It's official - It's Harry Potter

[WebmasterPete]

ORLANDO, Fla (May 31, 2007) - Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and Universal Orlando Resort are partnering to create the world’s first fully immersive Harry Potter themed environment based on the bestselling books by J.K. Rowling and blockbuster feature films from Warner Bros. Envisioned as a “theme park within a theme park” and titled “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” the new environment will become part of the experience within Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park at the Universal Orlando Resort.

“Over the years we’ve received thousands of letters from fans around the world wishing they could visit Hogwarts and the wonderful locations described in each of J.K. Rowling’s beloved stories,” said Barry Meyer, chairman and CEO, Warner Bros. Entertainment. “Working with Universal Orlando Resort, we are confident that we’ll be able to provide Harry Potter fans with an incredible experience that upholds the richness of J.K. Rowling’s books and delivers on the authentic detail portrayed in our films.”
“We will rely on our company’s rich movie heritage and expertise in transforming film concepts into theme park entertainment experiences,” said Ron Meyer, president and COO, Universal Studios. “The Harry Potter stories are among the most compelling of our time. The millions of people who have read the books and seen the movies will now be able to experience the world of Harry Potter in person.”

Inspired by J.K. Rowling’s compelling stories and characters – and faithful to the visual landscapes of the films – “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” will provide a one-of-a-kind opportunity to experience the magical world of Harry and his friends. The fully immersive, themed land will enable guests to visit some of the most iconic locations found in the books and the films including the village of Hogsmeade, the mysterious Forbidden Forest, and even Hogwarts castle itself. "The plans I've seen look incredibly exciting, and I don't think fans of the books or films will be disappointed," said J.K. Rowling.

“We have a profound sense of responsibility for the Harry Potter franchise at Warner Bros. Bringing the magic of J.K. Rowling’s written word to the motion picture screen was the first step in expanding this amazing and imaginative world. Working with Universal Orlando Resort to bring it to life in a physical environment that you can walk through, relax in and ride on is the natural next step for fans to experience and enjoy,” said Alan Horn, president and COO, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Expected to open in late 2009, the new environment will feature immersive rides and interactive attractions, as well as experiential shops and restaurants that will enable guests to sample fare from the wizarding world’s best known establishments. Also debuting will be a state-of-the-art attraction that will bring the magic, characters and stories of Harry Potter to life in an exciting way that guests have never before experienced.
“We are going to devote more time, more money, more expertise and more executive talent from throughout our entire organization and creative team – as well as from Warner Bros., our partners – to ensure that
this entire environment is second-to-none,” said Tom Williams, chairman and CEO, Universal Parks and Resorts.

Brad Globe, president of Warner Bros. Worldwide Consumer Products, added: “In Universal, we found the right partner whose unparalleled commitment will ensure that this is a world class destination. Their track record of success and the consistently high level of entertainment at all of their parks gave us the confidence to know that they will meet—or exceed— the extremely high expectations we all have for this project.”
The Academy Award-winning production designer Stuart Craig, who has worked to bring the world of Harry Potter to life in all of the feature films to date, leads the creative design for the area to ensure it remains faithful to the look and feel of the films.

“Our primary goal is to make sure this experience is an authentic extension of Harry Potter’s world as it is portrayed in the books and films,” said Craig. “I am very excited to be working closely with the Universal Orlando team to bring the area to life.”

The Universal Orlando resort destination (www.universalorlando.com) includes two dramatically distinct and adjacent theme parks, the Universal Studios motion picture and television theme park and Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Orlando's most thrilling and exhilarating theme park. Universal Orlando also includes CityWalk, a 30-acre dining, shopping, club and live-entertainment venue as well as premier on-site Loews hotels and world-class film and television production facilities.

Harry Potter continues to be a global phenomenon. The series of books by author J.K. Rowling has been translated into 65 languages with more than 325 million copies sold in over 200 territories around the world. The films, produced by Warner Bros. Pictures, have grossed more than $3.5 billion at the box office worldwide. Each of the four Harry Potter films produced to date has the distinction of making it into the all time top 20 grossing films worldwide. The fifth film in the series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix™, will be released in theatres on July 11, 2007.

 

[scarlett873]

Guess I'll be planning a visit to Universal in 2009!!

 

[DiRTyBuNNy]

Hey Chief...the Universal forum beat you to the punch! :

--Mr. DB

 

[snowbunny]

That is a huge, huge coup for Universal. I can't say I'm surprised but it's unfortunate that they have scooped Disney yet again. Let's see, Bear in the Big Blue House or Harry Potter...?

 

[cocowum]

That's Awesome, Awesome news!!!! to quote scarlett873

Guess I'll be planning a visit to Universal in 2009!!

After my Disney trip




I wonder if the Hogwarts Hotel will be open...

