Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>So, you got one project in the entire 4 park system happening. And everything else speculation and rumors ...<< Don't forget about the new waterside restaurant in Morocco in Epcot that is currently under construction. They also previously announced that all 4 parks would be getting a Starbucks location, so it's safe to assume at the DAK and the Studios will be getting them at some point. Then again, none of those things really draw guests in to WDW; heck, they hardly even act as a big draw when I'm already in the park >>But when one looks at the picture of what's been happening since the day "Forbidden Journey" opened ... and what's to come - That just blows the lid off whatever Disney has done in that time frame.<< To me, what they're doing it just an effort to 'catch up' to Disney. Right now, they have a couple parks that would be incredible anywhere else in the country, but still come off as halfhearted in Orlando. While it's hardly what I'd go to a park for, the lack of table service restaurants really stands out as being not a real destination; WDW's abundance of them makes it easy to spend a week or more there. The quality and volume of stuff they've added in the last couple years is impressive, but they still have a long way to go to pull me in I'm going to WDw for a week in January, and one of my travel buddies wants to spend a day at Universal, since he's never been and wants to see Potter. I've been a couple times (though my last visit was about a decade ago), and would like to see Forbidden Journey but I don't care about the HP tie-in; I'm having a tough time deciding if I want to make the trek over there to see everything. Yes, it's as easy as hopping in the car with him and going, but at the same time, it will cost ~$50-80 more to get in the gate than it would to stay at a Disney park that day. Even though I wouldn't have to do a thing to make it to Universal, I'm not sure it's worth it to me. They're good parks, but I just can't justify it to myself >>Therefore, what doesn't make sense is arguing about these places as if we owned them.<< I own stock in Disney (a whopping 5 shares). Does that count? : )
Originally Posted By oc_dean Taking into account what the last few posters had to say - lets put this into another light: Right now: Who is exceeding expectations? And who care just enough to barely meet them? For me - The ones who are exceeding them are the ones I'm making a priority to see first, next time I'm in Florida. The one with the lack of new things to see - they are at the bottom of the barrel, and what's left of my Florida budget.
Originally Posted By sjhym333 "'m going to WDw for a week in January, and one of my travel buddies wants to spend a day at Universal, since he's never been and wants to see Potter." That says a lot doesn't it. Years ago Universal was an after thought for many people. Today it is becoming more of a must see while in Orlando. I travel a lot and when I fly home the plane is usually filled with tourists. Over the past couple of years I hear a lot of people talking about Universal. That wasn't the way it was years ago. The majority stay at Disney but trek to Universal. I was on the bus at Ft Wilderness a couple of weeks ago and overheard several conversations. Many of the people had spent a day or two at Universal. So is Disney still number 1? Sure, but they have to know that Universal is drawing some of their business away for a day or two and that is lost revenue.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "I own stock in Disney (a whopping 5 shares). Does that count? : )" With those 5 shares you have more invested than most people here do. "For me - The ones who are exceeding them are the ones I'm making a priority to see first, next time I'm in Florida." What's wrong with that whether it's Universal or Disney? There's no need for fans to turn it into some kind of make-believe war between the two destinations. "So is Disney still number 1? Sure, but they have to know that Universal is drawing some of their business away for a day or two and that is lost revenue." I grew up in Northern California pre-DCA and it was very common back then for families to take a day or two away from DL while and visit other major attractions like Knott's Berry Farm or Universal Studios. I assume that many Anaheim based tourist still do this. In my mind I don't see the relationship between Disney and Universal in Florida being any different.
Originally Posted By sjhym333 But I think Disney does. Disney sees its business model different for each coast. Disneyland has long been seen as a local/day park while WDW is seen as a stay and enjoy your entire vacation resort. WDW has had little competition from the other parks until recently so it has been fairly comfortable.
