Who said Harry Potter was a passing fad?

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Apparently the new Harry Potter movie surpassed the last Batman movie (formerly number one) in midnight - opening night sales.......$22 million! Now that's alot of dedication to a movie to be there for the first show at midnight!

Now who said Harry Potter was a passing fad and Disney has nothing to worry about with the Harry Potter park?

 

[jimmymac]

I think you're right. People will try US for Harry Potter and find that they have very good parks there with fabulous rides. 5 star hotels at 5 star prices, not like the Disney deluxes. And once they realize the advantages of "Front of the Line, split US / WDW will look awful good

 

[Mookie Blaylock]

Didn't know a HP theme park was in the works. cool. should get WDW more on their toes and hopefully see some improvements/expansion.

 

[jimmymac]

Didn't know a HP theme park was in the works. cool. should get WDW more on their toes and hopefully see some improvements/expansion.

It's not a park, but part of Islands of Adventure

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Didn't know a HP theme park was in the works. cool. should get WDW more on their toes and hopefully see some improvements/expansion.

It's a "Parklett" addition to US scheduled to open in 2010. It's been in the works for a couple of years now.

This was in the Orlando paper on July 5th.....



Each of Orlando's theme-park resorts is promoting new attractions this year, but it's something that won't open until next year that really has people talking.

"The Wizarding World of Harry Potter," the $200million-plus "theme park within a theme park" that is scheduled to open by next summer in Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure, has sparked a near-constant stream of speculation about just how the resort will bring Harry Potter's universe to life.

"The industry scuttlebutt is that it will be fabulous," said Bob Rogers, founder of BRC Imagination Arts, a Burbank, Calif.-based attractions-design company. "I see the gleam in the eyes of the people who are working on it. They think they've got a real winner here."

Universal has kept the project — based on the wildly lucrative, seven-book series by British author J.K. Rowling and the movies it inspired — largely shrouded in secrecy. Contractors working on the project have been required to sign confidentiality agreements, and the resort has offered few clues beyond a handful of artist renderings. Universal has also fueled the hype with a series of Potter-themed Internet polls asking fans questions such as what dragon they would like to ride (a Chinese Fireball beat out a Hungarian Horntail) and what they would like to drink (butterbeer bested pumpkin juice).


Shops, eatery, more
But interviews with people in and around the project, and a review of public records, offer some details about what to expect.

Plans for the 20-acre Wizarding World show more than a dozen buildings, including at least three shops, a restaurant and multiple forced-perspective decorative buildings. The centerpiece will be the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the iconic castle and keep from the Potter books and movies.

Universal's Hogwarts, records show, will be 150 feet, or 15 stories, high.

The castle will also house what is expected to be the Wizarding World's signature attraction. Several people familiar with the project, including one person directly involved, said the ride will be what's known as a "robocoaster" — a ride system in which guests sit in seats suspended from a robotic arm that can swivel and swoop in multiple directions while it advances along a track.

Plans show the track snaking through more than a dozen scenes, though what those scenes will be remains a mystery. The attraction, according to the people familiar with it, will also feature an elaborate pre-show queue with special effects such as floating candles and snow falling indoors.

Before they arrive at Hogwarts, guests entering the Wizarding World will pass through Hogsmeade Village, an old-Europe-style town from the Potter novels. Universal's plans for Hogsmeade include The Three Broomsticks restaurant, shops and stylized locker and stroller-parking areas. The few clues Universal has provided indicate the stores will include Dervish & Banges, which sells and repairs magical equipment, and Honeydukes, a sweet shop whose treats include chocolate-covered frogs.

In between Hogsmeade and Hogwarts, Universal is building Hagrid's Hut, home of the friendly half-giant. It has also said it plans to re-create the Forbidden Forest, an ominous setting from the books that's home to creatures such as centaurs, unicorns and spiderlike "acromantulas."


Re-themed coasters?
There is little yet to indicate what rides will be included in the Wizarding World beyond the Hogwarts "dark" ride. Part of the Wizarding World is being built in the Lost Continent section of Islands of Adventure, and documents indicate that two existing attractions there — Dueling Dragons, where riders choose between two intertwined roller coasters, and the Flying Unicorn, a children's coaster closed last year as part of the Potter construction — will be incorporated into Harry Potter's world.

Both rides are expected to be re-themed with Potter story lines. Records show, for instance, that Universal plans to add a large tent at the entrance of Dueling Dragons, which fans have speculated will ultimately be converted into a re-creation of a wizarding tournament from one of the books in which one of the events involves stealing eggs from dragons.

Of course, the rides are almost secondary for fans when it comes to the Wizarding World, said Robert Niles, publisher of the Web site themeparkinsider.com.

