Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts IV

[GLaDOS]

@WDW1974 can you give us any additional insight on what is on the chopping block at the Studios in order to make room for Star Wars Land?

Also, to balance out the theme park cosmos...can you give any info on what will become of Toon Lagoon?

Yes, I'd really like to know about Toon Lagoon.

 

[RyenDeckard]

You said Disney is the leader essentially in the business. They are no longer in Orlando and haven't been in some time. If anyone is in college here today, they'd virtually be too young to even remember what a high quality Walt Disney World Resort even looks like.

I disagree with this, only because Disney is still the leader when it comes to market share, attendance, and awareness.

They are very quickly losing all three of those factors though. But as it stands right now, there are still people who think that Harry Potter is at Disney, or that Disney includes Universal and Seaworld. Until this changes they will still be seen as leaders, even if they are rapidly losing their grip on that position.

 

[Sully83]

I love disney and love star wars.....when they bought out lucas it was like a perfect marriage for me. With disney having star tours to begin with, I even bet that some imagineers over the years out of just fun have probably jotted down plans for awesome star wars attractions just going off ideas they have had from working on star tours. Even with the fact they are probably ahead of the game with designing star wars based attractions, it is still at most going to be 2017-2018 until we truely see anything......if ever. I know star wars isn't for everyone on here but it is big to me so I am just using it as an example. The example is, imagine if Lucas held a open bidding for the company or decided to keep the company but wanted to sell off the the amusement park rights to star wars. Going with either of those scenerios and say comcast bought out lucas or purchased the park rights, what would we get. Universal creative would of been called in and even though they had no previous working relationship with star wars probably would give us a amazing star wars land filled with the mos eisley cantina, the jedi academy, maybe the damn death star, a eticket or two, a couple additional rides, unique foods, unique drinks, unique merchandise all by probably early 2016 at the latest while still keeping up with their current aggresive expansions. They would of saw the gold in it and pushed it.

Like I said I love disney, I was born in the early 80's and was growing up during the disney decade of the late 80s through mid 90's. Universal is getting better and better every day and wdw is sitting by and not understanding one bit how to take the next step and accept their challange. Face it universal has already passed them when it comes to attractions for adults, teens, and boys specifically, for disney sakes I hope they don't figure out families, kids, and girls specifically to go with the former or disney world as it is currently being ran will be in serious trouble.

 

[RyenDeckard]

Comcast/Uni has spend a helluvalot LESS than WDW has! How about that for a smack in the face! Zillions of dollars my left toe!

I love how comcast has given universal about the same for park expansion (~2 bil if I'm not mistaken) that disney has spent on NGE.

We will be able to see directly what those two resorts can do with the same amount of funds. Between Transformers, Springfield, and Diagon Alley we've already seen Universal do more.

It's two conflicting ideologies with the same capital. This will be very interesting to watch.

 

[alphac2005]

I disagree with this, only because Disney is still the leader when it comes to market share, attendance, and awareness.

They are very quickly losing all three of those factors though. But as it stands right now, there are still people who think that Harry Potter is at Disney, or that Disney includes Universal and Seaworld. Until this changes they will still be seen as leaders, even if they are rapidly losing their grip on that position.

I totally get what you're saying, but having the largest market share doesn't make one a leader. A perfect example of this is Microsoft. Microsoft may dominate the PC market because of their presence, but they are far from a leader when it comes to innovation and better quality than many competitors. That's how I'm inferring leadership of the market, in terms of quality, not in the pure market share and revenue benchmarks.

Many consider Apple to be the leader in the smartphone market, but that isn't reflective of their actual market share, which has fallen considerably and is dominated by Android. Same idea that I was going for here.

 

[MattM]

The i

The irony is that I lived in Tampa for 30 years, I just moved to the Boston area this year!

