Fact: UOR attendance has been up significantly since the expansion opened, so much so that USF has consistently been beating Disney parks.
Fact: UOR guest spending is significantly up, so much so that Kong's budget has been expanded from what was given the final go ahead.
Fact: UOR hotel occupancy is in the 90%'s.
I think they're pretty happy with Diagon.
I dont remember disputing any of this, but I would very much appreciate if you would point out to me where I contradict any of this information. Diagon Alley is an A+ expansion. All Im saying is that based on what I have heard and seen, Universal expected A++. Its not like the place is a failure. It has just not met expectations. You are assuming that not meeting insanely high expectations means failure but thats not what I am saying at all, and its foolish for anyone to come to that conclusion based on what I have posted so far.
Fact: Diagon Alley is a resounding success and is by no mean a flop, I agree.
Fact: Certain shops (particularaly Wiseacres, the dump store which in theory should always be busy) are consistently not making their budget (which is Universal's word for sales targets just to be clear)
Fact: Hours have been cut in EVERY area of the park, including Diagon, because the amount of work needed is not as much as Universal was expecting.
These two things that I am absolutely 100% sure about only solidify the less "scientific" factors that may lead one to think DA isnt meeting expectations, such as low waits for a brand new ride with piss-poor capacity and lack of people in the extended queues for everything at Universal including exisiting attractions. Yes, I know Universal handles capacity very well, no need to remind me, this is just anecdotal evidence that goes along with the facts listed above.
At this point, I just want to let it be known that Im not lying or making this up--Im defending my credibility as a poster more than anything here. But I will say that your counter-points have all been very general ideas that dont contradict with anything Im saying so its hard for me to just step down. I also dont mean to be snarky, but is the source you refer to your sales goal information for the same one that told you Gringotts was not having severe technical difficulties? Because if I recall correctly, I did say TMs were not able to work when they were expected and the land would open a few weeks late, to which you also shot down rather aggressively but ended up being wrong about.
None of you have to believe me, but I stand by my assertions. This used to be a good place for legitimate discussion but has turned into a place where apparently everyone designed Universal and gets very defensive if anything REMOTELY negative is said about the place (and thats a stretch because I love Universal more than any place in the world and only critique it because I want it to be better). In any case, I apologize for opening that can of worms a page back and trying to start a discussion.
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Proof UOR is finally on WDW's level: the #1 Universal board online has degenerated into a MAGICal, Laughing DISBoard type place.
For the record, I don't know Mr. Durden IRL (as far as I know), but he has a pretty solid record on here, his reports jibe with what others are saying and what I've seen first-hand--extended queues for shops have rarely if ever been used. (Except the ice cream shop, which was oddly built without one.) Willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, and if true, raises an excellent point. If the arguably #1 IP in the world right now, with limited merch elsewhere, can only sell X amount, how many shops could a Spongebob or Star Trek be expected to support? Certainly one, but can any IP support a full-on mini mall?
Thanks, SeventyOne. I too would like to see a more balanced and less one-sided view on things brought back here like it was when I joined.