Originally Posted By HokieSkipper So just because I said that you disregard everything else? Makes sense.
Originally Posted By SafariRob Great article! I am excited about the changes. I think it is a bit unfair to compare it to Harry Potter. Different target audience. >>I don't know many specifics, but I know someone who's worked on the project and he's laughed when I've asked about specifics on the project and responded, "They have no idea on half that stuff."<< Not hard to believe at all. The same thing happens here in California. For example, they decided to build the Carthay Circle Theatre at DCA and then later decided what would actually go inside. I am excited about the changes. I have only been to WDW twice (2002, 2010) and I think the Magic Kingdom (and especially Fantasyland) will benefit greatly from the extra space and the new restaurants and rides. Fantasyland is VERY crowded and this should open things up a bit. Doobie, do you know if the new Fantasyland will result in Disney raising MK park capacity? Hopefully not, or else the extra walking space will not be "extra". It might feel like a lot of extra space now, but increasing park capacity would kind of defeat that.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<Doobie, do you know if the new Fantasyland will result in Disney raising MK park capacity? Hopefully not, or else the extra walking space will not be "extra". It might feel like a lot of extra space now, but increasing park capacity would kind of defeat that.>> I've been wondering the same thing since day 1. People have always been celebrating the extra room this would give the park, but if the capacity just goes up as it opens, that sure isn't going to be the case.
Originally Posted By MPierce Great review Doobie. It would seem that Disney is trying to get the fan community behind this since they opened up a tour behind the wall to you. They would be wise to do this more often. I give this project a very strong 5. It is going to be an enormous amount of eye candy. To me that's what WDW is really about. The numerous rides, expansion of rides, and rethemeing of rides is just a very big bonus. I think it will be very competitive with Harry Potter on a different level. I honestly believe that some of you are underestimating the impact this Fantasyland expansion will have. I also believe that the plans for this expansion have proven to be....shall we say flexible. To me that's a good thing.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "So just because I said that you disregard everything else?" Yes because what followed was as unspecific and nebulous as the responses Doobie got. When you said "Oh trust me. There's a lot they indeed don't know" I assumed that you had some detailed evidence to back up your point. Pointing to a friend who is towing the company line isn't exactly what I'd call substantial proof that the company has no idea what the answers are to the unanswered questions.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<I think it will be very competitive with Harry Potter on a different level. I honestly believe that some of you are underestimating the impact this Fantasyland expansion will have.>> By the time this thing is done there will be more Potter on the way. I don't see this driving attendance the way Potter did.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Not hard to believe at all. The same thing happens here in California. For example, they decided to build the Carthay Circle Theatre at DCA and then later decided what would actually go inside." Yes, but when construction began on the Carthay we all knew what was going inside. This guy (who is the Media and Broadcast Manager of Walt Disney Imagineering by the way) is telling Doobie that he doesn't even know when construction on Fantasyland will be completed and the project has already started! Maybe HE doesn't know, but I find it hard to believe that no one at the company knows what is being planned in full detail.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "By the time this thing is done there will be more Potter on the way. I don't see this driving attendance the way Potter did." I definitely agree with this. I think that the appeal of the Potter franchise and the signature attraction is much bigger than anything that is being added to Fantasyland.
Originally Posted By leobloom My excitement has dropped after seeing the video of the Mermaid ride-thru. Looks to me to be the most boring 6 minute dark ride ever. Actually might be a better ride if they sped it up. Anyway, I can't say it made me eager to ride it when it opens at MK.
Originally Posted By SafariRob >>I think that the appeal of the Potter franchise and the signature attraction is much bigger than anything that is being added to Fantasyland.<< That depends on who you are trying to appeal to. I have not been to IoA/Potterland. Help me out, here. What are the height restrictions on the three rides? I really think Disney is going after a different audience. As a father of small children, I think they would have a much better time at MK and the new FL than IoA and WWoHP. -There are more rides. -The height restrictions are lower. -There is more to see and do. -There are more characters. The list goes on. To me, it's no comparison. Am I missing something?