Originally Posted By DDMAN26 I think no matter Universal does, the way Disney looks at it they will always be the number 1 destination for people traveling to central FL and Uni will be number 2. It doesn't mean they shouldn't put a little effort into it though.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>In my mind I don't see the relationship between Disney and Universal in Florida being any different.<< While that dynamic is still fairly true in California, the central Florida one is different. Instead of having several parks that sprung up on their own through the years, the ones in Orlando are a direct result of Disney's presence, trying to tap into the tourist market. I think WDW and Sea World are on mostly friendly terms, but I've often heard that The Living Seas at Epcot was designed as a way to keep people from going to Sea World, even if the two are vastly different in scope and execution. Additionally, some people have mentioned that DAK was built as a way to retain guests who may have considered spending a day at Busch Gardens in Tampa. Universal is a different story. They were fairly late to the game, opening in 1990. By that point, WDW and SW had both been operating for nearly 20 years. Disney fast-tracked Disney-MGM Studios (largely using information that Eisner saw in a proposal while he was working for Paramount) to get the park open first, which is why the park continues to struggle with a haphazard layout and low attraction count. Universal was seen as a direct threat, and the combat was head-to-head With the opening of IOA, the demographics shifted a little more. Yes, Universal always skewed toward teens, but this cemented it. However, the park struggled to attract big attendance (the infamous "Universal Escape" ad campaign, followed by 9/11) until recently, as fueled by Potter. As we've seen WDW has been slow on the uptake, but they're starting to realize that they need to fight back. No, the Disney/Universal war isn't what it was in the early 90's, but it's a lot more than it's ever been in California
Originally Posted By sjhym333 I think where Universal has fallen flat has been not positioning itself as a whole resort better, I think they haven't made a great connection between the hotels, CityWalk and the parks as effectively as they could. The Uni resorts have become our favorite in town staycation. The resorts are wonderful, the service is better then at the Disney resorts and the front of the line, early entrance into HP is a great perk. I just dont think people think hotel when they think of Universal yet
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "WDW has had little competition from the other parks until recently so it has been fairly comfortable." When WDW first opened it wasn't uncommon for visitors to go to Bush Gardens, Church Street Station, or even the Kennedy Space Center while staying at or near Disney World. Of course it's a different set of local attractions now, but in theory it's the same idea.
Originally Posted By sjhym333 Not really. Those other attractions never had the type of attendance as the current groups of parks.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>When WDW first opened it wasn't uncommon for visitors to go to Bush Gardens, Church Street Station, or even the Kennedy Space Center while staying at or near Disney World<< I agree that they were somewhat of a draw, but like sjhym said, there really wasn't much comparison between the attendance. And where Disney thought they could make their own business, they did their own versions. Epcot's planned space pavilion (which eventually evolved into Mission:Space) was originally seen as a way to combat Kennedy Space Center. River Country, Typhoon Lagoon, and Blizzard Beach were ways to beat out Wet N Wild. The old water ski shows in Bay Lake pulled potential customers from Cypress Gardens. Even the adult-oriented Pleasure Island was an answer to the clubs at Church Street Station. The cherry picked which neighboring attractions to combat (mini-golf and dinner shows got the Disney approach, while they skipped go-karts and the like), but they've strategically gone after nearly every potential tourist/entertainment market that's available to them. Some have faltered through the years (Pleasure Island and the water ski shows), but it seems like most have been pretty successful. Even if the success at Disney is questionable, they mostly do a good job of keeping potential visitors away from the competition. These days, it's really only Universal (and Sea World to a lesser extent) that poses a real threat to WDW, so it will be interesting to see how they fight back
Originally Posted By dshyates Disney behavior seems to almost be begging for people to venture off property for exciting new attractions. Almost like, "You guys don't have the cajones to leave property. Suckers!"
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "These days, it's really only Universal (and Sea World to a lesser extent) that poses a real threat to WDW, so it will be interesting to see how they fight back" I'm not disputing that Disney has slipped, nor am I arguing that Universal hasn't stepped up it's game in Central Florida creating a more competitive business climate as a result. What's bugging me are fans using words like "threat" and "fight". Maybe Disney and Universal view the relationship between the two destinations that way, but to me it reads like a bunch of 13 year olds talking about rival junior high schools.
Originally Posted By dshyates Well, what do you call when one business entity is absolutely intent on putting a MMA style beat down on it's direct competition?
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>what do you call when one business entity is absolutely intent on putting a MMA style beat down on it's direct competition?<< MEGA THUNDERDOME OCTAGON 2013!!!!!!!
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt LMAO Kar2oonMan!! Seriously, the way some people talk about this stuff you'd think that WDW and USF were locked in some kind WWE death match or something.
Originally Posted By sjhym333 Please lets stop using words like threat and fight so we can all move on.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>Seriously, the way some people talk about this stuff you'd think that WDW and USF were locked in some kind WWE death match or something.<< They are, but it goes by the much less exciting term "capitalism".
