No Matter How Much You Rail On Potterland

[roomthreeseventeen]

It is my understanding that J.K. Rowling specifically said all of the stores had to be made small to keep to the correct theming.

I don't think this is true.

 

[PeterPan09]

Well, as a local I can tell you that I know 2 people who have actually been to Harry's little neighborhood. They are HUGE Potter fans and loved how the area was themed, however they warned the rest of us to STAY AWAY until at least September. They said that the area was extremely small, the shops were "true tests of the power of everyone's deodorant" and that "there's really only one new ride".

I think the true test will come after summer is over and we see how many folks continue to come. For example, many of us on the boards have commented on how the good times to go to Disney aren't so good anymore because the crowds have increased even during those times. Universal is going to have to bring folks in during the "value" season in order to make this thing a real success.

 

[Joshua_me]

It seems the launch was a failure from a planning perspective but in many ways so was Disneyland

Well yes, that's true. But, Disneyland didn't have any sort of template to follow, they were the first to do what they did and learned about crowd control as they went along.

At this stage of the game, any park management and planning development ought to have this down to a science. Universal's parks have been around for a long, long time. It makes me somewhat incredulous to hear about the total lack of communication within their system. This was not a "land" designed to move crowds smoothly; it's as if they were surprised so many people showed up.

There's no excuse for that.

I really thought the WWOHP was finally what it was going to take to pry us and our money away from Disney.

But as it turns out, not so much.

 

[derekburgan]

You have to think Universal's biggest worries going into this were the footholds they had to get into "Disney's territory."

The first is attracting people from outside this country. I have so many friends in Europe and South America who come to Florida and they would only come for Disney. This has now completely changed. Not only is WWoHP drawing in foreign visitors, it is getting a large amount of them to start their vacation at Universal, drawing the "first dollar" as Jim Hill likes to say. There is certain demographics that Universal is probably never going to compete with Disney in (like those under 8 and those over 50) but there's no reason they shouldn't be considered by your average traveler from across the globe. Now they can wait for the all important Word Of Mouth. Not of just WWoHP, but from IOA and US proper after the visitors do WWoHP.

The second is merchandising. To say Disney was the 800 lb gorilla in this room is an understatement. Now Universal has a game changer. I hope we can get a peek at financials soon, because Universal has to be doing "per head" numbers that have never been seen before by any park. People are waiting in line for up to a half hour to buy a drink, can you imagine? And thinking it's just Hard Core Harry Potter Fans is a pipe dream. That may have been applicable before the Grand Opening, but now the Harry Potter fans are hand in hand with regular tourists who have heard about the WWoHP.

On those two account alone, the opening of WWoHP has been on a success that Universal could have never hoped for. This has shattered everyone's expectations, which is why I just can't believe Pete says the opening has been a failure "top to bottom" on several shows. There's been a few things that could have been done better, but from every matrix I can see, this has been a gigantic success both in fan reaction and dollars going through the register.
Universal management has certainly made some missteps along the way, but I have to agree with an earlier poster that outside of The Dis, reaction to WWoHP has been extremely positive. I remember on last week's Dis Unplugged, Corey talked about the long lines and such possibly keeping people from even going to Universal. From all social networking and reviews I have seen, the complete opposite is true. The few negative reviews, such as the much talked about one from Slate.com, are filled with so many things that aren't true that you have to wonder what the agenda was behind them.

 

[Decorated_Dust]

The success of this place was never called into question. I knew it would be successful, and the place looks amazing. However, Universal obviously took the guaranteed crowds for granted and skimped big time on crowd control/satisfaction issues. Also, after looking objectively at the marketing for this place, I have to agree with Pete. Considering the fact that this is a theme park, that is unacceptable. And just because it's successful now doesn't mean it's going to keep this up for very long. This looks to me like it will be a Mount Rushmore phenomenon: you see it once and then you've seen it. There is no need to go back unless you have changed your mind about buying that $500 broom that may or may not fly.

