Universal Orlando officially announces Harry Potter expansion for 2014!

[Rumors Rocks]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/univers...ficially_announces_Harry_Potter_expansion.htm

Even though construction has been happening for months and rumors have been running rampant for even longer, Universal Orlando has finally officially announced an expansion to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, coming in 2014. In truth, the expansion isn't simply an instance of making the existing area in Islands of Adventure larger, but instead adding a new land in the Universal Studios park. This expansion, called Diagon Alley, will be accessible by the Hogwarts Express, a train that will carry passengers back and forth between the existing and new lands, just like in the popular book and film franchise. According to Universal's official press release, the "new area will bring to life some of the experiences and places found in and around London in the Harry Potter books and films, offering brand-new adventures for fans and theme park guests from around the world." It will also "feature shops, a restaurant and an innovative, marquee attraction based on Gringotts bank." The release doesn't offer much more information, simply saying that more details "will be released over time."

Click link for more details.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/univers...ficially_announces_Harry_Potter_expansion.htm

I'm happy to see that the Disney way is still alive!

 

[twebber55]

I'm happy to see that the Disney way is still alive!

Nicely put

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

~It all makes sense now, this is a brilliant move by Universal!!! Universal's WWOHP part 2 vs The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. WOW!!! I can't believe the entire Harry Potter Expansion will be completed in 2014!!! Good. Disney just seems to be in no hurry to build -- I think they were trying to ride out the Harry Potter success so they wouldn't have to do anything else. I hope this is a huge success for Universal.

 

[dairylives]

Doesn't look as impressive/interesting as the first phase, but looks incredible nonetheless, i look forward to this very much!

 

[mvk]

I don't think its possible for me to care any less about this than I do.

Isn't there a Universal forum on this board for this to go in?

 

[Rabid Nick]

I don't think its possible for me to care any less about this than I do.

Isn't there a Universal forum on this board for this to go in?

Then why did you click on it, and feel the need to respond at all?

 

[mvk]

Then why did you click on it, and feel the need to respond at all?

I was awaiting your approval, but since I didn't get it in time, I went ahead and posted.

Why do people who have no clue what Avatarland is going to look like or contain, yet bash the idea of it, click on that thread?

Just saying, this thread should be here - http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=30

And my interest in Harry Potter World is even less now than before, amazingly enough.

 

[twebber55]

I was awaiting your approval, but since I didn't get it in time, I went ahead and posted.

Why do people who have no clue what Avatarland is going to look like or contain, yet bash the idea of it, click on that thread?

Just saying, this thread should be here - http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=30

And my interest in Harry Potter World is even less now than before, amazingly enough.

to be honest i agree it probably should go on the uni board, not that i care

 

[dadddio]

My ignorance of all things Universal can be summed up with the fact that this thread led me to learn that Kong and Jaws were gone. That being said, there's something about this buildout that confuses me.

As I understand it, the current Harry Potter-related attractions are in IoA. They are building this new area in US, a separate theme park. Would it not make sense to build both areas in the same theme park so that guests can visit them together?

 

[Angel Ariel]

As I understand it, the current Harry Potter-related attractions are in IoA. They are building this new area in US, a separate theme park. Would it not make sense to build both areas in the same theme park so that guests can visit them together?

I can see why they are doing it...in the books hogsmeade and diagon alley are separated by a (decently long) train ride. It wouldn't make much storytelling sense to have them right next to each other in the park. Since Rowling has been pretty adamant about keeping the park as close to her vision as possible, how they're doing this isn't surprising to me.

It also makes sense financially. I'm sure IoA is more of a draw for people now, so people can see WWoHP. I know my family went there specifically for HP in March. We only bought tickets for IoA, because we were only interested in HP. Once Diagon Alley is open, it will likely encourage more people (like me and my family) to buy Universal's Park to Park tickets.

 

[dadddio]

Would you need park hoppers (or whatever) to ride the train?

 

[ChipnDale79]

Would you need park hoppers (or whatever) to ride the train?

I would think so, or maybe the train ride is free (like the monorail) and you have to use a ticket once off the train to get in the park.

I think this looks amazing, can't wait to check it out.

 

[Spacedog1975]

I'm impressed that they are putting it together so quickly.
I might have to visit Universal one of these days. I'm just not enthusiastic about doing it while they have crazy crowds @ HP.

 

[diamondpixienc]

I would think so, or maybe the train ride is free (like the monorail) and you have to use a ticket once off the train to get in the park.

I think this looks amazing, can't wait to check it out.

+1 on this already planning a 2014 Uni/IoA visit just for this expansion and the Transformers too. Now, if only the mine coaster would be available the same time we would do a Disney park day if not we may give Sea World a try too.

 

[mm1971]

I still don't get why a positive step for vacationers at US has to be a negative for Disney or vice versa. Congratulations to US for getting an new expansion done. Will we visit, maybe. We loved HP phase 1. My kids are not big thrill ride kids. If the expansion is open and my kids are still interested in HP then, we will head over and enjoy the new area and the parks. If not, maybe we'll want to hit the new Transformers. We'll always plan our Disney times because we feel the value we get for our $$ is very good. When/if the kids prefer to go somewhere else, we'll go. It is possible to like both places.

 

[Sparkly]

Looks AMAZING. Can't wait to see Diagon Alley and the Transformers ride in 2015!

 

[dadddio]

I'm impressed that they are putting it together so quickly.

According to an article that I read today, they announced that they were expanding HP in late 2011 and broke ground on the expansion in January 2012. The only news now is that they've confirmed that what they have been building in US is the HP expansion.

Note that I'm not taking the position that two and a half to three years for such an expansion is fast or slow, I'm just noting that just because they are only formally announcing it now doesn't mean that this is a one-year project.

 

[Spacedog1975]

According to an article that I read today, they announced that they were expanding HP in late 2011 and broke ground on the expansion in January 2012. The only news now is that they've confirmed that what they have been building in US is the HP expansion.

Note that I'm not taking the position that two and a half to three years for such an expansion is fast or slow, I'm just noting that just because they are only formally announcing it now doesn't mean that this is a one-year project.

My only points of reference are New Fantasyland, which began in 2010 and isn't finished, and Avatarland which begins this year but is projected to open in 2016. It seems pretty quick to me.

 

[mvk]

My only points of reference are New Fantasyland, which began in 2010 and isn't finished, and Avatarland which begins this year but is projected to open in 2016. It seems pretty quick to me.

New Fantasyland is also well over twice the size in area that Diagon Alley is going to be, I believe.

New Fantasyland is about 800' wide by about 250' deep
Diagon Alley is about 300' wide by about 300' deep

Avatar Land will be about the same size as Diagon Alley probably, unless they expand to the direct south of where the FotLK theatre is, in which case it could be much larger.