Harry Potter Park - What will WDW do?

[Padrepride]

Potterland is good for both factions because in every situation, competition is good. We haven't heard a lot about the details of Harry Potter Land, and we haven't heard what Disney is doing in response to this. I've realized Disney and US are playing staring at each other right now. They are hiding their plans until the other reveals them so that they can steal the other's thunder. I can't wait to see what Disney is doing for their parks.

 

[Laura's Dad]

I am not a frequent visitor to the Rumors board, but I was looking around and happened on this thread, read it with interest (there are some really good ideas/explanations here), and decided to throw my two cents worth in (which are probably what they are worth). We are big WDW fans. We have been 8 times in 10 years and have always stayed on property and have never been to Universal. We did take a day and went to Sea World one day and loved the park. We have always ridden by Universal and IOA on our way down I-4 to WDW and looked. I have kept up with what Universal has through the Unoffical Guide and have been somewhat intrigued, but have always come back to WDW because of the Disney magic, the layout and quality of the resort, and the fact that everything is somewhat isolated from the tourist traps that abound in Orlando.

We are, however, big Harry Potter fans. My 17 year old daughter has grown up readin Harry, has been to all the midnight movie and book releases (We travel 60 miles to se it on IMAX on opening night). My wife has ordered the complete set of books from England as well as the US. My daughter will graduate from high school next June and we have planned an upcoming September trip with free dining as a graduation trip. We will be staying on-site and do not plan to leave WDW property until we drive home. The next Orlando trip that we take will involve IOA because of Harry Potter. Now I know that my dollar is not great in the entire scheme of things (except to my family), but I would imagine that there are several million people out there who will go to IOA just for HP land. If the rest of the park is as good as they say it is and everyone is happy with Universal, theie hotels (Portofino Bay looks like a great place to stay to me) are good, and I can get a better value at Universal, we may just go there and stay there. I imagine that this would worry Disney greatly.

 

[UP Disney]

I had no interest in visiting US until the HP park was announced. I love Harry Potter and will have to check this park out when it opens. At this time, I don't know what I'll do about the stay.

 

[Dznefreek]

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

You know it is not really free right.....The cost is rolled into the hotel rates

 

[minnie61650]

You know it is not really free right.....The cost is rolled into the hotel rates

Believe me I do know.
That is why I see no reason for WDW to charge a fee to use ME. Instead it would be in WDW's best interest to just add the increased cost of ME into the room rate and keep ME "free".

 

[lilybrooke14]

I'm not loyal. Not one iota. I love Disney, don't get me wrong, but I've always wanted to do Universal, and I love Sea World. We've been talking about trying to work out a trip in 09 and stay 8 days at AKL. Now we're thinking about waiting a few months longer, staying at a Universal Resort, and spending most of the week at US and SW. We may make a day trip into our favorite parks, but I love to see and try new things. It'll be cheaper, and I'm pretty sure we'll still have a blast.

I'm sure we're not the only ones.

 

[MarriedToAPrince]

Both DH and I LOVE HP, so we will be going to US next year when we go to Disney, but it will be a one day thing, maybe two if we need more time to see everything, but other then that, the rest of the time will be at WDW.

 

[Rora]

I have never been a US or IOA fan.. but I do plan to visit the Harry Potter area- just for a day though.

I would NEVER split my stay between Disney and US. I'm too big of a Disney freak.

I do not think Disney is that worried- there are more Disney fans than Harry Potter fans.

 

[skajabowled300]

I cant wait for this to open up

 

[magicalfoursome]

I love WDW but also had a great time in US when we did a split stay in 2006. Of course we spent most of week in WDW. We are Harry Potter fans in our family so we will definitely going to US in '09 or '10. I think Disney knows they will lose some business because people who were not interested in taking a few days for US in the past now really want to go to see HP. Also, we plan on staying in a US hotel for a couple nights because the preferred line is AWESOME!! The lines at HP will be horrible so many people may want to stay on site to avoid them. We loved our stay at the Royal Pacific and found the service and food at the hotel to be great! We had no problems in the parks with service or cleanliness either ( and believe me I am picky and easily grossed out!)Disney will be fine though as there is no place with the magical feeling, characters, or atmosphere of Disney!!

 

[SurfinTX]

Since I am a huge HP fan I will split stay this next trip in '09. That part of the park might not be fully opened by Aug '09 but I have never been to US anyway. I need a few more thrill rides than WDW has to offer anyway.

 

[Kelly B Disney]

I have been an annual pass holder at WDW for well ...forever!!! I come 5 times per year or more and honeymooned here and wound up with an unexpected present after CBR one year we named Brendan!!! any way..
I have ventured over to Universal and even stayed there at the Royal Pacific whatever hotel . It was awful! The service was awful the staff every which way was like being in my local Woodbridge NJ mall !iThe restaurants, housekeeping, the boat driver everything!!! I wanted to like it but the employees were lower than low and had no customer service skills or class of any kind.
There is nothing like Disney. Now having said that , I like the theme parks at Universal and always have fun there but it is soo different there in terms of service cleanliness and the attitude and the workers. I would never stay there at the hotels again - even for the front of the line thing they offer. I only stay at WDW.
Now I ALSO must say Disney has really slipped as of late . I have been there four times this year most recently a few weeks ago and they have some questionable workers now. The customer service is not the same and I must say their new kinds of hires are not the Disney type of employees of the past. I can'[t believe the rudenss and just plain lack of knowledge and the lack of the Disney way I have grown to expect. One women at the Hollywood studios entrance collecting the parking money I swear was high or drunk from the night before!! She could not visually focus it was unbelievable!! I have NeVER seen anything like that in the past 20 years there!!! The spa at GF , some of the park vendors and some of the waiters we have come in contact with the past 6-8 visits have not been the usual disney way as of the past. We stay at the Pop or Yacht Club or CBR when we come.
I will go for the DAY to see the Harry Potter area without a doubt. My kids ages 18,17 and 12 are actually counting the days until it opens! I will stay at WDW but "visit" Universal for that. I do believe that disney needs to really be concerned and stop short changing with cutbacks at every turn . closings of Body Wars , Hunchback Show, Boats in AK ---with no replacement for your money ...for like ...years!!! Smaller portions of food everywhere , and now poor customer service llike you have never seen in the overall parks.
Universal is not like Disney BUT they need to watch it with this new HP land coming . Disney must turn it up a notch ( or go back to more how they were) AND offer something great and new to keep people there. sorry so long...

