How would you change Harry Potter World?

[Commando2319]

I am a big Harry Potter fan, but have been quite disappointed with some of the details of the new Harry Potter World. While they seemed to have done a great job themeing, it seems they missed the mark on a few things.

Instead of a thread bashing Universal or Harry Potter World, I'd love to hear ideas of things you'd change about Harry Potter World is you could wave a magic wand?

Here are some of my ideas:

1. Make the area much larger.
- Have a complete distinct area for Diagon Alley (not including it's stores into Hogsmeade.
- Make all of the stores where you can walk in, not just facades. (Even if they are just more gift shops.)
- Add a playground area for the little kids to play.
- The ability to go inside Hagrid's hut.
- Add the Weasley house
- Add the Forbidden Forest that you can walk through.

2. Add more rides, instead of focusing their energy on one big ride.
- One Harry Potter ride per book
- several rides available for small children (no height restrictions)
- I'd love a flying car ride similar to Dumbo.
- Adjust Forbidden Journey so that many people don't get turned away for their size (even if it makes the ride less "extreme")

Those are just a couple of my ideas. What are yours?

 

[damo]

I think the area has to remain around Hogwarts/Hogsmeade...so no adding of Diagon Alley or anything outside the area.

I think attractions that could be added would be a Forbidden Forest ride, magical creatures ride, Shrieking Shack ride. Something with Luna and Magical Creatures would be cool.

I think some of the shops can be reorganzied but I wouldn't make them much bigger. Owl Post could be extended a bit into the Owlerly but that would be the only size change I would make.

I wouldn't like any carnival type things added or anything that looks like it wouldn't actually be in Hogmeade or the Hogwarts area.

I would add more merchandise carts and more Butterbeer carts.

 

[poeticdiabetic]

I haven't been to WWHOP, but I wished that they would just open it up as a 3rd park and make it bigger world. Obviously, there are a lot of people interested and they want more, so build more.

It may occur later, but I would like for that to happen- therefore those who loves HP can go to the world and be happy, and those who doesn't can go unencumbered by the larger crowds at the IOA gate.

Looking at the lines, I hope the US/IOA people's lights blinked on in their thinking caps.

 

[Magpie]

Those are just a couple of my ideas. What are yours?

I'm sure all of these ideas were considered, and here's why I think they didn't fly...

1. Make the area much larger.

Number one reason: Budget!

However, that gives me hope that if Universal make gobs of money this year, they will be able to look into expanding into the rest of the Lost Continent area.

- Have a complete distinct area for Diagon Alley (not including it's stores into Hogsmeade.

I can just hear people now complaining that the WWOHP is just a huge money-sucking mall. Why, they've got not just one, but TWO shopping streets.

Practically speaking, when you're looking to allocate resources, the WWOHP really only needs one collection of shops.

Make all of the stores where you can walk in, not just facades. (Even if they are just more gift shops.)

Aren't those facades covering actual working areas behind the buildings? The animated windows are an attraction in themselves. And while my son would geek out over a HP music shop, I doubt they'd sell many instruments. Or plants. Or books.

Now clothing, candy and souvenirs - THAT's a money maker for theme parks.

- Add a playground area for the little kids to play.

Considering that few HP fans are preschool aged, this would not have been a priority when allocating funds. There's a dinosaur themed playground just next door in Jurassic Park.

- The ability to go inside Hagrid's hut.

Definitely cool... but it would be just another walk-through. And since there's already a castle walk-through, it would go to the bottom of the "must have" list.

- Add the Weasley house

Oi, that'd be a lot of walk-throughs! If they do add the Weasley House in the future, I'd hope they'd make it part of a show or a ride.

- Add the Forbidden Forest that you can walk through.

Does anyone remember the nasty things that were said about Animal Kingdom, because of all the walking? And heaven forbid if every square inch isn't ECV accessible.

I agree it would be nice to have an explorable Forest, but it's not a priority if you have limits on space and funding.

2. Add more rides, instead of focusing their energy on one big ride.
- One Harry Potter ride per book

I'd rather have one big awesome ride, than seven boring little been-there-done-that rides.

- several rides available for small children (no height restrictions)

But the Seuss themed land is just a hop and a skip away, and much more likely to appeal to them than HP!

- I'd love a flying car ride similar to Dumbo.

