Looks like Universal win this round

[lugnut33]

I have a relative who works at WDW and he/she feels like Universal has indeed won this round. According to them that's the feeling most CM's currently have and many would like to make the move over to US.

You can make of that what you wish.

What much of the problem sounds like is top down from management.

 

[Planogirl]

Disney CM's are a puzzling bunch. Many work for peanuts and clearly the attitudes of some of them have gotten worse but they stay. I admire the resolve that so many seem to have.

 

[clsteve]

Which will eventually be a win/win for all of us.

YES...THANK YOU.

Super excited and they are wonderful already.

Spend billions and billions on us, why would any of us consumers care, much less take sides.

Competition very, very gooood

We'll definitely know if it's starting to get under the Disney "skin" a bit if there's any major futures announcement at or around the DA opening. Similar to how the Dragon went up on Gringott's the same weekend as 7DMT opening.

I agree, and I think it's absolutely awesome for all of us if a true "Theme Park War" of one-up-man-ship is brewing. How great will that be to watch and reap the benefits of....!

 

[Laketravis]

My 8 year old son has been to WDW four times for an aggregate of 5 weeks. He just finished reading the sixth Harry Potter book.

Guess where he wants to go now?

To ride the SDMT?

Universal.

 

[jade1]

Competition very, very gooood

We'll definitely know if it's starting to get under the Disney "skin" a bit if there's any major futures announcement at or around the DA opening. Similar to how the Dragon went up on Gringott's the same weekend as 7DMT opening.

I agree, and I think it's absolutely awesome for all of us if a true "Theme Park War" of one-up-man-ship is brewing. How great will that be to watch and reap the benefits of....!

Yep and here's hoping that HP train keeps those turnstiles spinning and spinning, accurate or not it can only help put pressure on.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Universal.

That's the hazard of taking tween and teen boys to Universal...they don't want to go back to WDW (in my experience)

 

[Planogirl]

That's the hazard of taking tween and teen boys to Universal...they don't want to go back to WDW (in my experience)

That can vary. DS talked me into going to Universal and then I enjoyed it so much that I shaved a day off of our Disney portion so that we could stay at Universal longer. He looked at me like I had two heads but he didn't mind.

 

[Laketravis]

That's the hazard of taking tween and teen boys to Universal...they don't want to go back to WDW (in my experience)

Yeah, it was interesting to watch develop over the course of just six months.

He recently saw one of the Universal Orlando ads on TV and exclaimed "Harry Potter! Can we go?"

Not long after that, the new WDW 7DMT ad played. Not a word out of him.

Now that's just my little micro-view of things. But if that is indicative of a longer macro-view, I'd be concerned if I were Disney.

 

[jade1]

Yeah, it was interesting to watch develop over the course of just six months.

He recently saw one of the Universal Orlando ads on TV and exclaimed "Harry Potter! Can we go?"

Not long after that, the new WDW 7DMT ads played. Not a word out of him.

Now that's just my little micro-view of things. But if that is indicative of a longer macro-view, I'd be concerned if I were Disney.

We went through that to, kind of anyway. They still seemed to enjoy WDW the most on split trips-but did crave the thrills at US/IOA.

But quickly came 21 and real world work, now they far prefer lounging at SAB and eventually walking into EPCOT for the evening, and everything else WDW has to offer. We have done Citywalk and stayed at HRH and its great as well-but not even on their radar anymore. They do have a much more emotional connection to WDW though growing up in it and Disney movies. HP, Hulk, DD etc will get us back on occasion for a day trip-but always back that eve at WDW and it's resorts.

Then theres the next gen of kids coming alone-that will plant us down at WDW for another 10 years anyway.

Our kids are already planning their kid's WDW trips and not even married yet. No mention of US/IOA.

 

[DOOM1001]

Yeah, it was interesting to watch develop over the course of just six months.

He recently saw one of the Universal Orlando ads on TV and exclaimed "Harry Potter! Can we go?"

Not long after that, the new WDW 7DMT ads played. Not a word out of him.

Now that's just my little micro-view of things. But if that is indicative of a longer macro-view, I'd be concerned if I were Disney.

Until Universal builds a third park Disney will always be the top dog but it wouldn't surprise me to see USF and IOA attendance leap frog AK and DHS.What I have to wonder about Disney is why do they aim so much for the 7 year old girl,the mine train ride was built at the last minute when they decided that another princess meet and greet was too much,the mine train is great but when I show a pov video of it to friends they seem dissapointed,they hype it so much and in the end people are underwhelmed.Universal just came out with another Diagon Alley video and it looks amazing.

 

[ArwenMarie]

That can vary. DS talked me into going to Universal and then I enjoyed it so much that I shaved a day off of our Disney portion so that we could stay at Universal longer. He looked at me like I had two heads but he didn't mind.

