Universal Orlando officially announces Harry Potter expansion

[DOOM1001]

I'm not even a big Harry Potter fan and I'm more excited about this expansion than probably any other new theme park attraction,ever!!The attractions,theme, dining and how will the Hogwarts express train work running between the parks makes this a historic addition.

 

[EMom]

WHEN in 2014 do you think it will be ready? I missed Despicable Me by 2 days last year and don't want to repeat that.

 

[damo]

WHEN in 2014 do you think it will be ready? I missed Despicable Me by 2 days last year and don't want to repeat that.

You'd think they would try to get it open before the big summer crowds, but I don't think we'll know for a bit yet.

 

[moose615]

WHEN in 2014 do you think it will be ready? I missed Despicable Me by 2 days last year and don't want to repeat that.

Of course this is a total guess, original WWoHP opened June 2010, Despicable Me Minions Mayhem July 2012 and Transformers June 2013 so my guess would be in the June/ July time frame

 

[Metro West]

Of course this is a total guess, original WWoHP opened June 2010, Despicable Me Minions Mayhem July 2012 and Transformers June 2013 so my guess would be in the June/ July time frame

That's what I'm thinking too. It will definitely steal Disney's thunder when they open the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train coaster in fall of 2014.

 

[chudson98]

So excited that it's official. We are scheduled for a trip in January, 2014 and now have to schedule another one the following year!!!!

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

That's what I'm thinking too. It will definitely steal Disney's thunder when they open the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train coaster in fall of 2014.

... whatever happened to Avatarland

 

[glocon]

From the helicopter news footage, it looks like the new Diagon Alley area will be bigger than Hogsmeade....

What do you think?

 

[derekburgan]

Was shocked to hear that WWOHP 2.0 would be ready in 2014 until Universal started taking reservations for Cabana Bay Beach Resort for next march. The only reason to fast track that hotel so fast is because something huge would be coming and they would need room.

 

[DOOM1001]

From the helicopter news footage, it looks like the new Diagon Alley area will be bigger than Hogsmeade....

What do you think?

It sure looks like it and I would hope so,the shops in Hogsmeade are just way too small.I remember riding the Flying Unicorn (Flight of the Hippogriff) when Potter phase 1 was starting construction and just looking at the area it was supposed to be built in and wondering where they will put everything that was rumored to be built,castle and all.That's not a very big area but they did the best job they could in making it seem bigger than it is,the former Jaws area appears to be a good amount bigger.

 

[TIGGERGUY]

WHEN in 2014 do you think it will be ready? I missed Despicable Me by 2 days last year and don't want to repeat that.

Steve Niles over at Theme Park Insider reports that inside sources say Universal is aiming for a July 2014 opening. If they keep working on it around the clock I can see them making that date.

 

[bumbershoot]

That's what I'm thinking too. It will definitely steal Disney's thunder when they open the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train coaster in fall of 2014.

I do like WDW, but bwa ha ha ha ha.....

It sure looks like it and I would hope so,the shops in Hogsmeade are just way too small.

Oh they are so small. I get what JK was doing/asking for, but she just wasn't thinking. Just like her "no soda" thing, when the ingredients in butterbeer aren't HEALTH food or anything (when I first went, the TMs had the ingredients on a laminated sheet under something on their stands, and the TM I asked showed it to me...I scanned it to make sure none of DS's sensitivities were on there, but man do I wish I'd taken a picture instead!). Or looking at the ingredients in most of the candies in the candy shop, it's the same ingredients as are in soda! Silly silly.

Someone should have used commonsense. It's lovely that she believes in a world of slim people, but that's not even totally true in England, let alone in America. If Hagrid (the character) tried to go into those shops he wouldn't be able to get through the door.

Plus, in the *magical* world, it would look small from the outside, but expand! So it would be bigger on the inside than what you thought...


Anyway, yes, I hope for shops that allow for normal people to move around without smooshing up against strangers.

 

[Bluer101]

I'm going to be booking next summers trip soon. Can't wait for this historical moment.

 

[Metro West]

Anyway, yes, I hope for shops that allow for normal people to move around without smooshing up against strangers.

I hope JKR learned her lesson from what people were saying about the space of WWoHP.

 

[RMulieri]

I just suckered the husband into another trip late next year.So we are going this summer and then December next year !

 

[damo]

I do like WDW, but bwa ha ha ha ha.....



Oh they are so small. I get what JK was doing/asking for, but she just wasn't thinking. Just like her "no soda" thing, when the ingredients in butterbeer aren't HEALTH food or anything (when I first went, the TMs had the ingredients on a laminated sheet under something on their stands, and the TM I asked showed it to me...I scanned it to make sure none of DS's sensitivities were on there, but man do I wish I'd taken a picture instead!). Or looking at the ingredients in most of the candies in the candy shop, it's the same ingredients as are in soda! Silly silly.

Someone should have used commonsense. It's lovely that she believes in a world of slim people, but that's not even totally true in England, let alone in America. If Hagrid (the character) tried to go into those shops he wouldn't be able to get through the door.

Plus, in the *magical* world, it would look small from the outside, but expand! So it would be bigger on the inside than what you thought...


Anyway, yes, I hope for shops that allow for normal people to move around without smooshing up against strangers.

In the latest overhead photos, the new Diagon Alley looks very tight, just light the real Diagon Alley. I'm not sure what the store sizes are going to be like but the alley itself is quite small.

I don't think any food or drink in the WWoHP was done for health reasons. JKR just wanted the food and drinks to stay similar to what would have been available in Hogsmeade and in her mind, that didn't include modern sodas.

An excellent, recent overhead video from CF News 13:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Jfk6LAwpfe0

 

[anniebean]

Anyone know when we can start booking packages for next June?

I'm hoping by September/October.

 

[RMulieri]

In the latest overhead photos, the new Diagon Alley looks very tight, just light the real Diagon Alley. I'm not sure what the store sizes are going to be like but the alley itself is quite small.

I don't think any food or drink in the WWoHP was done for health reasons. JKR just wanted the food and drinks to stay similar to what would have been available in Hogsmeade and in her mind, that didn't include modern sodas.

An excellent, recent overhead video from CF News 13:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Jfk6LAwpfe0

Actually her only diet stipulations was that there was to be NO high Fructose Corn Syrup used

 

[damo]

Actually her only diet stipulations was that there was to be NO high Fructose Corn Syrup used

But just for the making of butterbeer, right? I don't think she nixed on the coke products because of the high fructose corn syrup but more because they weren't canon with her story.

 

[housemouse]

Nice. This seals the deal on the annual passes I was kind of waffling about for this fall's trip. Definitely will be bought, and definitely will be used again next year. This sounds like an amazing new addition!!