Interesting Harry Potter Note

[alexsdc2]

Ok so since we were talking about the Harry Potter thing over at Universal I thought this was a little interesting. I was looking into info about the audio-anamatronics and on wikipedia it says...

"By far the most complex audio-animatroic figure ever to have been created is that of Lord Voldemort, which will be placed inside "Harry Potter: The Ride" at the up-and-coming "Wizarding World of Harry Potter" park at Universal Studios in Florida. Currently underwraps at an warehouse in California, it will be installed as soon as the ride and the park are completed in early 2010. A Universal spokesman claimed the Disney-made figure will boast over 1325 different functions."

Now I know it is wikipedia and this could be completely made up but who knows. Anyone else know anything about this?

 

[ChrisFL]

"A Universal spokesman claimed the Disney-made figure will boast over 1325 different functions."

Yeah, right!! Universal using a Disney-made figure...of course!!

 

[gymnastgirlflips]

lol I wouldn't believe that unless they showed me all 1325 functions themselves. Why would they even need that many functions if you're only going to be passing him for a couple seconds? It's a ride, not a show.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Yeah, right!! Universal using a Disney-made figure...of course!!

OMG if it's really Disney-made, I'm sure the Universal folks are shaking in their boots right now.

Remember the......Yeti and the headless Fantasmic Dragon at Disneyland.

I'm not sure I would WANT Disney to manufacture something complicated for my ride!!!

 

[Condorman]

How very poetic. Universal realized they didn't have what it takes to do HP right, so they went to the masters of the game, WDI, and had them work their magic. What an epic fail for Universal and their team. HP is shaping up to be a real 3-hour tour, and we all know how that ended up.

For all you card-carrying Uni fans out there who swear HP is going to be the final nail in Disney's coffin, just think: In 2010, when you visit HP and you're riding that big fancy ride, or you go on the re-themed dragon coaster and unicorn attraction (which, btw, were also created at WDI) you have Disney to thank if you love it and Universal to blame if you don't.

Disney FTW!!!

 

[alexsdc2]

Hey I was just looking for some confirmation either way. It is coming from wikipedia so before you go boasting about it I would find some better confirmation otherwise your goign to end up eating your words.

 

[Golf4food]

Money talks. If UV paid enough I'm sure WDI would have no problem putting something out for them.

That is... IF the rumor is true. Big IF. (But Wikipedia is always right!")

 

[ChrisFL]

How very poetic. Universal realized they didn't have what it takes to do HP right, so they went to the masters of the game, WDI, and had them work their magic. What an epic fail for Universal and their team. HP is shaping up to be a real 3-hour tour, and we all know how that ended up.

I guess someone does believe everything they read on the internet...like the poster above you mentioned, how's that Yeti and Fantasmic Dragon at DL doing?

 

[Condorman]

Hey I was just looking for some confirmation either way. It is coming from wikipedia so before you go boasting about it I would find some better confirmation otherwise your goign to end up eating your words.

I'll believe everything on Wikipedia long before I'd believe anything on these boards. And if it turns out WDI didn't design the AA, that will explain why it's so bad.

how's that Yeti and Fantasmic Dragon at DL doing?

Oh, they're bringing in billions more per annum than every Universal Studios and Sea World combined. IOW, they're doing just fine. Thanks for reminding everyone, Chris!

 

[zulemara]

I'll believe everything on Wikipedia long before I'd believe anything on these boards. And if it turns out WDI didn't design the AA, that will explain why it's so bad.



Oh, they're bringing in billions more per annum than every Universal Studios and Sea World combined. IOW, they're doing just fine. Thanks for reminding everyone, Chris!

you do realize that
A) Disney has outsourced the creation of their audio animatronics. That's why the Yeti is broken
B) While Disney is keeping attendance "flat" they have a huge drop in profit, yet Universal posts a double digit attendance decline but an increase in profits. Who is really winning here?

hate to break it to ya, but Disney not the best at everything they do and the decisions they have been making lately are going to screw them over. maybe not now, maybe not in 5 years, but eventually it WILL screw them over if they don't change.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

you do realize that
A) Disney has outsourced the creation of their audio animatronics. That's why the Yeti is broken
B) While Disney is keeping attendance "flat" they have a huge drop in profit, yet Universal posts a double digit attendance decline but an increase in profits. Who is really winning here?

hate to break it to ya, but Disney not the best at everything they do and the decisions they have been making lately are going to screw them over. maybe not now, maybe not in 5 years, but eventually it WILL screw them over if they don't change.

You have brought up an interesting tidbit. The bottom line is it's all about profit - "margin" in the retail game. Look at GM - sure, they made lots of cars and had a bazillion employees at one point...but they were not efficient and didn't manage the business well enough.

Here is the report of US 2009 earnings.....WOW

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Universal Orlando reported a large increase in its second-quarter earnings in 2009.

Park officials said Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure combined earned $27.1 million, which is up nearly 30 percent from the same period in 2008.

Officials at Universal Orlando said the global recession cut a big hole in its attendance numbers, but the parks were still able to make money by slashing operating costs.


I'm in NO WAY saying Disney is going the way of Detroit..but...just because you are BIG, doesn't always mean you are the best.

Maybe US can handle this downturn better because they ARE smaller and quicker to respond....just a hunch.....but an interesting thought. I bet Disney is MORE than a little jealous of that earnings report!

Thank you for pointing this out - I didn't realize it until I did a little research.

 

[tjkraz]

you do realize that
A) Disney has outsourced the creation of their audio animatronics. That's why the Yeti is broken

I'd be curious to hear some details on that.

Exactly what was outsourced (design, construction, installation)?

To whom was the work outsourced?

How does that practice differ from prior projects?

B) While Disney is keeping attendance "flat" they have a huge drop in profit, yet Universal posts a double digit attendance decline but an increase in profits. Who is really winning here?

While that is true, the devil is in the details. We can't really applaud Universal for an increase in 2009 without questioning what happened in 2008.

Universal Florida hosts about 1/6th as many guests as Disney's 6 US parks--67.2 million for Disney in '08 vs. 11.5 million for USFL. However in the April - June timeframe 2008, Universal's profits were 1/30th of Disney's--$643 million to $21 million.

In the same period 2009 USFL narrowed the gap to 1/19th of Disney's profits--$521 million to $27 million.

And remember that in order to make those cuts, US had to make many of the same moves for which Disney is frequently criticized here--shorter hours, lower staff, more "seasonal" attractions, etc.

Not exactly an enviable position, IMO.

 

[Dznefreek]

In the same period 2009 USFL narrowed the gap to 1/19th of Disney's profits--$521 million to $27 million.

Disney is a worldwide figure US is only Orlando I believe.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Disney is a worldwide figure US is only Orlando I believe.

David and Goliath?

 

[lugnut33]

I'd be curious to hear some details on that.

Exactly what was outsourced (design, construction, installation)?

To whom was the work outsourced?

How does that practice differ from prior projects?

I remember hearing them discuss this a long time ago on the Dis Podcast. I seem to recall Pete's comment being along the lines of ~ If you've done AA's so wonderfully for so long, why do you want to outsource that?

 

[ma2jr]

Yeah, right!! Universal using a Disney-made figure...of course!!

Good eye... sounds a little rumor-ish

 

[indiesgirl4ever]

the whole time reading this thread i was thinking "fight! fight! fight!" but, i wouldn't believe wiki, i mean, its not the most reliable source in the world