 

[derekburgan]

The success of this place was never called into question. I knew it would be successful, and the place looks amazing. However, Universal obviously took the guaranteed crowds for granted and skimped big time on crowd control/satisfaction issues. Also, after looking objectively at the marketing for this place, I have to agree with Pete. Considering the fact that this is a theme park, that is unacceptable. And just because it's successful now doesn't mean it's going to keep this up for very long. This looks to me like it will be a Mount Rushmore phenomenon: you see it once and then you've seen it. There is no need to go back unless you have changed your mind about buying that $500 broom that may or may not fly.

Maybe the success of the WWoHP was never called into question by you, but it has certainly been called into question each time it has been discussed on the DisUnplugged. In fact I'm not sure it has been called anything but a failure. Pete will only qualify his comments slightly when someone else in the room says they enjoyed something in the area.

The crowd control at Grand Opening does seem like it was botched, but Universal has made several changes since then to make sure the confusion doesn't happen again. Everything is clearly marked out now, including team members with signs alerting people where to go. They also have a "red card" system to stop any potential line jumpers. There's strong rumors from those who would know that a Fast Pass-like system could come soon to give people a time to come into the area with no wait. It's hard to call a company incompetent when they seem to be responding relatively fast to every problem they encounter.

Normally I would agree with you on the marketing as well, but for some reason the "theme park" line is really on a sticking point on The Dis. I can't imagine Universal thinking this is a cause for concern because their internal research must show the same results you and I can get by doing our own searches on social networking sites like Twitter or Facebook. People are saying "Harry Potter theme park" in nothing but good terms. If The Dis were there only source of reviews, I'm sure they'd consider the marketing a massive failure, but the negative reaction to the phrase "Harry Potter theme park" just doesn't seem to exist on any major level outside of this area. I would even argue the opposite is true, as they are not coming out thinking "the Harry Potter theme park isn't really a theme park," they are saying "the Harry Potter theme park is amazing."

As for how successful this will be long term, we shall certainly see. However, reading reactions to the WWoHP through tweets, FaceBook updates and reviews, many people are raving about their experience. An overwhelming majority. It doesn't take a genius to think they are probably going to go back home and tell everyone they know what they did at Universal and tell them they have to go. Positive word of mouth is the best marketing in the world and to compare WWoHP to Mount Rushmore is a stretch at best.

 

[dalt01]

People are saying "Harry Potter theme park" in nothing but good terms. " they are saying "the Harry Potter theme park is amazing."

why, oh why, oh why do people keep calling an area OF a theme park.........a theme park. it is like calling a living room a house or a bumper a car.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I don't think this is true.

Didn't they say this on the podcast? Or I read it somewhere. I remember being surprised at it.

 

[Commando2319]

Normally I would agree with you on the marketing as well, but for some reason the "theme park" line is really on a sticking point on The Dis. I can't imagine Universal thinking this is a cause for concern because their internal research must show the same results you and I can get by doing our own searches on social networking sites like Twitter or Facebook. People are saying "Harry Potter theme park" in nothing but good terms. If The Dis were there only source of reviews, I'm sure they'd consider the marketing a massive failure, but the negative reaction to the phrase "Harry Potter theme park" just doesn't seem to exist on any major level outside of this area. I would even argue the opposite is true, as they are not coming out thinking "the Harry Potter theme park isn't really a theme park," they are saying "the Harry Potter theme park is amazing."

Yes. The comments and feedback on the DIS are more critical than the average visitor posting on facebook, etc. I think this is due to a couple of reasons:

1. People on the DIS are theme park junkies. We have much experience at theme parks and thus higher expectations.

2. People on the DIS are used to analyzing and critiquing every little detail of a theme park. So we are more open to and experienced in identifying and discussing the details of a ride, area, or whole theme park.

3. Most people on the DIS are mostly Disney fanatics. So they are generally less emotionally attached to Universal and Harry Potter. Thus, more willing to discuss any negative things they see.

