Harry Potter Park - What will WDW do?

[TDC Nala]

Most everyone will probably go take a look at Harry Potter. But will it make those who repeat-visit Disney want to go back to Universal year after year after year? Will it convince them to give up free airport transportation and the Disney Dining Plan?

Would have to actually see it before I could tell.

 

[Padrepride]

Disney shouldn't be worried. I do think that Disney will strike back with a new land of their own about the time that the Harry Potter land opens. I am going with a Pixar or Indy-Star Wars themed land to go in the DHS. Or, I'm still hopeful for the Beastly Kingdom in AK.

 

[minnie61650]

People at work were online looking at the new Harry Potter Park at US this morning. The website said it will open late 2009.

I wonder what Disney has in mind to compete when this opens?

Do you want to visit HP?

Will you split your stay between WDW an US?

Do you think Disney is worried?

I guess you haven't seen the Blue Sky rumors for new rides at WDW Fantasyland......

The Little Mermaid ride rumors for WDW are once again surfacing along with a couple of other ride rumors for WDW Fantsyland.

From the Blue Sky Buzz......

http://blueskydisney.blogspot.com/2008/07/blue-sky-buzz-orlando-its-just-fantasy.html

Here is an excerpt......
Blue Sky Buzz (Orlando): It's Just A Fantasy...


...............
Imagine that Little Mermaid attraction we talked about before... it's basically going to be the ride we have here, although it might be a bit smaller and the exterior should be envisioned differently, but all around Fantasyland you'll notice a great deal of detail and a great deal of difference in a bout four or five years if it all comes to pass.

How would you like to get through with your adventures with Ariel and Sebastian and walk out looking around the Florida sunshine basking in that new roller coaster that's been put in for Disney Fans/Geeks to ride. A roller coaster? What are you talking about? The one themed to the Seven Dwarfs, that one. Lavishly made up with details that are closer to something you'd see in Tokyo that stateside, but it's there...........

----------------------------------------------------

I do not think WDW is worried.
I think they are planning to be ready if they need to compete.

 

[KirstenB]

Once the impact of Harry Potter hits, I expect Disney to close the MK early cancel entertainment pieces and raise prices! The fact that Disney is ignoring this does not surprise me. I plan on using my DVC as a dormitory for exploring Universal IOA in 2010!

Larry

This is exactly what we did on our trip 2 mths ago. We'd never been to US, but bought the 7 day/86 dollar passes. We had the best time. I can't even imagine HP added to the mix. The WDW tix are just a huge expense for a family of 4, and they're very hard to justify when WDW isn't adding anything new.

 

[minnie61650]

....... .. WDW isn't adding anything new.

I respectfully disagree.

WDW is always adding new attrations to their parks.

In 2007 they added Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor.
In 2008 they added Toy Story Mania.
In January of 2009 they are adding American Idol.

And if the rumors I heard from seveal sources including the 1 I posted from Blue Sky Buzz (the rest I cannot reveal) It is a pretty sure thing that the Little Mermaid Ride will be open in the 2010-2011 timeline.

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As for me I will not be visiting US.

We took the family in 1994 and we went in 2002.
Since I have limited mobilty there are very few rides &/or attractions I can even enjoy at US.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[eeyorethegreat]

We are looking forward to the New Harry Potter Area at IOA. We have never been to Universal/IOA, we have very little interest in it. The addition of this area will send us there for 1 to 2 days. We are BIG HP fans. So yes Universal will be getting bussiness from my family that it would not have otherwise gotten BUT we won't be taking days away from our Disney stay we will be adding two days at the beginning off WDW property to go to IOA. I think those die hard WDW fans will do much the same while those who already mix their trips between WDW and Universal will continue to do so. I think any loss from WDW will mostly be those travellers who only plan to make one trip to the area and decide to take time from their WDW stay to go to Universal/IOA. In the short term Disney may seem some loss but I think long term it won't have a major effect.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Personally, if I was Disney and reading this thread.....I would be worried.

By all accounts, 2009 is not going to be a strong year for the tourist industry -- Orlando is already feeling the pinch with the promise of far fewer flights into the airport and the downturn in advance reservations has already been reported in the Orlando paper.

Now look at these notes left by people......"We will go for only one day"......"I'm not a fan of US but love HP".......we will probably go for 1 or 2 days to check it out and spend the rest of the week at WDW". ......and these comments are from Disney's MOST LOYAL!

