Back from Universal trip this past weekend

[Spaceranger28]

The crowds at universal were not that bad this past weekend. I stayed at the Pacific Royal hotel and was able to ride things multiple times with little to no wait. I got into the Harry Potter part of the park the two days an hour early being a resort guest and had no wait time to ride the Forbidden journey. I rode it four times. Saturday night at night it was only a thirty minute wait that was posted. It didn't even take that long I would say just whatever amount of time it took to walk through the castle to get to the ride. The longest wait time I seen was around the middle of the day it had a 75 minute wait. The Harry Potter part of the park was awesome they need to expand it. It's perfectly themed, and everyone enjoyed that part of the park. Even for character meet and greets the lines were low we were able to walk right up and get pictures. The Macy's day parade was nice and that was a little bit more crowded the holiday village was dissappointing. Not worth just going for that only a few stands of some food items, crafts, that you could find anywhere.

 

[Metro West]

The Harry Potter part of the park was awesome they need to expand it. It's perfectly themed, and everyone enjoyed that part of the park. Even for character meet and greets the lines were low we were able to walk right up and get pictures. The Macy's day parade was nice and that was a little bit more crowded the holiday village was dissappointing. Not worth just going for that only a few stands of some food items, crafts, that you could find anywhere.

Glad you liked WWoHP...there are plenty of rumours floating around expansions to WWoHP and what not so we'll have to see what comes down the pike. This is the first year of the Christmas Village so I'll chalk that up to inexperience but it's still disappointing to hear. I was really looking forward to seeing it.

 

[gibbersome]

Glad you liked WWoHP...there are plenty of rumours floating around expansions to WWoHP and what not so we'll have to see what comes down the pike. This is the first year of the Christmas Village so I'll chalk that up to inexperience but it's still disappointing to hear. I was really looking forward to seeing it.

Expanding WWoHP would be a great idea but would it make financial sense? After Deathly Hallows Part II is released, there won't be anything Harry Potter related coming out. How soon will the public lose their interest?

 

[Spaceranger28]

I think its by far the best thing in the Universal Parks and even though nothing new will come out there will always be interest in Harry Potter it could be so much bigger than what it is. They could have easily done an entire park around it. I would have like to have seen a few new rides instead of the repurposing of the two rollercoasters they already had in that area. The forbidden journey is an amazing attraction.

 

[fairyprincess88]

Expanding WWoHP would be a great idea but would it make financial sense? After Deathly Hallows Part II is released, there won't be anything Harry Potter related coming out. How soon will the public lose their interest?

I doubt interest will wane anytime soon, just because there will be no more movies. I think a lot of people seem to forget that Potter is not just a pop culture thing but also a literary phenom. Case in point, I've been reading the books since I was a teen, I am considerablely older now and Potter is still my most favorite thing in the world. I also loaned the books to my baby cousin when she got old enough for them, she is now 17 and my WWoHP partner in crime. I also started reading the books to my goddaughter who is 10, she is now also Potter obsessed. The same has happened with a lot of my friends, they have since passed the books on to their kids, nieces/nephews ect.

The books will never stop drawing people in and as long as they are around, there will still be people wanting to visit Harry's world. Just as people will be lining up for Voyage of the Dawn Treader when the movie releases, despite the fact those books were written long ago. Same with Lord of Rings ect, the list goes on and on. Books never fade, and considering the fact that the Potter series is the most successful book series in the world, it's got more than a little leg room to stand on it's own after the films are done.

 

[gibbersome]

I doubt interest will wane anytime soon, just because there will be no more movies. I think a lot of people seem to forget that Potter is not just a pop culture thing but also a literary phenom. Case in point, I've been reading the books since I was a teen, I am considerablely older now and Potter is still my most favorite thing in the world. I also loaned the books to my baby cousin when she got old enough for them, she is now 17 and my WWoHP partner in crime. I also started reading the books to my goddaughter who is 10, she is now also Potter obsessed. The same has happened with a lot of my friends, they have since passed the books on to their kids, nieces/nephews ect.

The books will never stop drawing people in and as long as they are around, there will still be people wanting to visit Harry's world. Just as people will be lining up for Voyage of the Dawn Treader when the movie releases, despite the fact those books were written long ago. Same with Lord of Rings ect, the list goes on and on. Books never fade, and considering the fact that the Potter series is the most successful book series in the world, it's got more than a little leg room to stand on it's own after the films are done.

I agree that the books will be popular for quite some time. But will they be just as popular as they have been this decade? Universal knew it had to open WWoHP as quickly as possible to capitalize on the Harry Potter mania so I'm not surprised that they re-themed two of their rides, instead of building more.

Lord of the Rings is a series that has held up very well over the years, but I don't know of any theme park rides based on it.

I do think that Harry Potter has a place in Universal, especially because WWoHP offers something so different from all the other attractions.

 

[fairyprincess88]

I agree that the books will be popular for quite some time. But will they be just as popular as they have been this decade? Universal knew it had to open WWoHP as quickly as possible to capitalize on the Harry Potter mania so I'm not surprised that they re-themed two of their rides, instead of building more.

Lord of the Rings is a series that has held up very well over the years, but I don't know of any theme park rides based on it.

I do think that Harry Potter has a place in Universal, especially because WWoHP offers something so different from all the other attractions.

Rumor has it that LotR will be the next theme park experience. Personally, not my thing though, but it would be interesting. But I honestly do think the Potter franchise will hold up for a long while yet. Remember the first book is over a decade old, same as the first film. The mania has lasted a while. Now do I think it will be this popular 20 years from now...no. But it's certainly something that will remain current in the minds of children due to the books.

It will however I think, continue to work for a themepark, just like all the other lands work that are based on characters. Toon Lagoon for example, even I don't remember 90% of those characters, so it's doubtful kids do, but the land still is amazing to look at and be immersed in. I do hope they expand it at as well, of course that's just the selfish Potter nerd in me.

 

[gibbersome]

Rumor has it that LotR will be the next theme park experience. Personally, not my thing though, but it would be interesting. But I honestly do think the Potter franchise will hold up for a long while yet. Remember the first book is over a decade old, same as the first film. The mania has lasted a while. Now do I think it will be this popular 20 years from now...no. But it's certainly something that will remain current in the minds of children due to the books.

It will however I think, continue to work for a themepark, just like all the other lands work that are based on characters. Toon Lagoon for example, even I don't remember 90% of those characters, so it's doubtful kids do, but the land still is amazing to look at and be immersed in. I do hope they expand it at as well, of course that's just the selfish Potter nerd in me.

Hehe, there is so much literature and lore in Harry Potter that there is limitless potential for ride ideas. Do you see Universal doing a Peter Pan/Winnie-the-Pooh type ride for Harry Potter, or another coaster?

I have to admit, I got very excited when your said they're thinking about doing something with LotR. I'm not holding my breath, but still an exciting prospect.

 

[characterhelp]

I'd be surprised by a LOTR area as it doesn't really appeal to kids

 

[braddillman]

I'm sure the interest in Star Wars (1977) is long gone. Who would invest in a Star Wars ride now?

 

[waldiddy]

I'm sure the interest in Star Wars (1977) is long gone. Who would invest in a Star Wars ride now?

Well, I believe Disney just did.

 

[Planogirl]

I'm sure the interest in Star Wars (1977) is long gone. Who would invest in a Star Wars ride now?

Bite your tongue!

I would be so excited by a LOTR ride or land or anything! As for kids liking it, it's castles and weird creatures and elves and so on - what's not to love?

I suspect that a Twilight attraction popping up somewhere is more likely though.