"People are expecting to immerse themselves in the whole Harry Potter universe," Niles said. "Really, a lot more than other attractions, people are going to be paying a lot of attention to the theming, the attention to detail and the atmosphere of the place, more so than the rides."

Universal would not elaborate on any of its plans last week.

"We will be excited to talk about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter — when we are ready to do so," spokesman Tom Schroder said.

The off-the-charts anticipation surrounding the Wizarding World of Harry Potter comes with some risk for Universal, said Rogers, of BRC Imagination Arts. "If you're dealing with one of the great intellectual properties like, for example, Star Trek or Harry Potter, you have to work very hard to make sure that you don't disappoint the fan base," he said.

Whatever is ultimately included when the Wizarding World opens next year, newer additions will soon follow. Universal's licensing contract with Warner Bros. requires the resort to add elements from the final movies in the series — the last of which isn't scheduled to arrive in theaters until 2011.

The contract even states that the later movies must be represented "in generally similar per-movie proportion" as the first five films.



Information about the park is tightly held. When they finally unleash the promotions....kids are going to go NUTS!!! (Ok, some adults too!)

 

[alexsdc2]

I am a fan of Harry Potter but since the last book came out I haven't been as interested. Now everytime a movies comes out I do get excited agian ut I think once the last movie is over with the interest level will definately drop off.As of right now there are no plans for any more books based on the HP world but if Rowling decides to write another one I think that would be a huge boost for the park.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

I am a fan of Harry Potter but since the last book came out I haven't been as interested. Now everytime a movies comes out I do get excited agian ut I think once the last movie is over with the interest level will definately drop off.As of right now there are no plans for any more books based on the HP world but if Rowling decides to write another one I think that would be a huge boost for the park.

If everyone followed this theory - there would be no interst in Cinderella's castle, little Nemo or Peter Pan.

How many children will be standing in line next June 2010 at midnight for "Toy Story 3"? Think it will surpass $22 million for the HP film?

 

[alexsdc2]

True, but it is because of the on going tv, movie, magazine, toys, and theme parks that keep these things going. Harry Potter is different in the fact that once the movies are done the only thing left is the attraction in universal. Even the HP toys have all but disappeared form the toy stores. There is not a huge company like Disney standing behind HP to build the brand and keep on puching the themes out there.

I am a huge HP fan and have read the books over and over multiple times. I am sad that they are over and wish more books would come but I don't think they will.

 

[kmk1180]

Now who said Harry Potter was a passing fad and Disney has nothing to worry about with the Harry Potter park?

HP area will be popular draw at first but beyond that there's nothing to keep it up.
No new books.
Even as of right now the last "new" movie will premiere within the next two years.
And the park area doesn't even open till 2011. (two years)
So there's nothing to keep interest up.
And people who spend to go to a movie aren't nessessarily willing to plan a whole vacation to go to 1 section of theme park.

I'd still guess IoA still won't crack the top 5 theme parks attendance..
(Currently held by disney parks.)

And I think TS3 will be huge hit. No HP movie has even cracked the Top 20 films of all time yet. (HP#1 is the top of those films at #22)
Disney still has 2 in top 20. Lion King and Nemo.
(both whose ticket prices were lower then any of the HP films)

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

True, but it is because of the on going tv, movie, magazine, toys, and theme parks that keep these things going. Harry Potter is different in the fact that once the movies are done the only thing left is the attraction in universal. Even the HP toys have all but disappeared form the toy stores. There is not a huge company like Disney standing behind HP to build the brand and keep on puching the themes out there.

I am a huge HP fan and have read the books over and over multiple times. I am sad that they are over and wish more books would come but I don't think they will.

I think this is what the Disney folks are hoping for since they are doing little to compete now. I hope you are right for Disney's sake.

The reality, however, is the interest in HP FAR exceeds the compined efforts of anything Disney has done lately.....and there are MORE HP movies to come.

Can Disney afford to have done relatively nothing to WDW and .... hope that people will not go to HP. With the upcoming HP movies - this is going to be a problem for Disney for years. Also....what percentage of Disney fans are going to discover they LIKE US enough to split stay or even just one or two days.....fotl, better resorts, GREAT ticket deals (with more flexibility), better dining options. There WILL be people who DO like the coasters. In this economy Disney cannot afford to coast along hoping no one will notice the cutbacks.

In the past, Disney has never withdrawn from the competition....are they now? Sure, they are investing BUCKETS to re-do California Adventure because they did such a poor job of planning the first time. That isn't going to be much help in Florida.

There IS good news to some.....when HP opens and the advertising blitz begins....maybe we will find Disney parks empty!!! Of course, that will mean profit loss and more cutbacks......

Ok all...you can talk behind my back now....DH and I are off for a little weekend out of town! "See" you on Monday.

Have a great weekend everyone!

