It's official - It's Harry Potter

[Disney8704]

Agree 100% That would be SO cool if they had a pirate island. I would be all over it. Maybe build another model of the black peral and let people explore it. Of course have Capt. Jack there and other pirates. Maybe they can create the Tortuga town on the island. That would be interesting. And of course have pirate themed restraunts and stores and maybe another POTC ride.

Disney is going to feel this.

Disney could make a very strong counter with a Pirate Island. They spent 300 million on the last Pirate's movie because the franchise is wildly popular and they will likely make many times that on the franchise. They clearly could spend money on a themeland within Disney World that would be a killer immersive environment that the fans of the Pirates franchise would go mad for. Plus they need to have something as strong as the princess connection is for girls, for boys. Pirates is it for them. I don't know why they continue to throw pennies at the pirate stuff in the parks like changing Tom Sawyer island in Disney Land to a pirate theme and doing the P&P and having Jack Sparrow out. That is not enough. Disney can be so slow sometimes. They need to strike while the iron is hot.

Disney needs to stop sleeping and get on it ASAP!

 

[Cyrano]

I doubt Universal will cut corners with this construction. All parties concerned want this to be done right...and Universal will do this right.

JK Rowling has been very careful about protecting anything to do with HP and I doubt this will be any different

 

[mamaprincess]

Agree 100% That would be SO cool if they had a pirate island. I would be all over it. Maybe build another model of the black peral and let people explore it. Of course have Capt. Jack there and other pirates. Maybe they can create the Tortuga town on the island. That would be interesting. And of course have pirate themed restraunts and stores and maybe another POTC ride.

All of your suggestions and more are why Pirates could really stop the hemorraging that Disney will be doing when HP island opens. Heck, I'm not even a fan and have never cared to go to Universal but my family of 5 and I aren't that high on pixie dust that we would miss out on going to HP island.

The pirates franchise is rich in themeing oppurtunities and just has a phenomenally huge fan base. Disney struck gold with this one. They could hold there own against the juggernaut that is HP if they would make the investment.

Hopefully Universal has lit a fire under Disney's bottoms with this one. This is a huge move that Disney can't begin to ignore.

 

[Olaf]

We received the e-mail from Universal on this last night. DS (age 12) is soooo excited. This could really give WDW a run for their money, if Universal does this right. Concept art looks awesome!

Here's link:

http://www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/invite_final.html

 

[snowbunny]

Pirates could really stop the hemorraging that Disney will be doing when HP island opens.

[....]

The pirates franchise is rich in themeing oppurtunities and just has a phenomenally huge fan base.

Well, it's Johnny Depp that has the huge fan base. Without him the Pirates franchise would be very small potatoes. Yeah yeah Orlando Bloom but seriously...Harry Potter is a juggernaut pure and simple; you see it right here in people that never had the urge to visit Universal suddenly feeling a strong urge to spend part of their vacation there.
The best time to visit the MK will be the day HP world opens...walk on everything!

 

[Disney8704]

Not just MK but all the parks - walk on everything. I seriously still think this will hurt Disney, unless Disney acts quick and does something and they would have to open it, same time as universal opens HP island or shortly after. Even though Disney might suffer, it will probably only last at the max a year. People are gonna be like hmmm Disney - same old stuff, hey Universal - WOW they got that cool new island based after HP, lets go there this year instead of Disney. This goes for any theme / amusement park. When a amusement park gets something new in, that is what directs people's attention and make them wanna go there instead of somewhere else. Take Busch Gardens in VA. Been there a zillion times, but I REALLY wanna go this year to ride that new coaster they have. Thats the main reason why I wanna go to BG this year. 2nd main reason - just to take a vacation. Another good way to look at it, is rides. Whenever a new ride opens or a new section in one of the Disney parks - thats the 1st thing they do as soon as they get into the park. They go straight for the new ride or section. Thats why when new rides open, you could probably walk on any of the other rides while there is a 3 hr wait at the new ride Simply put, people will go where there are new things and not worry about the other parks. They know that those rides at the other parks will still be there a year later and Im sure people are getting tired of the same old stuff at Disney. They want something new and exciting. Therefor, people are gonna spend their $ at Universal in 2010.

