Harry Potter Land Announcement Today - Webcast over!

[scottishgirl87]

Haven't seen this mentioned so thought I would....

For those of you waiting for this to open, Universal are expected to release a Press Release about it today

I expect it'll be on this page sometime after the announcement is made. Not too sure what time the announcement is being made though

 

[Pegasus928]

I also read somewhere - though I cant remember where - that when the new Harry Potter film is released onto DVD it will include an 11 minute promotion for the new Harry Potter World at Universal.

 

[scottishgirl87]

Oh just had confirmation it's opening Spring 2010 here.

Webcast has begun!

 

[natalielongstaff]

thanks for the info

 

[UKDEB]

I'm excited beyond words to finally have some detail. I know I've said this many times before, but I have high hopes for WWoHP. It's the perfect subject matter for a theme park and I firmly believe Universal is up to the task of delivering a truly authentic and immersive experience.

 

[UKDEB]

Wizarding World of Harry Potter details released - video

Harry Potter actors talk about Wizarding World of Harry Potter - video

 

[sandshal]

So, having not read the books and only having caught the odd film .... the old flying unicorn ride will by the flying griffin, there will be a new ride in the castle and lots of lovely themed restaurants and shops.

Can't wait ..... another excuse to return!

 

[scarletlancer]

To be honest that video left me a bit cold. I find the whole Roller Coasters with themed ride vehicles thing a bit of a cop out. Give me a proper old fashioned dark ride any day of the week. I am sure we will visit it next time we are in Orlando as we do enjoy the Harry Potter films mind you.

 

[Nitram64]

looks great can't wait to see it.

 

[Lisa x]

Cant wait to see it....how exciting....im glad im booked already!

Oh and staying at HRH should get us FOTL, which to be fair, as far as the previous flyin unicorn goes....I loved that ride and I know Im a bit big and all that but as soon as we land in Orlando, oh yes Im a child again so wont have to queue up for as long with the little'uns! ha ha!!

 

[oceanscape]

Am I the only one who's a little disappointed?

Yes, the theming sounds great and I hope there will be wonderful attention to detail. But in terms of calling it a "theme park in a theme park" -- huh??!!!

As far as I can see there is only ONE new attraction - the major one in the castle. The coaster is just a re-themed version of Dueling Dragons and the other kiddy coaster is just a re-theme of The Flying Unicorn. Not sure how they can call it an all new park when there's just one new ride?

Or are there other things they haven't announced yet?

 

[Danauk]

I have been saying exactly the same thing for a while now oceanscape, although the theaming looks really good it seems to me to be basically a couple of re theamed existing rides, a new ride inside the castle and several shops, a restaurant and seating areas. Not exactly a theme park within a theme park. Having said that we have already decided we are going to spend a few nights at Universal before our Disney trip next Christmas. I still like duelling dragons (or whatever it will be called then.)

 

[popsynic]

Am I the only one who's a little disappointed?

Yes, the theming sounds great and I hope there will be wonderful attention to detail. But in terms of calling it a "theme park in a theme park" -- huh??!!!

As far as I can see there is only ONE new attraction - the major one in the castle. The coaster is just a re-themed version of Dueling Dragons and the other kiddy coaster is just a re-theme of The Flying Unicorn. Not sure how they can call it an all new park when there's just one new ride?

Or are there other things they haven't announced yet?

I agree with you. Before anyone moans at me, I do think this having something new is great in general, and me and the kids are looking forward to visiting at some point, but the announcement to me does make it sound a bit like - "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Shops"

Only 3 attractions mentioned (with two being refurbs of existing rides and one of those still shrouded in mystery ) is a bit dissapointing to be honest, and all in all doesn't seem as exciting as Walt Disney's big announcement this past weekend.

spring 2010 is 5 only months away and still no fixed opening date!!!

 

[MrSplashMountain #1!]