Ha! That was me with that Express Pass

Yeah, it was interesting to watch develop over the course of just six months.

He recently saw one of the Universal Orlando ads on TV and exclaimed "Harry Potter! Can we go?"

Not long after that, the new WDW 7DMT ad played. Not a word out of him.

Now that's just my little micro-view of things. But if that is indicative of a longer macro-view, I'd be concerned if I were Disney.

I don't think Disney cares about the fact that they are losing boys. I think they are perfectly happy to have locked down the girl/princess market. It's not even just the princesses...Mickey is babyish as well but girls are more likely to still love them some Mickey, while boys don't. We all know what could change this trajectory...

 

[jade1]

Until Universal builds a third park Disney will always be the top dog but it wouldn't surprise me to see USF and IOA attendance leap frog AK and DHS.What I have to wonder about Disney is why do they aim so much for the 7 year old girl,the mine train ride was built at the last minute when they decided that another princess meet and greet was too much,the mine train is great but when I show a pov video of it to friends they seem dissapointed,they hype it so much and in the end people are underwhelmed.Universal just came out with another Diagon Alley video and it looks amazing.

I think that's Disney's main MO. Most Disney movies are created with younger kids in mind than teenagers IMO. They probably prefer to capture the 1 to 12 year olds, and the 22 to 40 year old parents that come along with them.

Then they are getting to old on average for thrill rides, have an emotional memory connection with WDW, and you guessed it-grandkids to spoil at WDW.

They may lose 14 to 18, but even that age starts to lose interest in theme parks in general. If you went to a high school and handed out a choice for spring break of a week in Cancun with their friends, or a week at US/IOA with parents (or even with friends) my guess is at least 2 to 1 Cancun-probably a lot more. Not sure where WDW would fall if an option-still far less than Cancun but unsure compared to US.

 

[sheetz]

What I have to wonder about Disney is why do they aim so much for the 7 year old girl,

It's the theory that girls are a more lucrative market than boys. The stereotype is that boys are interested in expensive, high tech thrill rides while girls like princess meet and greets and prettying themselves up at BBB. Also girls grow up to be Moms, who are more often than not the ones to decide where the family vacations. Hence the Disney Mom's Panel.

 

[jade1]

It's the theory that girls are a more lucrative market than boys. The stereotype is that boys are interested in expensive, high tech thrill rides while girls like princess meet and greets and prettying themselves up at BBB. Also girls grow up to be Moms, who are more often than not the ones to decide where the family vacations. Hence the Disney Mom's Panel.

Agreed-but don't sell the Dad's short in making his Princess happy.

Oh and there is one stereotypical thing teenage boys prefer over high tech thrill rides-and they are on the beach.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

I think that future generation of Orlando theme park goers will also have an emotional attachment to Universal. Sure, Universal might not tug on the heart strings as much as Disney does, but a lot of kids are going to grow up going to both. At least locally Universal is more popular for Tweens and teens because they can more easily afford an AP. When I was a teen I had one and I went practically every week with my friends, so Universal is now also nostalgic for me and feels like "home".

And now with Harry Potter, Universal has powerful magic all its own.

 

[jade1]

I think that future generation of Orlando theme park goers will also have an emotional attachment to Universal. Sure, Universal might not tug on the heart strings as much as Disney does, but a lot of kids are going to grow up going to both. At least locally Universal is more popular for Tweens and teens because they can more easily afford an AP. When I was a teen I had one and I went practically every week with my friends, so Universal is now also nostalgic for me and feels like "home".

And now with Harry Potter, Universal has powerful magic all its own.

Yep, if you go some place every week much less every year-you will create a special bond for sure. I think that is why WDW wants that to start at age 1, not age 14.

 

[fairyprincess88]

I can't help but wonder what the opinion would be here if Disney could have negotiated the HP franchise successfully like they tried to originally, before Universal was awarded it. Disney would have ended up slapping Mickey ears on Harry and made a farce of it. Pretty much like this...

Look at the joke they have made of Star Wars merchandising. Yes, it sells a ton. Integrity doesn't go very far, apparently. Potter fans have to feel like they are in 'heaven"...or Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley or The Leaky Cauldron when it comes to that. JK being in control makes a "world" of difference. That is something Disney wasn't willing to give up, hence Potter being at Universal instead. I'm really curious if as many people here that are so much against Potter would feel that way if it ended up in DHS. The word "hypocritical" comes to mind.

But some here would have you believe that kids don't read these days (SS). I sure hope they aren't addicted to "screens".

As a WDW fan since birth and a Potter nerd since book one I can absolutely say that I thank the heaven's that Disney did not get the rights to Potter for the very reason you stated and I was not alone in that fact. When JKR tossed out the idea of going to a theme park to the fans, everyone was excited but the largest cry was "just please not Disney!"

