Designing Islands of Adventure

[JungleSkip]

^^^Attendance isn't the most important number, in all honesty.

As a friend put it:

There are far more factors to consider:
Per guest spending (big concern for Disney)
Off-site attendance
Return on investment

Uni is giving Disney a run for their money in all those areas, and winning in per guest spending.
True, Disney is able to maintain a 70-80% occupancy rate, but what scares them is the number of those guests who are taking one or more days to visit other properties. That number is higher than ever before.

Also, more guests are making Uni a priority during their Orlando stay. Disney isn't the "hot" property in town right now. And likely won't be until they find a way to top what Uni has done with HP.

All of this concerns the Disney "powers that be" more more than a little. Like it or not.

 

[Cecilia]

No, I know what you mean, and I've seen this meme before, but it's true. Though attendance is high, Uni is still giving Disney a run for their money. Uni really was more of an underdog before, and now they are slowly gaining attention. That can't be denied.

--EDIT---

Yeah, what Jungleskip just said.

 

[UNIrd]

My theory is similar, but instead it was Universal's extensive and chronic use of contract work that got them the contract. Universal was open to working with WB movie division, Disney was not.

And supposedly Toy Story Mania but with wands is essentially what Disney presented as their idea for a Harry Potter attraction.

 

[jtsalien]

I don't believe in the whole response to Potter idea simply because if they wanted to respond, they wouldn't wait til 2016 (Or if you're right JungeSkip, put their money on something that might fall through). But if you're gonna say Disney doesn't like Universal being the "hot" property right now, I can agree with that.

But IMHO, Disney won't be in trouble until Universal starts to add onto the resort. The mini golf is a blip on the radar, but when Universal adds a third hotel and the rumored water park, that's when Disney will be in the most trouble. But right now there are only so many people Universal can hold on property and keep them there. Disney will always have more restaurants, shops, and hotels. Until Universal gains more ground in that area, they can only catch up so much.

 

[violarum]

Quick comment. I noticed people were saying that the concept of combining LC with Potter looked laughably poor, but that is in comparison with the authentic nature of what you see today.

Think before there was any sort of rumor of Harry Potter coming to Universal. The concepts any creative teams would have come up with wouldn't have been to the caliber of the series' sets -- at least not initially. The Lion King was represented in Animal Kingdom as a show, as were The Little Mermaid and Beauty and The Beast in their respective parks. Spiderman, Hulk, The Mummy, The Simpsons: all one attraction deals. Jurassic Park has been the only single-story franchise converted into a full and complete theme park section. So when approached with the ideas, Universal probably thought of simple ways of meshing LC with Potter's storyline. Hardly anything to be frowned upon with such a history in themed attraction design.

 

[BJCool]

^^^Attendance isn't the most important number, in all honesty.

As a friend put it:

There are far more factors to consider:
Per guest spending (big concern for Disney)

Uni is giving Disney a run for their money in all those areas, and winning in per guest spending.

The Orlando Sentinel published this article earlier today:

Visitors keep spending in Universal theme parks​

Travelers aren't yet showing any signs of chocolate-frog fatigue.

Comcast Corp. said Wednesday that sales at NBCUniversal theme parks rose 4 percent during the final three months of 2011, propelled by higher per-guest spending at Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood.

Combined revenue at NBUniversal's theme-parks business, which includes licensing fees from overseas parks in Japan and Singapore, totaled $498 million for the quarter, up from $478 million during the same period a year ago.

That capped a year in which theme-park revenue surged 24 percent to $2 billion.

As they have for a year-and-a-half now, Comcast and NBCUniversal executives credited the growth to the continued popularity of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando and a King Kong attraction in California, both of which opened in mid-2010.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

^Do you just mean that Disney's Imagineers would have been unwilling to work with production designer Stuart Craig and art director Alan Gilmore?

Yeah, that and generally wanting to control the main design and concepts. While I know Disney goes outside the company often for mechanical (AAs) or design components (Test Track post show), frI'm what I've gathered they probably didn't want so much dictation power from the outside. It'd be like Fox having power over the Star Tours art direction.

Anyway, let's get this back in topic and not more WDW vs UOR BS. ^_^

 

[rhino4evr]

The best thing Uni did with HP was the merchandising. Disney merchandising can be found all over the world. However Potter merch isnt nearly as easy to come by. Having multiple (themed) stores with tons of exclusive merchandise, was a brilliany move.