Very, very slow loading. Flying car rides are generally the worst rides in theme parks because they have incredibly long lines that move at a snails pace, and they don't give you much "bang for the buck".

- Adjust Forbidden Journey so that many people don't get turned away for their size (even if it makes the ride less "extreme")

I sincerely hope they're working on modified seats right now (as I've heard rumoured), but I'd hate for them to make it less "extreme". That's not fair to the vast majority who actually do fit, and can ride, and enjoyed it very much.

That would be like saying they should make Expedition Everest less extreme so people with heart conditions can ride.

Part of what gets people into theme parks and spending money is the promise of a ride that's "extreme" and "new" and "never been done before". So choosing to create a ride like that is just smart planning on the part of theme park owners.

Their goal is to spend as little money as possible to make as much money as possible.

What would I like to see?

A gradual phased expansion into the Lost Continent area over several years, with each new addition keeping things fresh and new, and keeping the fans returning over and over again.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

Yeah, obviously people might be disappointed with WWOHP. But it won't necessarily be in what's there, but what's not there.

Universal did great with the budget they had and, clearly, don't have unlimited funds to literally create an entire world around Harry Potter. They did, however, create a brilliant land.

I hope it is expanded in the near future and does exceptionally well so the whole resort gets the benefit.

 

[tink1957]

I would like to see a Gringotts' ride...that would be awesome.

 

[TerrytownGrl]

I would like to see a Gringotts' ride...that would be awesome.

That would be awesome!

I too hope that they develop modified seats for the Forbidden Journey so that more people can enjoy the ride. Perhaps making the ride only three seats across, instead of 4. Thereby giving each rider a bit more room.

 

[darthtatty]

I think if i could change something it would be to the castle. From what i gather the castle is the theming for the FJ ride-which many cant ride. It seems such a shame that people who cant go on the ride have to Q for hours to just do a walk thorough. Ive heard reports that there are such long Q's as people are taking their time to walk through the castle and take it all in. So the ride loading area is fairly empty.
If the Q could be split into 2 Q's for riders and non riders thatd be great.

 

[braddillman]

I'll add my voice to those who think WWoHP is a good size to start. Look at Jurassic Park: after a few years, it's not a bad size. JP was a good series of movies, but I'd rather go to IoA and see a variety of adventures than a whole park dedicated to JP.

I said this months before opening: WWoHP needs a participatory training class like Disney's Jedi Academy/Pirate school/Princess lessons. Get a crowd of 10 year olds to take magic lessons (Defence Against Dark Arts) as a test to see if they'd be admitted to Hogwarts, then - surprise! - a Death Eater shows up to ruin the fun. Then they line up and take turn dueling the Death Eater. Throw in some high tech theatrics and SFX. Universal could still do this, it's not such a high investment item, and they could vary the schedule by season to increase profitability.

Change the story line if this to ummm, directly inspired by Disney's Jedi Academy. I guess it's just that I saw Star Wars in '77 and as a Dad I get the greatest vicarious thrill see my kid up there against Vader. (Wished she'd sold out to the dark side though, I'd have been set for life! However long that is... ;-)

 

[Albytaps]

Originally Posted by tink1957
I would like to see a Gringotts' ride...that would be awesome.

That would be awesome!

I too hope that they develop modified seats for the Forbidden Journey so that more people can enjoy the ride. Perhaps making the ride only three seats across, instead of 4. Thereby giving each rider a bit more room.

Now that's an idea... and you can have Diagon Alley leading up to it. Maybe something like a Tower of Terror ride.

 

[lildamo]

From what's there already, you can tell that they're not making rides just for the sake of making rides -- the theming has to fit into being something that could well be there. That means a Gringotts ride wouldn't work unless there was a Diagon Alley, as they wouldn't throw Gringotts in the middle of Hogsmeade. They've done an amazing job at staying true to the books and making it feel like you're actually there, as opposed to in a theme park, which I personally really appreciate. I'd much rather immersive theming over putting a ride in because they could.

That being said, the Shrieking Shack would fit in perfectly, as it is supposed to be in Hogsmeade. The only way to do Diagon Alley would be to have it on the other side of the park with the train going from one to the other, which there isn't the space to do. Otherwise, walking directly from Hogsmeade to Diagon Alley wouldn't make sense with the themes.

