Mad Dog
V.I.P. Member
Yeah, that" Orlando market is mature" might have been one of the worst business calls ever. It was the New Coke of tourism.
To be fair, when they made that decision, it was right after 9/11, so with WDW already having 4 parks (and Universal Escape having just failed), they thought they were far more set than they actually were.Yeah, that" Orlando market is mature" might have been one of the worst business calls ever. It was the New Coke of tourism.
I can understand the 9/11 time frame since tourism dropped everywhere, but they continued the policy for the next decade plus. The economy was booming again by 2004/2005. And if it wasn't for Potter, my guess is that Avatar, Star Wars, Toy Story expansions never happen. Disney seriously underestimated the potential of the Orlando theme park business, and possibly Universal's very poor previous ownership groups had something to do with it at that time. But only the success of Universal since 2010 finally forced them to recognize that their really poor evaluation of the market was wrong. We both read Magic a lot, even though I don't post over there. Parents of Four has some really good posts showing how poor, historically, Disney's investment in WDW has been from the early part of the century until now. As you said, I can see Disney using 9/11 as an excuse, but a well managed company needs to continually evaluate their market place, ideally on a yearly basis....You are so right that Comcast/Universal changed the game.To be fair, when they made that decision, it was right after 9/11, so with WDW already having 4 parks (and Universal Escape having just failed), they thought they were far more set than they actually were.
Harry Potter and Comcast changed the game.
Disney changed their focus from improving the parks to building timeshares during most of the 2000's and they are really feeling the affect of that decision today with two crumbling parks.I can understand the 9/11 time frame since tourism dropped everywhere, but they continued the policy for the next decade plus. The economy was booming again by 2004/2005. And if it wasn't for Potter, my guess is that Avatar, Star Wars, Toy Story expansions never happen. Disney seriously underestimated the potential of the Orlando theme park business, and possibly Universal's very poor previous ownership groups had something to do with it at that time. But only the success of Universal since 2010 finally forced them to recognize that their really poor evaluation of the market was wrong. We both read Magic a lot, even though I don't post over there. Parents of Four has some really good posts showing how poor, historically, Disney's investment in WDW has been from the early part of the century until now. As you said, I can see Disney using 9/11 as an excuse, but a well managed company needs to continually evaluate their market place, ideally on a yearly basis....You are so right that Comcast/Universal changed the game.
Nope.Anyone think Disney would start building a 5th gate if universal announces the 3rd? Based on their history I don't think it would be unreasonable. I think that the 3rd gate with volcano bay opened would really be the tipping point of when people who did Disney for their whole vacation would start to choose universal instead.
Anyone think Disney would start building a 5th gate if universal announces the 3rd? Based on their history I don't think it would be unreasonable. I think that the 3rd gate with volcano bay opened would really be the tipping point of when people who did Disney for their whole vacation would start to choose universal instead.
Anyone think Disney would start building a 5th gate if universal announces the 3rd? Based on their history I don't think it would be unreasonable. I think that the 3rd gate with volcano bay opened would really be the tipping point of when people who did Disney for their whole vacation would start to choose universal instead.
Nope.
Plus more hotel rooms, more restaurants etc & more incentive for a tourist to stay on site at Universal for a week or so.So I guess it is really a great time for universal to build the 3rd gate and take market share away. Universal from what I have read seems to have their efficiency/costs under control when building new attractions so they might be in a better positions to build a new park from a cost standpoint.
Good point.I think one of the things they NEED to consider for the third park should be designing walkways conducive to parades. Both IoA and USO are too tight for proper parade viewing and traffic flow during a parade.
That's is very true. I can see USF having a Fantasmic, WoC, RoL style show for its permanent nighttime spectacular. IOA is more conducive to the typical nighttime fireworks. The new park would focus on the nighttime fireworks and a good parade akin to MK.I think one of the things they NEED to consider for the third park should be designing walkways conducive to parades. Both IoA and USO are too tight for proper parade viewing and traffic flow during a parade.
That's is very true. I can see USF having a Fantasmic, WoC, RoL style show for its permanent nighttime spectacular. IOA is more conducive to the typical nighttime fireworks. The new park would focus on the nighttime fireworks and a good parade akin to MK.
So I guess it is really a great time for universal to build the 3rd gate and take market share away. Universal from what I have read seems to have their efficiency/costs under control when building new attractions so they might be in a better positions to build a new park from a cost standpoint.
Okay this legit could make a great theme park attraction now that the story is fully fleshed, story being true with magical elements
Why not instead of having the parades in the new park just have parades in the new citywalk area along with an outside park performance venue so they don't need to add a new one in citywalk when Ellen or One Direction visit and can make money with merchandise from all those guests without bogging down attendance in the park. Either way Universal is going to make money from parking and everything else.