4. The majority of people attending Harry Potter so far are Harry Potter fanatics. Thus, they are generally excited with anything Harry Potter. And less likely to be critical (I know. I am a Star Wars fanatic. And it took me a long time to admit to and verbalize how bad the new movies are)

5. Since most of the people attending are Harry Potter fanatics, they are more interested in an immersive experience than anything else. This is why you see more than an hour wait for Butterbeer. Not cause it is so great, but because they want to experience that part of the stories.

As Pete has mentioned several times, it is a matter of expectations. I think people at the DIS had higher expectations and were generally disappointed with several elements of the Harry Potter World. (but not all)

And the general Harry Potter fan who traveled to live their favorite book, had lower expectations. And there biggest expectation of being able to experience a glimpse in the Harry Potter world was meet. So they are thrilled.

 

[dpuck1998]

Yes. The comments and feedback on the DIS are more critical than the average visitor posting on facebook, etc. I think this is due to a couple of reasons:

1. People on the DIS are theme park junkies. We have much experience at theme parks and thus higher expectations.

2. People on the DIS are used to analyzing and critiquing every little detail of a theme park. So we are more open to and experienced in identifying and discussing the details of a ride, area, or whole theme park.

3. Most people on the DIS are mostly Disney fanatics. So they are generally less emotionally attached to Universal and Harry Potter. Thus, more willing to discuss any negative things they see.

4. The majority of people attending Harry Potter so far are Harry Potter fanatics. Thus, they are generally excited with anything Harry Potter. And less likely to be critical (I know. I am a Star Wars fanatic. And it took me a long time to admit to and verbalize how bad the new movies are)

5. Since most of the people attending are Harry Potter fanatics, they are more interested in an immersive experience than anything else. This is why you see more than an hour wait for Butterbeer. Not cause it is so great, but because they want to experience that part of the stories.

As Pete has mentioned several times, it is a matter of expectations. I think people at the DIS had higher expectations and were generally disappointed with several elements of the Harry Potter World. (but not all)

And the general Harry Potter fan who traveled to live their favorite book, had lower expectations. And there biggest expectation of being able to experience a glimpse in the Harry Potter world was meet. So they are thrilled.

Well said!

I totally agree....with number 4 the most, Episode I really is bad....I couldn't admit it for a long time!

 

[dalt01]

Well said!

I totally agree....with number 4 the most, Episode I really is bad....I couldn't admit it for a long time!

ohhhh man, i was impossible to visualize that whiny little twit as Darth Vador........that one piece of casting is what ruined it.

 

[metalis4ever]

Yes. The comments and feedback on the DIS are more critical than the average visitor posting on facebook, etc. I think this is due to a couple of reasons:

1. People on the DIS are theme park junkies. We have much experience at theme parks and thus higher expectations.

2. People on the DIS are used to analyzing and critiquing every little detail of a theme park. So we are more open to and experienced in identifying and discussing the details of a ride, area, or whole theme park.

3. Most people on the DIS are mostly Disney fanatics. So they are generally less emotionally attached to Universal and Harry Potter. Thus, more willing to discuss any negative things they see.

4. The majority of people attending Harry Potter so far are Harry Potter fanatics. Thus, they are generally excited with anything Harry Potter. And less likely to be critical (I know. I am a Star Wars fanatic. And it took me a long time to admit to and verbalize how bad the new movies are)

5. Since most of the people attending are Harry Potter fanatics, they are more interested in an immersive experience than anything else. This is why you see more than an hour wait for Butterbeer. Not cause it is so great, but because they want to experience that part of the stories.

As Pete has mentioned several times, it is a matter of expectations. I think people at the DIS had higher expectations and were generally disappointed with several elements of the Harry Potter World. (but not all)

And the general Harry Potter fan who traveled to live their favorite book, had lower expectations. And there biggest expectation of being able to experience a glimpse in the Harry Potter world was meet. So they are thrilled.

