Originally Posted By ToonKirby Let's try that again: <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=kJLzDXOFGws" target="_blank">http://youtube.com/watch?v=kJL zDXOFGws</a>
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I think the Studios would be the place for a Star Wars expansion - leaving MK as Disney....>> I always thought this was a can't miss, but so much time has passed ... 2000 would have been a good time for this ... and let's not let Star Wars geekdome set in too much lest we forget that the last trio wasn't memorable ... the first of the three was so awful it is unwatchable to me. And only the most recent, was truly entertaining.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Uni FL and IOA have been making big BIG B-I-G announcements for years. (IOA! Men in Black! The Mummy's Revenge!) Everybody gets all worked up. (Disney is going down! WDI will up the ante!) The new whatever opens and... everything settles back into the same familiar pattern.>> I'm not sure I agree with that at all. Actually, I know I don't. IOA didn't set the world on fire when it opened, but it is in my estimation one of the finest theme parks I've ever been to. And it DID have an effect on Disney. RnRC wouldn't have happened with out IOA opening. Mission Space, in its unadulterated form, likely wouldn't have either. Disney pushed up the thrill quotient because the only thrill at the MK is wondering whether or not you'll need a chiropractor after riding Space MOuntain or not! And MiB makes Buzz Lightyear (in all its incarnations) look amateurish, but I'm not sure it's a major driver of attendance because, frankly, the movies aren't classics that stick. <<IF Universal is willing to make the commitment and IF they get some decent designs that will capture the world of Harry Potter in a theme park, then this will be more than just another season of going over the same old arguments. (Personally, I don't think Uni will pull it off. Not to say I couldn't be wrong...) >> I don't think there's any doubt that Universal will go all out on this. Rowling simply wouldn't except anything less. I understand your skepticism though. Disney can half-ass it (and has many times) and can get away with it, but Uni simply can't. Not in Orlando anyway.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I understand how marketing announcements work. These don't get me all that excited.>> Yeah. I understand. I don't get real excited when Disney says were going to celebrate the Year of a Million Free Fastpasses (or Magical Gatherings or 100 Year of Walt or Happiest Marketing Celeb on Earth etc ...) I kind of feel I'm being fed a lot of BS masquerading as substance. <<$500 million doesn't buy much of a theme park these days.>> You should look and see what the REAL costs of two of Disney's 21st century theme parks cost. <<As a "land" within IOA, it's a pretty good amount, though.>> Agreed. I'd love to see Disney invest half that in the MK and the othe half in Epcot. <<But playing Quiddich? Riding a Nimbus 2000? If these are the iconic attractions fans actually seek, this will be a tough one to pull off. On the other hand, experiencing the "world" of Harry Potter (Dumbledore's office, Hogwarts, the Forbidden Forest) is much more likely, but a bit less exciting in the long run. (Think a whole land that consists of Swiss Family Treehouse type attractions, for example.) Visiting the shops at Hogsmeade? That one seems a given. And maybe, just maybe, those shops will have a totally immersive, interactive element...>> We'll at the VERY least, they'll have one incredible E-Ticket using the Robo-arm coaster apparatus that Disney (and Tony Baxter in particular) desperately wanted for an Incredibles attraction for both DCA and the MK. I seriously doubt that and the shops will be the only things, though. I'd expect 2-3 lesser attractions as well ... and top-notch immersive theming.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 >A Disney spokeswoman even lauded Universal's announcement. "Whenever one of our region's tourism industry players makes an investment in their business, it's good for our industry and our community as a whole," said Disney spokeswoman Kim Prunty. "That's why we continue to invest in our business." Disney's popular "Year of a Million Dreams" promotional campaign that runs through the end of the year and plans for a new ride based on Toy Story to open next year are likely to keep the race for fresh attractions at full speed. "I think Cinderella's Castle now has a new rival: Hogwart's Castle," said Speigel, the theme park consultant. "This is going to be a tough one to one-up right now."< I wouldn't say Kim 'lauded' Uni's decision. She made a canned 'what's good for Central Fla is good for us' statement. Other than a 'no comment' or a 'we don't comment on the business decisions of other companies' I don't know how more innocuous a statement could have been made. And I like the little 'editorial' comment by the writer (likely to make Disney pleased) about the Year of a Million Dreams being 'popular' ... just how is this based on fact? Oh yeah, it's not. Just stuck in there so readers think 'Well, Disney's making dreams come true every day and we don't have to wait until 2009 for it to open.'
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 One point I do feel deserves stressing is I do think many people will wind up cutting a day or two off their Disney stays ... and that may be conservative as Uni is known for offering ticket specials that could encourage more visits. I truly believe this area will attract throngs of Disney guests ... the kind who have never gone to Uni before, not the folks who already have been and/or continue to spend a day or two there on their vacations. Nope. These are those guests who are so blinded by pixie dust they would rather pay $40 for lousy Disney fast food rather than drive to 192 or 535 and spend $15 instead. They don't leave WDW property. That's why again this is so huge. Because their kiddies and maybe even their own affection for the HP properties are going to push them off-property and that's when they may see there are so many other options for dining, shopping and (even worse for the Mouse) accomodations ... This development has the potential to hurt Disney in O-Town like nothing else in recent memory.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I would be interested to see some of this concept art. Anyone have a link?