It seems like the chic thing to do right now is to dump on Disney and throw major love to Universal. If your looking at short term bench marks, that may be fair. However, to pretend like a Disney hotel is a glorified Motel 6 while a night at Universal is like a night at the Bellagio is silly. Understand, I hope Disney kicks it into high gear soon too (they need to)! Just think some perspective is necessary, that's all

You're not wrong. Like I say, things are never as bad or as good as people say they are.

Except for the Red Sox.

 

[RyenDeckard]

Many consider Apple to be the leader in the smartphone market, but that isn't reflective of their actual market share, which has fallen considerably and is dominated by Android. Same idea that I was going for here.

I absolutely understand what you're saying and agree with it to an extent, I just have a different definition of a market leader. Basically agree to disagree, but I understand your position.

To be clear, I have no doubt Universal will be the leader, period, in 5-10 years if they keep this up.

 

[alphac2005]

I absolutely understand what you're saying and agree with it to an extent, I just have a different definition of a market leader. Basically agree to disagree, but I understand your position.

To be clear, I have no doubt Universal will be the leader, period, in 5-10 years if they keep this up.

I'm completely with you being factually correct, but it's the context here. I'm using leader around here, it also is within the context of this forum. Obviously, anyone looking at the simple attendance figures in Orlando shows that Disney is leader in Florida. So, we really don't even have to agree to disagree, because I totally agree, just trying to point out that it's more the identification of leader within the community here and amongst others in the industry. I, too, agree that if both companies keep on their current paths, Universal will lead in all categories across the board.

 

[Pentacat]

I'm going to learn how to fawn at @WDW1974's posts! How is this:

WDW1974, can you give us some information if the monorail will be expanded from TTC to Universal's parking garage? I've heard that this is true and you are the only one I trust to give me a straight answer!

I just don't get the hate. Why subject yourself to it if you don't like it so much?

There are any number of other Disney Related fan boards where you can play awesome word association games or talk about how to game the DDP....captivating. But instead you choose to come to the only board (that I've found) where people that have a history of providing factual information post and then call them out for their writing style/personality?

 

[devoy1701]

I absolutely understand what you're saying and agree with it to an extent, I just have a different definition of a market leader. Basically agree to disagree, but I understand your position.

To be clear, I have no doubt Universal will be the leader, period, in 5-10 years if they keep this up.

I'm completely with you being factually correct, but it's the context here. I'm using leader around here, it also is within the context of this forum. Obviously, anyone looking at the simple attendance figures in Orlando shows that Disney is leader in Florida. So, we really don't even have to agree to disagree, because I totally agree, just trying to point out that it's more the identification of leader within the community here and amongst others in the industry. I, too, agree that if both companies keep on their current paths, Universal will lead in all categories across the board.

It also depends on what data you're looking at. If you're looking simply at attendence #s, then yes, Uni has a LONG way to go to ever be considered the leader. Collectively I think WDW Resort sees about 35M people a year? (i'm pulling that number out of nowhere, but I think that's what I've heard). The rumored/Blue Sky Third Gate for Uni would help level the playing field though.

But if you're looking at overall market share, percent growth in attendance, hotel occupancy rates, per guest spending, guest satisfaction, profitability, and overall ROI, or anything along those lines, I think that UNI has a great chance of surpassing WDW much sooner.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

There's a difference between questioning authority and blatantly misrepresenting the truth to fit your agenda. If they were asking for clarification or sources (which they have done, once or twice) that would be one thing, but saying that NGE costs less and is a success is demonstrably false.

NGE is not nearly up and running yet, so the one thing that seems demonstrable to me is that it is premature to call it either a succes or not.

Personally, I'm pefectly fine with people entertaining either one of those two thoughts.
I love hearing different opinions, even ones (especially ones) that go against my own ideas. Gives me food for thought.

 

[ChevisMickey]

This.

Within the last three weeks, two groups of family friends came to Orlando and spent their entire vacations at Uni. Both families used to visit WDW every 2-3 years, and both make high 6-figure incomes. One of the families spent a day at Epcot too, and the other one spent a day at Sea World.