Well, it's Johnny Depp that has the huge fan base. Without him the Pirates franchise would be very small potatoes. Yeah yeah Orlando Bloom but seriously...Harry Potter is a juggernaut pure and simple; you see it right here in people that never had the urge to visit Universal suddenly feeling a strong urge to spend part of their vacation there.
The best time to visit the MK will be the day HP world opens...walk on everything!

 

[checkwriter]

We have five kids, ages 8 to 18, and the news of the Harry Potter addition to Universal was an instant draw for all of them. Up to now they had never expressed an interest in Universal. Never ever. Now, however, they very much want to go. My point: done right, this could be a BIG draw for Universal.

A stronger competitor is good news for Disney fans. Why? Because Disney will finally have to work a little harder. Think about it. If our kids are dragging us over to Universal, and our theme park funds are limited, then that's less time we're spending at Disney. Disney's going to have to come up with something -- or a number of somethings -- to lure the kids (and their funding sources) back. This could ultimately be very good for all involved. A stronger competitor across town is a good thing for consumers. When the Soviet government was the only source of bread, there were bread lines in the USSR. Okay, that's a little extreme, but you get the idea.

On another note, IMHO a Hogwarts Hotel NEEDS to have two things, and SHOULD have a third: Needs: (1) A replica dining hall (preferably with a changeable ceiling); (2) An atrium lobby with moving (though non-usable, purely decorative) staircases (think about it - if the staircases moved every 15 minutes or so, kids would be so into that); and the "should have" number (3): animated portraits that react to passerby.

I'll be in my basement mocking some of this up, and will let you know when it's ready for prime time.

 

[twinklebug]

I have no doubt Universal will do a great job recreating the HP environments, I'm just going to have to sit back and hope they live up to or exceed expectations with the atraction. I trust Disney and know they wouldn't blow it, but universal... Hmmm... it'll all depend on what "experience" they want to give the riders and the story they want to tell.

I really hope JKR gets intimately involve in the design & story line. These are her characters, her kids in a way and who would know them better? I also pray the designers don't just retell part of the existing storyline. I'd love to see rides that are "rider created" without the guests knowing how they're doing it. Disney is getting there but I think they're still lacking the technology and the story to apply it to. HP would be a perfect opportunity to bring this forth on though.

 

[Dreamfinder2]

or a large portion of the "Bible Belt"...

--Mr. DB

Just as a gentle stir to the pot, I'm a minister and an evangelical Christian (Southern Baptist to boot), and live firmly entrenched in the Bible Belt. And my family members are all Potter fans, because it is, ahem, fiction, and rip-roaring good tales. And, biblically, my theology allows for evolution nicely.

Just wanted to put a check on sterotypical thinking ... that broad brush some folks use doesn't necessarily paint everyone.

Back on topic - the potential here for Universal is extraordinary. We're there.

 

[mamaprincess]

Well, it's Johnny Depp that has the huge fan base. Without him the Pirates franchise would be very small potatoes. Yeah yeah Orlando Bloom but seriously...Harry Potter is a juggernaut pure and simple; you see it right here in people that never had the urge to visit Universal suddenly feeling a strong urge to spend part of their vacation there.
The best time to visit the MK will be the day HP world opens...walk on everything!

I beg to differ. My family and I have never been Johnny Depp or Orlando Bloom fans but we are huge fans of the Pirates franchise. I love Captain Jack sparrow but have never cared for anything else Johnny Depp has ever done. I'd be willing to bet that I am not the only one who loves the franchise who was not originally a fan of Johnny Depp's. Captain Jack sparrow to me, is as much a Disney character as Cinderella or any of the others that they've created over the years. I believe this character and the other characters in the franchise can live on as long as any of the great Disney characters have and will continue to enjoy great popularity. I have pirates everything and have never owned one piece of Johnny Depp merchandise. I really think that Disney just did an awesome job with the whole pirates fantasy. Pirates, like Princesses are just a fantasy that people love and Disney did an incredible job of bringing it to life.

Disney could really use balance between the girliness of the princess fantasy that they have sold to tremendous effect and a fantasy that boys can live when they come to Disney. This is it for them. They need to invest in it. Now with HP coming. They had better wake up as clearly universal is making strides to become a world class multi-day destination. Disney shouldn't rest on there laurels, especially when they have a weapon in there arsenal like the Pirates franchise.