 

[Disney8704]

OK never been to Universal but now I know where DH and I will be in 2009, besides Disney of course. Disney needs to step up to the plate and do something huge like this. What I dont get is why is Universal Studios doing this. You would think it would be at a 6 Flags park since 6 flags is a WB park. Another thing is Disney probably could have done this to since they do show the movies sometimes on the Disney Channel. If Disney doesnt start stepping up to plate they might start loosing guests to the other parks in Orlando. I mean think about Disney is getting really expensive. I figured out that DH and I could stay at some hotel in Orlando, do both Universal Studios PLUS sea world for a week including food and gas and it still comes out cheaper then Disney or comes out even by staying at an All Star doing the DDP with park hopper tickets.

 

[Disney8704]

That would be so cool! Have it built by the park and have it set up like a mini hogwarts or something. I would be one of the first signing up to stay there.

That's Awesome, Awesome news!!!! to quote scarlett873





I wonder if the Hogwarts Hotel will be open...

 

[wilde_oscar]

That is a huge, huge coup for Universal. I can't say I'm surprised but it's unfortunate that they have scooped Disney yet again. Let's see, Bear in the Big Blue House or Harry Potter...?

It might seem like Disney got scooped, however...

JK was so controling about park details and had some pretty unrealistic views about how the park should operate. Disney just let the negotiations die on the vine.

 

[sconnell]

Wow, Unversal is really making my head turn that way these days...

 

[snowbunny]

JK was so controling about park details and had some pretty unrealistic views about how the park should operate. Disney just let the negotiations die on the vine.

I'm sure the investment Universal will be making is massive, however, they are going to get it back in spades. Simply, Universal will become a MUST instead of a "maybe" for many, many people. Perhaps Disney execs figure it will result in a net gain in Orlando visitors, better for everyone, but that's a very big gamble.

 

[4eyedbuzzard]

Well, I guess Laura Mallory won't be going to Universal anytime soon then.

 

[DiRTyBuNNy]

Well, I guess Laura Mallory won't be going to Universal anytime soon then.

or a large portion of the "Bible Belt"...

--Mr. DB

 

[Friendly Frog]

I can't wait! The ride/attraction possibilities are endless. I love Disney but IMO they have lost the high tec edge when it comes to attractions. The real key here is how much is Universal going to invest in this plan? A cheap overlay will not work, but I suspect with Rowlings in the mix, that was NOT an option.

 

[4eyedbuzzard]

or a large portion of the "Bible Belt"...

--Mr. DB

That's okay, they can still have a fantasy theme park experience of their very own at Dinosaur Adventure Land or the Creation Museum

 

[mindyd2006]

My daughter will be so excited she loves harry potter!

 

[Tinkerbelle's Mom]

Oh I am sad that DIsney is not involved because I think they would have done an excellent job but --- I will be going once it opens!! DD will be 8 in 2009 - a perfect age for that kind of thing (depending on the type of attractions)!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

we love HP so this is very cool
DS8 is gonna be excited

 

[Disney8704]

I just told my DH and he's very excited about it! We could probably easily kill a whole day in Harry Potters world. We are HUGE HP fans. We have the books, the movies and we are even getting the game next month for the Wii. I personally think this will hurt Disney World. There are TONS of people who love Disney, but theres TONS of people who love HP. When they wanna go on a vacation, they will have 3 opitions. To do both Universal and Disney, just do Universal or just do Disney. My thought people have gone to Disney for years and years and when the HP world opens in 2009/2010, people are gonna go to Universal instead because its new and something VERY exciting. Sure Disney might open a new place to eat or a new ride, but we are talking about a whole new section, something people have been waiting for years to explore. Also not to mention, it is cheaper to do Universal then Disney. Disney and Universal have been competitors for a very long time now and this is just gonna do it for Universal. Disney might have been winning for the past few years now, but once HP comes to universal, the tables are gonna turn, unless Disney stops dragging their feet and bring something that just as big or bigger then HP world in 2010 and that in my opinon will be hard to beat.

 

[bellelab]

This is so exciting !!!!

 

[4eyedbuzzard]

My thought people have gone to Disney for years and years and when the HP world opens in 2009/2010, people are gonna go to Universal instead because its new and something VERY exciting. Sure Disney might open a new place to eat or a new ride, but we are talking about a whole new section, something people have been waiting for years to explore. Also not to mention, it is cheaper to do Universal then Disney. Disney and Universal have been competitors for a very long time now and this is just gonna do it for Universal. Disney might have been winning for the past few years now, but once HP comes to universal, the tables are gonna turn, unless Disney stops dragging their feet and bring something that just as big or bigger then HP world in 2010 and that in my opinon will be hard to beat.

I think you will see a major answer to this later this year. Gates and Al-Waleed aren't throwing the Four Season's money at WDW just because of currrent theme parks. WDW has the money, land, and experience to answer and answer big. And I'm also going to bet that HP doesn't come at current US prices.