Originally Posted By AutoPost This topic is for Discussion of <a href="http://www.LaughingPlace.com/Latest.asp?I1=ID&I2=73291" target="_blank"><b>Latest: Fool: Will Legoland Florida Hurt or Help Disney?</b></a> <p>The Motley Fool evaluates what the upcoming addition of Legoland and Universal's Wizarding World of Harry Potter will mean to the Disney World tourist and Disney's bottom line.</p>
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I think it will be a negligle impact. LegoFla is anticipation 1.2 million a year or so in guests. A far cry from Disney's numbers.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss Tourists won't be traveling to FL to visit Legoland and perhaps WDW, but they will be traveling to WDW and perhaps Legoland.
Originally Posted By mousermerf As much as I would love this to be true, Disney is just too juggernaut - IOA was the best hope of taking the mouse down a notch and it failed. With all the work IOA is seeing - and it looks opening day pristine in the restored portions - maybe, just maybe, there will be enough fan excitement over Potter to rock the boat a little.
Originally Posted By brotherdave Disney will STILL be the main draw after Potter opens. Sure, there will be a definite bump up in numbers for IOA when it opens, but in the long run, Disney will still rule Florida's theme park giants. Universal and the other parks will do well, but will never be able to pull in the crowds like Disney does. Legoland will do decent business, but won't affect Disney in the slightest.
Originally Posted By leobloom >>Legoland will do decent business>> It'll be interesting to see how successful it is. Cypress Gardens had changed ownership at least twice within the past few years, and while I'm sure Legoland will have better brand-name recognition, the location is a bit out of the way. Certainly it's not close to Disney like Sea World or Uni are.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo True Leo, but Legoland in California is not that close to Disneyland, and the European ones are not that close to major draws either (ok, Windsor has the castle I suppose), but it is excellent enough for them to be successful. I do not anticipate the mouse feeling much impact, but I suspect and hope Legoland do really well. And for us, this may pull us back to Florida when it opens. Nothing at WDW is enough.
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad anybody know harry potter's opening date? All I see is spring of 2010.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***And for us, this may pull us back to Florida when it opens. Nothing at WDW is enough.*** At least Legoland will give you an excuse to rent a car this time!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Well we will be choosing to stay with Marriott or Four Seasons too. So that is likely to make a big difference too.
Originally Posted By MPierce I really think Legoland, and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter will have an impact on WDW's bottom line. Folks only have so much Vacation time, and so much money to spend on it. A day at Legoland means one less day at WDW. Same goes for UO. Wih the addition of WWHP I look for more people to extend their time at UO, and IOA by a day. WDW might be the Boss Hog, but all the other parks are nipping at it's heels. They keep improving, while WDW has set back on it's haunches crowing about who they are. They grew complacent and now they have to make up for all the lost time they spent basking in their glory. If the other Theme Parks follow the example of the European Union they will become a very formidable foe for WDW
Originally Posted By dshyates I was out at TWWOHP this Friday and I can tell you it is themed to the gills. The most part is done by The Nassal Co. Who have done a lot of work for Disney in recent years. TWWOHP is, without a doubt, Disney quality. Hogsmeade and the Hogwarts castle look spectacular.There are MANY pics from this week on the thread linked below. <a href="http://www.orlandounited.com/forums/showthread.php?9-The-Wizarding-World-Of-Harry-Potter/page252" target="_blank">http://www.orlandounited.com/f.../page252</a>
Originally Posted By mousermerf I was looking at IOA's new venture this morning.. thinking.. "Gee, the mouse might actually respond to this.."
Originally Posted By dshyates Were you at IOA today? Because my guess is Disney is thrilled they can get the attendance bump without having to actually build a thing. Folks aren't going to come from across the pond to Orlando without seeing the mouse. They may come for Harry Potter, but they will go to WDW. The same with Legoland. They may bring their ankle bitters to FL, but it will be for the MK AND Legoland. Anything that comes to Cent. Fl will only help WDW. Now as far as long term impact, I think the competition will erode the mouse's dominance, but they will ride Potter and Legoland's robe tails for all its worth.
Originally Posted By hopemax It will be interesting to see if they add Legoland to the OrlandoFlex tickets and if they do at what cost. 14 days at Universal w/ HP, SeaWorld, and Legoland for the price of a Disney 5-day Hopper would have to be tempting for some families. Buy the multi-day pass for the "other" parks and a one day at Disney. It would leave a possible two-headed problem for Disney. Increased capacity issues at the MK, as that would probably remain the park that most people would choose. And attendance issues at the other three.
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad Got to hurt Disney. Last week my daughter asked me about harry potter and I told her it was opening this spring and so she went to the computer and looked it up. While looking she noticed islands of adventure and her comment was "dad we have to go there at least one or 2 days". she has been talking about it ever since. This is also our year to do sea world as we do it every other year. So, of our 7 days in parks, 2 or 3 this year will probably be at the competition especially if the hopper is 99 dollars. Plus my kids asked me what was new this year at WDW and the only thing I had was the balloon and the coaster simulator at epcot whereas the IOA is a whole new park that they have never seen. My problem really is I don't know how I am going to get my Disney fix in only 4 days but that is all I can do for this year.
Originally Posted By dshyates Well, since Blackstone owns SeaWorld, Legoland and a 50% stake in Universal Resort Orlando I can bet that Legoland will not onlt be part of the FlexTicket but offer transport. And CDD, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is shaping up to be well worth checking out IOA. Have you never been up to Universal Resort Orlando?
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad Nope. One year we went to the side with jaws. But since then we were so busy exploring Disney we just never went back. We had an ok time but we didn't like it as much as Disney.
Originally Posted By dshyates Universal has changed a lot in the past 10 years. It is not Disney, but for Universal, that is a good thing. When the kids get past the Pirates and Princesses phase, Universal has a lot to offer. The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman@IOA is the best dark ride on the planet. With Tower of Terror giving it a run for its money. But if you can't have fun at Universal Resort Orlando I feel sorry for you. They have a lot to offer. I was at Emeril's Orlando on Friday after taking some construction pics at TWWOHP and I have to say. I am a 46 yrear old guy and I visit the parks a lot by myself and I can have fun at URO, but Disney just feels stale to me.
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad I hope HP is open by april. we are going to try shooting down then