 

[rwrocksme]

I just had a thought. Universal mainly does thrill rides. this is a good thing for people who like those types of rides, and those people are definitely Universal's target audience. However, that isn't HP's audience--will there be a good mix? Find out next time on Pigs...In...SPACE!!!

 

[chasgoose]

I beg to differ. My family and I have never been Johnny Depp or Orlando Bloom fans but we are huge fans of the Pirates franchise. I love Captain Jack sparrow but have never cared for anything else Johnny Depp has ever done. I'd be willing to bet that I am not the only one who loves the franchise who was not originally a fan of Johnny Depp's. Captain Jack sparrow to me, is as much a Disney character as Cinderella or any of the others that they've created over the years. I believe this character and the other characters in the franchise can live on as long as any of the great Disney characters have and will continue to enjoy great popularity. I have pirates everything and have never owned one piece of Johnny Depp merchandise. I really think that Disney just did an awesome job with the whole pirates fantasy. Pirates, like Princesses are just a fantasy that people love and Disney did an incredible job of bringing it to life.

Disney could really use balance between the girliness of the princess fantasy that they have sold to tremendous effect and a fantasy that boys can live when they come to Disney. This is it for them. They need to invest in it. Now with HP coming. They had better wake up as clearly universal is making strides to become a world class multi-day destination. Disney shouldn't rest on there laurels, especially when they have a weapon in there arsenal like the Pirates franchise.

The Pirates movies and Jack Sparrow would have been nothing without Johnny Depp. They would have just been another huh? why is Disney making another movie based on a theme park ride (like the Haunted Mansion)? Johnny Depp made those movies what they were and created the character of Jack Sparrow in a way that writing never could. He didn't get nominated for an Oscar for nothing (the mere fact that he got a nomination is a testament to what his contribution was because they almost NEVER give out nominations to performances in movies like Pirates of the Caribbean). The second he decides to stop being in Pirates movies is the second the franchise dies.

The Harry Potter franchise on the other hand is not nearly as tied to one performance as the Pirates movies.

 

[photo_chick]

I just had a thought. Universal mainly does thrill rides. this is a good thing for people who like those types of rides, and those people are definitely Universal's target audience. However, that isn't HP's audience--will there be a good mix? Find out next time on Pigs...In...SPACE!!!

I don't know if that is necessarily true. I like HP and I love thrill rides. A lot of the kids who started reading and became fans with the first book are in their 20's now. Just the right age for thrill rides.

 

[DiszyDean]

I can imagine that there are several factors in Disney's decision not to pursue the HP project.

1. Disney wants to have total control over all aspects of their parks. JK Rowling is very particular about how her franchise is perceived and I am sure will have final say on everything HP at Universal.

2. This is not an investment that requires just increased revenue for several years after the park opens. This investment will require an increase in revenue over the next 10-15 years for it to be viable. Universal is gambling that it will happen, Disney may not have been as confident.

3. Disney may have felt it better to be prudent and continue to add attractions to a lot of their underutilized space. For the money spent on HP, Disney can probably put in another 4-5 feature attractions in their existing parks at the level of a Expedition Everest. And as we all know, Disney is a master of marketing. They may think they can get a lot more bang for their buck adding to their existing stable than going way outside the box.

I would be one that would like to go to see the new Harry Potter world when it opens. But will it be an attraction, combined with the existing US/IOA offerings that I go to year-after-year? Probably not...I think this will be an attraction where people will flock to it just to see it but will probably not generate the kind of repeatable appeal that the entire package at WDW offers.

In addition, I think the HP project will totally max out Universal's new attraction budget for the next 5-7 years. It will probably take 2-3 of those years just to get built and get open and at which time I am sure parts of IOA will need to be closed due to the construction. So, with no new attractions and possibly shutting down some exisiting areas of IOA, Universal is probably counting on a slight decline in attendance until HP opens.

 

[lordhavemercy]

[QUOTE=DiszyDean;18990302 *edited...I can imagine that there are several factors in Disney's decision not to pursue the HP project.

1. Disney wants to have total control over all aspects of their parks.

2. This is not an investment that requires just increased revenue for several years after the park opens.

3.I would be one that would like to go to see the new Harry Potter world when it opens. But will it be an attraction, combined with the existing US/IOA offerings that I go to year-after-year? Probably not...I think this will be an attraction where people will flock to it just to see it but will probably not generate the kind of repeatable appeal that the entire package at WDW offers.

