Originally Posted By HokieSkipper Expert Says Potter Opening May Rival Disney Magic Kingdom Opened In Central Fla. In 1971 POSTED: 9:41 am EDT June 15, 2010 UPDATED: 11:52 am EDT June 15, 2010 ORLANDO, Fla. -- Universal Orlando's opening of the "Wizarding World of Harry Potter" could have nearly the same effect on Central Florida as Disney's Magic Kingdom nearly 40 years ago, according to a University of Central Florida theme park expert. The grand opening will be celebrated on Friday and gives Harry Potter fans worldwide a compelling reason to visit Florida, providing a much-needed boost to hotels, restaurants and stores in addition to theme parks, said Duncan Dickson, an assistant professor at UCF's Rosen College of Hospitality Management. Dickson said with the tourism industry struggling economically, and now the oil spill debacle, the opening could not have come at a better time for Central Florida "This has the potential to have as big of an impact as the Magic Kingdom in 1971," Dickson said. "It gives people a reason to travel and experience something different." <a href="http://www.wesh.com/entertainment/23903685/detail.html" target="_blank">http://www.wesh.com/entertainm...ail.html</a>
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper ^^^I don't think there's any way it'll come close to having that impact, but if has 1/2 or even 1/4 of the influence that MK had it'd be huge.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 why do I get the feeling that some of the rest of the professors quotes are not in the paper - in this short artcle. I agree it couldn't have come at a better time with the oil spill, I also believe it will be very popular ( at least for a few years) - but rivla the MK opening ? C'mon prof, put the hookah down man ! Orlando went from a sleepy swamp town to a vacation destination because of MK and subsequent ly the rest of WDW. WWoHP will draw some new fans to Florida period ( and many will likely mosey down I4 also) , draw some away for a day or 2 from WDW at least initially ...but change the ladnscape for the city the way MK did...good God man, this is an 'expert' ? Yeah and the economy has turned the corner - and the gulf will be better off when it's done than before -- some more quotes from 'experts'
Originally Posted By MPierce >> ^^That's why DLP is so magical. Nothing like standing at a urinal attempting to take care of business when suddenly not only is there a dude next to you doing likewise, but his wife and two young daughters are in there carrying on a conversation with him like it's at the dinner table. TRUE STORY! << The French are so much more sophisticated than us.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 Spirit!!! Stop that right now!! You're making me fear entering restrooms while I'm on vacation. I think I had nightmares last night because of Buzz and Peter Pan. Now families in there. I'm ready to run away screaming.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<why do I get the feeling that some of the rest of the professors quotes are not in the paper - in this short artcle. I agree it couldn't have come at a better time with the oil spill, I also believe it will be very popular ( at least for a few years) - but rivla the MK opening ? C'mon prof, put the hookah down man ! Orlando went from a sleepy swamp town to a vacation destination because of MK and subsequent ly the rest of WDW.>> Exactly. The idea that WWoHP will have any such sort of affect is absurd, patently so. MK/WDW Phase I is one of the seminal moments in the history of the state of Florida's growth. Period. EPCOT Center was another, not just because it was so effing kewl, but because it set the stage to dynamically shift the model for guests vacationing in Central FLorida ... because in the 1971-82 period, WDW was usuually good for a day in a FLORIDA vacation ... one that included everything from beaches to the Citrus Tower to the Sunken Gardens to the Monkey Jungle to Cape Canaveral to Miami Beach to Key West. That whole paradigm shifted when EC opened and it paved the way for WDW to become a giant (stale) resort it is today. Harry Potter. One way kewl area in a theme park many folks skip on Central Fla visits. Will this change that? Sure ... but not in any way that crazy professor believes. <<WWoHP will draw some new fans to Florida period ( and many will likely mosey down I4 also) , draw some away for a day or 2 from WDW at least initially ...but change the ladnscape for the city the way MK did...good God man, this is an 'expert' ?>> Um, ah ... uhm ... VBDAD, have you not noticed the USA has been Walmarted? That's why/how a dude like this is somehow considered an expert. <<Yeah and the economy has turned the corner - and the gulf will be better off when it's done than before -- some more quotes from 'experts'>> I believe FOX News reported both of those items today!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<The French are so much more sophisticated than us.>> They make better Towers than us. And better desserts. Some would say better wine too, but I'm partial to California, South African and Italian wines myself. Oh ... and MKs. They definitely blow ours away!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Spirit!!! Stop that right now!! You're making me fear entering restrooms while I'm on vacation.>> Well, Barbara, the thing you have to realize is when you enter a strange restroom you never know what you might find. <<I think I had nightmares last night because of Buzz and Peter Pan.>> So ... you think the parks are too tooned too? <<Now families in there. I'm ready to run away screaming.>> The family that (blanks) together is really disgusting together ... <<Buzz & Peter were in the Ladies room?>> No. They were in a CM apartment living room sofa ... well, kinda. <<With Spirit. >> No, Spirit wasn't part of the sexual (oops, I mean magical) hijinks. He just walked in when Buzz was looking for Zurg's forces in Peter's Uranus! (will this last here? ... it should) <<Were they helping him?>> No. They were helping themselves to some hot CM loving! <<Just shut up and call me>> I would call you in a minute, but I don't have your phone number!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Now back to the HP thread!>> I never left it. I'm slow and sluggish. Happens when you spend a day dealing with the rampant corruption in the joke known as our legal system.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<But Happy does know my number and she did call me. >> Happy isn't as magical as me, although I can't say for certain since she won't give me her number either ... ... but she definitely can't tell my magical 'encounter' story quite the same way I could! ;-)
