Harry Potter and the Goblet of 'Oh, &*%^' From WDW

Originally Posted By bayrr326

It has been interesting to see the reactions on the different Disney forums. I think many people are underestimating the power of the HP brand. In the new Orlando Sentinel article they mention that HP is right below Mickey Mouse in brand recognition. This addition is a huge shot over the WDW bow by Universal. This will get many people to that resort who hadn't considered it before. It will attract even more international visitors. This will get more people to IOA which is already one of the best parks in the world. I have never understood the people who only come to Orlando and go to WDW esp the repeat visitors. I love Disney but those people are missing out on Universal, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens which are some of the best theme parks in the world. I really hope this scares WDW management into getting there act together. There attendance bump from the MYW tickets, DVC and Disneys Magical Express is not going to last forever without some serious investment in the parks. Hopefully, Orlando will finally get our Indy ride and some of the stuff from DisneySea or an all new E ticket. I hope so.

 

Originally Posted By dshyates

"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?"

Ahh, but if instead you stay someplace like the Royal Pacific. You could walk or take a nice water launch. As a matter of fact you can easily walk to both parks and their dining, shopping and entertainment district. You can spend your entire vacation without getting in your car or a bus. And your right much like how Disney copied them at their Anehiem property. I think that is perhaps why Uni is building 2 new hotels. One will be another upper end Lowes the other will be their first moderate.

 

Originally Posted By trekkeruss

<<I have never understood the people who only come to Orlando and go to WDW esp the repeat visitors.>>

Funny that you should say that, because most "regular people" wonder why Disney fans keep going back to Disney (DLR or WDW) instead of seeing the "real world."

<<Hopefully, Orlando will finally get our Indy ride and some of the stuff from DisneySea or an all new E ticket.>>

Umm, they just opened EE not too long ago.

 

Originally Posted By dshyates

"Umm, they just opened EE not too long ago."

Darned solid effort in my book. It's a keeper. As is Sorin' and Phil.
Uni also has "The Simpson's" ride for next summer. So, scorecard please,

EE vs Mummy: Slight edge to EE for scale, neither worthy of the hype.
WDW has Midway Mania coming. New on prop really high end and some new low end rooms with dining and shopping Cool.
Uni has 2 new on prop hotels (upper-mid and upper lower). The Simpsons and he who shall not be named...Harry Potter aaaahhhhhhhh!
I'm pretty sure the guys on local chamber are doin' their happy dance.

 

Originally Posted By RoadTrip

This is bound to hurt WDW. I don't really see anything they could do to respond. At least short term, people are going to want to see the Harry Potter attraction no matter what WDW does to respond. And when they do they will discover that Universal Orlando is a darned fine resort.

My wife and I love Universal Studios... the park is considerably better than Disney/MGM Studios. The addition of Harry Potter will get us over to IOA for the first time. And if we are going to spend that much time there, we might as well spend a couple of nights at the absolutely fantastic Portofino Bay hotel.

I don't suppose any of you would be looking for 310 DVC points...

 

Originally Posted By DAR

I hope Disney is smart about this and doesn't just spend money to in fact spend money. If it takes a couple years for something to wow us, then I'd rather see that then something that just feels rushed.

 

Originally Posted By dshyates

"This is bound to hurt WDW. I don't really see anything they could do to respond."

How about offering Uni tickets and free shuttle options in their vacation packages. With Disney's hotel presence in Otown. You know after all 5 of Uni's hotels book up 18 months out, Disney would be a good option if there are shuttles. They do this for DLR packages. But to avoid looking like they acknowledge Uni's new presence they would also have to offer Sea World and Busch Gardens admission media. Just no shuttle to Tampa.
Buy Disney get Harry Potter.

 

Originally Posted By Mickey4President

I have never been to Universal Studios. We only go to WDW every other year, and I want to spend every moment of those trips inside WDW somewhere. I love Harry Potter, and having that at Universal I will have to go. My sister and I are already planning a big family vacation to go to it when it opens, and while we’re there go to WDW.
I love Star Wars and would really like to see that expanded at Disney/MGM Studios. I might actually spend an entire day there instead of the half day we do the park in now.
Also, I would like to see Disney do a partnership with Blizzard and do some kind of ride with the game World of Warcraft at Disney/MGM Studios, maybe after the movie comes out.

