Should we still not worry?

[ChrisFL]

For those who are talking about attendance numbers only, I do think it's important to consider the other factors on a vacation, like someone else mentioned in one of the many previous threads about this very subject.

The merchandising impact alone could be bad things for Disney, if the vacationers are on a budget, and decide to splurge at WWOHP by saving money elsewhere (and seeing all of the same Disney merch. every lately, who can blame them?)

The truly shocking thing is how many people think we should be WORRIED about Uni doing well, it should be the BEST thing we could hope for! Competition breeds competition.

Do you think we would have seen MGM Studios without Universal coming to Orlando in the first place? No.

Mission:Space and Rock'N'Roller Coaster without IOA? Maybe, but maybe not.

 

[Kamikaze]

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

Its not that hard of logic to follow, really. Do you think people will book entire week vacations (you know, in Feb, April or Dec when their kids are off) to Orlando to go to Potterland and not spend any of those days at WDW? I cannot imagine spending an entire week at Universal. You can do both parks in a morning if you get there at open. Granted, this was before Potter, but even with that factored in I bet I can still do them both in a day, easy.

So you spend 6 days in Orlando. Even if you say 3 of those are going to be at Universal, whats happening with the other three?

Do you think we would have seen MGM Studios without Universal coming to Orlando in the first place? No.

Just had to pick this out. No, but we would have seen the movies pavilion at Epcot.

 

[hrcollectibles]

Truthfully, I have my own life to worry about. I never panic over WDW. It's just a place in which to have fun with my family.

+1
To Quote the Great Alfred E Newman... What Me Worry?

So Universal's attendance is up.. Good for them... No need to worry... Disney still is and will be the Number one Theme park destination....

 

[misterID]

Universal's attendance and merch sales are soaring!!

My good friend AndyMagic posted this on the Universal thread:

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/bu...posts-first-attendance-gain-in-two-years.html

This is just 2 weeks before the second quarter ended. Imagine what the 3rd quarter will look like.

Well i guess Disney is.......

well.....

doing nothing about it.

Could Potter be the reason Disney's earning are a little down? Should we still not worry?

Or is it time to worry a bit?

I went back and reread this post.

I don't know what there is to worry about, but I don't think it was about how "WDW is doomed."

This strikes me more as what TDO isn't doing. :shrug:

It's annoying when you make a post about how realistically this would affect Disney, and then there are ten posts responding that somehow I, or others, are saying this is the end for Disney. That HP is going to destroy WDW and takes it place, when nothing like that has been said. That's a million times more annoying than what I've read of "potter-heads."

For the record, I didn't read about the ticket prices or his other threads.

 

[misterID]

Its not that hard of logic to follow, really. Do you think people will book entire week vacations (you know, in Feb, April or Dec when their kids are off) to Orlando to go to Potterland and not spend any of those days at WDW? I cannot imagine spending an entire week at Universal. You can do both parks in a morning if you get there at open. Granted, this was before Potter, but even with that factored in I bet I can still do them both in a day, easy.

So you spend 6 days in Orlando. Even if you say 3 of those are going to be at Universal, whats happening with the other three?



Just had to pick this out. No, but we would have seen the movies pavilion at Epcot.

:brick:

You need to go back and reread my posts.

And MGM did get built because of UNI. And I'm not too sure there would have ever been a movies pavilion, either.

 

[fireworkz]

These are the posts that get me. Where has anyone said HP would be the deathnail of WDW? No one.

You guys take things to the absolute extreme.

I would like to say your earlier post on why you feel HP will not turn into extra numbers for WDW is one of the first times I have seen a clear, well thought out argument on how HP will not help WDW's numbers and while it will not shut them down, it will have some effect on $$. Need more of it. My opinion is HP is either going to have no effect on WDW or would result in a boost to attendance. While I may not be in agreement with your opinion, thanks to you for the first time I see how mine may not be true.

As for the extremes this debate is going to, while you haven't said HP is going to seriously hurt WDW, others have, and some of them are more than just the newbie/summer vacation crowd. There are many, for the sake of reference, let's call them 'pro-WDW' who take offense to this. To be honest because of the way some of the arguments have been made, they have every right to be offended. However a few have taken it too far. The 'pro-Uni' side is also responsible for pushing this debate to the extreme by accusing others in the other threads on HP of either having their head in the sand or "brainwashed by the mouse". Even in response to a well thought out post like yours. It's unfortunate it's gotten to this point, the emotion here is not really because of this thread, but everything that has been building with all the HP-related threads this summer.

 

[wm49rs]

For the record, I didn't read about the ticket prices or his other threads.

Perhaps you should....

 

[Grizzly Hall 71]

I went back and reread this post.

I don't know what there is to worry about, but I don't think it was about how "WDW is doomed."

This strikes me more as what TDO isn't doing. :shrug:

It's annoying when you make a post about how realistically this would affect Disney, and then there are ten posts responding that somehow I, or others, are saying this is the end for Disney. That HP is going to destroy WDW and takes it place, when nothing like that has been said. That's a million times more annoying than what I've read of "potter-heads."

For the record, I didn't read about the ticket prices or his other threads.

Thank you!

Everyone is putting words in my mouth. I've never said the things that are coming from some on these boards. It's a little annoying. I just asked a simple question. No need to attack me and say that I think Disney will demise. Geez.

 

[Grizzly Hall 71]

:brick:

You need to go back and reread my posts.

And MGM did get built because of UNI. And I'm not too sure there would have ever been a movies pavilion, either.

You are right.