Perhaps after the Fantasyland expansion announcement, and to a lesser extent, even the buyout of Marvel, I was hoping for some really incredible and exciting news about this place as I love Harry Potter.

Sadly, this looks like a big let down.

But thats just me, and I just hope that dismal little video in no way does the place justice.

Fingers crossed...

 

[UKDEB]

Here’s the official webcast. I guess I’m not so concerned with the ride attractions as with the creation of an environment which is true to the films and provides an authentic and immersive experience. That said, Mark Woodbury does say that yesterday’s announcements are just the tip of the iceberg, so there’s reason to believe more will follow. Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey (inside Hogwarts) looks set to be the attraction to take on all-comers. Here’s a quote from Simon Veness:

The basic idea is you are entering Hogwarts itself (no surprises there!!), coming in via the Gryffindor common room and being immersed in the full school experience. They are still not saying what the ride itself will be, but we can take a pretty educated guess that it will be the fabled Kuka robot arm applied to a roving motion vehicle (like Spiderman on steroids!!), probably with 3-D and with a range of new experiences thrown in for good measure. The Kuka arm can move in a full 360-degree range and, when fixed to a moving vehicle platform, should be able to put riders through all manner of manoeuvers (although they do stress this is NOT a coaster).

They promise it will be new, dramatic and a type of experience we have not had on any other ride before, and it will include adventures with a whole range of characters and dangers from the book/film series.

It sounds as though there will be some pretty imaginative interactive features, including the Hogwart’s train, the Owlery, and Ollivander’s (the wand shop – more detail in the video).

Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) seems pretty pumped about it all and the Creative Team have promised that they intend to stay completely faithful to the film/book style and provide a fully 3-D Potter environment.

ETA: And real butter beer at the Hogsmeade Pub!

 

[UKDEB]

Here are some further quotes, some of which don't seem to have made it to the final cut of the webcast posted online.

Felton: "Taking part in something like this and being involved in the creation of it? We are over the moon. But we are all massive Universal fans anyway."

Gilmore: "It has been the most challenging thing of my life, bringing to life this great collection of ideas and concepts. It is a fantastic opportunity and it is every film-maker's dream to create a 3-D environment like this."

Felton (again): "The fact we will be able to actually go and do these things now, for real, like trying real Butterbeer, and there is no scaffolding and film props lying around, is amazing. As a fan, I am just keen to walk through it and take it all in. I can't even begin to describe how excited I am!" (We get the idea, Tom!!)

Daria: "Part of the creative vision was to keep it essential to the original books and films."

Woodbury: "The literature is so rich we didn't have to invent any storylines. We just have to transfer it faithfully into a 'real world' experience."

Daria: "We will have an entire line of retail that has been developed especially for the WWoHP that can only be found here. It has been essential in bringing some of these magical wizarding instruments to life. We will also have a special store in the Castle itself."

Woodbury: "So much attention to detail has gone into creating the dining experience alone."

And on why it is being called a 'theme park within a theme park': "This is so massive that it has all the elements and regions of a theme park in its own right."

Daria: "Hogwarts will be the iconic attraction. It is going to be the fan's dream. They will not know what to say after they get off but they will want to do it again straight away! As you enter the castle, you find all the iconic rooms like the Gryffindor Common Room, then you are swept up into a journey that really captures the creative stories and experiences from the books and films, and it is truly magical."

 

[wideeyes]

I have never really been excited about this. My DD hates Harry Potter and finds it scary and just knowing it is Harry Potter she won't go anywhere near it.

My sister was looking forward to it though shes not coming with us next year.

 

[bronny]

I'm not sure if this link has been posted as there's been a lot of HP activity but I'll post it just in case. Its the full announcement video from Universal.

http://www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/first_look_uo2.html

 

[UKDEB]

Yes, I posted it earlier today, bronny. I've merged your post with the current thread to keep things in one place.

 

[bronny]

Thanks Debbie - I must have missed it on the hunt through. It looks good, can't wait to go!