Should we still not worry?

[Thrill]

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.

For the next year or two, maybe even three, Disney may lose a day per tourist on average. Consider an "average" visit to Orlando. Let's say it lasts a week, and they spend one day at Universal, one at SeaWorld, and the other five at WDW. It's possible that said trip does not change at all, and the tourist simply misses a few attractions at Universal in order to check out Harry Potter. At worst, one day at Disney is traded for one at Universal. Considering that it's about $5 a day after the fourth day, not a huge loss for Disney. Add a little more for dining and merchandise that is no longer being spent at Disney, and it becomes a little more severe. Honestly, I think one day per visitor is a little steep, seeing as I've heard a few reviews that say WWoHP isn't really something that has potential for too many repeat visits. I wouldn't be able to say based on firsthand experience, but it's possible that Universal's attendance dies down sooner than expected. Again, throw in the fact that Disney might not lose that day at all because the guest is going to budget that time at Universal a little bit differently to accommodate for WWoHP.

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.

If WWoHP is the type of success that Universal can repeat, they could very well take over as the best tourist attraction in Orlando, given that TDO doesn't open their wallets a little further. The problem is that this area is revolving around a franchise, and I remember the rest of IoA being a pretty immersive park, but it never put up those numbers. It seems like Harry Potter is the driving force behind the rise in attendance, not the attention to detail. As of right now, few franchises can help Universal repeat this type of success, and the biggest rival is in Disney's control. That's not to say that there will never be a Potter-sized franchise, but I doubt we'll see one emerge until after WWoHP's hype wears out, and I think that Disney will be a little bit more careful when the rights to large franchises are likely headed to competitors.

 

[DisneyNut2007]

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.

HOW MANY TIMES MUST WE TELL PEOPLE LIKE YOU TO QUIT WITH THE ALREADY-STALE TDO SLAMS?!

 

[misterID]

It sounds like UNI is already moving towards adding more to the parks, keeping their foot on the gas, so to speak. I haven't seen that with TDO.

And of course after a few years a new ride will cease to be new and will lose a bit of its luster, especially if you're relying or banking solely on a parks growth on that one new attraction and then you sit on on your hands (cuts eyes at TDO). But again, it goes back to how UNI keeps updating, especially Potterland, which a few people say is already in the works. And I think you're underestimating what impact it would have to one of the Dinsey Parks that's skipped, which from going by popularity and current attendance, would most likely be AK. I don't know where the 5$ comes from, but I think it could really hurt that park if there was any kind of drop off, with the loss in revenue (merch and food sales) when it's already behind the others. Not saying its going to be devestated, just that it could be hurt, like shutting down the Yeti could hurt the park.

 

[Master Yoda]

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.

Well you left out a few things such as more that 100 expanded universe novels and that number goes up almost monthly. They have a very successful animated TV series and have 2 more TV series currently in production. Star Wars has numerous successful video games and has a MMO based on the Old Republic due for release in the very near future. As to merchandising Star Wars toys have made over 9 billion dollars making them one of the most successful toy franchise in history. Lastly let us not forget about the Star Wars celebrations, a semi annual convention, that draws in excess of 30,000 fans to each event.

Star Wars could absolutely obliterate Potter Land if Disney would just use it correctly. Sadly this is something I think they will never do.

 

[raven]

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

These board are filling up with Potter-heads trying to make waves on a Disney fan site. They're just trying to make more Disney fans become Universal fans but are going about it entirely the wrong way. It just makes them look desparate.

 

[wm49rs]

These board are filling up with Potter-heads trying to make waves on a Disney fan site. They're just trying to make more Disney fans become Universal fans but are going about it entirely the wrong way. It just makes them look desparate.

:sohappy:

 

[Thrill]

Well you left out a few things such as more that 100 expanded universe novels and that number goes up almost monthly. They have a very successful animated TV series and have 2 more TV series currently in production. Star Wars has numerous successful video games and has a MMO based on the Old Republic due for release in the very near future. As to merchandising Star Wars toys have made over 9 billion dollars making them one of the most successful toy franchise in history. Lastly let us not forget about the Star Wars celebrations, a semi annual convention, that draws in excess of 30,000 fans to each event.

Star Wars could absolutely obliterate Potter Land if Disney would just use it correctly. Sadly this is something I think they will never do.

While I won't argue that Star Wars has a bigger following than Harry Potter, the question is whether Disney would see the same explosion for merchandise that Universal did. I see Star Wars merchandise far more often than I see Harry Potter merchandise, so Universal had a lot of options when it came to creating exclusive merchandise. Considering that you don't have to go very far to buy Star Wars related merchandise, I can't see a Star Wars land replicating WWoHP's success as far as merchandise goes. It could help increase attendance and the restaurants would likely be incredibly popular. As far as shops go, the sales won't soar the way they did at IOA.