The reason for the outcry on that was simple..."JEDI MICKEY". While the majority of the fandom was positive that Jo would never ever allow such a thing, there was very real fear that if Disney got the rights that our world, our stories would be decorated up with mouse ears and fairytale princesses. It gave me shivers just even thinking about it and not happy shivers.

Thankfully that didn't happen but for a good while that was a very real fear and the Potter fandom was very much against Disney getting their hands on the rights from the get go. Not that Disney can not create a quality product, of course they can, but it's on their terms and with their "magic" and Potter has it's own magic, it doesn't need Disney's.

But I am sure you are right. If Disney had gotten Potter, all the "but Potter is fad" stuff and all the "it's nothing special" stuff often spouted here would not be happening.

 

[jade1]

As a WDW fan since birth and a Potter nerd since book one I can absolutely say that I thank the heaven's that Disney did not get the rights to Potter for the very reason you stated and I was not alone in that fact. When JKR tossed out the idea of going to a theme park to the fans, everyone was excited but the largest cry was "just please not Disney!"

The reason for the outcry on that was simple..."JEDI MICKEY". While the majority of the fandom was positive that Jo would never ever allow such a thing, there was very real fear that if Disney got the rights that our world, our stories would be decorated up with mouse ears and fairytale princesses. It gave me shivers just even thinking about it and not happy shivers.

Thankfully that didn't happen but for a good while that was a very real fear and the Potter fandom was very much against Disney getting their hands on the rights from the get go. Not that Disney can not create a quality product, of course they can, but it's on their terms and with their "magic" and Potter has it's own magic, it doesn't need Disney's.

But I am sure you are right. If Disney had gotten Potter, all the "but Potter is fad" stuff and all the "it's nothing special" stuff often spouted here would not be happening.

No doubt Disney could have done it better-simply for size reasons. But they could have blown it as well.

Either way it's much better for all of us the US got it-those parks would have been completely buried IMO without it. That would be bad for pushing any WDW expansion IMO.

 

[fairyprincess88]

No doubt Disney could have done it better-simply for size reasons. But they could have blown it as well.

Either way it's much better for all of us the US got it-those parks would have been completely buried IMO without it. That would be bad for pushing any WDW expansion IMO.

I disagree. Disney proposed a much lesser project than Universal which was another reason JKR said no to them. Yes, Disney has more space but that doesn't mean they would have used it.

Besides that, Hogsmeade is not supposed to be huge. It's not supposed to be anything more than what Universal made it. A small shopping village in the foothills of Hogwarts with a small strip of small shops all on a crooked, cobblestone path. The size of the stores are 100% accurate and perfectly brilliant. Universal needed to make this as canon to the books as possible as to not put off their core money group. If Potter fans would've walked into a Honeydukes the size of the Emporium there would have been backlash beyond belief. These are the same fans that basically called for a director's head and pretty much made it so he didn't not get a second chance on a Potter film for adding shrunken heads, muggle clothes or extended dragon scenes into the movies. For the bread and butter of Universal's Potter money bringers, the size of Hogsmeade is not a detractor but rather a positive.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

US and IOA both have phenomenal rides. Rides that I ride MANY times in a day. They don't have the chaff like Disney has. I mean, MK could get rid of HoP, CoP, IASW, and JC and I sure wouldn't care. Same with about 75% of FW at Epcot. Epcot isn't a half day park, it's a quarter day park, unless you are going to eat there. And NO ONE would pay $99 to go there and spend hours eating an overpriced meal. Would they pay $10 more for a LOS pass and go there one evening? Sure.


-jason

Oh my! I just do not agree with blanket statements like this. We couldn't even fit in nearly all the stuff we wanted to do at EP this month, not just talking about eating either, and we had a base day ticket just for EP that day, and got there before the rope drop and stayed til closing. We most definitely buy single days to EP, and have many years.

Don't get me wrong either, because like you, I do love riding Mummy and love T3D and a lot that Universal offers, but I wouldn't say they are winning across the board since they have half alienated guests like us with the recent directions they went. HP makes me uncomfortable and I feel like its frankly getting harder and harder to avoid... (edit, btw Haunted Mansion also makes me very uncomfortable, but I can avoid it somewhat easily and its not something that gets focused for advertising constantly. Even with DIsney, I have to make some sacrifices, but at least its not at the detriment of most of the good rides... My personal beef with HP would stand whether Disney got the rights first or not. Boy am I glad they didn't though.)

So my posts are just intended to show that not everything is so cut and dry and that for some of us (who used to go to Universal as much as Disney), Universal has DEFINITELY not won us over, and since 2007, all we have done is gone to Disney (with some SeaWorld)...