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

Do you want to visit HP?

NO. No desire at all. Disney is awesome. HP... Better abbreviations for a computer.

 

[daannzzz]

I have been over to Universal on 2 of my 10 trips. I like their parks over there. One trip I spent 4 nights at the Portofino Bay and I thought is was as good as the Disney Deluxe resorts (better than some). It was a wonderful stay. All the CMs were fine and the restaurants were good.
I am not a Harry Potter fan at all but the level of themeing and what they have chosen to build there looks incredible (hopefully the execution turns out as good as the artwork) so I will head over there again and most likely stay at one of their hotels.

 

[GoofyWaterCoaster]

I would probably not visit the HP Park. Isn't it just a "land" in Universal? We all hate Universal- $10 for a Chicken Sandwich that is smaller than a McDonalds Hamburger, excluding fries and a drink???

There is just not anything exciting there anyway

 

[Brian_WDW74]

FYI: Universal has removed all references to 2009 in its literature for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It is now officially saying that it will open in 2010.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

I think Disney is paying attention! They should be!

We went (I really didn't want to go but DS and DH really were excited). I am completely won over. The parks and hotel were really fun. The front of the line cannot be any better. This was in Aug. so it was hot and crowded.

All Universal needs to do is present itself in a positive way at the opening and many people who formerly would only stay at Disney will be splitting the time between the 2. People will go once to see Potterville. There is no doubt that the kids will want to go. What happens next is all about how the experience is for those first timers. You can bet that Universal knows it and Disney is most likely hoping Universal is not up to the challenge. I think they will be. Especially in these tighter times if you can go where the kids want, spend less, and wait in line less I think most parents will say, "We have a winner here!"

 

[tfc3rid]

WDW needs to do something, anything... For people who are loyal customers, DVC'ers etc, there is something more that Disney needs to do... Some things get stakle or the level of what is actually 'new' doesn't really compare...

Sure, there have been some new 'attraction' openings in the past few years but none of a really creative level that were expected from big ticket Disney attractions of the 80's like Splash Mountain or anything from original EPCOT Center...

Something that mioght not tie in with the latest fad, movies or characters for a change... Classic disney attractions like the Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder and Pirates had no basis in any movies or merchandising... They were creative...

For real Disney Imagineering from the good ol' days, look back at the Western River Expedition... Now that is just the kind of creative BANG Disney now needs in Central Florida...

 

[PrincessKara22]

I pouted and pouted when we spent our last day at SeaWorld a few years ago. I did NOT want to be there...I wanted our last day to be at Disney! The only thing I liked was the dolphin nursery. I cooed endlessly at them! You can't be grumpy around baby dolphins! But I always insist that I do NOT want to leave Disney property.

I've never had ANY interest in Universal...until Harry Potter. I don't think we'd ever stay off property at a Universal resort. I'm sure we'd just rent a car or take a taxi (does universal provide any transportation? Are there shuttles?) to spend the day at Harry Potter. But I'm sure even if we were staying at Disney for that day we wouldn't have our usual park hopper ticket if we were buying IOA tickets. After Harry, since we wouldn't have our usual disney tickets for the day, I'd obviously spend the rest of the day exploring IOA. Our flights out are always at night so from there I'd either go right to the airport or stay until closing and then head back to my Disney hotel. But I think our Harry Potter day will end up being our last day just like SeaWorld was. If Harry Potter is done right then it will be a place we want to visit more than once and will appeal to even non-Harry fans.

That said, Fantasyland NEEDS to be updated and expanded. Desperately. As does ToonTown Fair. Mickey's house needs to be something more than a walk through where you can't touch ANYTHING. Snow White's scary adventure needs an overhaul. If the one hundred acre woods wasn't just a playground it would have been neat but since you have to be 3 feet tall to enjoy it it's not exactly the best use of space. Expansions need to be more than just one new ride a year.

 

[tfc3rid]

That said, Fantasyland NEEDS to be updated and expanded. Desperately. As does ToonTown Fair. Mickey's house needs to be something more than a walk through where you can't touch ANYTHING. Snow White's scary adventure needs an overhaul. If the one hundred acre woods wasn't just a playground it would have been neat but since you have to be 3 feet tall to enjoy it it's not exactly the best use of space. Expansions need to be more than just one new ride a year.

Disney needs to get back to thinking big for all parks on a regular basis but it doesn't seem like that thinking is too popular out in Burbank these days...

One 'ride' a year is fine but make it knock people's socks off... And yes, even a B-ticket can do that!