Wizzarding World of Harry Potter Phase 2 on the way.

[Peter Pirate 2]

Definitely true!
And those that haven't ridden Forbidden Journey yet need to give it a try before they bad mouth it. Many a Disney supporter has walked away from it with a "wow"!

BobK/Orlando

It's definitely a great innovation, just like Spidey, but so many Disney fans can't see past their mouse ears. I'm thrilled to have real innovation whether it be from Universal, Disney or Gatorland (should they decide to enter the fray).

 

[ChrisFL]

It's definitely a great innovation, just like Spidey, but so many Disney fans can't see past their mouse ears. I'm thrilled to have real innovation whether it be from Universal, Disney or Gatorland (should they decide to enter the fray).

lol, agreed...actually Busch Gardens Williamsburg seems to be making some progress, but I haven't been there for a decade

 

[rie'smom]

Why when something about Universal is introduced do people have to turn into a Disney vs Universal thread?

Both are fabulous places in their own way. We always make a point of including Uni and Disney World on our trips including onsite stays.

For what it's worth-probably .02- Universal is better and so are their resorts. nannie nannie boo boo

 

[pilferk]

yet what I've read (and to be honest that not a lot!) it seems that Forbidden Journey is just a slightly more advanced spiderman type ride?

Only in the same way that a NASCAR race car is a "slightly more advanced" version of the Model-T.

OK, that might be a SLIGHT exaggeration, but the analogy rings true. Maybe better to say that it's "slightly better" like Spidey is "slightly better" than The Great Movie Ride (and I mean no disrespect to TGMR...a ride I really enjoy!).

It's similar to Spidey in that it is a vehicle that moves through sets and tells a story. But the way it does it, and how close you get to the "action", makes it something completely different than anything I've ever seen, or heard of, before. It really is that big a difference.

 

[pilferk]

I will make this comment (and I have no inside knowledge): If they are looking at a Phase II by 2012 - you do realize that the likelyhood is that the "Phase II expansion" will involve the re-purposing of the rest of The Lost Continent:
1 stage show - replace Eigth Voyage of Sinbad - check
1 D ticket ride - replace Posideon's Fury - check

I can see it. The Eight Voyage area would be an easy HP conversion/overlay, I think. Maybe something in the Forbidden Forest.

The Posideon's Fury ride, likewise, could easily be converted to "HP and the Chamber of Secrets" almost lock, stock and barrel.

 

[pilferk]

Disney screwed up royally on this one... its especially interesting given they had/have the TV rights to the movies and HP wasn't a universal property so putting at... say... DHS... would have been great.

I'm not sure you can blame Disney all THAT much.

The rumor is that Disney and Rowling were hot and heavy into negotiations and the sticking points were these:

1) Rowling wanted complete creative veto power

2) Rowling made demands that were both costly and unreasonable

3) Rowling didn't entirely trust Disney (again, the rumor is she was basing this on their interactions with both Henson and the family of A.A. Milne) and was reluctant to do business with them.

And again, the rumor is that she did NOT make the same sorts of demands/provisions when talking to Universal.

In other words, it seems that Rowling was more comfortable doing business with Universal and, if she was going to see her property used by Disney, they were going to have to, essentially, pay a premium for it.

IF the rumors are true, that doesn't look like a "screw up", to me. It looks like a calculated business decision.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Why when something about Universal is introduced do people have to turn into a Disney vs Universal thread?

Both are fabulous places in their own way. We always make a point of including Uni and Disney World on our trips including onsite stays.

For what it's worth-probably .02- Universal is better and so are their resorts. nannie nannie boo boo

It's pretty logical to draw these types of comparisons on something called "DISBOARDS"...

but you are right that it doesn't always have to be a comparison. very difficult being that they sit about 7 miles apart though.

and i'm far from a blind disney supported...you would be hard pressed to find someone who is more pessimistic or skeptical about EVERY move they make...and much moreso when anybody in a name tag opens their mouth to try and "steer" me towards a motive that is not "profit"....

but that being said...the one can't hold a candle to the other. Perhaps, if universal had been built starting in the 60's...when construction was easier, cheaper and stock indexes on the bloomberg tv scroll wasn't such a "priority"...then maybe. But the history of the two are so different that the lead in overall "stuff" is way too big to ever really be cut into....probably

(and yes...i know it was a sarcastic quip...but i just commented anyway boo-boo-nannie-nannie

 

[skier_pete]

Disney screwed up royally on this one... its especially interesting given they had/have the TV rights to the movies and HP wasn't a universal property so putting at... say... DHS... would have been great.

you can agree or disagree - but I think Disney smartly avoided Harry Potter. Many here makes it "Disney vs Universal" but the fact is it is all about "driving tourists to come to Florida". Disney succeeding is not a bad thing for Universal, and the opposite is true for Disney. I've posted on many threads - Harry Potter will be a large short-term boost and small long-term boost for Unviersal. Harry Potter will be a small short-term negative for Disney, but a small long-term boost for them as well.

