Disney's "Summer Nightastic!" the answer to Universal's Harry Potter opening

[Mouse Skywalker]

Hey Everyone, so I just noticed Universal is trying to open the Wizarding World of Harry Potter by May 28.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/Travel_News/Universal_s_Wizarding_World_of_Harry_Potter_will_be_open_by_May_28.htm

Disney's Summer Nightastic! is supposed to start in June and includes the return of the Main Street Electrical Parade and new fireworks (rumored to be Pirate and Princess fireworks) at the Magic Kingdom, extended nighttime hours at Animal Kingdom, and a new drop sequence for Twilight Zone's Tower of Terror.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/Theme_Parks_Attractions/Electrical_parade_returns_to_Disney_s_Magic_Kingdom.htm

I know Disney is planning on expanding MK's Fantasyland for a long term response to Harry Potter, but is Summer Nightastic! the short term response? Is Disney thinking that Universal will have the big draw of the summer with Harry Potter, but maybe they can get some people to come back to see a new parade and fireworks? I have to say the Summer Nightastic! grouping of events seems kind of random. OK, I get the return of a parade and new fireworks at the MK, but "packaging" it with a new drop sequence at Tower of Terror seems random. Extended hours at Disney's Animal Kingdom seems kind of random too.

What do you all think?

 

[safetymom]

That is the first thing I thought when I heard Meg Crofton say it at the press conference. It may not be their plan to counter Harry Potter but it sure looks that way.

 

[bellaDisneydncr]

It could be, since the expansion isn't opening for a while after HP opens. I don't know how well it's going to work, but they're trying! lol

 

[disneyholic family]

whatever the reason, i'll be happy to see the electrical parade - i like it better than spectromagic...
but i'm not so sure about not getting to see Wishes when i'm there in June

 

[ADP]

That was my first instict as well Dave. The timing is too close to the opening of Potter for Disney not to have thought of it as a somewhat short term response. I certainly don't think visitors to Orlando will only go to Universal exclusively to visit Potter, because let's face it Disney is still king of the hill. However, I can see guests staying an extra day or two at Disney because of the Summer Nightastic offerings. I think that is there goal....For guests to stay a little longer while on Disney property.

 

[disneyholic family]

That was my first instict as well Dave. The timing is too close to the opening of Potter for Disney not to have thought of it as a somewhat short term response. I certainly don't think visitors to Orlando will only go to Universal exclusively to visit Potter, because let's face it Disney is still king of the hill. However, I can see guests staying an extra day or two at Disney because of the Summer Nightastic offerings. I think that is there goal....For guests to stay a little longer while on Disney property.

but why would you stay longer just to see the night parade and fireworks...i mean, you were going to see wishes/spectromagic....now you're going to see the main street electrical parade and whatever the wishes replacement is...
why does someone have to stay extra for that?

 

[Stitchmistress]

I wonder how long the Main Street Electrical Parade will be there? I will be in the MK August 20th, and I really wanted to see Spectro (It was not running on my last trip). I know a lot of you are excited to see the new parade, but Spectro is my favorite, and I haven't seen it in years, so I will be disappointed if I miss it again.

 

[stepdisney]

We most certainly are adding extra days to go to US/IOA to see Harry Potter. I would think that is would be crazy for Disney NOT to get the ball rolling to counter the Harry Potter factor. Disney executives do their homework. We have boys who are a little older and they love US and can't wait to see the Harry Potter world. I love Disney and I would love to see older children and boys be more of an emphasis. JMHO.

 

[ADP]

but why would you stay longer just to see the night parade and fireworks...i mean, you were going to see wishes/spectromagic....now you're going to see the main street electrical parade and whatever the wishes replacement is...
why does someone have to stay extra for that?

The hard core Disney fan has seen Spectro and Wishes quite a bit. I don't always make it a point to see them since I've seen them a few times. MEP and the new fireworks show will draw me to the MK at night instead of maybe going to EPCOT. I'll extend my Disney World stay and extra day so I can get over to EPCOT the next day.

 

[disneyholic family]

The hard core Disney fan has seen Spectro and Wishes quite a bit. I don't always make it a point to see them since I've seen them a few times. MEP and the new fireworks show will draw me to the MK at night instead of maybe going to EPCOT. I'll extend my Disney World stay and extra day so I can get over to EPCOT the next day.

hey, i'm hardcore... ...when we're there we see wishes almost every night (one of our must must musts)...i'm really sad that it won't be on when i'm there in June....
i love the mainstreet electrical parade so i'll make the effort to see that (i'm not a big spectro fan)..

but i'm talking to ADP....you're in disney every third tuesday
i haven't been there for 2 whole years....actually more than that...the longest time away since my first visit back in 1974...arghhhhhhhhhhhh....
but enough whining...

the truth is, whatever disney does, it's not going to be able to keep people from going over to check out potterville....assuming it gets halfway decent reviews......i'll probably even head over there to see what the fuss is all about (though it will probably be a one time visit)...and that's even though i hate all things potter (and universal for that matter).....
to combat potter, disney has to get a bit more going than just the cool fantasyland expansion (which seems geared more to girls than boys)..

having said that, my son has never been a universal fan either....and while he likes the harry potter movies (no accounting for taste), i'm guessing that he'll only visit it once as well.....all 4 of us are kind of disney purists....the rest of orlando doesn't really exist for us...

