what is disney doing?

[ctxak98]

Ok so maybe I'm the only one who doesn't know or no one knows? But what is disney doing to fight back about harry potter because I was just at disney this week and it was pretty bare! I also visited harry poter for one day and actually thought the ride was ok, not amazing but ok. The visual affects of the animatronics was lacking something for me but a good ride for universal. Just wondering if anybody knows what disney is gonna do to get there guests back!

 

[drossjr]

I highly doubt the park was bare and if it was less crowded maybe it has something to do with the economy? If you haven't noticed thousands of people are out of work and losing their homes! Just a thought! :shrug:

 

[Mr. Morrow]

Yes you will be able to meet multiple Princess's in their homes

 

[raven]

...I was just at disney this week and it was pretty bare!

Even though both water parks closed yesterday due to capacity?

:lol:

 

[Mr. Morrow]

Even though both water parks closed yesterday due to capacity?

:lol:

Yup I can't believe people think Potterland is a huge threat to WDW. It will make Uni a boat load of money especially on merchandise but it will hardly affect WDW.

 

[kaos]

ET phone home... Back to 1985!... I think we have some dueling dragons to fight off...

NONE of these proved to be the threat that that masses thought. These were all anticipated attractions that were to be the death to WDW. Simple fact is this- anyone making the trip to Universal is doing so with the intention of spending time at WDW also, but not vice versa. My hundreds of trips to Orlando, I have never set foot in any Universal park, and those that know me, I purposely drive so I have my car/SUV at the ready... and never once have I had the urge to visit Universal. I will admit however, that on my next trip, I will spend 1 day at Universal, if for no other reason than to take a trip to Springfield! But nothing that Universal can do will spell doom for WDW. If WDW were to cease all operations, Seaworld, Universal, the town of Kissimmee, heck, even MCO would all deteriorate within months from vacancies, lack of gate admissions, and Orlando will again turn into the sleepy swampland that it once was. These other theme parks, attractions, shopping venues all really do owe their existance to the massive 40,000 acres to the west that once was home to a radio geek and some gators, but now has mouse. Nothing that these other attractions/parks come up with will draw any money from WDW. Simply put, Universal is able to spend that money to design Potterville because Disney had interest in it for the price that Rowling wanted. Why? They have enough income at the parks without spending all that money to bring people in. Disney has their own properties; they have no need to license someone else's property to boost attendance. Even in this economy, WDW seems to be at 80% capacity (gate, hotel, etc...), which in theme park standards, is unheard of! Not even the regional Six Flags parks reach capacity levels of the height outside of the traditional peak days- Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day... WDW is far from bare, and in fact have parks at capacity on a daily basis. Pottermania was a week long anamoly. Let's evaluate the Universal attendance counts on the off-peak times and compare them to WDW's, and then we can have the argument ended once and for all- Potterville was not worth the money that WDW would have had to pour in, but it is a short term gain for Universal.

 

[wizards8507]

I really don't think WWoHP will be a huge threat to WDW. The general feeling seems to be that it's a place to visit once, but that won't generate many return visitors.

That being said, I hope and pray that I'm wrong and WDW sees a huge dent in revenues from WWoHP. We can't expect TDO to unleash the Imagineers unless it's in the best interest of the bottom line, and if they started to take a monster hit, they might be facing a "go big or go home" scenario.

 

[ChrisFL]

Disney has their own properties; they have no need to license someone else's property to boost attendance.

Suuuure, no need for, ya know, American Idol, or Star Wars, or Indiana Jones, or Twilight Zone, or Aerosmith or anything like that...

Anyway, we already have a LOOONG thread going about this same topic

 

[floridabill]

I really don't think WWoHP will be a huge threat to WDW. The general feeling seems to be that it's a place to visit once, but that won't generate many return visitors.

That being said, I hope and pray that I'm wrong and WDW sees a huge dent in revenues from WWoHP. We can't expect TDO to unleash the Imagineers unless it's in the best interest of the bottom line, and if they started to take a monster hit, they might be facing a "go big or go home" scenario.

Sometimes....well most of the time I just wish the imagineers ran the show! Cause there would be something big out every year probably. screw corporate business people holding them back!