Here's the scenario: Univeral invents tons of money on HP in both installation and marketing. People flock to Florida to see Harry Potter. But, their in Orlando anyways, what are they gonna do with the rest of their time. Why, Disney of course! Yes, Harry Potter takes *some* business away from Disney but also brings some people to Orlando that wouldn't come otherwise. Win-Win!

And...with Harry Potter - you betcha that you have to pay a continue royalty for the rights to the product. This makes less sense for Disney, who continue to expand their own products. Why have a theme park attraction that makes lots of money that you then have to turn around and pay someone else a big chunk of that profit. No thanks!

So, I think all this thought went into any negotiations...if there were any. Disney would've liked HP - but if JKR was hard-selling them, I don't think the idea of Universal getting it bothered them at all.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

you can agree or disagree - but I think Disney smartly avoided Harry Potter. Many here makes it "Disney vs Universal" but the fact is it is all about "driving tourists to come to Florida". Disney succeeding is not a bad thing for Universal, and the opposite is true for Disney. I've posted on many threads - Harry Potter will be a large short-term boost and small long-term boost for Unviersal. Harry Potter will be a small short-term negative for Disney, but a small long-term boost for them as well.

Here's the scenario: Univeral invents tons of money on HP in both installation and marketing. People flock to Florida to see Harry Potter. But, their in Orlando anyways, what are they gonna do with the rest of their time. Why, Disney of course! Yes, Harry Potter takes *some* business away from Disney but also brings some people to Orlando that wouldn't come otherwise. Win-Win!

And...with Harry Potter - you betcha that you have to pay a continue royalty for the rights to the product. This makes less sense for Disney, who continue to expand their own products. Why have a theme park attraction that makes lots of money that you then have to turn around and pay someone else a big chunk of that profit. No thanks!

So, I think all this thought went into any negotiations...if there were any. Disney would've liked HP - but if JKR was hard-selling them, I don't think the idea of Universal getting it bothered them at all.

You're almost right, IMO. HP's affect on WDW is irrelevant and vice-versa, except for how it affects the product that we, the guests receive, which is a win-win for all of us.

But I strongly disagree that HP is just a short term boon for USF. The fans are worldwide. There are still two more movies coming. Rowling is continuing the series and (no matter how good or bad) it will keep HPLand relevant. Plus, if in time, Universal decides to upgrade with another Spidey or FJ quality ride they'll continue to grow their popularity within this franchise.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is the best ride in the country. It's far more elaborate and far more impressive than anything Disney, or any other company has ever made.

 

[rie'smom]

You know the irony is that most Hollywood executives thought the upstart, Walter Elias Disney, was going to be a flash in the pan. No one could foresee his staying power. I think those who doubt the lasting power of Harry Potter may have the same limited vision as those in old Hollywood.

 

[DizCaptain]

lol, agreed...actually Busch Gardens Williamsburg seems to be making some progress, but I haven't been there for a decade

To bad their food still sucks, their staff still sucks, and their pathways still suck...they're roads though, they're doing considerably better! Oh and I'll change one of those...their food REALLY sucks, makes me sick every time I eat there.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

You know the irony is that most Hollywood executives thought the upstart, Walter Elias Disney, was going to be a flash in the pan. No one could foresee his staying power. I think those who doubt the lasting power of Harry Potter may have the same limited vision as those in old Hollywood.

you can't apply the same standards to two different people/ things when the intangibles around them (and the tangibles...for that matter) have changed so drastically.

A farmboy born in 1901 can't be compared to a print series from the 1990's...at least not to the point where you can draw a semi-definitive conclusion.

The world has changed too much...and the people changed with it.

The only way that Harry Potter has lasting appeal is if it throws out of tons of new content and re-invents itself constantly as technology progresses. That's is the only way.

10 years olds won't be thumbing threw Goblet of Fire in 30 years unless there is something driving it...but i'll wait for the future to confirm this one.

The saying "the more things change...the more they stay the same" is almost completely wrong. Primal, instinctual things stay the same...everything else goes through a constant revolution in a mass media world. As Tom Brokaw and others have pointed out repeatedly...we are not much like the WWII generation at all. And that is a shame...cause we need some of that (in my opinion). So I would be remiss to compare a character such as harry potter with mickey mouse...it is almost impossible given the circumstances.