 

[CarnotaurDad]

I think the HP attraction at US will take some people away but not enough to really make a difference. There are only two more movies after this and then what? No more books. No more interest.

JMHO

 

[kmk1180]

I think this is what the Disney folks are hoping for since they are doing little to compete now. I hope you are right for Disney's sake.

The reality, however, is the interest in HP FAR exceeds the compined efforts of anything Disney has done lately.(Not heard of Hannah Montana? I would say that Far exceeds earning than any HP in the last two years.)....and there are MORE HP movies to come.

Not really...other than a new movie what else is there for HP fans?
(again both are released before the new section opens.)
While Disney has tons of merch, and characters and movies to draw from.
And more new movies coming out all the time...or didn't you hear of UP?
HP size, no but still new and thus new fans of new characters.
They still have 2 dis channels, Toon Disney, DXD, playhouse disney,
not to mention entire networks like ABC and ESPN to promote on.
That doesn't even touch Hannah Montana or Jonas Bro.
Disney keeps coming out with huge new things all the time.
HP has none of this.


Can Disney afford to have done relatively nothing to WDW and .... hope that people will not go to HP. With the upcoming HP movies - this is going to be a problem for Disney for years. Also....what percentage of Disney fans are going to discover they LIKE US enough to split stay or even just one or two days.....fotl, better resorts, GREAT ticket deals (with more flexibility), better dining options.(oh way no..I tried their character meal it was awful) There WILL be people who DO like the coasters.(that's what six flags hoped too and they are bankrupt) In this economy Disney cannot afford to coast along hoping no one will notice the cutbacks.

Have you not seen the draw of EE and TSM?
Those are HUGE draws. And we have no idea what they have planned.
Example, rumors of all new fantasyland, that woud be huge
So you can't say nothing new.

And HP movie is just 1 movie. It will be on video in less than 6 months and forgotten like the previous ones.
Disney merch is still everywhere year round. You still see Toy Story, Mickey, Cars, Princesses, ect...the list is almost endless.

In the past, Disney has never withdrawn from the competition....are they now? Sure, they are investing BUCKETS to re-do California Adventure because they did such a poor job of planning the first time. That isn't going to be much help in Florida.

New HP area wouldn't effect CA either.

There IS good news to some.....when HP opens and the advertising blitz begins....maybe we will find Disney parks empty!!! Of course, that will mean profit loss and more cutbacks......

That sounds just they said when US and IoA opened.
"Now Disney has compitition, watch out."
Neither turned out to be true.

Ok all...you can talk behind my back now....DH and I are off for a little weekend out of town! "See" you on Monday.

Not talking behind your back, just responding.

Have a great weekend everyone!

But we can disagree no problem.
Have a good weekend.

 

[TDSAXX]

In ten years it will be Harry Who? Just won't stand the test of time like a lot of Disney's Iconic characters/movies have.

 

[tjkraz]

The bottom line is that not every intellectual property can be considered equals. Time has a way of rendering even the most popular franchises irrelevant. You've got once-beloved franchises like the Muppets, Loony Toons, Sesame Street, Ghostbusters, Flintstones, Scooby Doo, E.T., Goosebumps, etc. which don't garner much attention these days. You can't just point to a Disney franchise and say "well, people still like Cinderella after all these years so clearly they'll still like _______."

The best potential comparison for Harry Potter (IMO) is Star Wars. The third film was released in 1983 and no film film franchise was ever bigger. But once George Lucas swore-off making any more films, Star Wars couldn't have been less relevant in the late-80s to early-90s. No new product meant very little interest. And Harry Potter may well be headed down the same road. The question is whether HP will ever reach a point of releasing more books, more films, cartoons, action figures, etc.

Theme park attractions are hit-and-miss. Six Flags licensed the likes of Batman, Superman, Star Trek and Nickelodeon characters for rides but that didn't exactly send their attendance thru the roof.

The Spider Man and Mummy rides at US are pretty good, but that's more a testament to the quality of the attractions than its theme. I don't see people flocking to US because they like the Mummy films or Spider Man comics/films. Will the Harry Potter attractions be any good? If they are, will it matter? Time will tell.

I'll say this: My wife is as big a Harry Potter fan as anyone. Already saw the new film on Wednesday and has read all of the books multiple times. But after our 2-day trip to US/IOA back in March, she has little desire to return even with Harry Potter Land...particularly if the signature attraction ends up being yet another simulator (which is what I've heard) at a park that already has way too many simulators.

I think the HP license could have been much better leveraged about 3-4 years ago when there were still several books to be released and the bulk of the films. Now all they really have in terms of a tie-in is two film releases. Then it's all downhill for the franchise unless Rowling changes her mind.

