Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Um, I met someone yesterday who is going to fly the 3000 miles, with her top priority of buying a wand at Olivanders." Someone, not 1,000, 100, or even 20 people. Someone. There's always going to be a few exceptions.
Originally Posted By brotherdave A third of the World Showcase pavilions are attraction free, also. Mainly just shopping and dining (Germany, Italy, Morocco, and United Kingdom.)
Originally Posted By -em I spent the afternoon at IoA and am AMAZED at what a immersive experience Potter is from the big things down to the small things... The retailer in me is dumbfounded on the huge variety of items available (and how easily they will take my money away from me!) I am a fan but I've never had a desire to own any merch (nor had I before today) but there is so many neat things I now "need"... We didn't get there till mid afternoon and the lines were great (much better than I figured) though I think the day of the week/time of day/weather helped a lot... As much as I loved FJ (WOW) it was just icing on the cake to the whole experience... -em
Originally Posted By 9oldmen >>Um, I met someone yesterday who is going to fly the 3000 miles, with her top priority of buying a wand at Olivanders.<< Yeah, but that's one(1) person, who you SAY you met. Also, that pereson might want to take a look at this: <a href="http://www.universalorlando.com/merchandise/HPProductList.aspx?CategoryName=HarryPotter" target="_blank">http://www.universalorlando.co...ryPotter</a>|Ollivanders|Collectibles(MerchandiseBaseCatalog)&parentCategory=harrypotter(merchandisebasecatalog)# That person is going to be kicking themselves when they find that those wands are now available from UO's online store. IF indeed, the wand purchase was there sole reason to travel all the way to Orlando(which I highly doubt), then they could save themselves the trip. I got to visit WW early in June (boy am I glad I caught a soft opening!) and I asked about the wands. The ones now available online were originally exclusive to Orlando, while the "character" ones (i.e., Hermione's wand, Sirius Black's wand) were already available elsewhere.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Well it is not just walking away with the wand, she wants to be selected by one.
Originally Posted By Manfried Wow, Harry Potter is a great attraction! Congratulations to Universal. And isn't it interesting that former Imagineers, freed of the handcuffs of the past WDI management, can do something so cool.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper I cannot wait until next Friday. I'm basically counting down the minutes. But, other than that, I'm very, very impressed with what I'm hearing about FJ's capacity. Universal Creative managed to make a big, semi-thrilling, state of the art attraction with the load capabilities of the Haunted Mansion. Bravo!
Originally Posted By -em >>But, other than that, I'm very, very impressed with what I'm hearing about FJ's capacity. Universal Creative managed to make a big, semi-thrilling, state of the art attraction with the load capabilities of the Haunted Mansion. Bravo!<< It was amazing how quick and efficient they loaded the cars.. No time to hesitate there or else you'd throw off the whole system... If you didn't know how many you had in your party or how to split quickly into groups of 4 everyone behind had to move quickly to catch up. Impressive
Originally Posted By SeventyOne <A third of the World Showcase pavilions are attraction free, also. Mainly just shopping and dining (Germany, Italy, Morocco, and United Kingdom.)> This^. PotterLand is basically an EPCOT pavilion for an imaginary country, that happens to have an E-ticket attached. Only the level of detail might even surpass EPCOT. It's telling that two of the best coasters in Orlando (the Dragons) are being bypassed by the majority of visitors.
Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1 "You sound slightly vengeful." What a strange thing to say. As I said, personally I hope Universal reaps a fortune from this because they deserve it. I am not American but I know you lot are really into the whole commercialisma nd voting with your wallet kind of thing. Universal have created something WORTHY of my hard earned MONEY. When Disney starts creating the same I will say THEY deserve some of it too. I don't see what's so hard to understand unless you have some kind of beef with Universal.
Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1 "So you're saying that if they built the area with just shops and restaurants (in a theme park mind you) without the HP ride it would be just as crowded? Please." Why is this even being proposed? It didn't happen. Also, as you said Hans, this can ONLY be good for the entire industry. Competition can spur Disney on to create something equally exciting and we ALL win!
Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1 "Funny, for me as a Disney fan, the environment has always been the cake too. That is why I hate things like the All Stars, Pop Century, Chester and Hesters and Toy Story Playland." I'm with ya, Dave. That is why I cannot wait for your TDR trip report! I will never forget the FEELING I had just walking around TDS - it was a feeling of having been TRANSPORTED somewhere else. For me, just being in Japan was freaky enough. Add to that being in a Japan transformed into Africa, Arabia and a Mediterranean Harbour and it was REALLY surreal!!!
Originally Posted By dshyates "Someone, not 1,000, 100, or even 20 people. Someone. There's always going to be a few exceptions." This statement proves to me that you really and truely don't get what is going on with TWWOHP. Yes, there are THOUSANDS of people who are FAR more interested in the wands than the ride. When we were there on Sunday evening the line for FJ took about 30 mins. While the line for Ollivander's was well over an hour. And the number of people that I saw buying the $100 house robes was astonishing. Trust me on this one Hans. the merchendising REALLY is as popular as the attraction. Now after my experience with DCA its opening year, I don't really support this line of thinking, and believe Disney has gone too far down this road. But Universal has hit on a demographic that is horribly underserved by the local Walmart with regards to Harry Potter merchendise. Universal is offering a ton of unique merchendise to a group that is starved for it. I think this is where Disney's market supersaturation philosophy combined with the push towards generic in-park merchendise is hurting them.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad Bottom line. Universal has spent serious money in the midsts of tough economic times and their attendance has swelled incredibly. So, now, it's Disney's turn. Where I live, (driving distance to WDW and Universal Orlando) most people of our various communities visit WDW and or Universal at least every two to three years. In recent years, the talk of the town and feeling I got was that the majority of them went to WDW only. Back when IOA was built, it was about 50/50 time at one and the other. Now, the talk of the town is that many people can't afford to do more than a weekend with maybe a Monday. That means one day drive down, two days in a parks, and one day drive back. Overwhelmingly, folks around here are going exclusively to Harry Potter, and skipping WDW altogether. So... now what? IMHO WDW feels the bite that Harry Potter is giving them, especially with tough economic times.
Originally Posted By dshyates So instead of actually building a ride, Disney brings back the buy 4 get 3 nights with free dining and a magical collectible $200 merchendise card. And then spends $200 million on a new nationwide ad campaign.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Agreed DVC Dad - whether it is for money reasons or time due to short vacations, I think for the first time since IOA opened, perhaps ever, there is something that will make short breakers choose something over the mouse. And here in the UK where people go for a week, 2 weeks (the average) and three, there seem to be even more opting to stay in accommodations outside of WDW because they are planning on less time with the mouse and find the other accommodations are better value.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "What a strange thing to say." Not strange at all. Reread your post. Your tone was a bit vindictive to me.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "This statement proves to me that you really and truely don't get what is going on with TWWOHP." Apparently I don't. I certainly can't fathom why anyone would book a flight and hotel room to buy a fake magic wand or some other toy. Based on the reports here it seems that even Universal's management is astonished by the response. To be honest that kind of fanaticism isn't something that I want to comprehend. The very notion that someone would wait in line for a half hour to buy a trinket at a theme park is silly to me.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Well I am guessing there will be very long waits to buy the 55th anniversary mouse ears this weekend too.
