Will Harry Potter at Universal hurt WDW?

[kbean]

The Harry Potter is nothing but shops and resturants. They took the Dueling Dargons coaster and combined them to the Potter theme. So they really don't even have a Harry Potter Themed ride. Just took the one that was already there. I think their going to have a walk thru of the castle. Alot of people are going to be disappointed.

[DizneyFreak2002]

It will hurt as much as Islands of Adventure hurt... Oh wait, it didn't LOL... Nah, it won't hurt and I don't expect Universal's to increase drastically either...

[DizneyFreak2002]

The Harry Potter is nothing but shops and resturants. They took the Dueling Dargons coaster and combined them to the Potter theme. So they really don't even have a Harry Potter Themed ride. Just took the one that was already there. I think their going to have a walk thru of the castle. Alot of people are going to be disappointed.

Um, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey??? There is going to be a major e-ticket ride...

[DisneyLuver91]

I'd bet that people would go to Universal for one day to see HP and then spend the rest of their trip in the World! The new attraction may boost the WDW attendance for a year or two!

[RAIDER]

Without a doubt it will effect WDW in one shape or another. And as far as i am concerned its only the paying public who gains with this attraction .
I just hope it lives up to the hype

[Meteora]

The Harry Potter is nothing but shops and resturants. They took the Dueling Dargons coaster and combined them to the Potter theme. So they really don't even have a Harry Potter Themed ride. Just took the one that was already there. I think their going to have a walk thru of the castle. Alot of people are going to be disappointed.

This is not correct. They are designing a MAJOR ride with state-of-the-art technology, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. It's supposed to be the best thing Universal has done yet, which if you speak to people who like Universal, is quite an achievement.

[Dopey's Girl]

I would imagine that it will be a draw for a while, but WDW will always be the main attraction in the area.

I love Harry Potter, but won't be shelling out the money to go to Universal ever again. I have never been in so many lines, only to find out that the attraction is broken down. It was so frustrating!

[mom2morgan]

I don't know about others, but it won't change our pattern since we always do a few days off site anyway (usually one or two at Universal, one at Seaworld, and perhaps one at Discovery Cove if we want a splurge). It doesn't take time "out" of our Disney days, since we plan extra for it. My bigger fear is that Harry Potter will make the crowds at Universal insane! For us, we still stay on-site and we still use dining plan (just eat snacks off site and then have a nice meal at one of the resorts when we get back on property).

[LiloLovesTheKing26]

We are going next year but only for one day. We will still be spending the whole week in Disney on Disney property. I'm excited! I LOVE Harry Potter!!!!!

[crltkcagle]

hmmm everyone scheduled to visit WDW the last week in May should definetly go check out Harry Potter instead! That way the park will be empty for us! LOL

[TheVBs]

I would love to check out HP, but I would not be willing to cut a WDW visit short for it. We typically stay 9-10 days and wouldn't want to try to tack something on to the beginning or end either. We'd be more likely to stop at Universal if we're there visiting family at a time when we're not planning on a WDW trip.

[Goofy Pluto]

... I think a lot of people will want to make HP a part of their Disney vacations, ... For instance, they might choose to stay off-site, or to stay at a Disney resort for 4 or 5 nights instead of 7. They might get fewer days worth of park tickets and opt not to do the dining plan, spending money in non_Disney restaurants, allocating some souvenir money to HP...

Sounds EXACTLY like us for our upcoming trip!

Staying off site... Check!

Staying at Disney for only 5 nights instead of 8 or 9... Check!

(We're staying off-site for a week and then going to Disney for 5 nights.)

Fewer days of Disney park tickets... Check!

Eating in non-Disney restaurants... Check!

Allocating souvenir money to HP... Check!

[Giggy]

My guess is no, it isn't a zero sum game between Disney and Universal, in the short term it may even draw more people to Orlando to see what it's all about, these people will most likely want to give Disney a try. They both draw crowds into the area who largely visit both, why else would Disney, Universal, Sea World, etc all set up base next to each other rather than each claim different cities/states.

Some people may extend their stays to fit in both, a few may shorten their stay at Disney by a couple of days but bear in mind the extra days on long passes work out at less than $10. This may add up over a lot of people but it's not going to pose any real threat and cost Disney a fortune. Universal are hardly likely to displace WDW as the main place to be in Orlando over a new theming as WDW is a much bigger and more complete vacation prospect. Overall I doubt it would cause Disney any real harm, if anything it may even have a (slight) positive effect.

Our plans for this year are as they would have been anyway, 14 days at Orlando with a Disney pass to cover the duration of that. We expect to spend 2-3 days at Universal during that time as we always do.

[bruin1344]

Some good competition benefits everyone. Believe me, WDW is not hurting.

I agree.

[ParkMan]

A combination of things will occur:
- an increase in people visiting Orlando to see the ride. Spill over from this should benefit WDW
- a small percentage will shave a day or two off their trip to see HP.

Overall, I say there is a 3% decline in attendance at WDW this year over what it could be without HP.

[WelshieLover]

I think it will cost WDW something not too much but something. Most people do 1 week vacations, so they will probably split their stays or take a day or 2 and go to Universal. WDW loses the money that would have been spent in their parks on food and souvenirs...

I know that is how my family would do it. We almost did it on our last visit, but didn’t because we did not have enough desire to head to Universal. Harry Potter would have been the thing to send us there. Also we make have done a totally opposite trip, stayed off property, spent time at Universal, Sea World and maybe just a day at WDW.

[Victor Kelly]

Just like in years past, Disney is not our end all be all of our vacation. We go to Universal (3 days), Seaworld (1 day), Disney (5 days). Last trip we added a day at Universal and pulled a day from Disney.

For our honeymoon, we will be going to Disney 3 days maybe 4 and Universal for 2.

[Mousemates]

Originally Posted by DVC2004 Some good competition benefits everyone.

When I read the question this was my thought too...I would love for Harry Potter to siphon a few folks away from WDW and kind of up the ante again in terms of competing for guests and their dollars...that kind of competition provides WDW with the best possible motivation (lost dollars) to improve their own theme parks...the simple truth appears to be that without serious competition there remains little reason to fork out the big money in terms of capital outlays required for new major attractions.

[Stu29573]

Harry who?

[PirateLover]

It will cut in a little bit. I am a case in point. My fiancee and I have gone to Disney 5 times now together since we've been dating. Every time we say "We should go to Universal!" But we never do it. Harry Potter was our impetus to finally get there. So, on our Honeymoon, instead of staying 6 or 7 nights on Disney property and at Disney Parks, we are only spending 4 nights and then moving on to Universal. I don't think it's going to devastate Disney but I do think it will have a mild effect.