Fantasyland Expansion - Part 2

[Nitro_230]

This is kind of a general question, but I wasn't sure what thread to put it in:

Assuming the speed of putting up attractions really is much faster at Uni than Disney, what is the reason for that?

Is it that Uni uses non-union (I.e. cheaper) labor?
Does Disney put more detail into their theming?
Anything else anyone can think of?

Maybe some of you insiders can shed some light on the differences. Thx

$$ and planning.

$$
Universal starts building and builds at a reasonable speed until they are done. (Transformers excluded, that was a bit out of the ordinary)
Disney on the other hand is spreading their investment over several years to lessen the impact on any one years numbers.
Potter is going to take about two and a half years from start to finish.
New Fantasy Land is going to take about four.

Planning:
Universal had been planing specifics for potter for a little over a year. And many of the ideas were all ready on the blue sky list from phase 1.
Disney had plans for phase one, they didn't go well, and so they threw them out the window and release a new plan that they were just starting on. Also Avatar, which was announced when absolutely nothing had been planned other then the fact that it will exist.

 

[Dan_raven]

I think potter is going so fast as well because it is just steel with facias applied to them which are made off site. 7dmt is a lot of rock work.
Should be done by now but I don't think that helps

 

[HomerFan]

Interesting takes. I guess my bigger issue with Disney is that it takes then soooo long to come up with a refurb/update/expansion, that when they finally do, you want it to happen very quickly.

But I don't see how $$$ can be an issue, when Disney is raking it in

 

[Cheezbat]

Interesting takes. I guess my bigger issue with Disney is that it takes then soooo long to come up with a refurb/update/expansion, that when they finally do, you want it to happen very quickly.

But I don't see how $$$ can be an issue, when Disney is raking it in

With TDO, money is ALWAYS an issue.

 

[Disneyhead]

The new Fantasyland was announced in Sept. 2009. Completion in Q2 2014. It is a 4+ year project because they are spreading the "capital expenditures" over as many years as possible to lessen the impact on any single years profits.

Universal found themselves in a situation where they had to dump potter profits before July 2013 to avoid a hefty tax bill. They didn't even really want Transformers because of it's similarities to Spider-man. But needing to dump cash quickly, and having a "plug and play" attraction like Transformers that they could have done by tax time because the R$D was already done of Singapore/Hollywood. Transformers, was a perfect fit for what they needed done. AND it gives them a HUGE draw to bridge the gap until Potter 2.0 opens. It's a win-win for Universal.

 

[Hockeyman55]

The new Fantasyland was announced in Sept. 2009. Completion in Q2 2014. It is a 4+ year project because they are spreading the "capital expenditures" over as many years as possible to lessen the impact on any single years profits.

Universal found themselves in a situation where they had to dump potter profits before July 2013 to avoid a hefty tax bill. They didn't even really want Transformers because of it's similarities to Spider-man. But needing to dump cash quickly, and having a "plug and play" attraction like Transformers that they could have done by tax time because the R$D was already done of Singapore/Hollywood. Transformers, was a perfect fit for what they needed done. AND it gives them a HUGE draw to bridge the gap until Potter 2.0 opens. It's a win-win for Universal.

And win win for us :thumbs:

Its not often I would say thanks god for taxes but thank god for taxes in this case

 

[1up]

The new Fantasyland was announced in Sept. 2009. Completion in Q2 2014. It is a 4+ year project because they are spreading the "capital expenditures" over as many years as possible to lessen the impact on any single years profits.

Universal found themselves in a situation where they had to dump potter profits before July 2013 to avoid a hefty tax bill. They didn't even really want Transformers because of it's similarities to Spider-man. But needing to dump cash quickly, and having a "plug and play" attraction like Transformers that they could have done by tax time because the R$D was already done of Singapore/Hollywood. Transformers, was a perfect fit for what they needed done. AND it gives them a HUGE draw to bridge the gap until Potter 2.0 opens. It's a win-win for Universal.

Super informative and makes so much sense! I love reading they why of building attractions.

 

[bobwadd]

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train from yesterday . . .

These are from the morning. I'll post some later that I shot in the late afternoon. Might be some of the same angles just with different lighting.

 

[Sideshow Mike]

Great update Bob! Thanks. :thumbs:

 

[bobwadd]

Great update Bob! Thanks. :thumbs:

Thanks Mike. Got to shoot what I can. :wave:

 

[JungleSkip]

Nice update. While it's taking forever, this is going to be a very nice addition to the park.

 

[Disneyhead]

Thanks for the pics Bob. I hope you enjoyed your day at the MK. It really is a great park for photography.

 

[Felipe]

Thanks for the update, Bob! :thumbs:

 

[jtsalien]

Great update Bob. Looking forward to you giving us quality Disney reports more often

 

[UK-Trigg]

Awesome update Bob. I think they should have themes this coaster to the Never ending story though. :rofl:

This shot was interesting,

obviously checking for clearance but what about the height? You gotta be tiny looking at that.

Nice to see your still shooting Bob, keep up the great work buddy :thumbs:

 

[bobwadd]

Thanks Roodles, construction updates are my thing

They must only be checking undercarriage clearance at this time :shrug:

 

[USO92]

"Vee are ze photo nazi's! No photos for you!"

 

[Nitro_230]

obviously checking for clearance but what about the height? You gotta be tiny looking at that.

They must only be checking undercarriage clearance at this time :shrug:

I was just thinking that too. It's odd though, usually they it up to be able to check all the clearances, then just it as needed.

 

[Hatetofly]

Great update Bob!

 

[Hockeyman55]

Love the sign coming soon . . . . 2014