Disney Riding the Wave of Nostalgia

Escape from Gringotts is the newest, latest, and greatest from the daring men and women at Universal Creative. What a job they have done, instantly giving Walt Disney Imagineering a run for their money.

Yes, their money. Up until the opening of Harry Potter and his Forbidden Journey in 2010, Disney seemed to own Central Florida without a strong competitor in sight. Everyone else's park was the add on, not the must-see. Now, while Disney rides on nostalgia and magic wrist bands, Universal keeps pounding ahead, making their two parks the ones everyone must visit.

Do I love Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom? Absolutely. Is Expedition: Everest my must do when I visit Animal Kingdom? Yep. Are these enough to stop me from now taking two days out of my trip to see Universal Studios for the first time and Islands of Adventure once again? Nope. Lost revenue from shopping, dining, and now two nights at at Universal Resort hotel.

C'mon, Disney, I'm rooting for you. Universal's upped the game. Show up- or your guests wanting something new and exciting will not. One day at a time.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

The New King of Theme Parks: A Boy Wizard

Diagon Alley. The name should be striking fear into the heart of Robert Iger and every Walt Disney Company executive. Especially those with a focus on the theme parks and Imagineering. As the video leaks out of the new expansion at Universal Studios Florida and its attraction/connection to Hogsmeade and Forbidden Journey at Islands of Adventure, their worst fears are being realized: theme park fans will now be taking two days out of their Florida vacation to see what Harry Potter has up his sleeve. 

Universal Creative has out-Disneyed Disney. When folks usually have to settle for YouTube films followed by comments of "These don't do it justice", you know the end result in real life should be better. But when the YouTube videos show park expansion that looks absolutely amazing even with poor photography, what is created is a drawing card that only matches television advertising and word of mouth. And the word on the street is that Disney has been surpassed. It's time to crown a new creative king. 

The opening day crowds for Escape from Gringotts are only a taste of things to come. The financial loss of one day is hard enough for the Disney suits and accountants. Yet, if most visitors are like me, they will now lob off two days on their next trip. I know I will. 

Add unique dining and shopping- with items exclusive to the park, and it's a sure fire hit. One that won't be satisfied by a half day visit. Unfortunately, something I still do at Disney's Animal Kingdom. And soon Disney Hollywood Studios.

I am not even a Harry Potter fan in the slightest. I've read none of the books and seen only one movie. However, when something this incredible has been created and the boundaries are pushed, I've got to go. See you there...

(Images copyright Universal Studios Florida.)

The Problem with the Magic Kingdom

Just posted from Orlando Theme Park News is the 2014 Magic Kingdom Map- the map that will be handed out to guests starting today. Something is off- and I bet if you think long and hard about it, you can guess exactly what just isn't right. Look closely, then proceed.

Ok, have you figured it out? That's ok, neither have the suits at the Walt Disney Company, although I can bet the very talented folks at Imagineering know exactly what's wrong.

Fantasyland is lop-sided. That's right. There's a whole bunch of room just to the left and north of It's a Small World. They could, if they really wanted, built an elaborate and appropriate home for the new Frozen attraction in this space. Sure, New Fantasyland looks terrific, and the Seven Dwarf's Mine Train coaster looks to be a bit of fun for the elementary school aged set and their grandparents. But there should be more. Especially for Frozen, a worldwide smash.

Disney's got the bucks. Yet it seems as if they think small and cheap with a Maelstrom revamp at Epcot's Norway showcase, while their neighbors next door are building blockbuster attractions like Harry Potter's Forbidden Journey and the new Diagon Alley. Would it necessitate moving backstage spaces and getting creative? Yes. Can it be done? Absolutely. Will it be done? Probably only in Tokyo Disneyland, where Frozen is already a smash.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)