DIS Blog: Keystrokes at Disney World – Hammer and Nails at Universal

[Rumors Rocks]

Disney:

Universal:

Let’s start with the obvious. Since the turn of the century, the Orlando theme parks have seen a considerable amount of growth. Not necessarily in the way of expansion, but with crowds. Tourists and local Floridians alike have flocked to the theme parks for magic and experiences they can’t get anywhere else. It seems the theme parks have succeeded in drawing tourists through their entrances; however, there’s a problem. Their number 1 problem has become bigger crowds, lines, and capacity, and how to deal with it. Both Disney World and Universal are working to address this problem, but it appears they are taking two different approaches. Continue reading and let’s look at how their potential solutions are miles apart.

Read the rest here: http://blog.wdwinfo.com/2014/01/19/...-and-nails-at-universal/#sthash.2i3lYOQM.dpuf

Good article.

 

[Whatsthegoodword]

I'm just bewildered by everyone's perception that Disney is not building while Universal is. Just in the past couple of years, Disney has completely redone California Adventure including a whole new "Cars Land" in Anaheim, and effectively added a new land in Orlando as well with the huge Fantasyland expansion. Both of these look GREAT. Now they're doing big things at AK (even though I'm no fan of how they're doing it there) and Downtown Disney - and we all know that soon Star Wars will get the big treatment somewhere.

At the end of all this, Universal will spend all this money in Orlando and they still will still be no closer to dethroning The King. ...and the turnstiles will show it.

 

[Son of Gadsden]

I'm just bewildered by everyone's perception that Disney is not building while Universal is. Just in the past couple of years, Disney has completely redone California Adventure including a whole new "Cars Land" in Anaheim, and effectively added a new land in Orlando as well with the huge Fantasyland expansion. Both of these look GREAT. Now they're doing big things at AK (even though I'm no fan of how they're doing it there) and Downtown Disney - and we all know that soon Star Wars will get the big treatment somewhere.

At the end of all this, Universal will spend all this money in Orlando and they still will still be no closer to dethroning The King. ...and the turnstiles will show it.

Totally agree! I've been saying this in a lot of threads. How exactly someone could come to the conclusion that Universal is focusing on building attractions and Disney isn't or needs to catch up is beyond me. Disney is massively bigger than Universal, from the start. Four parks, two water parks, and DTD vs two parks and citywalk...not to mention I think Disney's parks are bigger, but I'm not sure.

Universal adds Wizarding World. Disney adds New Fantasyland. Wizarding World has a large coaster (Dueling Dragons), a small coaster (Flight of the Hippogriff, a restaurant (The Three Broomsticks), a few shops, a castle and a dark ride. New Fantasyland has a small coaster (Barnstormer), a large coaster that isn't finished yet (Seven Dwarfs), two restaurants (Be Our Guest, Gaston's), a few shops, two castles, a dark ride (Under the Sea), whatever you call the TWO Dumbo rides, a huge playground, Storybook Treats being a combination of a huge snack area and store, Fairytale Hall, Rapunzel's tower and area, a water play area for kids, Tales With Belle, remodeled train station, and the new circus meet and greet area, and I could be missing a few things.

Now Universal built Transformers, is doing a few additions to City Walk and is expanding Wizarding World. Disney is making an entire new land in Avatarland at Animal Kingdom and creating a nighttime show and safari (supposedly), building a new, better structure for Festival of the Lion King, and totally redoing Downtown Disney into Disney Springs. Add to that Star Wars Land is still a concept being discussed but hasn't had a date set for it's construction yet.

Universal built a new resort. That makes four resorts. Disney has THIRTY, just finished building Art of Animation and a new DVC section for Grand Floridian, and is currently working on a new DVC section for Polynesian.

I have no idea how you can say Universal is focusing on construction and expanding while Disney is not. How exactly does Disney need to play catchup?

 

[mvk]

Universal adds Wizarding World. Disney adds New Fantasyland. Wizarding World has a large coaster (Dueling Dragons), a small coaster (Flight of the Hippogriff, a restaurant (The Three Broomsticks), a few shops, a castle and a dark ride. New Fantasyland has a small coaster (Barnstormer), a large coaster that isn't finished yet (Seven Dwarfs), two restaurants (Be Our Guest, Gaston's), a few shops, two castles, a dark ride (Under the Sea), whatever you call the TWO Dumbo rides, a huge playground, Storybook Treats being a combination of a huge snack area and store, Fairytale Hall, Rapunzel's tower and area, a water play area for kids, Tales With Belle, remodeled train station, and the new circus meet and greet area, and I could be missing a few things.

Dueling Dragons and Flight of the Hippogriff were already there, just re-themed. Just like Barnstormer. Dumbo was indeed doubled and included the new queue so you're not waiting 45 minutes out in the heat anymore.

Disney's focus on family level attractions and classic characters probably has more to do with people not being happy with New Fantasyland in comparison to Harry Potter Phase 1. In HP, they added the Forbidden Journey ride. In new FL, they added the Little Mermaid ride and are about to open the Mine Train in the next few months. On top of the Belle attraction/meet & greet.