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey <<I truly believe this area will attract throngs of Disney guests ... the kind who have never gone to Uni before, not the folks who already have been and/or continue to spend a day or two there on their vacations. Nope. These are those guests who are so blinded by pixie dust they would rather pay $40 for lousy Disney fast food rather than drive to 192 or 535 and spend $15 instead. They don't leave WDW property.>> As one of those guest who never leaves WDW property, a Harry Potter theme park would DEFINITELY draw me over to Universal. I've been to Universal before, but I haven't been in years - the last time I was at Universal there was a "teaser" area for IOA, but the park itself wasn't built yet. I love Harry Potter, and I'd love to be able to walk through Hogwarts or ride on Firebolt. <<Animal Kingdom - The debut (FINALLY) of the Beastly Kingdom area of the park, perhaps with a Narnia attraction to outdraw Potter.>> I would love to see Disney step up to the plate and finally put Beastly Kingdom into the works. Everest is great, but a whole land would be unbelievable.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Well the challenge has now been made - we'll see how the execs in Mousedom respond. Likely up front like most management teams, with analysis - paralysis. Nothing will get done for a while -- but a Narnia angle and increasing Star Wars would be one 'media' answer. And Spirit - while I agree 2000 may have been a hotter time for SW - that franchise is going nowhere - it will be around forever. Also I agree the prequels do not hold up IMHO either, but talk to those 15 - 20 years old - and you'll be stunned how many have Darth Maul as their favorite character - would choose Amidala over Leia etc. -- I think that is why it is still doing well. And remember the TV series will be coming in the not too distant future. And if they let ILM etc get involved with sound quality etc.-- this can really be something to build on... back stage tour into Star Wars tour ...
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 "This development has the potential to hurt Disney in O-Town like nothing else in recent memory." I agree with this. Harry Potter is such a huge franchise that it's unlike anything Universal has opened before. Not one of their previous attractions has been based on such a beloved film and book franchise. Yeah, they've built some great rides, but I guaruntee that Harry Potter will be enough of a draw to get people who would not normally visit to stop by the park to see what it's all about. I know I sure will. Disney has to do something pretty big to counter this. I really like the Star Wars idea, since that is also a huge phenomenon that is still going strong. Heck, they're hyping up the 30th anniversary this year, so it's in people's minds again.
Originally Posted By dshyates "There will be AN attraction, "specifically designed to bring the magic and adventures of Harry Potter to life in an exciting way that guests have never experienced before." In Uni terms, that means a stage show or film with effects." Or they can go with the techno that they also scooped Disney on. The new attraction is going to be based on the Weasley's flying car. They are going to be the first to use the Kuka robotics "Robocoaster" that Disney blew the deal on for "The Incredibles" ride. Opting instead for a kicked up "Buzz". It is supposed to be Indy on steroids, think spinning heartline "loops". It could also give each car an option of mild or extreame. And note that $500 million is just under what Disney used on all of DAK and DCA (@ opening) at $650 DAK and $630 DCA. A $500 million land vs $650 million parks. We will have to see how that one plays out. eh?
Originally Posted By dshyates And for all those doubters this not only will but has already put IOA on the map.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I am still doubting. For one thing, it's not a reality yet. The other thing is, IOA has already been heralded as a fantastic park, and yet it still basically feeds off of Disney. Not saying this HP addition won't be good; it probably will be. But Uni/IOA will never be the primary destination. One property does not make an empire.
Originally Posted By dshyates It is already a primary destination for many people. While not WDW Resort which is without a doubt the most complete theme park resort experience on the planet. Uni fla is still a destination in itself. 3 cool hotels, 2 solid parks, great dining and nightlife including 2 Emeril restaurants close enough to step out of the park for lunch. Its not Disney and for some of us sometimes thats good.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>But Uni/IOA will never be the primary destination. One property does not make an empire.<< Remember it all started with a mouse? Harry Potter has international appeal -- I have no doubt that as long as they do a great job on this new addition, it'll be huge.
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>I would be interested to see some of this concept art. Anyone have a link?<< Here is the official announcement, with art and FAQs. And an incessant musical loop... <a href="http://www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.universalorlando.co m/harrypotter/index.html</a>
Originally Posted By dshyates One other cool thing is after a uni vacation I haven't spent 2000 hours of vacation time riding a bus.
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>This development has the potential to hurt Disney in O-Town like nothing else in recent memory.<< Potentially? Sure. "Like nothing else in recent memory?" Definitely, since nothing else in recent memory, despite all the hype, hopes and prognostication has made a dent in WDW. As long as there is hyperbole in the world, ("And for all those doubters this not only will but has already put IOA on the map.") there will be doubters.
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>One other cool thing is after a uni vacation I haven't spent 2000 hours of vacation time riding a bus.<< That's why I prefer Walt's original Magic Kingdom. And if folks don't like riding a bus on the WDW property, what makes it a given that they will be eager to ride across town to Uni/IOA?