 

[devoy1701]

I really don't think WWoHP will be a huge threat to WDW. The general feeling seems to be that it's a place to visit once, but that won't generate many return visitors.

That being said, I hope and pray that I'm wrong and WDW sees a huge dent in revenues from WWoHP. We can't expect TDO to unleash the Imagineers unless it's in the best interest of the bottom line, and if they started to take a monster hit, they might be facing a "go big or go home" scenario.

There won't be a huge dent if there is a dent at all. Local news had a report on TV yesterday that waits for that new HP ride have been between 90-120 minutes long and that Single Rider line can be about 15 minutes. Hardly news worthy IMO. Soarin' sees those types of waits every single day...

 

[kaos]

Suuuure, no need for, ya know, American Idol, or Star Wars, or Indiana Jones, or Twilight Zone, or Aerosmith or anything like that...

I don't count DHS as a true Disney park... But if anyone needs to see how Disney responds to ACTUAL threats to income and attendance, then DHS is case study. Star Wars and Indy were part of the deal to bring George Lucas in to do Disney original projects. Twilight Zone was a logical decision to bring in the weirdness of Tower fo Terror, but the concept was in place before the license was pursued. And Aerosmith is just cool! But see how DHS is now evolving and transforming... The licensed properties are leaving in favor of Disney owned properties. It's only a matter of time before these attractions get replaced in favor of Disney properties- and let's not forget, Star Tours has ORIGINAL Disney characters in it as well as the droids. I'd have to check, but I don't think that Disney actually pays all that much in royalties for the Star Wars characters, and I think it was more along the lines that Lucasfilms introduced the idea of Star Wars characters inside the Disney parks. Disney was eager to oblige. Sure, the license for Harry potter would've been a nice thing for Disney to have, but why bother if you have multiple streams of income to lay out the payment that Rohlwing wanted. Either way, Universal had an increase in attendance for one day when Potterland opened, but did anyone bother to pull the WDW attendance figures for that same day? I would guess that there wasn't a change in the gate or revenue stream for WDW that day. Can someone in the know look into that?

 

[wizards8507]

Sometimes....well most of the time I just wish the imagineers ran the show! Cause there would be something big out every year probably...

Every year for about five years, at which point WDW would collapse under the weight of itself and explode like a dying star.

 

[devoy1701]

I don't count DHS as a true Disney park... But if anyone needs to see how Disney responds to ACTUAL threats to income and attendance, then DHS is case study. Star Wars and Indy were part of the deal to bring George Lucas in to do Disney original projects. Twilight Zone was a logical decision to bring in the weirdness of Tower fo Terror, but the concept was in place before the license was pursued. And Aerosmith is just cool! But see how DHS is now evolving and transforming... The licensed properties are leaving in favor of Disney owned properties. It's only a matter of time before these attractions get replaced in favor of Disney properties- and let's not forget, Star Tours has ORIGINAL Disney characters in it as well as the droids. I'd have to check, but I don't think that Disney actually pays all that much in royalties for the Star Wars characters, and I think it was more along the lines that Lucasfilms introduced the idea of Star Wars characters inside the Disney parks. Disney was eager to oblige. Sure, the license for Harry potter would've been a nice thing for Disney to have, but why bother if you have multiple streams of income to lay out the payment that Rohlwing wanted. Either way, Universal had an increase in attendance for one day when Potterland opened, but did anyone bother to pull the WDW attendance figures for that same day? I would guess that there wasn't a change in the gate or revenue stream for WDW that day. Can someone in the know look into that?

I don't see any signs of licensed characters leaving Hollywood studios and being replaced by Disney Property??? Not sure where your logic is coming from, especially considering that Star Tours II is coming next year. That sure doesn't seem like they're trying to oust licensed characters/franchises.

And Lucas Arts did not initiate the idea of bringing Star Wars to the parks. The agreement came about because of a strong friendship between George Lucas and Michael Eisner who pursued a way the 2 could collaborate their brands.


I also don't get how you don't count DHS as a true Disney theme park....WTH?

