The Future of Lost Continent

[Circ]

Any chance they have an attraction more for the casuals/kids and an attraction for the more hardcore fans?

What would you say constitutes the hardcore fans here?

 

[MAC]

What would you say constitutes the hardcore fans here?

Those playing the games, doing Pokemon Go, watching the anime, singing up for tournaments, etc.

 

[Mike S]

Can the facial recognition tech Universal has be used as a counter measure to people buying up Pokémon trading cards if they have packs that are exclusive to the park?

 

[fryoj]

Can the facial recognition tech Universal has be used as a counter measure to people buying up Pokémon trading cards if they have packs that are exclusive to the park?

I'll put the chances of that at zero.

 

[moth]

Can the facial recognition tech Universal has be used as a counter measure to people buying up Pokémon trading cards if they have packs that are exclusive to the park?

Not exactly 1:1 to Universal but, fun story;


Build a Bear has a Pokémon line. You can get Gengar, Teddiursa, Snubull, Bidoof, Munchlax, the works.

Back when the line first started to around, 2019, they used to come with cards. They however stopped doing that due to, you guessed it, resellers.

I don't think Universal touches cards at all. I don't see it and they're aware it'll bring in a nasty crowd.

 

[Mike S]

Not exactly 1:1 to Universal but, fun story;


Build a Bear has a Pokémon line. You can get Gengar, Teddiursa, Snubull, Bidoof, Munchlax, the works.

Back when the line first started to around, 2019, they used to come with cards. They however stopped doing that due to, you guessed it, resellers.

I don't think Universal touches cards at all. I don't see it and they're aware it'll bring in a nasty crowd.

That was going to be another question. The thing with Pokémon though is that any exclusive park merch is going to bring in a nasty crowd, just a different one than the cards.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

That was going to be another question. The thing with Pokémon though is that any exclusive park merch is going to bring in a nasty crowd, just a different one than the cards.

Does it? Or is it just blind box Pokemon items like the cards?

 

[Mike S]

Does it? Or is it just blind box Pokemon items like the cards?

I can’t imagine a world where exclusive items you can only find at the park doesn’t cause a second hand market to appear especially when merchandise that was exclusive to Target sold out as well recently.

The Target x Pokémon Drop Showed Me Just How Bad the Scalping Problem Is

My first time going to an in-person Pokémon drop was disheartening, to say the least.

www.ign.com

If Universal doesn’t want upset families because of bare shelves they’ll figure something out.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I can’t imagine a world where exclusive items you can only find at the park doesn’t cause a second hand market to appear especially when merchandise that was exclusive to Target sold out as well recently.

The Target x Pokémon Drop Showed Me Just How Bad the Scalping Problem Is

My first time going to an in-person Pokémon drop was disheartening, to say the least.

www.ign.com

Well if they sell it in the park standard then it's not a drop, right? It's just the standard merch.

 

[mccgavin]

That was going to be another question. The thing with Pokémon though is that any exclusive park merch is going to bring in a nasty crowd, just a different one than the cards.

I can’t imagine a world where exclusive items you can only find at the park doesn’t cause a second hand market to appear especially when merchandise that was exclusive to Target sold out as well recently.

The Target x Pokémon Drop Showed Me Just How Bad the Scalping Problem Is

My first time going to an in-person Pokémon drop was disheartening, to say the least.

www.ign.com

If Universal doesn’t want upset families because of bare shelves they’ll figure something out.

I think the key distinction here is that the merch is explicitly a limited edition. A lot of the people who rush these stores are re-sellers who make a profit based on the scarcity of the items. Standard merchandise that is produced for the park indefinitely is probably not going to result in the same issue, especially if it is made available online through ShopUniversal.

 

[Mike S]

I think the key distinction here is that the merch is explicitly a limited edition. A lot of the people who rush these stores are re-sellers who make a profit based on the scarcity of the items. Standard merchandise that is produced for the park indefinitely is probably not going to result in the same issue, especially if it is made available online through ShopUniversal.

Is all the SNW merch available online?

I also think you’re severely underestimating Pokémon scalpers. The fact that your only option of buying it is a theme park if it’s not online makes it limited enough for people to attempt to exploit it. Even if it IS online I expect armies of bots to buy it up. I expect everything to be sold out for the first month at the very least if Universal can actually keep up with it. If they can’t keep up with it…

 

[mccgavin]

Is all the SNW merch available online?

Not all, but a noteworthy portion. As far as Pokémon concerned, even if there was merchandise that was only sold in the park, I don't think there would be an issue except for merchandise that is explicitly limited/special edition.

 

[Mad Dog]

All of these posts are a good sign for Universal. Looks like there's a ton of interest in Pokemon merchandise, and construction hasn't even started yet, let alone an announcement.

 

[Mike S]

All of these posts are a good sign for Universal. Looks like there's a ton of interest in Pokemon merchandise, and construction hasn't even started yet, let alone an announcement.

I’m merely pointing out the obvious trends lol. Pokémon is going to be the first thing since Harry Potter to have lines for the SHOPS at opening. I have doubts but I also wouldn’t be surprised if the lines to get in match Hogsmeade either. Something people seem to be forgetting is that Japan isn’t getting a whole land like ours. They’re getting a Spider-Man replacement and a bit of the area around that. Even Japanese super fans will be trekking to IoA for this.

 

[Mad Dog]

I’m merely pointing out the obvious trends lol. Pokémon is going to be the first thing since Harry Potter to have lines for the SHOPS at opening. I have doubts but I also wouldn’t be surprised if the lines to get in match Hogsmeade either. Something people seem to be forgetting is that Japan isn’t getting a whole land like ours. They’re getting a Spider-Man replacement and a bit of the area around that. Even Japanese super fans will be trekking to IoA for this.

Pokemon is not my preferred choice personally, but it's a good choice for/by Universal. I think it will do very well, and pull a lot of new attendance and merch sales, but I doubt a Potter IOA type opening day will ever occur again. The planets all lined up for that one.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I’m merely pointing out the obvious trends lol. Pokémon is going to be the first thing since Harry Potter to have lines for the SHOPS at opening. I have doubts but I also wouldn’t be surprised if the lines to get in match Hogsmeade either. Something people seem to be forgetting is that Japan isn’t getting a whole land like ours. They’re getting a Spider-Man replacement and a bit of the area around that. Even Japanese super fans will be trekking to IoA for this.

I think the issue here is you're confusing scalpers with fans. Plus the first Potter was an aberration, not the norm. I don't think we'll ever see crowds like that again.

 

[Mike S]

I think the issue here is you're confusing scalpers with fans. Plus the first Potter was an aberration, not the norm. I don't think we'll ever see crowds like that again.

Fans will be packing in and scalpers will be clearing shelves. These things are not mutually exclusive.

 

[Jake S]

I’m not aware of this being an issue at the Japan park despite that implementation being 100 percent food and merchandise. Just institute a transaction limit on merch and go hard after scalpers. Disney has started to do this and been pretty successful.

We get it. Pokémon is popular. Yes, clearly scalping is an issue for the cards at retail stores. And any limited edition or exclusive merch will be vulnerable at the parks to this kind of activity. But I feel like we’re bordering on hysteria here.