Seasons, for example). Star Tours 2 might be a way of bringing in fans of a franchise (albeit smaller).

Why is it that people keep wanting to compare Star Wars and Harry Potter today? Harry Potter's fan base does not even come close to rivaling the Star Wars fan base.

If you want to argue go here and scroll down to page 9 post 127:
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=616032&page=9

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

You're actually coming over during the height of the NCAAF season. But I expect the requirements of your trip may prevent a sidestop in Athens.

Although, UCF has a decent team, and may have some tailgating opportunities. Someone else though would have to provide some information on that...

No too much to fit in this trip, imagine interrupting my socialising with a wedding, no consideration.

It does make me realise how much I have to fit in against this ticking clock.



You have inspired me to dust off the touring plan of zone 2. ( A little something I came up with when I realised I wanted to do too much to make a cost to coast trip unrealistic.

 

[wm49rs]

No too much to fit in this trip, imagine interrupting my socialising with a wedding, no consideration.

It does make me realise how much I have to fit in against this ticking clock.



You have inspired me to dust off the touring plan of zone 2. ( A little something I came up with when I realised I wanted to do too much to make a cost to coast trip unrealistic.

It's hard when there's so much on a possible itinerary, and so little time. I feel the same about your fine nation and the history it has to offer me....

But I will say a tailgate party at practically any school in the SE should be on your "bucket list."

 

[kaos]

Not wasting my time reading the entire thread, but simply look at this:

Disney's posted a 40% PROFIT overall (theme park profit, which is traditionally their lowest, was 12%)

Disney posted an earnings schedule that has blown away NBC/Universal. Disney's retail profit in the theme parks was up 2.2%- not easy in a recession. I'd rather have Disney's profits than Uni's profits anyday, since this is the first profit that Uni posted in what, 3 years? And while technically a spike, good for Universal, who is having another lackluster year at the turnstyles.

 

[MarkTwain]

Oh hell . . .

. . . if this keeps up, Disney might have to create some cool new attractions.

That would stink.:lookaroun

That's pretty much my view. I'm HOPING Universal takes a stab at WDW attendance. Either TDO is forced to do something about it and greenlight attractions, or TDO does nothing and looks like a fool. I'm guessing the latter will happen, since looking like a fool has never stopped them before, but hopefully a drop in WDW attendance would be such a big issue for the company that Burbank itself would have to get involved.

In the end, it's only better for us.

 

[wm49rs]

Not wasting my time reading the entire thread, but simply look at this:

Disney's posted a 40% PROFIT overall (theme park profit, which is traditionally their lowest, was 12%)

Disney posted an earnings schedule that has blown away NBC/Universal. Disney's retail profit in the theme parks was up 2.2%- not easy in a recession. I'd rather have Disney's profits than Uni's profits anyday, since this is the first profit that Uni posted in what, 3 years? And while technically a spike, good for Universal, who is having another lackluster year at the turnstyles.

And NBC took a beating with the Winter Olympics as well. Their losses were over $200 million when all was said and done.

 

[Thrill]

I still love the logic that Potterland is going to make Disney's attendance soar...:lol:

It's not going to soar, but it's not going to have the major adverse effects on WDW that people seem to think.

 

[Bluewaves]

hopefully it affects Disney in that Universal is bringing their A game and they steal people for a day of Disney Property TDO has to actually do something to combat that a bit.

 

[Thrill]

Why is it that people keep wanting to compare Star Wars and Harry Potter today? Harry Potter's fan base does not even come close to rivaling the Star Wars fan base.

If you want to argue go here and scroll down to page 9 post 127:
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=616032&page=9

Let's say that the Star Wars fanbase is slightly larger than Harry Potter's. Harry Potter still has two movies to go, while Star Wars movies ended five years ago. Star Wars has had merchandise everywhere for years, meaning that Disney's merchandise isn't such a huge deal. Harry Potter merchandise, on the other hand, is not as common, meaning that Universal has a huge edge in the merchandising area. WWoHP has two(?) attractions (one of them being one of the more advanced attractions ever created), plus immersive gift shops and restaurants. Star Wars at WDW goes little beyond an outdated simulator ride, a gift shop, and a few events lasting a few weeks.

Star Wars is by no means the perfect franchise to fight Harry Potter, but it's the closest rival that Disney has.

 

[Grizzly Hall 71]

That's pretty much my view. I'm HOPING Universal takes a stab at WDW attendance. Either TDO is forced to do something about it and greenlight attractions, or TDO does nothing and looks like a fool. I'm guessing the latter will happen, since looking like a fool has never stopped them before, but hopefully a drop in WDW attendance would be such a big issue for the company that Burbank itself would have to get involved.

In the end, it's only better for us.

I hope so.

 

[misterID]

What adverse effects are you talking about?

People are saying that Potterland will make Disney's attendance jump even more. That's been shown not to be true so far. And I've been hearing that argument over and over and its completely insane.

I've been around Florida tourism all my life and I can tell you for a fact that the majority of Orlando vacations are centered around Disney. Basically, someone staying at a UNI resort is still going to visit WDW. There are very, very, very, few tourists who go to Orlando to visit UNI and UNI only.

And you have to consider this: For the last 10-15 years WDW has been constructing itself to keep people on property and away from all the other tourist attractions in Orlando. And they have been very successful.

But.... I have heard from good sources that UNI is going to get very strong attendance at their resorts in the next few years because of Potterland, especially from Europe. That's people not staying at WDW for their vacations. They will still most likely visit WDW, but UNI isn't going to lose anything because more people are going to visit IOA/UNI, stay at their resorts, and it is much more likely that one of the WDW parks will lose out for IOA during the average WDW vacation. UNI is also making a killing on merch sales. Much more than what anyone expected. Now consider all of that. That's money that's not going to Disney. That's the effect its having. And I don't think they're happy about it. And they shouldn't be. And, this could be one of the first times ever people are going to Orlando just for UNI in any kind of significant number.

Some people around here are complete psychopaths when it comes to another park, especially UNI, upstaging WDW in whatever compacity. Some people blow a gasket if UNI has ANY kind of success. Before FJ opened some of you were already labeling it a disaster. Some of you were even trying to tell us there were no lines, when the backed up lines were all over the news. It's really mind blowing. WDW will always be the #1 resort. No matter what gains UNI makes. But that isn't going to stop UNI from being a more exciting park with better rides, if Disney doesn't get it in gear. I haven't heard one person say UNI would take WDW's spot.

 

[Tigger1988]

Let's say that the Star Wars fanbase is slightly larger than Harry Potter's. Harry Potter still has two movies to go, while Star Wars movies ended five years ago. Star Wars has had merchandise everywhere for years, meaning that Disney's merchandise isn't such a huge deal. Harry Potter merchandise, on the other hand, is not as common, meaning that Universal has a huge edge in the merchandising area. WWoHP has two(?) attractions (one of them being one of the more advanced attractions ever created), plus immersive gift shops and restaurants. Star Wars at WDW goes little beyond an outdated simulator ride, a gift shop, and a few events lasting a few weeks.

Star Wars is by no means the perfect franchise to fight Harry Potter, but it's the closest rival that Disney has.

To a large part of the Star Wars fandom the films ended back in the 1980s. Yet merch is STILL huge and at this point there's fans across generations. Talk to me in 20 years and we'll see if anyone is clamoring to buy a wand over a lightsaber.