Each one of these precious days is lost revenue for WDW. They have worked very hard to make sure they don't share even one day of our visits with other parks. Now people are mumbling about leaving WDW for a day here and there.

What if they finally try US and.....God forbid.....LIKE IT.....realize the accommodations are better.......enjoy the bigger thrill rides over there......love the "front of the line" gift received by simply being a US resort guest?

Let's also remember that we Dis'ers are very loyal to Disney......most people visiting WDW are not.

You think they aren't worried about it? Think again.

 

[Tinkermommy]

I think all of the tourist industry will be feeling the pinch in 2009. Disney has for years been strategizing how to keep people on Disney property (bus service from the airport, dining plans, etc). Even if people split their stay it will hurt in terms of revenue when the entire industry is fighting for the decreased amount of tourist dollars.

And if people are taking vacations most of them will be trying to do something much less expensive and Disney is at the top of the budget in terms of ticket pricing.

We go to WDW a lot (my 1 year old has been 5 times). We are getting a bit tired of it though. We have talked about going to US next time. They have a cheaper meal plan, cheaper tickets, and the IOA is really fun.

In an economy where people are cutting back where they can, every dollar counts and if Disney is losing even a day or two to other parks that will hurt their overall bottom line.

We are also huge HP fans, so I will definitely be going when it opens!!

 

[DisFlan]

I don't know if Disney is sweating HP in particular - I think they're worrying more about a general dropoff later this year and into next year. As noted, a WDW vacation for most folks is at the top end expense-wise. People with planned/paid trips will follow through, but fewer people will be planning and paying for those way-ahead-of-time planned trips next year. They're likely to wait and see what happens next year with the economy - or they'll decide on something within a gas tank's distance from home. HP won't be up and running until late 2009 or 2010 - so US as well as WDW will feel the pinch next year. Let's hope things have improved for everyone by the time HP opens.

DisFlan

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I have to agree that it isn't the most loyal customers Disney has to worry about. They've demonstrated time and time again that they aren't too worried about them.

It's people like me whose dollars are in play that are of concern.

Universal/Sea World isn't the only competition Disney has for my money. They are also competing with Gatlinburg and Savannah. Fortunately for them I like Disney's Hilton Head if its that part of the greater Savannah area I'm aimining for. What with people driving in from farther away all of a sudden there will be things to stop and do ON THE WAY to Disney...cutting into Disney's Dollars even more. Or they may choose to go somewhere that it is the same five hours away from home they used to spend on the plane ride.

2. My old touring plan used to be one split trip then the next a Disney only trip. Adding a new ride here and there doesn't encourage me to do a Disney only trip, it just creates a must-do park visit. So going forward I'll be doing split trips that may or may not include Disney until such time as my finances get a bit nicer OR Disney does something that I just have to see over the course of a few days.

 

[MusiqChic99]

I agree that tourism is going to be hit either way due to prices. Disney is good about keeping people on their property and those who really want to go see HP will no matter what. Like someone said...add an extra day into their vacation.

I would love to see HP park but if i had to choose between US and WDW..WDW would win out every time.

 

[Jenvenza]

I dont think Disney has a thing to worry about. I think the Harry Potter Park will be pretty cool, but it would just be something I went to visit WHILE I was on my Disney vacation. I wouldnt plan a trip just to go there.

 

[berry_disney_girl]

I don't think Disney needs to be worried about the new HP area at IOA. I am an avid Disney and US fan. But they have nothing to worry. People aren't going to stop going to Disney because of this. lol

 

[choirchic]

The Harry Potter attraction is not a "new park" so to speak. It is a "land" within the existing park, and while I love Harry Potter and will probably check this out, I'm sure Disney is keeping up with all of it.

Just because Disney is quiet, doesn't mean they're not thinking...remember how Disney bought the land to build WDW and how "hush hush" that was? I wouldn't be worried...

 

[letthewookiewin]

When we go to Florida, we go just to go to WDW. I've thought about going to Uni, but nothing has interested me enough to take time away from the Mouse. However my family loves HP. We go to see the movies at the midnight shows, and got the last couple of books at the midnight release of them. If it were a 5 day or less trip, even when the WWoHP opens, I won't take time away from WDW. If we can go for 6 + days, then we will go to US. More than likely what we would do is start out at WDW, and end at WDW so we can take advantage of DME on both arrival and departure. Then we would just take 2 nights in the middle where we stay at a Uni resort so we can advantage of the perks of staying at their resorts. I am trying to convince my DH to do this for our 15th wedding anniversary in July 2010.

