The boy wizard from the mind of J.K. Rowling just gave Universal Orlando it’s best year since 2004. Not only that, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is fattening the long-slimmed wallets of Orlando’s hotels. Particularly those near Universal. Wizarding World’s success has spilled beyond… Read More »Harry Potter pulls Universal Studios, Hotels out of Recession
Tonight was the big event to kick off the “Let The Memories Begin” campaign. Disney Parks made some big news with some confirmation of Fantasyland rumors I talked about earlier and launch dates for Star Tours. I’m guessing the timeline on those earlier rumors have… Read More »Big Fantasyland Expansion, Star Tours News
Apparently all that lobbying money and fundraiser donations to political candidates isn’t doing much to help Walt Disney World. The US Embassy denied a travel visa to a 9-year old boy in Britain whose grand parents wanted to take him on a surprise trip to… Read More »US policies denying 9-year old Britons from visiting Disney World
Just a quick update on some rumors swirling around the fire that took place at the Enchanted Tiki Room earlier this week. The original word from Disney was that it was just a small attic fire with only some minor damaged caused by water from… Read More »Update on Tiki Room Fire
A few years ago I was lucky enough to be invited to a special backstage tour of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Animal Care Program. It really was an eye-opening amazing experience. I remember nearly every detail of it and it informs my love of the park… Read More »Interesting story on Disney’s quest to save a baby Gorilla
Editor: Please welcome back guest author Shelley Caran who was gracious enough to step in and cover the media event for the Wild Africa Trek at Disney’s Animal Kingdom that was held earlier today.
As I was walking up to the check-in desk for the ‘Wild Africa Trek’ at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, I realized that I had no clue what I was in for!
This three-hour immersive experience challenges you to use all of your senses as you follow your expert guides through the forest, over the jungle, near the edge of a cliff, and in the peaceful savannah.
After you are geared up and observed going over the “kid’s rope bridge” in Harambe, it quickly sets in that this will not to be your typical Disney experience. On the Trek, there is no themed pavement. There are branches, stumps, and loose footings. Nature isn’t created, it is celebrated.
Our introduction into the Trek was a brief visit to the Pangani Forest where we were introduced to the Gorillas and took our first steps off the beaten path.
Leaving the last step of the ladder, we started our walk to a unique view of the hippos. Our on gear was a six foot line that could be attached to a rail, which allowed us to get up the edge of the pools for a viewing of the hippos as they were fed by a researcher.
Read More »Wild Africa Trek arrives at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Local news is reporting a fire at the Magic Kingdom in the complex that houses the Tiki Room. The fire was in the attic of the building and was extinguished by sprinkler system. Nearby attractions in restaurants have been evacuated, No injuries have been reported.… Read More »Fire Reported at Magic Kingdom Tiki Room
Apparently the New York Times quoted my article published November 28th, 2010 where I was reacting to the news that while Universal Orlando was having a banner year, Walt Disney World actually decreased in attendance. Here’s the full context:
The first was an Orlando Sentinel story on the flat attendance at Walt Disney World. I have to think that given the poor state of the economy, Disney would have been happy to have not lost any ground. But the reality is Disney did lose ground to Universal Orlando (despite their attempts at hiding the figures). Harry Potter is drawing guests away from the mouse house and Disney still has no answer lined up. That’s very troubling.
I then went on to talk about how Osceola County can capitalize on increase in attention that’s coming Central Florida’s way with LEGOLAND Florida and the Orlando Thrill park.
Like Disney states in the NY Times article, I believe that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a net gain for Orlando tourism business. Unlike Disney World officials, I do believe that there is a high risk of guests shifting their attendance to Universal away from Disney resulting in a net-loss for Disney. Universal is already siphoning off the teens and twenty somethings and LEGOLAND Florida threatens to do the same for the 6 to 10 year old set.
Look at all the Hogwarts scarfs and t-shirts you see next time you’re at WDW. Those guests all visited Universal before coming to Disney. The money they spent there on broomsticks and Butterbeer will not be spent on mouse ears and popcorn. That doesn’t include the guests who are spending a day or two at Disney and then visiting Universal. I can’t understand why Disney doesn’t appear to be worried.
Read More »Does Disney World have an answer for Universal Orlando?