The Wizarding World of Harry Porter. The best thing to happen to WDW

[agame2323]

No one can argue that Universal struck a nerve. The Wizarding World of Harry Porter has suddenly accomplished what countless other attractions at Universal were unable to do. Get…,no wait,... FORCE Disney to pay attention to the other guy in Central Florida.

Some call opening day a disaster. I call it genius. If the wait time to get into WWOHP had been a mere 2hrs, would people have reacted the same? Word spread like wild fire through Twitter, Facebook, and iPhones that it was a 6 to 8hr. wait just to get into the WWOHP! Somewhere, the Universal executives were laughing and saying, “top that Disney.”

The message is clear. Universal came to play. Universal Studios Orlando is like that kid who performs a really cool skateboard trick, then looks at the other so-called “cool kids” and says, “betcha can’t do that!” Yup, US is showing off and has been for several years. The only difference this time…the trick was pretty good. It got our attention, wouldn’t you say?

I’m not one of those people who thinks Disney is lacking or behind in comparison to US. One cool trick does not win you the gold medal. But I am expecting my all time favorite “trickster” to bring out the ol’magic and amaze us like they have many times before. Amaze us like that year you created Space Mountain. Give us that “wow factor” like the time we first seen and rode Spaceship Earth. Give us that “I can’t believe what I’m seeing feeling” like the first time we heard “Yo Ho, Yo Ho a Pirates life for me” sung from the mouth of an audio animatronic. If not for us, do it for the Disney pioneers who would never allow someone that doesn’t specialize in “magic” to show them up. I think its time for Disney to reach deep into their bag of tricks and pull out something good.

WWOHP couldn’t have come at a better time. Just when we thought things were getting sluggish in the Disney vs. Universal competition, someone finally pushed the envelope. So now what? US raised the bar and we are all waiting. Waiting to see what happens next. It’s your turn Disney. Wow US.

 

[Mama Mouse]

I know it's wrong and totally geek of me but I feel the need to tell you that it's Harry POTTER. Not Porter. Pottergeek here, obviously.

 

[inkkognito]

I had a Hairy Porter handle my luggage once. I don't think he was a wizard tho'.

Actually I think WDW was probably laughing their butts off at the crowd control disaster and thinking how they would have handled it. I remember our first visit. It was hotel preview only, yet IOA thought they could just do a rope drop like WDW. Can you say near-stampede? I'll never forget the mother literally dragging her poor kid on the ground. I had people literally elbowed me but fortuntely I'm assetive enough to back them off. To IOA's credit, they did change it to common sense the next day...just let people in as they come through the turnstyles so they trickle in instead of gathering them into a mass crowd. If they knew how to handle crowds, that's what they would have done in the first place.

 

[Metro West]

Actually I think WDW was probably laughing their butts off at the crowd control disaster and thinking how they would have handled it. I remember our first visit. It was hotel preview only, yet IOA thought they could just do a rope drop like WDW. Can you say near-stampede? I'll never forget the mother literally dragging her poor kid on the ground. I had people literally elbowed me but fortuntely I'm assetive enough to back them off. To IOA's credit, they did change it to common sense the next day...just let people in as they come through the turnstyles so they trickle in instead of gathering them into a mass crowd. If they knew how to handle crowds, that's what they would have done in the first place.

Here's a little story about Disney crowd/line management at the CM preview of EE that I wanted to share:

I went with a friend who was working at Disney (at the time) to the CM preview of EE on a hot Sunday afternoon. We had already heard the ride had broken down several times during the day but we were hell bent on riding it.

When we got to the "preview line" there were no signs anywhere and only one CM trying to direct those for the CM preview to one side of the walkway. I felt really sorry for the CM...she must have gone home and cried that night. She worked her tail off that day and must have been completely exhausted. She was trying to direct the general public away from the line that stretched across the main walkway so the regular guests were constantly walking through the line.

While we were waiting, we asked people in the line ahead of us if they were doing the preview of EE and most said they assumed this was the line since no one was around to tell us for sure. So we waited too. The wait was anyone's guess since we received no information at all. We didn't even know if the ride was operating. Once we heard screaming...we knew it was a go.

Once we got up to the FP machines, we were told it was a two hour wait from that point and we had probably waited a solid 90 minutes already! We snaked through the queue area...none of the fans were working and most of us were roasting.

When we arrived at the loading area, there was mass confusion since the CMs working the ride were loading people from two directions and telling people to get in the train rows unevenly. No one really knew where to go so we just chose a row and stood there.

The ride itself was great but as we were walking out of the gift shop and towards the bridge, we looked back and saw nothing but one mass of humanity. I have no idea how long it took those people to ride but it was nothing short of madness!

Someone hadn't planned the preview very well so it happens everywhere.

BTW...during the CM preview of Soarin', Disney had it down to a science. They used a back entrance into the building and there were CMs out front checking IDs. There were no problems at all that night.

 

[Purseval]

For years the WDW rope drop was a stampede. It probably took several lawsuits (one wouldn't do it because Disney never gives an inch in a courtroom) before they got the idea that maybe it's better to try and control the mob. So the view that Disney is some master at crowd control is selective memory at best.

 

[La2kw]

Disney has already responded. Their answer is to transplant a ride from DCA and add more character meet and greets. And a restaurant. Of course, that means that they will probably close something else. Oh yeah, the're closing Toontown Fair.

I love WDW, but I don't like how stale the parks have become.

 

[Donna3271]

Disney has already responded. Their answer is to transplant a ride from DCA and add more character meet and greets. And a restaurant. Of course, that means that they will probably close something else. Oh yeah, the're closing Toontown Fair.

I love WDW, but I don't like how stale the parks have become.