 

[Tigger1988]

While I won't argue that Star Wars has a bigger following than Harry Potter, the question is whether Disney would see the same explosion for merchandise that Universal did. I see Star Wars merchandise far more often than I see Harry Potter merchandise, so Universal had a lot of options when it came to creating exclusive merchandise. Considering that you don't have to go very far to buy Star Wars related merchandise, I can't see a Star Wars land replicating WWoHP's success as far as merchandise goes. It could help increase attendance and the restaurants would likely be incredibly popular. As far as shops go, the sales won't soar the way they did at IOA.

You've obviously never seen the shops during Star Wars weekends. People line up for hours just to get the exclusive merchandise.

If Disney expanded their offerings, it'd sell like hot cakes.

 

[floridabill]

Love Disney..BUT

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.

 

[Testtrack321]

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

Don't forget the near daily new threads and posts on this exact same thing. And I bet this won't be the last post on Disney raising prices, no new announcements, or how Universal can sell merchandise.

It's no news or opinion piece, it's constant obsession.


Oh, and for perspective, IoA attracted 4.5 million guests. Split that into 4 and you get around 1.1 million. 2.2% increase you get 24,200 more guests a quarter. Lets say attendance SPIKES 30% year over year. It's still only 8.85 million a year.

You know how many people AK had last year? 9.6 million.

Is HP cool? Is it important to Universal? HELL YES.

Is it the death of Disney; going to impact them or hurt them? Only if you're Grizzly Hall 71.


Oh, and those talking about how IoA's additions will soon outpace Disney's, question, compare Disney's additions at Animal Kingdom from 1998 to 2008 to IoA's additions from 1999 to 2009. You know, the park with the least amount of stuff added over the years. Just a thought experiment....

 

[NedLand]

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.

 

[unkadug]

Didn't school start back this week?


Just saying....

 

[wm49rs]

Didn't school start back this week?


Just saying....

I think there's still a couple of weeks left. Some don't go back until after Labor Day. :hammer:

 

[IHeartArt]

Everyone here needs to settle down about thinking Harry Potter's going to single-handedly lynch Mickey Mouse, flay him, and then wear his skin like a freaking cape.

Disney has backing. They have a solid, firm grounding in media, a hit cartoon show, and a machine capable of churning out tween sensations. They're trying it again with Den Brother, if you haven't seen that yet. It's like clockwork.

NBC is doing really crap right now. You all should be glad Harry Potter's here. It means more tourists around in Orlando.

What a few people here don't seem to get is that this isn't a competition. It's a symbiotic organism emblazed with the name "Orlando". The county's congealed into this one place where you can take the family. If you remove Universal out of this equation, you WOULD see Disney take a hit from the drop in tourists. It would survive, yes. But there'd be guarenteed less people going.

Also, floridabill. People always bring up "the youth" as this nebulous ursurping concept that's going to destroy all you know and love. Kids will always be kids. They will always like the same things. You talk about violence, when cowboys and indians has been a game that's gone through a whole lot of variations since the fifties. What are you going on about man? They're kids, of course they're going to love Disney. They have rock bands and ghosts and pirates and stuff!

 

[unkadug]

I think there's still a couple of weeks left. Some don't go back until after Labor Day. :hammer:

They started back here two days ago! :sohappy:

 

[wm49rs]

They started back here two days ago! :sohappy:

Lucky.......:brick:

 

[misterID]

Everyone here needs to settle down about thinking Harry Potter's going to single-handedly lynch Mickey Mouse, flay him, and then wear his skin like a freaking cape.

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 think most of the posts are aimed at TDO not doing anything in the last few years and wanting them to respond with an attraction that will blow HP away.

 

[wm49rs]

No, the heart of the OP in this thread (and several others) is nothing more than the decline of WDW, the onerous raising of its ticket prices, and a practical feebleness in the face of WWoHP. People are simply responding in kind...

 

[_Scar]

IMO, one major flaw that Uni can never have is a face. There is no Mickey Mouse or Tinker Bell. They will never have that family crowd if they focus on short-term blockbusters (for the most part [Transformers])

 

[Tigger1988]

No, the heart of the OP in this thread (and several others) is nothing more than the decline of WDW, the onerous raising of its ticket prices, and a practical feebleness in the face of WWoHP. People are simply responding in kind...

Commonly referred to as the Chicken Little effect.

The sky is falling the sky is falling!..... WDW is doomed! WDW is doomed!