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<That depends on who you are trying to appeal to. I have not been to IoA/Potterland. Help me out, here. What are the height restrictions on the three rides? I really think Disney is going after a different audience. As a father of small children, I think they would have a much better time at MK and the new FL than IoA and WWoHP. -There are more rides. -The height restrictions are lower. -There is more to see and do. -There are more characters. The list goes on. To me, it's no comparison. Am I missing something?>> But here's the thing, FLE isn't going to attract anyone new. It's going to bring the same old, same old in. Namely families with small children and Disney fans. No one who's never been interested in a Disney vacation before is gonna say, "Hey! Disney just added more of the same! We were never interested before, but let's go check this stuff out!" Where as Potter has a huge and dedicated fanbase that now has its Mecca. And they're gonna keep coming back when it gets bigger. I just don't see this having anywhere near the same affect.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt “That depends on who you are trying to appeal to.” There were stories of adults in Europe planning their first trips to America just to visit Harry Potter-land. As nice as it may be, I really don’t think there’ll be that kind of hysteria around the opening of the New Fantasyland. Now I’m not a fan, but everyone knows that the worldwide appeal of the Potter franchise is simply enormous. “I really think Disney is going after a different audience. As a father of small children.” And that’s my point. The appeal of the New Fantasyland is much narrower.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> By the time this thing is done there will be more Potter on the way. I don't see this driving attendance the way Potter did. << I disagree Skipper. I think it will be very competitive. It won't drive attendance in the way HP did in the sense that MK already has astronomical numbers. I'm just saying that I am of the opinion that it will increase attendance, and excitement in both fans, and non-fans alike. I am truly excited by the possibilities that this expansion offers. I bet I'm in the majority opinion also. I hope the money Uni brings in from HPI enables them to schedule a phase 3,4,5, and 6. Only fans win in that proposition. Excellent competition only means that WDW must also raise the bar more for WDW
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Originally Posted By leobloom I'd become a CM just to test the ride if we got to ride in urninals under the sea.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>><<Doobie, do you know if the new Fantasyland will result in Disney raising MK park capacity? Hopefully not, or else the extra walking space will not be "extra". It might feel like a lot of extra space now, but increasing park capacity would kind of defeat that.>> I've been wondering the same thing since day 1. People have always been celebrating the extra room this would give the park, but if the capacity just goes up as it opens, that sure isn't going to be the case.<<<< It's going to bring the MK back up to levels not seen since 20K and other rides and eateries closed. That's about it.
Originally Posted By Doobie I'm not saying this will have as big of an impact as Potter did at IOA. I don't think that's even possible. MK attendance can't increase as much as IOA's did without going over capacity, I'm guessing. But I think Potter also raised the bar in creating an immersive environment surpassing anything Disney's done (at least in North America) and my hope is Fantasyland at least makes a good attempt to reach that level. I don't know if they plan on increasing MK's capacity but I wouldn't be surprised if they are. But that only affects things on very busy days. On less busy days where the capacity wouldn't have been reached anyway (the vast majority of days), everyone will have more room to spread out. Hopefully the huge Be Our Guest restaurant will offset some of the shortage created by the dining plan and free dining. Pottertopia is the only Potter theme park in all the world for a recent book and movies series that are some of the most popular in history. It's going to attract people galore - especially since IOA did it as well as it did. Animated Disney character can be found all over the world at theme parks and otherwise and have been for decades. No matter how well Disney does, I don't think it could ever instantly attract the audiences far and wide the way Potter has. But that doesn't mean that can't reach its quality. Doobie.
Originally Posted By 3disneylocations Yes because what followed was as unspecific and nebulous as the responses Doobie got. When you said "Oh trust me. There's a lot they indeed don't know" I assumed that you had some detailed evidence to back up your point. Pointing to a friend who is towing the company line isn't exactly what I'd call substantial proof that the company has no idea what the answers are to the unanswered questions. My thought exactly!
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Pierce, you and I got ADMIN'd! Lets go grab a beer to celebrate. << I'll buy!
