Looks like Universal win this round

[chapie1968]

Snow White is timeless... Harry Potter is not. I think it's a huge expansion for a dying franchise.

In a short decade that entire area will be as relevant as Beetlejuice and Fantasyland will still be timeless.

But at the end of the day, I don't think it's worth it to compare them since most people just do both anyways (a few days at USF and the rest at Disney World).

Possibly, but the way things look, Universal will quickly tear it down and replace it with something new, exciting, modern and "in". All in about half the time Disney would do something, if Disney decides to do anything at all except rest on it's history with out of date areas and attractions.

And Avatarland is not something new, and the film doesn't even have a following that warrants a theme area. It's gonna be bad.

 

[MightyGitis]

Possibly, but the way things look, Universal will quickly tear it down and replace it with something new, exciting, modern and "in". All in about half the time Disney would do something, if Disney decides to do anything at all except rest on it's history with out of date areas and attractions. And Avatarland is not something new, and the film doesn't even have a following that warrants a theme area. It's gonna be bad.

One last time not half the time. New fantasy land constructions started a whopping 4 months before Diagon Alley

And not everyone wants classic things steamrollered for new things constantly.

 

[Planogirl]

One last time not half the time. New fantasy land constructions started a whopping 4 months before Diagon Alley

And not everyone wants classic things steamrollered for new things constantly.

Did you include the demolition in FL? Also in fairness you'd have to look at the scope of construction. It's hard to compare the two.

Besides I don't think that the HP areas will be going anywhere.

 

[MightyGitis]

Did you include the demolition in FL? Also in fairness you'd have to look at the scope of construction. It's hard to compare the two. Besides I don't think that the HP areas will be going anywhere.

I used the demolition of Toon town fair as the start point for New Fantasyland and the demolition of amity as the start point for Diagon Alley. That way demolition is taken into account for both.

I agree they shouldn't be compared but since the OP insists upon comparing the length of times it should at least be accurate. Diagon Alley was not constructed in half the time of New Fantasyland.


We should also note that New Fantasyland has had attractions open for a significant length of time. Expanded dumbo, little mermaid, and enchanted tales has been open for how long?

 

[FLchick415]

Possibly, but the way things look, Universal will quickly tear it down and replace it with something new, exciting, modern and "in". All in about half the time Disney would do something, if Disney decides to do anything at all except rest on it's history with out of date areas and attractions.

And Avatarland is not something new, and the film doesn't even have a following that warrants a theme area. It's gonna be bad.

According to who? You?

FWIW, I had/have zero interest in the Avatar movies, but I'm very excited to see this new area of AK. If it's done well, you don't have to be a follower of the film to appreciate it.

 

[MightyGitis]

According to who? You? FWIW, I had/have zero interest in the Avatar movies, but I'm very excited to see this new area of AK. If it's done well, you don't have to be a follower of the film to appreciate it.

Well the OP goes seem to be an authority on the quality of theme park areas that aren't open yet. ;-)

 

[mellyf]

A great attraction that tells a great story is timeless, whether it comes from a 75 year old movie or a 20 year old book or the mind of an imaginer.

This is what I'm hoping for with Avatar Land. I saw the movie when it came out. I think I liked it, but apparently it wasn't memorable enough for me to have loved it. However, that doesn't mean that James Cameron and the Disney Imagineers won't put together an awesome Land. I really hope it is amazing. I still think a Star Wars based land at DHS makes more sense, but they didn't call to ask my advice, so there ya go.

That said, for the first time this year (over Christmas!! ), we're taking a Universal-only trip. I'm a teacher, so we have to travel during peak times. I'm also a huge HP fan, and I haven't been to WWoHP yet, so this is finally the time. I think we may be cutting the cord with Disney.

 

[davedmaine]

The new Harry Potter ride and areas completely blow away the Mine Train and actually all of new Fantasyland.

Funny thing is it took about half the time to build and put into operation.

Perfectly said. Universal is setting the bar pretty high.

 

[jade1]

Perfectly said. Universal is setting the bar pretty high.

Opinions are one thing, data is another.

The theme park with the highest bar will draw the most visitors.

Thats as close to accurate as you can get IMO.

 

[clsteve]

We should also note that New Fantasyland has had attractions open for a significant length of time. Expanded dumbo, little mermaid, and enchanted tales has been open for how long?

An M&E, an expansion of a twirl ride circa 1970, and a lesser copy of an established DL dark ride.

You're absolutely right, there's no comparison between the 2 timelines.

 

[MightyGitis]

An M&E, an expansion of a twirl ride circa 1970, and a lesser copy of an established DL dark ride. You're absolutely right, there's no comparison between the 2 timelines.

I am amused by your lesser copy jab because they are the same ride designed at the same time and it was established in DL a whole year and a half before Disney world. They are practically identical. So I fail to see how one could be lesser than the other.

Hilarious.

And none of this changes that Diagon Alley was 100% NOT built in half the time as New Fantasyland.

 

[Mad Hattered]

I am amused by your lesser copy jab because they are the same ride designed at the same time and it was established in DL a whole year and a half before Disney world. They are practically identical. So I fail to see how one could be lesser than the other.

Hilarious.

And none of this changes that Diagon Alley was 100% NOT built in half the time as New Fantasyland.

New Fantasyland...

Construction began early 2010.
The first steps to beginning the massive construction project of the new Fantasyland are now underway. The week of 18 Jan 2010 saw the significant step of Imagineering taking up a former backstage rehearsal area in Mickey's Toontown Fair to establish their project office to oversee the construction project. 10 February 2010 saw the first construction walls visible from guests areas. Construction permits were filed on 22 February 2010 for the first phases of the new Fantasyland expansion.