When Disney does a project...it's approach is completely different than Universal's....Disney saturates the individual in the atmosphere on so many different levels....a person is immersed in the experience.....from the architecture...the attractions...to the CM....you transcend the earthly realm...and enter the realm that Disney creates for you.
....Universal has not caught on to this....you see in areas of their parks they are trying for it...but the "spirit" isn't there...the employees lack the sparkle and polish....the attractions seem only 2 dimensional....yes, they capture you for the moment...but, when you are leaving the venue...the experience leaves with it.
....when Disney does something...it's done with an excellence and a sparkle...that lacks at other parks .....
.....I hope that Disney continues to keep it's attractions "family" oriented.
Disney is a lovely land....one of the last here on earth...where we can escape....to princesses....castles....flying elephants..swash-buckling pirates...magic carpets...and smiling faces. I hope they keep it that way....the way Walt wanted it...for a very, very long time.

 

[DiszyDean]

There are a lot of former Disney imagineers working for Universal right now. Although I agree with the opinion that when Universal first opened it really just started putting in rides without much thought to overall theming, I think that is slowly changing and the HP franchise will be a big step in duplicating some of the same type of "magic" that Disney produces.

I also think that Disney needs to continue to strive to appeal to a broader audience. I think they already have locked down the 3-8 demographic and provided the best overall family vacation experience but they cannot just sit back and continue to rely on princesses and castles. I think you will begin to see a little bit of a change in direction when new attractions are considered. I think Expedition Everest is a good example. A nicely themed area but also providing the excitement of a thrill ride. And look how much buzz that ride generated. I mean there were Travel Channel specials dedicated to its design and development. When is the last time you have seen that happen?

I think that in the end, Disney will be better off for not pursuing the HP project which would have probably shelved any other future ride expansion for the next five years.

 

[DiszyDean]

While I am thinking about it, I think that Universal should take a cue from Disney and move a lot closer towards all-inclusive options. I think that the all-inclusive nature of a Disney vacation is a big seller for a lot of families.

If Universal did a "Magic Express" type transportation service to and from the airport, a more inclusive dining plan, and a "value" hotel chain, they would see a lot more volume especially with the new HP expansion.

In addition, I think they should look at offering the ability to pay off your Universal vacation over time, like Disney. That is often underrated when people think about where to spend their vacation dollars. It is much more convienent for a lot of people to put a deposit on their vacation for the coming year and then pay it off over time than to put it all on their credit card at once, like you now have to do with a Universal package.

I think new attractions like HP combined with the convience factor that Disney offers could turn Universal/IOA from a 2-3 day experience to a 4-5 day or longer experience.

 

[sha_lyn]

When Disney does a project...it's approach is completely different than Universal's....Disney saturates the individual in the atmosphere on so many different levels....a person is immersed in the experience.....from the architecture...the attractions...to the CM....you transcend the earthly realm...and enter the realm that Disney creates for you.
....Universal has not caught on to this....you see in areas of their parks they are trying for it...but the "spirit" isn't there...the employees lack the sparkle and polish....the attractions seem only 2 dimensional....yes, they capture you for the moment...but, when you are leaving the venue...the experience leaves with it.
....when Disney does something...it's done with an excellence and a sparkle...that lacks at other parks .....

I completely disagree with you.
I did not expect to enjoy Universal. We went only for our teenager. Well the first thing out of my mouth when I entered IOA was "wow they out disney'ed disney". I still stand by that statement 6 years later. IOA takes the theming above and beyond what WDW does.

 

[Metro West]

In addition, I think they should look at offering the ability to pay off your Universal vacation over time, like Disney.

I wish Disney did that with their Annual Passes. Universal, Sea World and Busch Gardens offer Flex-Pay options on their APs...not Disney...all $$$ at one time.

 

[sha_lyn]

If they just try to cram it in at IOA that will be very disappointing. I am already disappointed Disney didn't get it but let's hope Universal doesn't cut corners for corporate profit.

They aren't cramming it in anywhere. They will be using a small part of Lost Contienent, plus a large section of unused land.