I've met at least 10 families who have spent a week just at Universal alone. They think Disney has become to expensive and theres no more value left in the park. Just because of Potter. So those who think that WDW will benefit from Potter, well, I guess.

 

[stlbobby]

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.

Please checkout the other thread because I'm not going to retype it all.

Suffice it to say Star Wars Land would kill Harry Potter. The Star Tours redo might be enough in itself to cut into Harry's numbers next year.

 

[Grizzly Hall 71]

Please checkout the other thread because I'm not going to retype it all.

Suffice it to say Star Wars Land would kill Harry Potter. The Star Tours redo might be enough in itself to cut into Harry's numbers next year.

Star Wars is bigger than HP no doubt.
Whoever thinks different needs to visit Star Wars weekends

 

[Walt Disney1955]

Universal Orlando is a pair of great, great parks. Outside of Disney I think they are the best parks in the world all around. That being said you can't spend a day at Universal and get the same all around feeling and enjoyment from Disney. WDW pulls at your heartstrings. It makes you want it more and more like a drug. MK has a way of depressing you when you leave it (either by ferry and slowly watching the Castle on the way out or by Monorail).

It's the little things like theming, nostalgia and quality that put Disney ahead of the class. And this is no slight on Universal, a fine park in its own right

 

[Spike-in-Berlin]

I don't have to time to read through the entire thread. But I don't think that "we" should be "worried" if Universals visitor numbers are soaring because EXACTLY thats what we need. TDO needs a little kick in the you-know-what to realize that people are not coming to WDW because it's a kind of unchangeable law of nature but because they want to be amused and have a beautiful immersive and escapative experience in a perfectly imagineered environment. AND they want this experience to grow on a steady basis.
If TDO believes they don't have to do anything in the leading park, the MK in nearly 20 years with the exception of closing an E-ticket with 20kLutS and destroying a classic AA-show like the Tiki Room and adding nothing new instead except a lame carnival ride-clone of Dumbo, then a little more competition is exactly the right way to bring them back to reality. They are not alone.
And perhaps they will finally realize that it was not a very good idea to do the largest expansion of the park in it's entire history in such an underwhelming design, with only ONE ride, that isn't even unique and lot's of meets and greets plus some shops and dining opportunities.
And believe me, exactly thats what WDI is waiting for, financial losses due to Universal so they finally have a chance to bring out something really thrilling without the bean counters and they naysaying.

 

[jayremo]

no worries

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Are you Australian?

 

[devoy1701]

I AM A HUGE DISNEY FAN!!! But I Don't see disney surviving the next 10 to 20 years!..I say this because things aren't the same as when disney first started, With more kids not wanting to spend time with there families, and being more interested in violence, and cell phones I don't think disney will have the footing to compete with universal in the future. Universal has been surveying people about avatar and lord of the rings,rides characters, or themed lands. Those movies have been HUGE HITS!! And people will respond to those franchises. maybe disney needs to franchise more because I don't feel that people respond as well to there originality.

seriously?????

Disney has been around for 80 years but you don't think they'll survive the next 10-20 years? they need to franchise more?

do you not realize that the Walt Disney Company is the largest Media conglomerate in the World??? Or that their brands, production studios (both movies and music), and franchises stretch farther than most people even realize? ESPN, ABC, lifetime, A&E, Touchstone, Marvel, Pixar, Jim Hanson, etc...

Did they not survive the first major shift in society from victorian values to a more risque, in your face, suggestive society?

Not to mention Bob Iger was just speaking about their expansion of the brand into Russia this year and how they are one company that is accepted in many MANY countries around the world with open arms.

Movies like PotC, Toy Story, Iron Man have been huge hits as well.

and they're not going to survive the next 10-20 years...

:brick:

 

[Master Yoda]

seriously?????

Disney has been around for 80 years but you don't think they'll survive the next 10-20 years? they need to franchise more?

do you not realize that the Walt Disney Company is the largest Media conglomerate in the World??? Or that their brands, production studios (both movies and music), and franchises stretch farther than most people even realize? ESPN, ABC, lifetime, A&E, Touchstone, Marvel, Pixar, Jim Hanson, etc...

Did they not survive the first major shift in society from victorian values to a more risque, in your face, suggestive society?

Not to mention Bob Iger was just speaking about their expansion of the brand into Russia this year and how they are one company that is accepted in many MANY countries around the world with open arms.

Movies like PotC, Toy Story, Iron Man have been huge hits as well.

and they're not going to survive the next 10-20 years...

:brick:

I don't think Disney will be here in 20 years because none of us will be after Nibiru crashes into the earth in 2012.

 

[Evil Genius]

I don't think Disney will be here in 20 years because none of us will be after Nibiru crashes into the earth in 2012.

It better be still around!

I've almost completed my underground concrete and steel bunker to survive Nibiru...got that bad boy stocked with enough Slim Jims and Mountain Dew to last me at least twenty years...I better be able to ride the Jungle Cruise once I emerge!

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

I don't think Disney will be here in 20 years because none of us will be after Nibiru crashes into the earth in 2012.

Its OK DVC members have an opt out clause until their membership lases or dues are paid late

 

[Lucky]

Universal's attendance and merch sales are soaring!!

My good friend AndyMagic posted this on the Universal thread:

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/bu...posts-first-attendance-gain-in-two-years.html

This is just 2 weeks before the second quarter ended. Imagine what the 3rd quarter will look like.

Well i guess Disney is.......

well.....

doing nothing about it.

Could Potter be the reason Disney's earning are a little down? Should we still not worry?

Or is it time to worry a bit?

Why worry? Competition is good - for guests, if not for stockholders. The more Uni improves its parks, the more Disney has to improve its parks.