Expertly expounded

When Test Track first opened I was in the WDW College Program and I waited no lie 3 hours to ride because I loved (and still do) all things Disney....Now I wouldn't wait more that 15 minutes to ride Test Track I think that once the die hard Potter fans experience WWoHP a few times their future expectations are going to exceed what Universal is going to be able to offer....Unless of course Universal does as Pete has suggested and expand WWoHP to encompass the area which presently contains Mythos and the Eight Voyage of Sinbad.....If they don't then the only other alternative would be to increase the "character" presence within the area and have special planned yearly events to keep it fresh after all I believe the Potter franchise is coming to an end which means without new books and movies the fans are going to have to sustain their enthusiasm long term which can be done but even the most recognizable franchises have to produce new stories to invigorate the existing fan base as well as to bring in new fans (i.e Star Wars, Star Trek, Muppets etc..)

 

[FireDancer]

Well said!

I totally agree....with number 4 the most, Episode I really is bad....I couldn't admit it for a long time!

At least there was Natalie Portman to distract us from the awfulness happening around her.

 

[dmccarty]

WWoHP is a failure in my household. Universal will not entice us to their parks from Disney.

Universal has lied and sold HP as a WORLD. It is not even PotterLand. It is more aptly called PotterVille.

At best two of four family members will get on roller coaster type of rides. One who usually does ride roller coasters is getting iffy about riding. I will ride those rides but I can take it or leave it. So to go to PotterVille to ONLY shop in the HP strip mall is not going to happen.

IF WWoHP was at LEAST a PotterLand then we might go. But there is no way we are going for three rides that at best only half of our family will ride and to go shopping. We will not pay to go to PotterVille and loose a day at WDW. Just not going to happen. No amount of great themeing is worth the money for a short visit. And our family loves the HP books and movies. I have read the books at least twice and I cannot count the number of times we have watched the movies.

But WWoHP does not offer anything for my family. If it was free maybe. But it is not worth the price of admission.

The opening of WWoHP was a disaster that Universal has no excuse for allowing to happen. They either did this on purpose or through incompetence. My guess is that they had the opening they way they did to boost ticket sales that they will then use to talk up the park. They will have a one time uptick and then things will return to normal. If they are lucky. If I had been there on opening day in that crowd I would get my money back and not return to Universal of many years.

I really don't see how three rides and some shops is going to have a long term positive impact on Universal. Most people are not going to go to Universal just for HP. It will certainly draw in some HP fans but will they return once the hype machine is turned off and people see the reality?

The HP fans in my family are not going at all. I wish Universal had something for my family. We really had thought that we would got to WWoHP aka Potterville but until they build PotterLand we will be staying at Disney. I really wish we had PotterLand to visit.

Later,
Dan

 

[Decorated_Dust]

As for how successful this will be long term, we shall certainly see. However, reading reactions to the WWoHP through tweets, FaceBook updates and reviews, many people are raving about their experience. An overwhelming majority. It doesn't take a genius to think they are probably going to go back home and tell everyone they know what they did at Universal and tell them they have to go. Positive word of mouth is the best marketing in the world and to compare WWoHP to Mount Rushmore is a stretch at best.

I called it Mount Rushmore because people will be coming to see it because of all the rave reviews they have received, but people will have no need to go back. Once they've seen it, they've seen it. Also, I will admit that I have not been there and can't predict the future, so I'm just making an educated guess based on what I've seen.

Also, while I'm not in agreement with the DIS Unplugged team with the extent of the failure, I totally understand their ire over this place. We have been waiting 3 years for this and have seen so much hype be built up (a lot of it from Universal) that we were expecting something far bigger than what we got.

 

[mcm_momma]

I'm a little late to this discussion, but here's an editorial than ran in my small hometown newspaper yesterday. It was written by a reporter for the Joplin (Missouri) Globe, and is now, apparently, being reprinted in other papers (I don't live in Missouri).

June 25, 2010
Mike Pound: Potter park disappointment

By Mike Pound Globe Staff Writer

Orlando, Fla. — How bad could it be?