 

[ADP]

hey, i'm hardcore... ...when we're there we see wishes almost every night (one of our must must musts)...i'm really sad that it won't be on when i'm there in June....
i love the mainstreet electrical parade so i'll make the effort to see that (i'm not a big spectro fan)..

but i'm talking to ADP....you're in disney every third tuesday
i haven't been there for 2 whole years....actually more than that...the longest time away since my first visit back in 1974...arghhhhhhhhhhhh....
but enough whining...

the truth is, whatever disney does, it's not going to be able to keep people from going over to check out potterville....assuming it gets halfway decent reviews......i'll probably even head over there to see what the fuss is all about (though it will probably be a one time visit)...and that's even though i hate all things potter (and universal for that matter).....
to combat potter, disney has to get a bit more going than just the cool fantasyland expansion (which seems geared more to girls than boys)..

having said that, my son has never been a universal fan either....and while he likes the harry potter movies (no accounting for taste), i'm guessing that he'll only visit it once as well.....all 4 of us are kind of disney purists....the rest of orlando doesn't really exist for us...

I'm at Disney every 5th Tuesday...Stop exaggerating. Actually, I'm more of a theme park nut. The operations of any theme park have always peaked my interest. Don't ask me why....Call me a cheesy tourist I guess.

 

[Justin Jett]

Actually, I'm more of a theme park nut. The operations of any theme park have always peaked my interest. Don't ask me why....Call me a cheesy tourist I guess.

Same here

 

[disneyholic family]

I'm at Disney every 5th Tuesday...Stop exaggerating. Actually, I'm more of a theme park nut. The operations of any theme park have always peaked my interest. Don't ask me why....Call me a cheesy tourist I guess.

i find disney park and cruise lines operations very interesting.....
on one of our cruises, at the cocktail reception with the captain, we got to meet the WDW VP of lines...that wasn't his title, but his area of expertise had to do with lines...the whole theory of waiting in line and how to best control it, minimize it etc etc......it was so interesting talking with him...
yes, we definitely are geeks...
but it's pretty much disney related...i'm not particularly interested in theme park operations of non-disney parks...
though i do enjoy going to theme parks.....specifically Cedar Point and the late and not so great boblo island - it might not have been so great, but it was at least 'ours'.......

 

[safetymom]

I'm at Disney every 5th Tuesday...Stop exaggerating. Actually, I'm more of a theme park nut. The operations of any theme park have always peaked my interest. Don't ask me why....Call me a cheesy tourist I guess.

I agree with you. I love the details in the theme parks. Does that make me a tourist?

 

[luke]

Does that make me a tourist?

A towny tourist?

 

[ADP]

I agree with you. I love the details in the theme parks. Does that make me a tourist?

Not if your local. Lucky Duck!

 

[mdvlprof]

Altho we have an older ds, dh made the request to see HP. 'Can we take an extra day at Universal to see HP?'

We most certainly are adding extra days to go to US/IOA to see Harry Potter. I would think that is would be crazy for Disney NOT to get the ball rolling to counter the Harry Potter factor. Disney executives do their homework. We have boys who are a little older and they love US and can't wait to see the Harry Potter world. I love Disney and I would love to see older children and boys be more of an emphasis. JMHO.

 

[PeterPan09]

I think it's definately a reaction, but I don't think it's going to make that much of a dent. Harry Potter is a monster addition, a huge "get" for Universal that will likely pay off big time.

My hope as a "townie" is that the rising tide of Harry Potter lifts all boats and brings more people to the Central Florida area and to ALL the parks. Even with Harry Potter, the conventional wisdom is that US/IOA is not a full week vacation destination. So, that leaves folks with some time to spend at WDW as well, and I hope a lot of them do that.

 

[Merry Mousketeer]

Summer Nightastic at Disneyland was very successful last summer despite the problems with its signature attraction - the new Malificient Dragon for Fantasmic - that didn't emerge from its lair until after the summer season.

The "reimagined" Electrical Parade was well-received; although I miss the Blue Fairy. However, the much touted "new floats" are actually floats we always had at Disneyland that were removed and then reintroduced. What they are not advertising is that all of the Dumbo circus floats have been "retired". So, despite its age, this is a new and improved parade that I am confident you will love.

The fireworks show for our Summer Nightastic was enjoyable. Dumbo flying above the castle was cool, except that weather conditions sometimes prevented his flight. What was nice was that he was in addition to Tinker Bell and not a replacement. However, the fireworks music tended to be more slow and melodic instead of the upbeat and emotionally-rousing music our previous fireworks show had. If you have the same soundtrack, Wishes fans may find it difficult to adjust to.

Is this enough to counter Harry Potter? Personally, I think it's inevitable that Universal is going to draw big numbers this year - especially when WDW doesn't have a boffo new E ticket attraction to counter it.

Enjoy the MSEP!