New Fantasyland has added more attractions and other stuff for people to do (when Belle, Fairytale Hall, Circus M/G, Casey Jr water area, etc. are added) than both Harry Potter phases will.

There was much more new construction in New Fantasyland than there was in Harry Potter phase 1, and probably more in New Fantasyland than in both Harry Potter phases put together. The rock-work is much tougher to do than just building structures (like Transformers or Diagon Alley), and there is much more of it in New Fantasyland (Beasts castle, Little Mermaid, Mine Train) than there is in Potterville.

 

[Son of Gadsden]

Dueling Dragons and Flight of the Hippogriff were already there, just re-themed. Just like Barnstormer.

Really? Wow. I didn't know that. Well, I knew about Barnstormer, but I had never seen it before it was rethemed. Never noticed it, I guess. Not much of a Universal fan, so I don't really know what was at Wizarding World before Wizarding World. I assumed it was empty land like the farthest point of New Fantasyland was.

You learn something every day.

 

[atricks]

Diagon Alley is about 3 times the size of the original wizarding world and 100% new, everything there is huge, two trains stations, nocturne alley, leaky cauldron, london waterfront, train stations (At either end of the rail). And everything there is large. It pretty much dwarfs (no pun intended) New Fantasyland. Three of the rides there are state of the art (Forbidden Journey, Gringott's and Hogwarts Express), Mermaid, although nice, really isn't.

Disney builds, but tends to slowy, but by the time Avatar fully opens Universal will likely have 2-3 other expansions past Diagon Alley.

 

[Whatsthegoodword]

Dueling Dragons and Flight of the Hippogriff were already there, just re-themed. Just like Barnstormer. Dumbo was indeed doubled and included the new queue so you're not waiting 45 minutes out in the heat anymore.

Yep. I've ridden all four of these rides in their old & new forms. ...and Dumbo is the best improvement of the four. The three coasters are not different at all - they just have different artwork in the ques.

To those that aren't impressed with New Fantasyland - I guess you just aren't impressed with Disney World! New Fantasyland is more of what has always made WDW great - a park that parents and kids can enjoy together - just like Walt planned. ...AND done with the most impeccable attention to service and every reasonable detail.

 

[Son of Gadsden]

Well, as far as comparing New Fantasyland to Wizarding World forgetting amount of rides and looking at quality instead...

The Little Mermaid sells for $30 at Target, and the shelves were empty last I checked at our local Target.

Harry Potter is selling quadruple feature DVDs for $10 a piece.

You can buy all eight Harry Potter films for cheaper than the Little Mermaid, a 1989 cartoon. What that says to me is let's see how they stand the test of time...because from what I see every day, Disney is unrivaled at quality. Yeah, we're talking movies vs theme park, and they don't necessarily directly impact one another. But, what it all says to me is Universal has rides for great movies. Disney's franchises tend to be classics rather than just a great movie, and in ten years, I'd be willing to bet Mermaid will cost the same as it does today...as will Snow White, Cinderella, Lion King, etc. I don't think you'll ever see all three Lion Kings on a triple feature for $10. Transformers? I could see them being $5 a piece movies in a few years.

Plus, New Fantasyland is made up of several franchises...Dumbo, Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Tangled, Snow White, and Cinderella. The chances of someone not liking or finding nostalgia with one of those franchises are much lower than the chance someone doesn't like Harry Potter. So, you have to lower the bar a bit. Wizarding World may be bigger literally, but it's not all about the tall buildings.

 

[jade1]

Really? Wow. I didn't know that. Well, I knew about Barnstormer, but I had never seen it before it was rethemed. Never noticed it, I guess. Not much of a Universal fan, so I don't really know what was at Wizarding World before Wizarding World. I assumed it was empty land like the farthest point of New Fantasyland was.

You learn something every day.

Dueling Dragons was better, the 2 dragons were always lined up at the beginning-that way they would race directly towards each other (front row was incredible) and veer off just before a collision.

Now (and no fault of HP) they stagger them because some guests would throw things at the other riders-at least that what a cm told us, dissapointing.

 

[mvk]

Diagon Alley is about 3 times the size of the original wizarding world and 100% new, everything there is huge, two trains stations, nocturne alley, leaky cauldron, london waterfront, train stations (At either end of the rail). And everything there is large. It pretty much dwarfs (no pun intended) New Fantasyland. Three of the rides there are state of the art (Forbidden Journey, Gringott's and Hogwarts Express), Mermaid, although nice, really isn't.

Disney builds, but tends to slowy, but by the time Avatar fully opens Universal will likely have 2-3 other expansions past Diagon Alley.

Universal has said Diagon Alley would be about the same size as the original wizarding world. It has one ride and a transit system to the other park, plus shops and restaurants.

Diagon Alley will have taken about 1/2 year less than Pandora/Avatar by the time it opens in 2017.

http://www.**************.net/2013/...-harry-potter-expansion-at-universal-orlando/

Coup says the entire Diagon Alley area will have a similar to footprint to the original Wizarding World, roughly the same overall size.

