Originally Posted By Admin This topic is for Discussion of: <a href="http://www.LaughingPlace.com/Blogs/Maletic/View-50.asp" target="_blank">6/7/07 Harry Potter</a>
Originally Posted By Doobie A shuttle to Universal? Actually Universal started doing that in California a while ago - a shuttle from Disney to there. A Disney provided one is an interesting idea. I do think whatever Universal does here is going to be done very well and be well received. That can only be good for theme park fans overall. I can't wait to see Disney's response. Doobie.
Originally Posted By threeundertwo My kids will definitely want to visit. This will definitely cut into our Disney time. Sorry Disneyland!
Originally Posted By ToonKirby I would fall off my chair if Disney starts offering shuttles to Universal. What kind of gain, monetary or otherwise, would that benefit Disney? I don't think the miniscule amount of guest good will would cut it.
Originally Posted By dshyates As I stated on the other thread. Universal, even with their 2 new rumored hotels wotn't have the rooms to sell. Disney on the other had has lots of rooms to sell. So Disney can't stop them from coming and visiting the new magical world up the road, so why not invite them to stay and play at Disney while they are here. And they will be far more likely to stay in a Disney hotel if there is an easy way to get to what they came to Otown for.
Originally Posted By BeautysBeast I Feel Disney World can only gain from the addition of a new HP attraction.Florida resorts n parks are the best in the world as far as im concerned and am greatly looking foward to seeing how Universal does up the Harry Potter experience.
Originally Posted By gmaletic > What kind of gain, monetary or otherwise, would that benefit Disney? I don't think the miniscule amount of guest good will would cut it. It's not about guest goodwill. It's about allowing guests to stay at Disney and still see Harry Potter, which for many people will be the #1 thing they want to do in Central Florida. The question becomes: how do you let people see the #1 thing they want to see, but still get them to stay at a Disney resort? You could tell them they can just take a taxi on their own...but that will be seen as a fairly ugly solution by most people, and they may instead decide that staying at a Universal resort is the better option. And that's a far less appealing outcome for Disney than offering the shuttle service.
Originally Posted By MPierce I don't think WDW is ready to concede Universal's victory yet. Our local internet celebrity Spirit has already mentioned the new Narnia attraction that will find a home in the MK. I thik the powers that be are banking on that, and the refurbishment that is going on. We just have to wait, and see how Disney responds. Harry Potter could have a major impact on how people start viewing US, and IOA. I just don't see WDW offering a shuttle service yet. It would be just to much of an invitation for their guest to go cheating on them at that other theme park.
Originally Posted By ToonKirby >It's not about guest goodwill.< >You could tell them they can just take a taxi on their own...but that will be seen as a fairly ugly solution by most people< You just totally contradicted yourself here. For years it has been about Disney keeping their guests ON Disney property (spending ALL their money on Disney property) for their entire vacation. I highly doubt that Harry Potter will change that fact. Disney has never been afraid in the past to tell their guests that they do not offer transportation off property, and they are not going to start now. And for years guest who did want to go off property found the means to do so without much complaint - they excepted the fact that, hey, these are two huge corporations that don't exactly play together. Again, Harry Potter ain't going to change that. Universal is their competition, Disney is not going to hand deliver them off property.