Correct!!! Toontown Fair is going kaput. Disney IS answering back...In the form of a Re-vamped Fantasyland. This is their ace. This is what made them what they are. All the princesses will have their own lands. OK, the appeal is not the same as for older people, but as a mother with 2 small twin girls, all they want to know is the princesses, where can we see them, where can we buy their apparel, merchandise, etc....

Also, DCL has the Dream, which we will be on for our 3rd Disney cruise.

 

[TwingleMum]

I say HURRAY FOR YOU AND ME!! US threw down a very big guantlet. Disney is no longer the only game in town. You can bet WDW is watching everything very closely. I think its fabulous and we the fans of both WDW and US/IOA are going to be the ones who reap the benefits. Let the two of them slug it out all they'll do is make improvements for us. New rides, better attractions, new restaurants etc.. I think Harry cast a very big spell over all of Orlando. THANKS HARRY!!!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I think Disney is responding, but Universal/IoA hasn't been doing all that great a job managing the WWoHP. The fact that they are telling their own customers not to come to the parks until 3pm, and they've stopped serving alcohol in their bar is telling.

 

[honey11dog]

I agree competition is a great thing. I am a huge Disney fan but I am super excited to go on my first trip to Universal this Sept. Disney does need to remember that there is another option in town. And honestly, my 12 yr. old son is not interested in going to Disney anymore. My daughters still enjoy it but as I have seen before I am afraid as they reach their teenage years, Disney will be less appealing to them. I think that it is great the Disney is adding the princess/fairyland to Fantasyland. And that will surely draw in the little girls. But if they don't add more for the older kids they will certainly loose them to Universal. In addition, I think that Universal's Express pass system and onsite hotel express pass far exceeds Disney's fastpass system. I love Disney, just hoping they will take note of Universal and some of the great things it has to offer it's guests.

 

[skifast22]

I had a Hairy Porter handle my luggage once. I don't think he was a wizard tho'.

Actually I think WDW was probably laughing their butts off at the crowd control disaster and thinking how they would have handled it. I remember our first visit. It was hotel preview only, yet IOA thought they could just do a rope drop like WDW. Can you say near-stampede? I'll never forget the mother literally dragging her poor kid on the ground. I had people literally elbowed me but fortuntely I'm assetive enough to back them off. To IOA's credit, they did change it to common sense the next day...just let people in as they come through the turnstyles so they trickle in instead of gathering them into a mass crowd. If they knew how to handle crowds, that's what they would have done in the first place.

I've seen a few posts now where some have said if Potter opened at Disney, they would have been so much better at handling the crowds and everything would have been smooth. Yet, over on the Disney side of these boards, there's alot of recent threads about the "Soarin' Stampede" and the chaos getting to TSM at rope drop. Seems to me that when you have thousands of people all eager to get to the same place at the same time, your gonna have issues regardless of your corporate logo.

 

[lachica]

The fact that they are telling their own customers not to come to the parks until 3pm, and they've stopped serving alcohol in their bar is telling.

Pics or link! I was just there again this weekend (I was there a week after GO). I live in Orlando, and because of WWoHP my home has become a B&B. Friends and family have come out of the woodwork to stay at chez moi. With that said every visit has had several stops at Hoad's Head - butterbeer for the kids, and newcastle for the adults. I've never been told to come back after 3pm nor was turn away at the bar.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Pics or link! I was just there again this weekend (I was there a week after GO). I live in Orlando, and because of WWoHP my home has become a B&B. Friends and family have come out of the woodwork to stay at chez moi. With that said every visit has had several stops at Hoad's Head - butterbeer for the kids, and newcastle for the adults. I've never been told to come back after 3pm nor was turn away at the bar.

Link -- post #43

 

[lachica]

Thanks for the link. Its typical uni bashing- seriously making fun of the masking tape line; or handing out tickets? Please... As the weekends have gone by its getting easier to manuver around the shops; I was absolutely shocked that they was no line outside of Honeydukes yesterday afternoon. Olivander's is a completely other beast - but again its getting better it didn't wrap around as bad as a few weekends ago.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Thanks for the link. Its typical uni bashing- seriously making fun of the masking tape line; or handing out tickets? Please... As the weekends have gone by its getting easier to manuver around the shops; I was absolutely shocked that they was no line outside of Honeydukes yesterday afternoon. Olivander's is a completely other beast - but again its getting better it didn't wrap around as bad as a few weekends ago.

I don't care one way or the other about tickets or masking tape. You do what ya gotta do.

No beer at the pub = no fun, though

 

[Rip]

I don't care one way or the other about tickets or masking tape. You do what ya gotta do.

No beer at the pub = no fun, though

From what I heard they are selling beer, just not hard liquor because it takes too long to mix the drinks.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

From what I heard they are selling beer, just not hard liquor because it takes too long to mix the drinks.

Gotcha, thanks!

 

[WWEDUDE]

As of yesterday they are serving alcohol at the pub (the part about mixed drinks might be true tho), they aren't forcing everyone to enter through Jurassic Park, I was never once handed a ticket in order to stop line jumping, and I was never told not to enter until 3pm.

 

[Rip]

Gotcha, thanks!

No worries. You have to take any criticism of Uni on DIS with a grain of salt, they are often either exaggerated, or untrue. There are some of them still claiming that there is only 1 refurbished ride in the whole area.

And most of the ones complaining haven't even been.

 

[damo]

As of yesterday they are serving alcohol at the pub (the part about mixed drinks might be true tho), they aren't forcing everyone to enter through Jurassic Park, I was never once handed a ticket in order to stop line jumping, and I was never told not to enter until 3pm.

The 3 pm thing was given to onsite guests when they checked in as a recommendation on how to plan their day after they'd done their early entrance. Not sure what is so terrible about that.