Harry Potter Character Meet and Greats?

[Commando2319]

I am a Disney veteran thinking of taking my first trip over to Universal to see the new Harry Potter World.

I know it hasn't had the Grand Opening yet, but I was wondering if anyone knew if they will be having character Meet and Greets in Harry Potter World. Like meeting and getting autographs from Harry, Ron, and Hermione?

For that matter, how many characters are there in Universal? Is there any place with a good comprehensive list of possible/available characters? Do they even sign autographs?

Thanks for the feedback from all of the Universal veterans!

 

[mjohnson96]

I am a Disney veteran thinking of taking my first trip over to Universal to see the new Harry Potter World.

I know it hasn't had the Grand Opening yet, but I was wondering if anyone knew if they will be having character Meet and Greets in Harry Potter World. Like meeting and getting autographs from Harry, Ron, and Hermione?

For that matter, how many characters are there in Universal? Is there any place with a good comprehensive list of possible/available characters? Do they even sign autographs?

Thanks for the feedback from all of the Universal veterans!

Universal will not be allowed to have any of the main characters from the movies/books as face characters at WWOHP. This was part of the agreement with JK Rowling when they agreed to build the area.

They do have students walking around as well as the Frog Choir and others that you can take pictures with.


Other than that there are lots of characters at US/IOA. Last time my DD got her picture and autograph from several characters. I don't know if there is a list of all of them anywhere, but someone will be along with one.

 

[Jason71]

The frog choir are each in a different school's colors. You can pose with all four. There are also students from the French and Bulgarian schools in book 4, and the train conductor.

A list of characters off the top of my head, by no means complete:
Popeye/Olive Oil
Homer, Marge, Bart and Lisa Simpson
Dora the Explorer
Spongebob Squarepants
Scooby Doo and Shaggy
Betty Boop
Woody Woodpecker (I think, been a while)
Bullwinkle/Rocky/Boris Badanoff/Natasha (again, been a while since I've seen them)
Spiderman
Capt. America
Wolverine
Storm
Rogue
Dr. Doom
Green Goblin
Doc Brown (Back to the Future)

 

[inkkognito]

Keep your eyes open because you never know when you might see a character. Last time DH and I were there, we were walking out through the main store in IOA and there was Spiderman crouching on top of a sales counter! At first I thought he must not be real, but it was indeed Spidey so we got some cool pics. I don't think you'll ever see a superhero up on a counter at WDW, LOL!

 

[Commando2319]

Universal will not be allowed to have any of the main characters from the movies/books as face characters at WWOHP. This was part of the agreement with JK Rowling when they agreed to build the area.

That is really a shame. I wonder why Rowling wouldn't want face characters.

It would be so great to meet them at the parks like meeting Cinderella at Disney. Oh well. Good to know and not be disappointed searching for them when I get there.

 

[TaylorsDad]

The frog choir are each in a different school's colors. You can pose with all four. There are also students from the French and Bulgarian schools in book 4, and the train conductor.

A list of characters off the top of my head, by no means complete:
Popeye/Olive Oil
Homer, Marge, Bart and Lisa Simpson
Dora the Explorer
Spongebob Squarepants
Scooby Doo and Shaggy
Betty Boop
Woody Woodpecker (I think, been a while)
Bullwinkle/Rocky/Boris Badanoff/Natasha (again, been a while since I've seen them)
Spiderman
Capt. America
Wolverine
Storm
Rogue
Dr. Doom
Green Goblin
Doc Brown (Back to the Future)

I have been a few times and have never seen DR Doom, Green Goblin, or Doc Brown. I would love to see photos if anyone has any especially of Dr Doom

 

[TaylorsDad]

Personally I am glad they will not have the main characters. Disney face characters are different because most are interpretations of cartoon characters such as Cinderella and the other princesses. I remember how disappointed I was with the WDW version of Star Wars Luke and Leia. If they had Harry the only way we would even be able to recognize the character would be to look for the scar. And this would just lead to more complaints from fans young and old about how poorly the characters are done. By having unknown students from the houses I think it adds more to the feel of actually being there instead of having the illusion shattered by poor imitations.

 

[toonaspie]

That is really a shame. I wonder why Rowling wouldn't want face characters.

It would be so great to meet them at the parks like meeting Cinderella at Disney. Oh well. Good to know and not be disappointed searching for them when I get there.

I think it would be awkward if you think about it.

We completely associate Daniel Radcliffe to play Harry Potter, Rupert Grint as Ron and etc. To have someone walking around dressed as Harry Potter and NOT be Daniel Racliffe wouldnt feel the same. The face character would have to be someone who resembles Daniel Radcliffe because unlike many of Universal's characters, Harry and friend dont use as much makeup and hair to hide

Yes I'm aware that you'll see A Jack Sparrow face character at WDW and it's clearly not Johnny Depp but at Disney it's okay because it's the character that people are there for not the star behind it.