 

[wiigirl]

Universal has said Diagon Alley would be about the same size as the original wizarding world. It has one ride and a transit system to the other park, plus shops and restaurants.

Diagon Alley will have taken about 1/2 year less than Pandora/Avatar by the time it opens in 2017.

http://www.**************.net/2013/...-harry-potter-expansion-at-universal-orlando/

Coup says the entire Diagon Alley area will have a similar to footprint to the original Wizarding World, roughly the same overall size.

 

[Kermit85]

Dueling Dragons was better, the 2 dragons were always lined up at the beginning-that way they would race directly towards each other (front row was incredible) and veer off just before a collision. Now (and no fault of HP) they stagger them because some guests would throw things at the other riders-at least that what a cm told us, dissapointing.

I had read there were a few instances that people were hit with flying objects when they would race towards each other. So they stopped doing that and stagger them now. I don't remember if it said it was before or after the Harry Potter addition that it happened.

 

[mvk]

I had read there were a few instances that people were hit with flying objects when they would race towards each other. So they stopped doing that and stagger them now. I don't remember if it said it was before or after the Harry Potter addition that it happened.

I believe someone lost an eye in 2011 after being hit with an object. I think that would be after the Harry Potter makeover, but I think before they made the change so it wasn't 'dueling' anymore.

 

[PuppyJonathan]

There was much more new construction in New Fantasyland than there was in Harry Potter phase 1, and probably more in New Fantasyland than in both Harry Potter phases put together. The rock-work is much tougher to do than just building structures (like Transformers or Diagon Alley), and there is much more of it in New Fantasyland (Beasts castle, Little Mermaid, Mine Train) than there is in Potterville.

Very good point. I know a lot of people here are impatient about Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and are lowering their expectations because of the time spent but this had me much more awestruck compared than both Diagon Alley and Hogsmede combined, to make it worse I am a Potter fan saying that. Just how detailed and full the rockwork structure is compared to the façade of Potter (staring at the giant show building still visible to guests in Islands) just won me over

 

[thrillridejunkie]

Having gone to both parks, I don't really see why there has to be a comparison. Each park has its own niche. In my opinion, Disney is geared more toward families that may have small children, while Universal is geared more toward people who like thrill rides. I think they can equally coexist for years to come.

 

[DanBoris]

Universal has said Diagon Alley would be about the same size as the original wizarding world. It has one ride and a transit system to the other park, plus shops and restaurants.

Diagon Alley will have taken about 1/2 year less than Pandora/Avatar by the time it opens in 2017.

http://www.**************.net/2013/...-harry-potter-expansion-at-universal-orlando/

Coup says the entire Diagon Alley area will have a similar to footprint to the original Wizarding World, roughly the same overall size.

The "transit system" is going to be more then just transportation, it's going to be a cutting edge ride experience.

 

[mvk]

The "transit system" is going to be more then just transportation, it's going to be a cutting edge ride experience.

Its going to have digital screens instead of windows. There really isn't anything cutting edge about it.

And riding it isn't an option unless you buy admission to two theme parks, so I'm not sure how much it adds to Diagon Alley itself.

Can you imagine the howling protests if Disney made people pay to ride the monorail from MK to EPCOT?

 

[bcrook]

Its going to have digital screens instead of windows. There really isn't anything cutting edge about it.

And riding it isn't an option unless you buy admission to two theme parks, so I'm not sure how much it adds to Diagon Alley itself.

Can you imagine the howling protests if Disney made people pay to ride the monorail from MK to EPCOT?

Isn't that a hopper? They are expensive.

Plus a 14 day ticket for Universal/Islands of Adventure/SeaWorld and Waterparks costs about $300.00. With that you can ride that train back and forth all day long if you want.

I think the hogwarts train sounds similar to what the proposed train ride was going to be in Epcot for Japan.

I think it sounds like a lot of fun, and I hope the sequences are different whenever you ride it like Star Tours. Maybe dementers attack the train sometimes and not at others.

 

[mvk]

Isn't that a hopper? They are expensive.

Plus a 14 day ticket for Universal/Islands of Adventure/SeaWorld and Waterparks costs about $300.00. With that you can ride that train back and forth all day long if you want.

I think the hogwarts train sounds similar to what the proposed train ride was going to be in Epcot for Japan.

I think it sounds like a lot of fun, and I hope the sequences are different whenever you ride it like Star Tours. Maybe dementers attack the train sometimes and not at others.

You can ride the monorail all day long for no cost. You need to have a two park ticket just to get onto the HP train.

 

[bcrook]

You can ride the monorail all day long for no cost. You need to have a two park ticket just to get onto the HP train.

Well it is a ride.

I think if Disney added a cool Star Wars transport system from DHS to Epcot futureWorld and it required a hopper, I think people would hail Disney as being brilliant. And it would be wildly popular.

But your example would be more like if the Monorail went from Disneyland to California Adventure and you could only board with a hopper. I don't know if that would be a big stretch.