Originally Posted By gmaletic >>You could tell them they can just take a taxi on their own...but that will be seen as a fairly ugly solution by most people< >You just totally contradicted yourself here. I don't believe so. By saying "that will be seen as a fairly ugly solution", I'm not saying that Disney needs to offer shuttle service because the alternative is a bad guest experience. I'm saying they should consider offering shuttle service because the alternative is someone staying at a Universal resort vs. a Disney resort, i.e., less money in the Disney coffers. I'm arguing this purely on a dollars-and-cents basis rather than "gee, Disney should be nice and make it easy for people to see all their favorite tourist attractions." Disney's never done that, and I understand why. Here's what I learned in marketing class: if you're #1, you don't want to mention #2 in your advertising because it legitimizes them. But I think this is an exception to the rule: J.K. Rowling just totally legitimized Universal in the minds of Harry Potter fans. After this thing is built, for a lot of people, IOA will be the #1 thing they want to see in Orlando. How does Disney manage a situation where, for the very first time since 1971, they don't have the #1 thing that people want to see? By pretending that that other thing doesn't exist? That solution has worked thus far...Disney essentially pretends Universal doesn't exist, and I think that's been the right strategy. But when a third party (Ms. Rowling) enters the picture and is pushing people to go to Universal, that changes things. By the way, I'm not advocating any of this as sort of an "armageddon" strategy because I think Disney is totally screwed. They're not. WDW will continue to be the area's largest draw, and Harry Potter won't change that. But I think Disney making it harder to see Harry Potter is a losing game, because people who want to see Harry Potter (a lot of people) will just say "screw you" and base their visit around Universal. And of all the outcomes for Disney, that's the worst one.
Originally Posted By gmaletic Or to put it more succinctly: having bus service to Universal will encourage people to go for a day. -Not- having bus service will encourage them to go for a week.
Originally Posted By Indigo A few years ago there was much talk of a high speed train that would stop either at MCO (orlando int'l air) or Disney World area. I think the idea is stalled mainly due to opposition from some factions. Universal was one of those factions and I thought it would have been a good move if Disney approved a light rail extension that would run from Disney property down international blvd to Universal. Sure this would cause people to leave Disney property for a day, but at least they would stay in a Disney hotel instead of on Int'l. Turns out busses are much cheaper and more effective than light rail. With hybrid busses and perhaps some dedicated freeway lanes/roads, the same would work today.
Originally Posted By dshyates If you go to the Disneyland Resort website they offer Universal tickets, tickets and transportation package and someting called the deluxe tour including transportation (chinese theater, walk of fame, Universal, etc.). They also have Sea World, Legoland, Medieval Time, San Diego Zoo, And a couple of others. So since Disney are actually doing it right now, right here in America, it could happen in Otown too.
Originally Posted By dennis-in-ct <<having bus service to Universal will encourage people to go for a day>> They have this now. It is called MEARS. We called and MEARS picks you up at your hotel and brings you to Universal for a day trip. We stopped at several Disney hotels and had a full bus. It was 12. a person.
Originally Posted By Fe Maiden With all the effort Disney has put forth keeping people on property with Magical Express, MYW ticket pricing and the western expansion plans I don't think Disney will ever make it convenient to go to another park in Orlando.
Originally Posted By ToonKirby >If you go to the Disneyland Resort website they offer Universal tickets, tickets and transportation package and someting called the deluxe tour including transportation (chinese theater, walk of fame, Universal, etc.). They also have Sea World, Legoland, Medieval Time, San Diego Zoo, And a couple of others. So since Disney are actually doing it right now, right here in America, it could happen in Otown < Disneyland, WDW = 2 different animals. Not going to happen in Florida.
Originally Posted By dshyates "Disneyland, WDW = 2 different animals." They offer it @ DLR because most tourists who come to the LA basin want to see Hollywood as well as DLR. They can either provide a convenient way for their customers to do this or people will consider other lodging options. I feel this will hold true even in Orlando. If Disney doesn't make it convenient for people coming from all over the planet to see Potter, they very simply won't use Disney as a lodging option.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 No way does Disney EVER do this. Take it to the bank, Vegas or your bookie. It won't happen. DL can acknowledge Universal (as well as Knott's, Sea World, San Diego Zoo, Hollywood and even all the new casinos that have popped up within a two-hour drive) ... just look at the rack of brochures in the DL hotel lobbies ... or even the fact DL publishes other park's hours in their weekly cast updates for guests. The whole point of building 30,000 hotels rooms and timeshares as well as four theme parks, two water parks, DD etc ... was so guests never leave. You want help going to Sea World while staying at the Grand Californian and you'll get a helpful CM. You want help going to Sea World while staying at the Grand Floridian and they'll act like they've never heard of Shamu. Disney will respond to Harry Potter. But they won't ever acknowledge he exists publically.
