Universal to take on Harry Potter

[ellyn2000]

DD is currently in Costa Rica doing a summer study program in Spanish, so I sent her the article by e-mail. She will FREAK! Loves HP. We've only been to US once and never had the desire to interrupt our WDW vacation to go again, but she'll certainly want to see that at least once.

 

[arazamataz]

Well I know where we will be in 2009. HP will make IOA the hot ticket for years. Big Mickstake!!

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

ONce the movies were lost I have to agree its an "oh well" moment here. Universal needs another Island. Right now you can see mostly everything in two days pretty easily with time left for repeats. Add another island even with walk through attractions plus streetmosphere and...I may start subsituting whole trips for Universal/Sea World rather than Disney. Disney's let things slip so much I'll be back in my early 1990's mode of travel...this trip is for non-Disney things and that trip is for Disney plus non-Disney things.

 

[Keyser]

One thing that I think is a little lost in all of the hoopla over the announcement today is that it seems to me that if someone (either Universal or Disney or AB) was going to build a Harry Potter park, then it should have been built already and be open. Since we are right on the precipice of the final book in the HP chapter, the excitement right now is at it's height. In 3 years from now, when HP land is opened, do you think that there will be as much excitement? Yes, I'm sure that it will look great and all, but it sure seems that if someone wanted to really cash in on all of the HP hysteria, then the park should have been opened around now, not 3 years into the future. Once the final book is released and the whole story has been told, will interest wane?

Well, interest will probably drop from where it is right now, but there's a big advantage to the HP attraction over many other alternative sources for a "land." The HP franchise is based, at its heart, on a series of books. As such, I expect their impact will last far more than many other attractions (such as those based on movies) could. I expect the HP books will continue to be read and enjoyed far into the future, and thus there will be a steady stream of interest in them. Its a richer, more lasting, theme than many alternatives, such as those based on movies. To take the other exteme, up at King's Dominion, they had an area of the park devoted to "Wayne's World". Talk about a poor long-term choice - they've since removed part, and put in other rides, retheming it. Of course, I'm not sure they were really building for the long term, anyway.

 

[Jon99]

20 acres and only 3 rides???

 

[Nana Annie]

One thing that I think is a little lost in all of the hoopla over the announcement today is that it seems to me that if someone (either Universal or Disney or AB) was going to build a Harry Potter park, then it should have been built already and be open. Since we are right on the precipice of the final book in the HP chapter, the excitement right now is at it's height. In 3 years from now, when HP land is opened, do you think that there will be as much excitement? Yes, I'm sure that it will look great and all, but it sure seems that if someone wanted to really cash in on all of the HP hysteria, then the park should have been opened around now, not 3 years into the future. Once the final book is released and the whole story has been told, will interest wane?

Tourism insiders see Universal's Harry Potter announcement as bonanza

Disney's popular "Year of a Million Dreams" promotional campaign and plans for a new ride based on Toy Story to open next year are likely to keep the race for fresh attractions at full speed.

And exactly how many years ago was Toy Story popular?

 

[tidefan]

And exactly how many years ago was Toy Story popular?

Your point is???

I didn't say that it wouldn't draw attendance, I said that they would have capitalized on it a lot more if they would have opened it now. Sure, you can say the same for Toy Story. Would have made a much bigger splash back when TS 2 came out.

 

[YoHo]

The problem is that the books weren't finished yet and the negotiations weren't settled. Somebody willing to spend the money had to step up.

And 20 acres with 3 rides, but the whole place is an attraction. Sounds pretty good to me.
Can you say Mainstreet USA?

 

[tidefan]

But... Isn't the fact that the books aren't finished yet adding to all of the hysteria? Everyone wants to know how it will end. There is bound to be a loss of excitement when the endgame is known.

The other thing Universal needs to be careful of is not to go down the path of George Lucas and the Episode I fiasco where fans were expecting waaaay more than Lucas delivered.

 

[YoHo]

Star Tours came out on the 10th anniversary.

Anyway, Rowlin made it clear that nothing was happening on this front till book 7 was done. Universal's issues relate to Episode 1 the same way any attraction or movie relates. Fan's expectations of stitch's great escape were way mroe then what Disney delivered and Disney paid for it. It's no different for anything. Rowling was very particular about what she wanted and that's why Disney lost out. Their proposal to her was horrid and she told Disney to shove it.

 

[EUROPACL]

20 acres and only 3 rides???

How many rides per acre do MGM, EPCOT or AK have?

 

[DiszyDean]

Star Tours came out on the 10th anniversary.

Anyway, Rowlin made it clear that nothing was happening on this front till book 7 was done. Universal's issues relate to Episode 1 the same way any attraction or movie relates. Fan's expectations of stitch's great escape were way mroe then what Disney delivered and Disney paid for it. It's no different for anything. Rowling was very particular about what she wanted and that's why Disney lost out. Their proposal to her was horrid and she told Disney to shove it.