They raved about Universal. Neither was interested in WDW because "everything is old." The family that went to Epcot complained that there wasn't enough to do "in the front half" (they meant FW). The others, who went to SW, couldn't stop talking about Antartica.

Yeah, this is just anecdotal, but these people are also exactly the demographic that Disney wants. Both families used to visit WDW every few years. And they're not interested in Disney anymore.

Need more info. Was this their first time at Uni for a while, or ever? What is the age demographic (because Uni still appeals primarily to the teen and young with the coasters)? "Entire vacations" can mean the one day they are visiting, or two weeks, so which?

I like Uni and Disney and Sea World, and would probably enjoy Lego for a day. Last year we spent a week exploring Orlando and only going to Sea World and Aquatica. This year we split it since Sea World passes were still valid. They both are great parks when you take them for what they are. Both also have problems when you really think about it. However, I must say that I could not stop talking about Antarctica either. About how bad it is.

 

[The Mom]

You have already been told to keep personalities out of your posts. Discussion of WDW or even US/IOA. Fine. Discussions about other posters - no. Discussions about political topics (including POV about various laws, etc) No.

Enough already. No more insulting remarks about others. Thank you.

I'm not going to go back and edit every post (I have better things to do) but from this point forward I will. So please don't post any "How come his from yesterday got to stay while you just deleted mine today?"

And if you feel you (or anyone else) is being mistreated, please report it immediately so the other mods and I don't have to wade through pages of posts to find the post that started the the whole argument.

 

[RyenDeckard]

NGE is not nearly up and running yet, so the one thing that seems demonstrable is that it is premature to call it either a succes or not.

I just have trouble believing something that costs ~3 billion will ever be considered a success.

 

[rioriz]

i know the Spirit has his own life outside this board BUT I do think him offering content we can sink our teeth into can move along the misguided content in the thread. Guide the thread. Don't let the thread guide you....away...from posting what you want.

Maybe when we start a new Spirited Thread make it like the last two with full content on page one once you are fully ready to divulge.

At this point there is nothing in this thread I can't find in 5 others (Uni=good, NGE=bad WDW=dated Growth= slow to non existent).

 

[Funmeister]

Time to play...Hot or Cold? - Central Florida Theme Park Edition

Universal plans to re-purchase Lockheed property.

Universal plans to purchase the land across the street where the "twin towers" and previous home to The Mill and Mystery Fun House used to live.

Toon Lagoon will be re-themed as Madagascar.

Captain EO will fly off into the cosmos and the theater portion will be torn down to make room for more convention space.

Sea World will use BG sale to pump more money into shows and attractions.

Universal/Concast DOES have theme park rights to LOTR.

Big Hat will be removed by the end of this year.

These are not my rumors nor do I agree that any of these will or will not happen. Just for fun so relax.

 

[The Mom]

i know the Spirit has his own life outside this board BUT I do think him offering content we can sink our teeth into can move along the misguided content in the thread. Guide the thread. Don't let the thread guide you....away...from posting what you want.

Maybe when we start a new Spirited Thread make it like the last two with full content on page one once you are fully ready to divulge.

At this point there is nothing in this thread I can't find in 5 others (Uni=good, NGE=bad WDW=dated Growth= slow to non existent).

The OP can go back and edit the original first post to contain any updated information - if he chooses to do so.

 

[Tim_4]

This is a terrific idea. Impulse buying at its best, and you'd get quality and a good experience to boot.

Right and folks here would NEVER throw a tantrum about premium priced merch items being added to Food and Wine.

@wdwmagic can you revisit the newly updated mobile site? It's a pleasure to read but a chore to post. Samsung Galaxy SIII running Jellybean.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

I just have trouble believing something that costs ~3 billion will ever be considered a success.

I too think WDW made a serious miscalculation with NGE.

Not as expensive as some numbers floating around, not as useless as some criticism has it. But a big, cumbersome, too costly project nonetheless.

 

[fosse76]

That creates the sensation of being a child in a sweetshop - of being overwhelmed by choice and variety.

I first read that as "child in a sweatshop" and was baffled, lol.