Not allowing Coke products, which really just further increases sales of Butter beer and pumpkin juice, was another huge and risky move that really paid off.

Theme parks make a lot on attendance, but attendance rarely increases sharply. The real money is in merch, food, and beverage in the park. If people are waiting in line to get into your store and buy something, you have a pretty amazing product line.

Im sure you all know this, so sorry for stating the obvious.

 

[soyouthinkyouknow]

I'd put my money on this being the reason. Both this proposal from Universal and whatever Disney put on the table obviously wasn't what WB and JKR wanted. I'd bet Universal put their ego aside and went back to the drawing board when Disney wouldn't.

Disney would not keep Mickey aside. They wanted a Harry Potter Mickey, etc and JK wouldn't stand of it. She wanted her product to stay pure, as you suggested.

--- Update ---

It would have been great to see the Oak stay...otherwise this is a total flop..glad Uni did their homework and came back with something better

3 Broomsticks was actually designed by Universal and Warner Brothers for the movie. While JK and S. Craig had images in their mind how it would look, the design of 3 Broomsticks was created for WWoHP first then released for the movie. With the popularity and magisty of Enchanted Oak, the fesibility of using it as 3Broom was good at first. It was part of the plan for a good amount of time. WB liked the building. In the end, it was ruled out based on the familiarity of EO to the UO guests and the 3Brooms of today was born. Sad. I miss sitting in there.

 

[BJCool]

Teebin brought this blog to my attention in another thread. The website Theme Park Canuck has a few incredibly interesting articles chronicling the making of IOA, with five blog posts so far that break down the planning that went into the park:

The making of Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando

The Making of IOA: Secrets of the Signage

The Making of IOA: Toon Lagoon

The Making of IOA: The Lost Continent

The Making of IOA: Marvel Super Hero Island


Some of the models have been seen on OU before, but many construction photos and models are intriguing, for example:

 

[kingeric]

Mythos is an incredible structure. Truly is. It is sad that most people who visit IOA have no idea what it looks like on the inside, or the wonderful views of the lagoon it has.

Simply a stunning structure.

 

[JungleSkip]

That article about Toon Lagoon gives me a new perspective on the place.

 

[Teebin]

I don't believe I have ever brought this up to friends or on a forum, but I have always (since 1999) felt that IOA and more specifically POE and LC were totally inspired by the 90's video game called MYST. The architecture of the game was both classical and near east. It is set on an island with bizarre contraptions that resemble modern day things but are more Jules Verne in design. MYST was first launched in 1991 and triumphed throughout the 90's but was at its peak in the early to mid 90's.

Most of you on this site have never seen the artwork of the game and do not know the atmospherics of sound that were part of it... but it screams BUILD THIS WORLD! I have never seen an article where any of the design team talked about MYST, but it was the bomb of computer game culture at the time the park was being conceived.

Anyone here feel the similarities from your days in the island of MYST to POE?

 

[Jymmymack]

Most definitely Teebin. I grew up on MYST and it's sequels and Port of Entry is certainly a less creepy, fantastical version of the island.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

FYI, the IoA episode of 'Disney Dish w/ Jim Hill' is out now.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-8-universal-studios/id452620851?i=112927396

 

[JungleSkip]

Oh man I can only imagine what he has to say. Will have to listen tomorrow at work.

 

[ReelJustice]

FYI, the IoA episode of 'Disney Dish w/ Jim Hill' is out now.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-8-universal-studios/id452620851?i=112927396

Oh man I can only imagine what he has to say. Will have to listen tomorrow at work.

Sure to be entertaining. Facts be damned!

 

[badlactose]

Just listened to the podcast. The bit about Universal's initial plans for a Great Hall restaurant have me very intrigued. The whole 'magically appearing' food thing would be really awesome. I hope they find a way to do this.

 

[Don Pacho]

Designing
Islands of Adventure

Back in the early 90's, a small team of industry leaders was assembled to conceptualize "PROJECT X"- the code for what ultimately became Universal's ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE. During this effort, Gary Goddard and team created BATWING- a BATMAN vs. THE PENGUIN-themed suspended dueling coaster (as B&M had not yet introduced their inverted coaster) that eventually evolved into DUELING DRAGONS once "Marvel Superhero Island" took the place of the planned DC themed area.



Source: www.facebook.com


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[slappybob]

Wow that Penguin and Batman ride looks amazing!!!