FYI...There is actually nothing factual to support any of this statement above except maybe the first sentence. Good place for it to be on the rumors board. Post a link to where Rowling said the proposal from Disney was "horrid" and told Disney to shove it. TIA.

 

[YoHo]

??? this is the rumors board isn't it? I have posted a rumor from my sources.
I think most people here understand how the rumors board works.

Also, 3 rides per 20 acres would just about match DCA at opening. Of course, according to the concepts, the rides aren't the only attractions. Just like Mainstreet.

 

[larworth]

Yes, there’s a question whether HP’s Q rating will remain as high over time, but what struck me more was the reference to Superman. A high Q rating is nice, but the D rating is the real key - will it Draw. Superman has a great Q rating, but would Superman Land be a big pull? I don’t know what Spider Man’s Q rating would have been when that ride first opened (before the movies), and it is considered one of the best rides ever made, and we see how that has worked for IOA.

IOA needs something really compelling to reverse its fortune. This is where HP seems way ahead of any other property out there. I think this is a great play for Universal.

They also must know this is their last shot. If this fails, can you see GE giving them another dime? It looks like they are spending accordingly. Hiring the Warner Brothers set director seems like another good sign it will be top notch.

The only thing I’m bummed about is the speculation they are going to be re-theming two existing rides (Unicorn and DDragons), so we are possibly only going to get one new ride out of all this. The robotic arm car ride. Another C/D ticket experience would have been nice in addition to the Castle and Forest walk through.

 

[Another Voice]

They also must know this is their last shot. If this fails, can you see GE giving them another dime?

There's been a buzz around Hollywood that NBC has suddenly "discovered" that theme parks can be a cash fountain - especially in times when your network is in the trash can. Although the original plan was to sell the parks, NBC/Universal are planning a major reinvestment into the properties. Orlando will get Harry Potter and Hollywood has just filed papers for an unknown expansion on the lower lot (and to build time shares and condos in the Hollywood Hills as well).

Rethemeing the attractions was a very smart business move on their part. It allowed Universal to offer a significantly larger property than what Disney was willing to offer, yet it keeps costs at a resonable level. Disney could have easily done the same thing at either the Disney/MGM Studios or Califorina Adventure, but chose not to.

 

[shanomi4]

Mom dropped me off for the day to play. Happy to be here with all you fine kids!

Anyway, wanted to comment on "whether Universal has themeing".
Certainly can,t comment on others experience. Experience is purely subjective and is nothing more then opinions....and opinions are like our backsides...everyone has got one and they usually stink. So here is my stinky backside opinion.

I think Universals themeing is great! In some ways, better then Disney. Sure, Main street is themed well. But a lot more areas of the parks certainly are not grand or even that imaginative. Us did a superb job when they built Amity island at the studios. I even commented to my SO how I felt like I was at the shore. Everything from the stores, Nathans and the docks.

Seuss landing is another fine example of theming.

Now, I will concede and say US certainly does the themeing on a smaller scale then Disney (at least old Disney) but that is part of the reason I like US. For me, I want more bang for the buck. Pack more fun and rides in a smaller area so I can see more and do more. I think perhaps this is one of Disney problems. They are to big. To spread out. I keep reading where people want a 5th park! Are you kidding me?

As for US does not theme “in the traditional Disney sense” All I can say is if they are not like Disney, isn’t that a good thing?


Ok, looks like I am do for a changing...where are my pampers?

 

[2belles'mom]

So, maybe I missed this whole thing, but why oh why oh why is the WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER going to be at Universal and not Disney??? Why did Warner Bros decide to partner with them and not Disney???

If anyone has the scoop, or knows where to find it...I would like to know! Thanks!

 

[YoHo]

We have a thread on this, but the short answer is:
Disney is cheap and wouldn't spend any money on it. Rowling was completely unimpressed. Rumors out of the Dork tower in Burbank are still trickling in though.

 

[crazy4wdw]

As this info has already been discussed on another thread, I'm merging your post with the initial thread on Harry Potter.

 

[freakylick]

the short answer is:
Disney is cheap and wouldn't spend any money on it.

I know that was just an exaggeration on your part and we don't really know exactly how much funds each side was willing to put in. I would venture to say that it was probably pretty close. However, what Disney couldn't offer, which IOA could is a land that is already simarly themed and could just be converted to HP World. Disney would have to put a lot of money into rides, theming and infrastructure, whereas IOA can put most of their money into theming.

I have to say that it was a smart decision on the part of all 3 parties. I firmly believe that WDW will react to this (though I am sure they will never admit that it's a reaction to HP). And they likely will do it with something that they already own the rights to.

For me...I visited UO 2 years ago and had a great time, but I likely will not go again for a very long time. They don't add much and I have absolutely zero interest in rethemed attractions (though there will be one new one) and I have zero interest in HP (sorry, it's just not my cup o' tea). So this is good news for me, I would rather Disney spend money on something that I may interested in....I'm so selfish.