AOL says Harry Potter not going anywhere

[Dznefreek]

From today's Sentinel Business page:

Is there a Lord of the Rings attraction in Universal's future? How about a Harry Potter ride at Walt Disney World?

Not so fast, Muggle-breath.

Speculation on the Internet and in the theme-park industry has both companies going after rights for the characters from the phenomenally popular books and movies.

Turns out, those rights are well inside the AOL Time Warner family -- and the folks over there aren't willing to give 'em up.

"AOL Time Warner lawyers are talking to the attorneys at Universal and Disney about the rumor," said a Warner Bros. spokeswoman.

That would be talking to dispel the rumor, apparently.

Too bad. The idea seemed so perfect -- there was even Web talk about a Harry Potter ride at Epcot by 2005. Besides, ABC, which is owned by Disney, has paid $130 million to air the first two Potter movies. Vivendi Universal, meanwhile, has produced Lord of the Rings video games.

But, it's not meant to be, at least for now. And don't expect Harry Potter to find his way into a theme park of his very own -- such as Potter World -- or to land at Six Flags, which licenses other Warner Bros. characters.

"Right now, we don't care to do anything," a spokeswoman said.

 

[Kaelyn]

Thanks for posting! It is good to get some fact.

I actually would wish for it to be the other way around: Harry Potter going to Universal and LOTR going to Disney. I get goosepimples just thinking about what Disney could do in Middle Earth (think the Bridge of Kazadum in a Soarin' style ride), and I would hate to see it reduced to a roller coaster.

 

[EUROPA]

Originally posted by Kaelyn
Thanks for posting! It is good to get some fact.

I actually would wish for it to be the other way around: Harry Potter going to Universal and LOTR going to Disney. I get goosepimples just thinking about what Disney could do in Middle Earth (think the Bridge of Kazadum in a Soarin' style ride), and I would hate to see it reduced to a roller coaster.

I get goosepimples too just thinking how Disney could really screw it up and give us a Ring Wraths Spinner and a Dino-Rama II of the Shire.

 

[Planogirl]

Originally posted by Kaelyn
Thanks for posting! It is good to get some fact.

I actually would wish for it to be the other way around: Harry Potter going to Universal and LOTR going to Disney. I get goosepimples just thinking about what Disney could do in Middle Earth (think the Bridge of Kazadum in a Soarin' style ride), and I would hate to see it reduced to a roller coaster.

Kaelyn, Universal has a total of two big coasters, three if you count both sides of Dueling Dragons as two. Based on that limited amount, I doubt that LOTR would be turned into a roller coaster.

 

[Tekneek]

Originally posted by EUROPA
I get goosepimples too just thinking how Disney could really screw it up and give us a Ring Wraths Spinner and a Dino-Rama II of the Shire.

All cheerleading and pom-pom waving aside, both Universal and Disney are just as likely to 'screw it up.'

 

[EUROPA]

Originally posted by Tekneek
All cheerleading and pom-pom waving aside, both Universal and Disney are just as likely to 'screw it up.'

Really can you name a few Universal screwups? You know an attraction that was supposed to be much more better then it is? I can't wait for this list.

 

[Dznefreek]

Universal screwups

Three come to mind, the first version of Jaws, the Sneetches at IOA, and Triceratops Encounter in JP.

 

[EUROPA]

Originally posted by Dznefreek
Three come to mind, the first version of Jaws, the Sneetches at IOA, and Triceratops Encounter in JP.

Fixed, Bad Design-Company went out of Business. What was Triceratops Encounter supposed to be?

 

[MaddieinWonderland]

Originally posted by EUROPA
Fixed, Bad Design-Company went out of Business. What was Triceratops Encounter supposed to be?

Wasn't it the company contracted to design Pteranodon Flyers the one that went out of business? Setpoint then stepped in to complete the construction and secure a patent on the technology.

I have been under the impression that Sylvester Monkey McBean's Very Unusual Driving Machines was a product of Universal Creative.

 

[EUROPA]

Originally posted by MaddieinWonderland
Wasn't it the company contracted to design Pteranodon Flyers the one that went out of business? Setpoint then stepped in to complete the construction and secure a patent on the technology.

I have been under the impression that Sylvester Monkey McBean's Very Unusual Driving Machines was a product of Universal Creative.

I've heard that about the Flyers as well.

I could be wrong about SMMVUDM for some reason I thought the company working on it went out of business or bailed on Universal after they built the ride and refused to fix it.

I do know there are several reasons why it will never open. The cars get stuck anytime the track gets wet, there is a point it goes through Circus McGurkus and over the heads of guest so there is a chance for some childish actions. and the big one evacuation problems.

So if you want to call a ride that you never got a chance to ride a screw up and this is why your worried about HP or LOTR going to Universal then fine.

 

[Dznefreek]

Fixed,

Isn't a bad design a screwup since the entire ride was closed and completely redone??

 

[EUROPA]

Originally posted by Dznefreek
Isn't a bad design a screwup since the entire ride was closed and completely redone??

So I take it that you don't like the movie Jaws for the exact same reason?


Really though I could give a Rats *** if you guys don't like Universal attractions. I mean is this all that you guys have. An attraction that was redesigned and one that you never got to ride? These are the reasons why you think Universal would "screw it up" HAHAHAHAH Come on. Please your bias is showing through. Do you really want to see the list of Disney ****ups?

All I'm concerned with is doing the theme justice. So unless a big corporation is going to pay for it I don't see Disney springing the money that it would take to do either of these proprieties justice.

 

[Winnie-ther-Pooh]

How about Twister?

 

[Planogirl]

Originally posted by Winnie-ther-Pooh
How about Twister?

Twister is a lot of fun now at least.

As for messed up rides, what about Rocket Rods? And Test Track for so long? I'd say that both companies have had this problem.

 

[Dznefreek]

Really though I could give a Rats *** if you guys don't like Universal attractions

What happened to you to make you so bitter? Were you unloved as a child or even as an adult?

If you don't care stop replying!

 

[EUROPA]

Originally posted by Dznefreek
What happened to you to make you so bitter? Were you unloved as a child or even as an adult?

If you don't care stop replying!

No I never had you as a parent if that is what your asking.

Me replying and answering questiong posed to me has zero to do with if I hope or care if they like Universal or not.

 

[goofyandmore]

EUROPA may be under the flawed impression that Disney couldnt do anything Universal could do only twice as well, but anyone with the Hogwarts sheild under their name cant be that out of line.

 

[EUROPA]

Originally posted by goofyandmore
EUROPA may be under the flawed impression that Disney couldnt do anything Universal could do only twice as well, but anyone with the Hogwarts sheild under their name cant be that out of line.

No I have every faith in the Imaginers that work at Disney. I have zero faith in the management and their budget cuts. I have no doubt that the Imaginers could design a great HP attraction. I do have doubts about that great design being built after Eisner gets a hold of the budge. Eisner is not concerned with the parks anymore. Unless someone else if paying for it. There are numerous examples of his handy-work(budget cutting) handicapping attractions being built.

 

[Tekneek]

Originally posted by Planogirl
Twister is a lot of fun now at least.

As for messed up rides, what about Rocket Rods? And Test Track for so long? I'd say that both companies have had this problem.

Which was my point. Neither one is perfect. Some cheerleaders just aren't willing to be objective and realistic. Their blind devotion to a theme park is rather unsettling.

 

[Tekneek]

The best thing about this news is that it proves me right when I said that Jim Hill gets it wrong sometimes. I was attacked for suggesting such a thing somewhere on the disboards forums not too long ago.