 

[bytheblood]

I agree with Brian, I don't think that TPTB at Disney Corporation are worried or concerned.

I enjoy the Harry Potter movies and have read the two books that have not yet been released and am looking forward to the final 3 movies - but I would rather go to WDW.

 

[Tinkermommy]

If any of you are business people then you will know that Disney is worried. Not just about HP, but about anything that would take away revenue in this tight market. Even one day away from a Disney park out of a week vacation is a cut of 14% in revenue from a customer. Any business would worry about that. And I don't think many people with just "tack on an extra day" when they have a limited vacation budget. They will make the choice that gets them the most of what they want for the amount they have to spend.

Here on the DIS boards we are very loyal to Mickey, but I would cut my time to go to IOA to see the HP area. I might even make a separate trip to do so and stay at one of their hotels. And we have been to WDW 5 times in the last 18 months!

Is Disney wringing their hands over HP? No, are the concerned and putting plans into place to minimize the loss? Yes. I don't think that means building multi-billion dollar new parks, but probably more aggressive pricing, more perks for staying onsite, asv well as some new rides, etc.

 

[bytheblood]

Is Disney wringing their hands over HP? No, are the concerned and putting plans into place to minimize the loss? Yes. I don't think that means building multi-billion dollar new parks, but probably more aggressive pricing, more perks for staying onsite, asv well as some new rides, etc.

Disney is already doing this and has agressively been doing this for 15+ years and moreso in the last 10.

If Disney were concerned about another park taking away business, the correct tactic for anybody in business is to not to raise prices, but to instead offer something the competition is not.

I am in strategic planning meetings every week and I can assure you that gaining business is not found in raising pricing. Adding perks is not a perk when essentially you are paying for it. The best way to win the business is to offer something that is not being offered elsewhere. Looks like that is the step that Universal is taking to gain business by adding something as popular as Harry Potter to their offerings. Looks like a smart decision.

 

[PIERCEDRN]

Personally, if I was Disney and reading this thread.....I would be worried.

By all accounts, 2009 is not going to be a strong year for the tourist industry -- Orlando is already feeling the pinch with the promise of far fewer flights into the airport and the downturn in advance reservations has already been reported in the Orlando paper.

Now look at these notes left by people......"We will go for only one day"......"I'm not a fan of US but love HP".......we will probably go for 1 or 2 days to check it out and spend the rest of the week at WDW". ......and these comments are from Disney's MOST LOYAL!

Each one of these precious days is lost revenue for WDW. They have worked very hard to make sure they don't share even one day of our visits with other parks. Now people are mumbling about leaving WDW for a day here and there.

What if they finally try US and.....God forbid.....LIKE IT.....realize the accommodations are better.......enjoy the bigger thrill rides over there......love the "front of the line" gift received by simply being a US resort guest?

Let's also remember that we Dis'ers are very loyal to Disney......most people visiting WDW are not.

You think they aren't worried about it? Think again.

Add to the mix that rumors are flying that Magical Express may not be free soon... now loads of people at the parks will have cars and dare I say... FREEDOM! Everyone will make a trip to US because they can finally get there in a car vs. being trapped by disney transportation.

The FOTL pass at US is a serious perk most of the year while Disney's EMH is usually a reason to AVOID that park due to crowds.

The USA's economy will likely make people rethink their vacations, and the value of $85 a week for tickets will be sooo tempting for the weak US dollar.

Disney will try to target over the pond in the UK to prop up the market... but do you think any self respecting teen in the UK will allow their family to visit disney without seeing Harry Potter? Not a chance...

It is the perfect storm of split stays... now I am even planning mine!

BOB

 

[minnie61650]

Add to the mix that rumors are flying that Magical Express may not be free soon... .....

Those rumors have been around since WDW first started ME.

I do not believe those rumors have an ounce of truth in them.

WDW fought so hard to get a light rail system that would take guests directly from MCO to WDW.

When that idea failed they stated offering their "free" direct to WDW ME
service.

This has worked very well for WDW to keep guests onsite.

If WDW started charging for ME it would completly defeat the orignal statagey that is working so well for them.


Just my 2 cents