The Season Pass Podcast Discussion Boards Enhanced Conversation Board on Theme Parks, Roller Coasters and more in the Amusement Industry. Discussions based on the Season Pass Podcast. - WWW.SEASONPASSPODCAST.COM
Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 6:11 pm Post subject: Magic Kingdom expansion of Fantasyland being retool again.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter causing Disney Fantasyland expansion to be retool again for a more male audiences. @DisneyParksBlog.com
Jim Hill Media.com has an article up about a propose revise of the expansion to Magic Kingdome’s Fantasyland after Harry Potter recent successful opening. According to the article inside sources has pointed concern that the new Fantasyland update is to tween(define as young female audiences) focus and may not attract the crowds that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has done. Recently Disney has seen a decline in there tween focus product's like the Disney’s Princess and Fairies, as well as, the luke warm reception of Disney The Princess and the Frog(still a great film) causing Disney to worry that their tween audiences may not be the great money generating force it once was.
The main reason for this concern is what you see here in this video and poster.
It’s no doubt that Harry Potter has become a big success for Universal. It’s seen that many people have not come out disappointed with the land or the ride. While many complain about the unusually small design to the stores or the fact that many are unable to ride the Forbidden Journey dark ride due to people weight size problems and even that there isn't enough original attractions to go around. It does leave people wanted more and rumors are abound that the Harry Potter could expand even more into taking away the Lost Continent portion of Island of Adventure and even rehabbing the Forbidden Journey ride to fit the fatties of the world(sorry there) the little overweight crowds. But all this has Disney questioning that Fantasyland could do with more in focusing on the male crowds that has help Harry Potter into becoming a huge franchise success.
@DisneyParksBlog.com
So, the new theirs is talks that the Fantasy Forest area of Disney Magic Kingdom is getting a retouch with more male audience in mind. But the most interesting rumors to come out of this redone to Fantasyland is more attraction and rides could go further then just Fantasyland. Frontierland has been rumor to get new attractions and rides compensate for the lack of male interest from the Disney Pixel Hollow portion of the Fantasyland expansion. Their has been recent post from Disneyfan sites and Screamscape that new permits have been grated or applied for in areas that used to house the old 20,000 leagues ride(man I miss that ride) making fuel that more rides and attraction could be on the way. WDI has been working hard in the store area too. Most of you know that the real profit from theme parks isn’t from the gate ticket or foods, but the merchandise.
As, this video shows you, Harry Potter stores and IOA has been selling out like hot cakes. Crowds at these stores has made Disney envy with jealousy that people are buying Harry Potter stuff and not a lot of the Disney stuff that has been a staple at their parks for a long time.
So, the key to having more people buy more stuff from the new expansion to Fantasyland has now change to focus on the male audiences then just the tween crowds.
And before anybody say's Marvel, remember Disney is very story focus driven, so if it doesn’t fit, it won’t sell no matter how hot the property is. Marvel is still a while away, but no doubt is coming.
So what do you guy’s think. Are you ready for more attraction, rides, and shows that aren’t just tween driven. Me I hoping they do more that just princess stuff. One recommendation I would love Disney to do, Bring back MR. Toad Wild Ride. Why did they have to get rid of this cherish ride, while Disneyland got to keep theirs? This was wrong mainly because Winne the Pooh ride is a very bland design. I feel that ride is only there just to sell more Pooh stuff then be a entertaining experience. Now, if Mr. Toad Wild Ride could come back, it should be for a new generation. So, having new technology and enhance effects is the way to go for a new generation to enjoy, then just bring back a old ride system that might bore the young riders of tomorrow.
Maybe this could happen. You know that a new Wind and the Willow movie is coming. The Wind and the Willow is the source base for the Mr. Toad Wild Ride. So, if the movie is a success we could really see a new Mr. Toad Wild Ride return to the Magic Kingdom. Here hoping.
Here’s video of the new Wind and the Willow movie.
Personally, I think that if they are adding something new to the plans, then it's been in the plans for a long time. It's very hard to add a new phase of a project once you've started build. Couple that with the cap on capital expenditures through 2014 plus the money they're spending on VR and high bandwidth wireless transmission research; I don't think they're going to jump too quickly at this. I think the plan is to wait for anything major until the next big (really big) release of a new guest interaction system. That's what's coming a few years down the line, that's what Fantasyland is all about; they don't have time or money to worry about Potter. They already gave up on that IP so they knew what was coming. Pirates and princesses make money.
I think Disney should take the time to worry about Potter. I was at Islands for two consecutive weekends before the Potter opened officially. Everything there is top notch, the food and merchandise are exciting (and I don't really like girt shops).