FWIW, I do believe Disney has a number of things in the hopper for WDW. Too many rumors now (Fantasyland, Monsters Inc ride, Star Tours 2, etc.) that it's starting to reach the point of "where there's smoke, there's fire." They have played things pretty close to the vest since Iger took over so I think it's just a question of when the announcements start coming and how extensive the additions will be.

 

[TDSAXX]

The bottom line is that not every intellectual property can be considered equals. Time has a way of rendering even the most popular franchises irrelevant. You've got once-beloved franchises like the Muppets, Loony Toons, Sesame Street, Ghostbusters, Flintstones, Scooby Doo, E.T., Goosebumps, etc. which don't garner much attention these days. You can't just point to a Disney franchise and say "well, people still like Cinderella after all these years so clearly they'll still like _______."

The best potential comparison for Harry Potter (IMO) is Star Wars. The third film was released in 1983 and no film film franchise was ever bigger. But once George Lucas swore-off making any more films, Star Wars couldn't have been less relevant in the late-80s to early-90s. No new product meant very little interest. And Harry Potter may well be headed down the same road. The question is whether HP will ever reach a point of releasing more books, more films, cartoons, action figures, etc.

Theme park attractions are hit-and-miss. Six Flags licensed the likes of Batman, Superman, Star Trek and Nickelodeon characters for rides but that didn't exactly send their attendance thru the roof.

The Spider Man and Mummy rides at US are pretty good, but that's more a testament to the quality of the attractions than its theme. I don't see people flocking to US because they like the Mummy films or Spider Man comics/films. Will the Harry Potter attractions be any good? If they are, will it matter? Time will tell.

I'll say this: My wife is as big a Harry Potter fan as anyone. Already saw the new film on Wednesday and has read all of the books multiple times. But after our 2-day trip to US/IOA back in March, she has little desire to return even with Harry Potter Land...particularly if the signature attraction ends up being yet another simulator (which is what I've heard) at a park that already has way too many simulators.

I think the HP license could have been much better leveraged about 3-4 years ago when there were still several books to be released and the bulk of the films. Now all they really have in terms of a tie-in is two film releases. Then it's all downhill for the franchise unless Rowling changes her mind.

FWIW, I do believe Disney has a number of things in the hopper for WDW. Too many rumors now (Fantasyland, Monsters Inc ride, Star Tours 2, etc.) that it's starting to reach the point of "where there's smoke, there's fire." They have played things pretty close to the vest since Iger took over so I think it's just a question of when the announcements start coming and how extensive the additions will be.

Good point even if Harry Potter continues to be immensely popular, is it the kind of theme that's going to generate repeat business the way Disney does?

 

[Uncleromulus]

It'll be wildly popular--at first. And unlike me (never read a HP book, saw just the first movie, nothing since) there are lots of dedicated Potter fans who will swarm the new park.
But I doubt it will stand the test of time. And certainly not a real "threat" to WDW. More like just ANOTHER place to go..

 

[redrosesix]

Well, it seems that most of you who are discounting the HP appeal have forgotten about the international tourists here -- HP is still gaining in popularity here, and being able to read HP books has become a rite of passage for most kids.

Personally, I think the international fans will be enough to keep the new section going, and will draw a lot of fans away from WDW -- but may also bring more HP fans to Orlando, which in the end is also good for WDW. And people who have to pay so much for airfare to get to Florida will be ones who least mind the prices of the US hotels.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Several really good points here.

It will have to come down to how good the attraction would be if it stood without HP. TSM is just plain good. IMHO just as good without the TS tie-in. EE is good and it doesn't have a movie tie in.

Maybe HP will become dated but I don't think the underlying "story" of small confused lost boy fights off a big evil will ever go away. It is what made "Lord of the Rings", "Star War's" and HP so popular to begin with. The Universal story of good vs evil. Sorry for the pun.

 

[kmk1180]

Here's my question to HP fan?
Will you plan an vacation to stay at US to visit 1 section of one of the two parks they have, eat there, sleep at US hotels..for a week?
then on the side visit Disney?

or will you Plan an entire vacation at Disney, go there to 4 different parks, eat there, sleep there...then on the side visit IoA for a day to see the 1 section of HP area?

Personally I think it's more likely the second.
and if it's the second option...then they will stay second to disney like they are now.

 

[Sher]

I am a lifelong Disney fan and have never even considered going to US, but Harry Potter is going to get me there. I don't anticipate that I will be won over to the dark side (so to speak) but I agree somewhat with those who see the quality of the WDW experience going slightly downhill. One of the great things about WDW has always been the constant additions of new things to do and see on each trip. If this stops, or if financial cutbacks decrease the level of service/value for my money, I might consider spending my vacation dollars elsewhere.

If I am thinking that way, then maybe Disney needs to worry about those who are not nearly as dedicated to the Disney experience as I.

Sher