That was the question I asked myself when I found out that we would be attending the grand opening of the new Harry Porter theme park at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla.

We didn’t intend to go to the grand opening of the Harry Potter theme park at Universal Studios but, after we blocked out a week for a vacation, we discovered that the Harry Potter theme park didn’t open until the last full day of our vacation.

Since our 12-year-old daughter, Emma, really, really, really, really, really, really wanted to go to the Harry Potter theme park, we decided we would go on opening day.

“How bad could it be?” I asked.

Answer: How many Harry Potter books have been sold in the past 10 years?

When we started walking into the park I noticed that it was crowded but not overly crowded. I took that to be a good sign. But, when we got closer to the park, I saw a long line of people backed up as far as I could see. I took that to be a bad sign.

“This isn’t a line,” I said to my wife and Emma. “This is Woodstock.”

“What’s Woodstock?” Emma asked.

“It doesn’t matter,” I said.

The three of us stood in the Woodstock-like line. It was hot. The sun was shining down brightly and there was no shade. After about 20 minutes we noticed that the Woodstock-like line hadn’t moved. My wife, thinking that perhaps we were in the line for people trying to purchase tickets, asked a guy standing next to us if he had tickets.

“Yeah,” he said. “My family is already inside. They got here at 7 and didn’t get in until 10.”

I took that to be a bad sign.

It was beginning to dawn on me that we probably weren’t going to get into the Harry Potter theme park. Even if we did get in, I reasoned, there would be nowhere to move in the park. The problem, as far as I good see, was that we had a 12-year-old girl who was really, really, really, really looking forward to seeing the Harry Potter theme park.

But, hey, life is full of disappointments. It’s time that Emma experienced a few. It’s time that Emma learns that she doesn’t always get what she wants. That life isn’t fair. That sometimes life gives you lemons. So I decided to break the news to her bluntly. I decided to treat our 12-year-old daughter like an adult.

“Emma, I said. “I’m buying you a car.”

Ha. I joke. Nope, what I did was explain the situation to Emma. I explained that it was going to take hours to get into the park. I explained that once we got into the park it would take hours before she would be able to ride one of the rides, and hours after that before she would be able to ride another one.

Emma was disappointed. Heck, I was disappointed. So was my wife. But Emma was also realistic. But not so realistic that she didn’t hold a slight grudge.

“This park is jank,” is what Emma said.

If you don’t know, what Emma was saying was: “This park sucks.”

But our trip to Universal Studios wasn’t all bad. It just so happens the Woodstock-like line we were standing in was right next to Jimmy Buffett’s place where my wife drowned her sorrows in a margarita, I drowned mine in a beer and Emma drowned hers in a Coke.

After a while, Emma was able to smile and later she even laughed about the Woodstock-like line.

But I’m sorry, Universal folks. Emma still thinks your park is jank.

I guess word is spreading about how poorly Universal managed the opening of WWOHP.

 

[dpuck1998]

I'm a little late to this discussion, but here's an editorial than ran in my small hometown newspaper yesterday. It was written by a reporter for the Joplin (Missouri) Globe, and is now, apparently, being reprinted in other papers (I don't live in Missouri).

June 25, 2010
Mike Pound: Potter park disappointment

By Mike Pound Globe Staff Writer

Orlando, Fla. — How bad could it be?

That was the question I asked myself when I found out that we would be attending the grand opening of the new Harry Porter theme park at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla.

We didn’t intend to go to the grand opening of the Harry Potter theme park at Universal Studios but, after we blocked out a week for a vacation, we discovered that the Harry Potter theme park didn’t open until the last full day of our vacation.

Since our 12-year-old daughter, Emma, really, really, really, really, really, really wanted to go to the Harry Potter theme park, we decided we would go on opening day.

“How bad could it be?” I asked.

Answer: How many Harry Potter books have been sold in the past 10 years?

When we started walking into the park I noticed that it was crowded but not overly crowded. I took that to be a good sign. But, when we got closer to the park, I saw a long line of people backed up as far as I could see. I took that to be a bad sign.