Diagon Alley....demolition of Jaws began in early January, 2012.

It took about half as much time.

 

[Hannathy]

I am amused by your lesser copy jab because they are the same ride designed at the same time and it was established in DL a whole year and a half before Disney world. They are practically identical. So I fail to see how one could be lesser than the other.

Hilarious.

And none of this changes that Diagon Alley was 100% NOT built in half the time as New Fantasyland.

You seriously aren't going to try and say that Universal didn't do a helluva lot more in less time than Disney did are you?

What did Disney do? a new ride thru dark ride with videos, a small roller coaster and then a copy of an already established Carnival ride that has been around for 50 yrs. Hardly a stretch for Engineering in any of it.

Oh don't forget!! they added a whole lot more opportunities to meet college kids dressed as characters! can you get any cheaper? and Easier?

 

[MightyGitis]

New Fantasyland... Construction began early 2010. The first steps to beginning the massive construction project of the new Fantasyland are now underway. The week of 18 Jan 2010 saw the significant step of Imagineering taking up a former backstage rehearsal area in Mickey's Toontown Fair to establish their project office to oversee the construction project. 10 February 2010 saw the first construction walls visible from guests areas. Construction permits were filed on 22 February 2010 for the first phases of the new Fantasyland expansion. Diagon Alley....demolition of Jaws began in early January, 2012. It took about half as much time.

Dunno your source but I am going by: "Mickey's Toontown Fair was closed on February 11, 2011 in order to build the Storybook Circus area of the Fantasyland extension.[5] "

Demolition of the areas that were taken down started four months after that.

There were some behind the scenes things going on before I think you're referencing but there was also behind the scenes railroad track construction going on in universal before the destruction of amity. I saw it in 2011.

It's a silly argument and I should let it go.

I'm a fan of both parks so it's not a principle thing for me. I look forward to Diagon Alley much more than I did New Fantasyland but also believe wholeheartedly that Disney wasn't aiming at my thirty something self when they built it.

 

[MightyGitis]

You seriously aren't going to try and say that Universal didn't do a helluva lot more in less time than Disney did are you? What did Disney do? a new ride thru dark ride with videos, a small roller coaster and then a copy of an already established Carnival ride that has been around for 50 yrs. Hardly a stretch for Engineering in any of it. Oh don't forget!! they added a whole lot more opportunities to meet college kids dressed as characters! can you get any cheaper? and Easier?

Calm your roll. I've said twice now that they are aimed at different ages groups. Universal has done more for the older crowd for sure. Disney has done more for the younger crowd which has always been much more of a priority for them than universal.

The value of what was built was not my argument. As it's value is subjective based on the person.

Either way both parks has gotten loads of my money for different reasons.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Dunno your source but I am going by: "Mickey's Toontown Fair was closed on February 11, 2011 in order to build the Storybook Circus area of the Fantasyland extension.[5] "

Demolition of the areas that were taken down started four months after that.

There were some behind the scenes things going on before I think you're referencing but there was also behind the scenes railroad track construction going on in universal before the destruction of amity. I saw it in 2011.

It's a silly argument and I should let it go.

I'm a fan of both parks so it's not a principle thing for me. I look forward to Diagon Alley much more than I did New Fantasyland but also believe wholeheartedly that Disney wasn't aiming at my thirty something self when they built it.

My source is not Wikipedia...it's WDWMagic

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/fantasyland.htm

They began clearing land for HE in June"ish"2012....not before. I can list several sites that have followed it since it's inception if you'd like.

It's true that Diagon Alley was built in about half the time as NFL.

 

[MightyGitis]

My source is not Wikipedia...it's WDWMagic http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/fantasyland.htm They began clearing land for HE in June"ish"2012....not before. I can list several sites that have followed it since it's inception if you'd like. It's true that Diagon Alley was built in about half the time as NFL.

Dude. I only just realized that NFL was for new fantasyland. Thanks for that I kept trying to figure out if people were talking about the ESPN stuff.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

Also, Universal has not only managed to build Diagon Alley in less time than New Fantasyland, but they also added Despicable Me and Transformers in that time frame as well (Despicable Me construction started in August 2011, Transformers started in July 2012). They also expanded the new Springfield area, with all of the restaurants and the Kang and Kodos Twirl N' Hurl.

 

[Hannathy]

Calm your roll. I've said twice now that they are aimed at different ages groups. Universal has done more for the older crowd for sure. Disney has done more for the younger crowd which has always been much more of a priority for them than universal.

The value of what was built was not my argument. As it's value is subjective based on the person.

Either way both parks has gotten loads of my money for different reasons.

you are backtracking what you said. You claimed what disney did was just as hard to build, just as involved, just as technologically advanced that it would take so long. And Universal did no more than disney and Disney wasn't extremely slow for all they did.

 

[MightyGitis]

you are backtracking what you said. You claimed what disney did was just as hard to build, just as involved, just as technologically advanced that it would take so long. And Universal did no more than disney and Disney wasn't extremely slow for all they did.

Where did I claim any of that? I never compared any technology as being more advanced than the other. I was talking about span of time which admittedly I seem to have been wrong on. I did not in any post say that Disney did more technologically than universal did. Or vice versa. I did not compare how hard anything was to build either. Or how involved.

I compared the DL and WDW versions of the same ride and said one could not be lesser than the other and then said the quality of the addition to each park is subjective. But i did not in any form claim disney was breaking technological ground that universal was not. Wasn't even part of the conversation I was having until you showed up.