 

[Ralphlaw]

I will forever be disappointed that Disney did not get Harry Potter. Personally I would like to have seen it at Animal Kingdom, on the side of the park opposite Expedition Everest, tied in with dragons and the creatures of the Forbidden Forest, and a restaurant ala the Hogwarts Banquet Hall with the ceiling that shows the sky outside. But I wax despondent. The financial terms must not have been favorable, so Universal jumped in. Oh well, . . .

I doubt that WDW will be affected very much. Having it would have been an attendance uptick, but not having it will probably have a negligible effect. For example, we generally go for a week. Now we'll spend a chunk of one day at Universal, and the rest at Disney World, while staying on property at Disney World. So we'll have part of one day off property, which is less than 15% of our time, while still paying for some of our food and all of our lodging at Disney World that one day. Disney won't be hurt much by this.

 

[wizards8507]

I will forever be disappointed that Disney did not get Harry Potter. Personally I would like to have seen it at Animal Kingdom, on the side of the park opposite Expedition Everest, tied in with dragons and the creatures of the Forbidden Forest, and a restaurant ala the Hogwarts Banquet Hall with the ceiling that shows the sky outside. But I wax despondent. The financial terms must not have been favorable, so Universal jumped in. Oh well, . . .

Interesting bit from Wikipedia:

In late 2006, it was rumored--but denied by Rowling's camp--that Rowling had signed a letter of intent signifying her willingness to move forward with Disney in a partnership for a new theme park. Later reports suggested that the venture fell apart over Disney's reluctance to accommodate Rowling's vision for the attraction, which (according to entertainment blogger Jim Hill) would have brought each guest into the park through an experience mimicking Harry's introduction to the wizarding world, as depicted in the first Potter book:

J.K. allegedly wanted each & every guest who was experiencing the theme park version of Harry Potter's world to do so by first entering the Leaky Cauldron Pub. Where -- by tapping on just the right brick ("Three up and two across ... ") -- they'd then gain access to Diagon Alley, that odd collection of Wizards-only shops & restaurants that's hidden away in the heart of London.

From this area (Which was...supposed to have been the equivalent of Main Street, USA at Disneyland...), these folks were then supposed to have made their way to Platform 9 & 3/4 at King's Cross Statoin, where -- after magically piercing the barrier that separates the muggle world from the Wizard world -- guests would have then been able to board a full-sized version of the Hogwarts Express for a trip to Hogwarts.

THAT... would have been epic.

 

[Mr. Morrow]

Interesting bit from Wikipedia:

In late 2006, it was rumored--but denied by Rowling's camp--that Rowling had signed a letter of intent signifying her willingness to move forward with Disney in a partnership for a new theme park. Later reports suggested that the venture fell apart over Disney's reluctance to accommodate Rowling's vision for the attraction, which (according to entertainment blogger Jim Hill) would have brought each guest into the park through an experience mimicking Harry's introduction to the wizarding world, as depicted in the first Potter book:

J.K. allegedly wanted each & every guest who was experiencing the theme park version of Harry Potter's world to do so by first entering the Leaky Cauldron Pub. Where -- by tapping on just the right brick ("Three up and two across ... ") -- they'd then gain access to Diagon Alley, that odd collection of Wizards-only shops & restaurants that's hidden away in the heart of London.

From this area (Which was...supposed to have been the equivalent of Main Street, USA at Disneyland...), these folks were then supposed to have made their way to Platform 9 & 3/4 at King's Cross Statoin, where -- after magically piercing the barrier that separates the muggle world from the Wizard world -- guests would have then been able to board a full-sized version of the Hogwarts Express for a trip to Hogwarts.

THAT... would have been epic.

Agreed that would have been great!

 

[wizards8507]

What other licensing giants are out there? Star Wars is taken. Harry Potter gone. Superheroes accounted for. I suppose that leaves Star Trek and Lord of the Rings.

I'd welcome either one of those with open arms.

 

[Mr. Morrow]

What other licensing giants are out there? Star Wars is taken. Harry Potter gone. Superheroes accounted for. I suppose that leaves Star Trek and Lord of the Rings.

I'd welcome either one of those with open arms.

LOTR would make for an interesting expansion land.

 

[wizards8507]

LOTR would make for an interesting expansion land.

Or a full-size Starship Enterprise.

 

[Mr. Morrow]

Or a full-size Starship Enterprise.

yes new attraction for TL!!!!!!!