“This isn’t a line,” I said to my wife and Emma. “This is Woodstock.”

“What’s Woodstock?” Emma asked.

“It doesn’t matter,” I said.

The three of us stood in the Woodstock-like line. It was hot. The sun was shining down brightly and there was no shade. After about 20 minutes we noticed that the Woodstock-like line hadn’t moved. My wife, thinking that perhaps we were in the line for people trying to purchase tickets, asked a guy standing next to us if he had tickets.

“Yeah,” he said. “My family is already inside. They got here at 7 and didn’t get in until 10.”

I took that to be a bad sign.

It was beginning to dawn on me that we probably weren’t going to get into the Harry Potter theme park. Even if we did get in, I reasoned, there would be nowhere to move in the park. The problem, as far as I good see, was that we had a 12-year-old girl who was really, really, really, really looking forward to seeing the Harry Potter theme park.

But, hey, life is full of disappointments. It’s time that Emma experienced a few. It’s time that Emma learns that she doesn’t always get what she wants. That life isn’t fair. That sometimes life gives you lemons. So I decided to break the news to her bluntly. I decided to treat our 12-year-old daughter like an adult.

“Emma, I said. “I’m buying you a car.”

Ha. I joke. Nope, what I did was explain the situation to Emma. I explained that it was going to take hours to get into the park. I explained that once we got into the park it would take hours before she would be able to ride one of the rides, and hours after that before she would be able to ride another one.

Emma was disappointed. Heck, I was disappointed. So was my wife. But Emma was also realistic. But not so realistic that she didn’t hold a slight grudge.

“This park is jank,” is what Emma said.

If you don’t know, what Emma was saying was: “This park sucks.”

But our trip to Universal Studios wasn’t all bad. It just so happens the Woodstock-like line we were standing in was right next to Jimmy Buffett’s place where my wife drowned her sorrows in a margarita, I drowned mine in a beer and Emma drowned hers in a Coke.

After a while, Emma was able to smile and later she even laughed about the Woodstock-like line.

But I’m sorry, Universal folks. Emma still thinks your park is jank.

I guess word is spreading about how poorly Universal managed the opening of WWOHP.

In all fairness, showing up opening weekend and hoping to walk in is very unrealistic. People like that hate Disney too, because they show up at noon, all the lines are long and they leave after the fireworks and wonder why they only got on 4 rides.

 

[mcm_momma]

In all fairness, showing up opening weekend and hoping to walk in is very unrealistic. People like that hate Disney too, because they show up at noon, all the lines are long and they leave after the fireworks and wonder why they only got on 4 rides.

You're right...the author of the editorial did minimal research and trip planning. But, I think it could be argued that this is the "average" theme park goer, one who does not realize that a trip like this absolutely requires some pre-planning. I still think that Universal has only themselves to blame for bad press such as this because (1) they billed WWHOP as a theme park within a theme park, not a land within a theme park, therefore building up folks' expectations, and (2) they underestimated the interest in WWHOP and were not prepared for the crowd levels they got on opening day.

 

[FireDancer]

In all fairness, showing up opening weekend and hoping to walk in is very unrealistic. People like that hate Disney too, because they show up at noon, all the lines are long and they leave after the fireworks and wonder why they only got on 4 rides.

Or shows up at Le Cellier during free dining at 5:00pm and doesn't understand why they can't walk in.

 

[kbelle8995]

I don't know if I would call it an unqualified success just yet. I have told people at work about my time there. But a lot of them say it's just too expensive or crowded and will propably wait a year or longer to go.

The shops are tight extremely so. You need a crowbar to just get around the wand area. I love JK Rowling dearly. She is a brilliant writer and businesswoman but she does not design theme parks nor does the gentleman who worked on the movie. At least the merchandise is offered elsewhere. Well at least some of it is.

Forbidden Journey is a great ride but they didn't make it for everyone size wise and that word has made it out.

WWoHP is wonderful but improvements do need to be made.