 

Originally Posted By fkurucz

<<I hope Disney is smart about this and doesn't just spend money to in fact spend money. If it takes a couple years for something to wow us, then I'd rather see that then something that just feels rushed.>>

If its true that Disney had the first shot at this and blew it, then they should have known this was going to happen and therefore had time to come up with a "plan" other than handing out free blue mouse ears and magic fast passes. I guess we can look forward to extended 'free dining plan' periods.

Either that or they can set bear traps to try to stop people from leaving the property to go to Universal. Maybe bogus busses labelled "Univerasl/IOA" that drop you off at MGM or DAK?

 

Originally Posted By DAR

<<Also, I would like to see Disney do a partnership with Blizzard and do some kind of ride with the game World of Warcraft at Disney/MGM Studios, maybe after the movie comes out. >>

But is that a recognizable brand? The online community knows about WoW but do regular joes?

 

Originally Posted By fkurucz

I must admit that I am surprised that Disney let such a franchise get away.

If they really went all out and spent $500M and built a Coruscant complete with a Jedi temple, spaceport, etc. and a some cool state of the art attractions (bye bye Star Tours) I could see StarWarsLand(TM) working.

Imagine a full scale Imperial Walker making the rounds (just don't step on anyone!).

 

Originally Posted By DAR

Or what about Middle Earth Land? You could have the Mount Doom rollercoaster and such.

 

Originally Posted By davewasbaloo

I'm still waiting for my Mos Eisley Cantina restaurant complete with the band!!!

 

Originally Posted By Mickey4President

<<But is that a recognizable brand? The online community knows about WoW but do regular joes?>>
That’s why I would like them to wait until the movie comes out. While playing the game, I talk a lot about WDW. Many people have told me that the only way they would go to WDW would be if they had a WoW ride. I just think this would bring in a lot of people to WDW that thought that it wouldn’t otherwise go. It is the number one MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) in the world. There have been approx. 8.5 millions registered copies of the game sold, and more being sold everyday. I just think that the MMORPG market is one that hasn’t been tapped by any amusement park, and could be very profitable for the one that does.

 

Originally Posted By DAR

Oh I'm not doubting it's popularity. But it's popular amongst one small group of the overall population. Harry Potter, Star Wars and Lord of the Rings, these are titles that recognizable to even those who may have never watch one of the films or read any of the books involved.

 

Originally Posted By vbdad55

<I must admit that I am surprised that Disney let such a franchise get away.
<

Remember - also passed on Lord of the Rings

 

Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA

As someone who doesn't 'get' the whole Harry Potter franchise [didn't read the books, didn't see the movies], this doesn't do ANYTHING for me.

It's like watching a group of people playing 'Dungeons and Dragons' board game.

They seem to be excited, but I just don't get it.

Hope you all have fun.

 

Originally Posted By bobbelee9

And why should everything new be thrill rides? philharmagic isn't white knuckle, but it sure is good. I may be in the minority, but I like keeping my feet on the ground. Yeah, I enjoyed Soarin', but I may have been holding the hand of the man next to me, whoever he may have been. But then again, he didn't shake my hand off, so maybe he was holding my hand. I'll do Soarin again. I like Star Tours, but most people miss all the stuff there is to see and hear on the walk up to the room. Anyway, there needs to be stuff for a variety of people. One size does not fit all.

 

Originally Posted By MPierce

>> As someone who doesn't 'get' the whole Harry Potter franchise [didn't read the books, didn't see the movies], this doesn't do ANYTHING for me.

It's like watching a group of people playing 'Dungeons and Dragons' board game.

They seem to be excited, but I just don't get it.

Hope you all have fun. <<

Same here, it will have no influence on me either, of course we might be the only two people in the world who could care less. I still believe WDW has to come up with something big to counter, but nothing that is so urgent they have to announce it right now. Harry Potter fans are going to go see it no matter what WDW comes up with. That's why I think WDW might take a wait, and see approach. Once they see how much business they have lost they can make their move then.

 

Originally Posted By dsnykid

I LOVE Harry Potter, but if I do get back to Orlando i highly doubt I would go to Uni to see the park... I don't like huge thrill rides, mostly anything that goes upside down, and one land at Universal Studios isn't enough to lure me over there for a day. but that's just me.