While my wife and I were in line to buy a wand for my father-in-law, the person in front of me had an order of $595. Two orders in front of her was an order of $275. Universal is selling merchandise quicker than I have ever seen.
Now Screamscape is saying that the hotels around Universal are filling up to the point where they can raise rates for the first time in 2 years. Right now I believe Disney is giving away free dining till Christmas to fill their rooms.
Disney may not be quaking in their boots, but I am sure they are taking notice and rethinking their decision to focus most of their attention on one demographic. _________________
You guy's bring out great point's. JoseBob, I totally forgot about the 1 Billion dollar Next Generation technology they are invested in. You're right, that will be the key in the new Fantasyland update in bringing the crowds. Whatever it's going to be, or what surcharge they are going to put on this tech it's will define how theme parks are going to be like in the future.
Wylder those spending stories about Harry Potter are insane. Wow. I heard of the sold out stuff, but $595 and $275. That just almost $1000 in two guest. This has got to make Disney stop and look that with some reserver. That one Demo isn't going to be enough. I worry that I might have to paid extra when I go down there for Halloween night's and I end up paying $150 if I'm lucky. Yeah, Disney needs to do some adjustment in there thinking and with Legoland coming it's no time for Disney to sit on their hands for this.
Hey, I have a question about that restaurant at Three Broomsticks. Is the food much like the Mythos restaurant at Lost Continent? Or are they doing something more like the movies where it's foods that have unique style to Harry Potter? _________________
When I ate at the Three Broomsticks, I had bar-b-que chicken and ribs. My wife had shepards pie. Both we good. I would say they have home country cooking with some seafood. I don't know if I would compare it to the Mythos, but they have good food and they have a good (but expensive breakfast).
Stingray: I have it on good authority that the 1 billion dollar number is false. It's a big number and they have hired world class talent. But it's not a billion.
It's interesting that the rumors speak about Fantasyland and Frontierland as sites to attract the boys. It still amazes me that Tomorrowland doesn't receive more attention from Disney in terms of new attractions. This would be prime real estate for an technologically advanced ride that would sit near Space Mountain and attract huge crowds. The Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, Stitch, and even Buzz Lightyear just aren't cutting it.
It's interesting that the rumors speak about Fantasyland and Frontierland as sites to attract the boys. It still amazes me that Tomorrowland doesn't receive more attention from Disney in terms of new attractions. This would be prime real estate for an technologically advanced ride that would sit near Space Mountain and attract huge crowds. The Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, Stitch, and even Buzz Lightyear just aren't cutting it.
I think we all can that those rides aren't doing that space justice (although I do enjoy most of them). I can't decide if they will update Tomorrowland or add a new gate. Time will tell.
Well, the rumors were true. Disney are retooling the Fantasyland expansion for a much more male interest in mind. The Orlando Sentinel has an interview with Walt Disney Parks and Resort Chairman Tom Staggs. He’s quote as saying -
Quote:
“We took a hard look at it amongst a number of us and said, ‘Can we make the appeal broader? Can we make it even better?’ “ Staggs said during an interview this week with the Orlando Sentinel.
@Orlando Sentinel
So, while no real details have come out. It seems to show that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter has effected how Fantasyland expansion will end up like. Given that the male audiences is something to look at they’ll still support the princesses market just as well as those pirates and other Disney old cash crow business models.
I hope some good attractions come out of this. Some has equated this to the time Michael Eisner had his kids visit the Disney parks only to find a lot of the attraction shall I say “tame”(I think the kids quoted was lame) for their age. This many believe lead to the Alien Encounter Experiences among other things.
I happy they change things up here. Any project usually goes though many revision so why should this be any different. I just glad it’s not a total fairies and princesses fest as was stated before. But if one thing Disney can do to help improve Fastasyland at Magic Kingdom is this right here.
Yes, Mr. Toad Wild Ride miss by the old school, but unrecognized a young generation is a attraction that can still work. But when people want old rides back they usually want the same thing. What I mean is a new type of ride not just bring back something that could lose appeal because of it’s age. Their is a new movie my WETA - people behind Lord of the Rings based on the Mr Toad stories. So, their a chance that a Mr. Toad ride could come back to the Magic Kingdom if only time will tell.
Here’s a link to the Orlando Sentinel with the interview with Todd Staggs.
btw- These quotes sounds a lot like double speak and gerrymandering to me. A very political tip toe speech.
http://thedailydisney.com/blog/20...xpansion-plans-are-being-redrawn/
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Join! (free) 
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