Harry Potter is a very angsty teenage wizard. It would be hard for someone to walk around the parks and play that role, especially if they're not going to perform any feats of magic.

But it makes you feel any better, I thought they would at least have someone in a Dobby costume around. That would've been fun to see.

 

[Albytaps]

There's tons of people that look like HP. Heck, if you put glasses on any skinny brown haired kid it would work. JK has too big of a head now... but who could blame her.

 

[JenM]

There's tons of people that look like HP. Heck, if you put glasses on any skinny brown haired kid it would work. JK has too big of a head now... but who could blame her.

Nah, I think she's just very protective of all of it. And I think it makes sense, she doesn't want just any kid playing Harry, Ron or Hermione.

 

[Indy Denise]

That is really a shame. I wonder why Rowling wouldn't want face characters.

It would be so great to meet them at the parks like meeting Cinderella at Disney. Oh well. Good to know and not be disappointed searching for them when I get there.

I am SO glad that there were no charatcters!! There is no way anyone could take the movie characters place ( unless you have to replace a Dumbledore, and even that, to me, wasn't perfect)
Cinderella is a cartoon, much easier to replicate..

I know one time I met Snow White and while the little ones were thrilled I kept comparing her to a the cartoon one..close, but not quite right.

 

[Indy Denise]

There's tons of people that look like HP. Heck, if you put glasses on any skinny brown haired kid it would work. JK has too big of a head now... but who could blame her.

Not according to my daughter who has " grown " up with Daniel. He is hot and sexy and datable...and he is not so skinny anymore ..

That's another thing, which time frame for a character would you use...the books/movies cover several years and the kids are growing up. In the end of the books Harry is married to Ginny. My daughter would scratch Ginny's eyes out if she saw her...

 

[Claire-Bear]

I think its best they don't have characters either. I don't think JK would like Uni hiring a bunch of what they think are HP lookalikes who are also required to sound like him. I think it would be pretty dire

They have people dressed as wizards wandering around along with the train conductor and performers from the main houses, so that's plenty to take photos of and with :

 

[Commando2319]

I am SO glad that there were no charatcters!! There is no way anyone could take the movie characters place.

I guess it depends if you are more of a movie Harry Potter fan or a Book Harry Potter fan.

But I think with good actors and some good makeup, most people would be pleased seeing Snape, or Hagrid, or Dumbledore, or even Harry himself.

As mentioned before, people are quite fond of seeing Jack Sparrow in the parks and that character is only known as Johnny Depp playing him. And I've never heard a complaint about seeing Mary Poppins.

Heck, even in Universal it sounds like they have Doc Brown from Back To the Future who has only been distinctly known as Christopher Lloyd.

So I don't think it would be too bad for most people.

 

[Planogirl]

I have been a few times and have never seen DR Doom, Green Goblin, or Doc Brown. I would love to see photos if anyone has any especially of Dr Doom

From what I understand, Dr Doom and Green Goblin no longer make appearances. Sad because Dr Doom was a favorite.

We've seen Doc Brown around the Studios several times. I don't now of a schedule or a particular place where he pops up.

 

[Albytaps]

Yup I guess we can discount the HP books because Harry MUST be played by Daniel Radcliff... no if, ands or buts!

Indy, please watch out for writing spoilers like that. That's possibly one of the worst spoilers you could post too.

 

[mjohnson96]

Indy, please watch out for writing spoilers like that. That's possibly one of the worst spoilers you could post too.

The book has been out for how long now

I remember here when the 6th book came out and people were lined up around the block at the Borders book store. There is a video of someone driving by and yelling "XXXXX DIED" XXX = the person who died so no spoiler

Those people were really really mad!

 

[Indy Denise]

Yup I guess we can discount the HP books because Harry MUST be played by Daniel Radcliff... no if, ands or buts!

Indy, please watch out for writing spoilers like that. That's possibly one of the worst spoilers you could post too.

Sorry, but the book has been out for eons..I guess I figured all Potterheads have read it
Sorry

 

[Indy Denise]

The book has been out for how long now

I remember here when the 6th book came out and people were lined up around the block at the Borders book store. There is a video of someone driving by and yelling "XXXXX DIED" XXX = the person who died so no spoiler

Those people were really really mad!

I grabbed my book at the midnight sale and fliiped to the end, sat down in the mall and read the last chapter. I figured that if Harry died ( or Ron, or Herm. ) I wasn't going to read the book. Then I was kinda ( VERY! ) sad cause I realized that this was proabably the last of Harry and the gang and I wanted more.

I would trade WWoHP for just one more book........

 

[Albytaps]

I read the books and loved them to death. The movies left alot out. However, to those that are Potter fans from the movies might not know what happens at the end.

I don't know what to make of it hearing that they're making 2 movies out of Deathly Hallows. It should have more (obviously) than the other movies but I wanted to see it all in one shot.