 

[rie'smom]

you can't apply the same standards to two different people/ things when the intangibles around them (and the tangibles...for that matter) have changed so drastically.

A farmboy born in 1901 can't be compared to a print series from the 1990's...at least not to the point where you can draw a semi-definitive conclusion.

The world has changed too much...and the people changed with it.

The only way that Harry Potter has lasting appeal is if it throws out of tons of new content and re-invents itself constantly as technology progresses. That's is the only way.

10 years olds won't be thumbing threw Goblet of Fire in 30 years unless there is something driving it...but i'll wait for the future to confirm this one.

The saying "the more things change...the more they stay the same" is almost completely wrong. Primal, instinctual things stay the same...everything else goes through a constant revolution in a mass media world. As Tom Brokaw and others have pointed out repeatedly...we are not much like the WWII generation at all. And that is a shame...cause we need some of that (in my opinion). So I would be remiss to compare a character such as harry potter with mickey mouse...it is almost impossible given the circumstances.

Just using as an example that things called a "flash in the pan" sometimes aren't.

 

[high meadows]

J.K. Rowling has said she is not ruling out another book or even two. Another issue: Does anyone know what they are going to do about the overcrowding?

 

[ChrisFL]

J.K. Rowling has said she is not ruling out another book or even two. Another issue: Does anyone know what they are going to do about the overcrowding?

Expand to a phase 2?

Meanwhile they're making a sorta fastpass to access the area, not just the attractions.

 

[Orlando313]

you can't apply the same standards to two different people/ things when the intangibles around them (and the tangibles...for that matter) have changed so drastically.

A farmboy born in 1901 can't be compared to a print series from the 1990's...at least not to the point where you can draw a semi-definitive conclusion.

The world has changed too much...and the people changed with it.

The only way that Harry Potter has lasting appeal is if it throws out of tons of new content and re-invents itself constantly as technology progresses. That's is the only way.

10 years olds won't be thumbing threw Goblet of Fire in 30 years unless there is something driving it...but i'll wait for the future to confirm this one.

The saying "the more things change...the more they stay the same" is almost completely wrong. Primal, instinctual things stay the same...everything else goes through a constant revolution in a mass media world. As Tom Brokaw and others have pointed out repeatedly...we are not much like the WWII generation at all. And that is a shame...cause we need some of that (in my opinion). So I would be remiss to compare a character such as harry potter with mickey mouse...it is almost impossible given the circumstances.

I think about something that someone said on here why Disney is better than Universal. They stated that Disney drums up more feelings of nostalgia, it makes people think back to their childhood when they may have watched a favorite Mickey Mouse cartoon or the like. I totally agree with that. Then they stated that Universal doesn't do that, which I also agree with. I don't get too many feely chills doing the attractions at Universal.

EXCEPT FOR Harry Potter! You have to remember that this is a series that started in the 90's. I was 10 or 11 when started reading Harry Potter. I waited for the books to come, then the movies started coming. I think for some of the older generation, it may not be very important to them because they weren't the target audience, but going forward, as my generation and the younger generations get older, we're going to introduce our children to it and so on. It WILL become a place of nostalgia for us, to emerge into a favorite part of our childhood.

Disney didn't need Harry Potter, they already have the Nostalgia Factor, but Universal was brilliant for taking on the project and I feel it will pay off big time in the future. I would hardly ever go to IOA but now I try to go every other weekend just to get me a butterbeer and sip it in the Three Broomsticks. Takes me back to when I was 11 years old, and imagining what it would be like to go to Hogwarts with Harry, Ron, & Hermione.

So while some of the older generation may feel it's not that big of deal, to us younger folks, this is OUR childhood!

 

[Disco]

Eh,
I read the cat in the hat all the time when I was a child and Dr. Suess was a far better writer than JKR. I don't get all nostalgic and miss Suess land though.
Potter was a freak fad of popularity for some reason.

 

[skiingfast]

Eh,
I read the cat in the hat all the time when I was a child and Dr. Suess was a far better writer than JKR. I don't get all nostalgic and miss Suess land though.
Potter was a freak fad of popularity for some reason.

I agree, at least my son and I know of Dr. Suess. But I'm just too old to care about HP. Maybe my son will get into it and HP can catch one generation of my family.

However my son, my self, my parents and my granparents are all familiar with the Disney franchises that are included in Disney parks. That's a huge audience.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Eh,
I read the cat in the hat all the time when I was a child and Dr. Suess was a far better writer than JKR. I don't get all nostalgic and miss Suess land though.
Potter was a freak fad of popularity for some reason.

Expert are you?