[darthstich]

The more and more i hear about the new Harry Potter section coming to Universal the more it has me wondering, what the heck is Disney doing about it? The thoughts of a whole Harry Potter land has gotten me thinking of skipping work at the Studios for a day at Universal to check it out, which is saying a lot for a Disneyphile/Cat Member such as myself. But Disney doesn't really seem to have anything coming out to coincide with the release, which will just be a huge punch in the gut for Disney's profits. Harry Potter is one of the most popular book and movie series of this generation, and Disney has let it slip through there fingers. We need to come up with something huge to fight back or it could really hurt us, since Harry has huge appeal not only in the States but around the world. Is there something that i'm not aware of that Disney is working on, or what should they be doing to prepare for this?

[YoPaulie]

IMO, this is more like Universal's response to Disney. As for what Disney is working on... there ARE those leaked Fantasyland blueprints...

[QuickGold]

As I've said before, Disney is lightyears ahead of Universal these days and Harry potter is something Universal is doing to try to catch up. Disney does not need to respond in a "blow for blow" kind of situation.

[TheInfrequentVisitor]

I don't think it will be a blow to Disney. Universal is still in Triple-A.

[MJMcBride]

I agree with some of the others here. Universal hasn't proven they can effect Disney attendance at all. Maybe if Potter has some effect on Disney attendance Disney will respond but the fact is when IOA opened it did not dent Disney

[chopsva]

As a sign of maybe just how little Disney sees Potter as a concern, the latest Insider I received yesterday had a link to "Which Harry Potter charactor is your child like?" Go figure.

[YoPaulie]

Even better, LOL... they were advertising for The Wizards of Waverly Place in an email with this headline: "See magic without a wand"

[MJMcBride]

the best way for Disney to fight the Potter to stuff is, sad to say, extend Free Dining. That brings in more people then a new E-Ticket

[acp]

Personally, I don't think Disney needs to do anything about it. Disney has nothing to prove by doing so, and nothing to gain. Universal's always been playing catch-up to Disney and I really don't think that their Harry Potter land will change anything.

After all, I think a lot of people who visit Walt Disney World schedule in a couple of days to go to Universal/SeaWorld/Busch and vice versa, and they'll continue to do that. Adding an extra land to Universal won't make them instantly want to spend more time there than at Disney.

Andy.

[Studio Kid]

i think the fantasyland blueprint leaks are hiding something bigger that disney is planning ... I hope

[MJMcBride]

Like smaller price increases

[The Dark Lord of the Sith]

YoPaulie, on Aug 26 2009, 08:52 PM, said:

Even better, LOL... they were advertising for The Wizards of Waverly Place in an email with this headline: "See magic without a wand"

Ugh, Wizards of Waverly Place is a terrible reminder to me about how badly Disney would have liked to have gotten the rights to Potter. It is just painful to watch at times considering their desire to have it. Then to kind of screw with everything a little more, they do have the TV rights to the movies.

I don't see it as a threat to Disney, but it is certainly a Wizarding mess when you think about what they would have preferred to have done.