There has been rumour that it is a part of Universal's contract to represent all 7 books/8 movies evenly throughout the area, so it's highly likely that there will be more to come. However, it's still just one land within a whole theme park, and I think Universal would be worse off to crowd it than to have less, but better attractions. Quality over quantity!

 

[mom2aandj]

I said this months before opening: WWoHP needs a participatory training class like Disney's Jedi Academy/Pirate school/Princess lessons. Get a crowd of 10 year olds to take magic lessons (Defence Against Dark Arts) as a test to see if they'd be admitted to Hogwarts, then - surprise! - a Death Eater shows up to ruin the fun. Then they line up and take turn dueling the Death Eater. Throw in some high tech theatrics and SFX. Universal could still do this, it's not such a high investment item, and they could vary the schedule by season to increase profitability.

yes!! as the mom of a 10 year old boy, I completely agree. He would 100% love this, especially if the Death Eaters showed up!

 

[DeluxePrincess]

I have yet to visit, but I think they definitely need more to do in the area. I would enjoy some sort of Harry Potter themed show.

 

[Albytaps]

From what's there already, you can tell that they're not making rides just for the sake of making rides -- the theming has to fit into being something that could well be there. That means a Gringotts ride wouldn't work unless there was a Diagon Alley, as they wouldn't throw Gringotts in the middle of Hogsmeade. They've done an amazing job at staying true to the books and making it feel like you're actually there, as opposed to in a theme park, which I personally really appreciate. I'd much rather immersive theming over putting a ride in because they could.

That being said, the Shrieking Shack would fit in perfectly, as it is supposed to be in Hogsmeade. The only way to do Diagon Alley would be to have it on the other side of the park with the train going from one to the other, which there isn't the space to do. Otherwise, walking directly from Hogsmeade to Diagon Alley wouldn't make sense with the themes.

There has been rumour that it is a part of Universal's contract to represent all 7 books/8 movies evenly throughout the area, so it's highly likely that there will be more to come. However, it's still just one land within a whole theme park, and I think Universal would be worse off to crowd it than to have less, but better attractions. Quality over quantity!

They screwed it up already then because Ollivander's is in Diagon Alley.

 

[lildamo]

They screwed it up already then because Ollivander's is in Diagon Alley.

The Ollivander's in Hogsmeade is a branch of the original version (which gets destroyed anyway!) -- they asked JKR specific permission to be allowed to have the shop in Hogsmeade.

 

[yeslek]

The Ollivander's in Hogsmeade is a branch of the original version (which gets destroyed anyway!) -- they asked JKR specific permission to be allowed to have the shop in Hogsmeade.

Not to mention that's why Mr. Ollivander himself doesn't help you.

 

[Albytaps]

The Ollivander's in Hogsmeade is a branch of the original version (which gets destroyed anyway!) -- they asked JKR specific permission to be allowed to have the shop in Hogsmeade.

Huh? So this is post-story Hogsmeade? I don't remember that part.

Interesting... well there's more I can try to pick apart but I'll just leave it as is... Ya know, Harry , Ron, and Hermione are still in school right? So is Dumbledore!

I haven't been there yet but looking forward to it it

 

[TaylorsDad]

This is how to make WWOHP better
1. On flight of the Hippograph let people ride a real hippograph. This would be much cooler if probably a bit more smelly.
2. Dragon Challenge- let everyone ride their own real dragon. Much more satisfiying if you manage to survive, let alone tame the beast. Dont forget your flame retardant robes.
3. At Ollivaders I want a real wandmaker helping me be chosen by an actual wand made with a live Pheonix tailfeather.
4. Let people people send their owlpost by actual owls.
5. And finally on forbidden journey I want to ride with the actual cast of the HP movies and really magically fly avoiding Dragons, Dementor, and giant spiders.

I think my request are reasonable. After all Disney would have done all this

Seriously though, from all the reviews I have read Universal /IOA have done an amazing job already.

 

[Albytaps]

No sarcasm allowed!

 

[toonaspie]

I know it wont help the crowd situation any better but I would love for them to create more actual shops for customers to walk into. I'm surprised the robe store isnt a real walk in store in WWOHP. That would make killer business. I dont think it would hurt to create a Gringotts Hogsmeade branch either since they did it for Ollivander's.

Another shop they could open is Madame Puddifoot's Tea Shop and have all of those annoying cherubs flying about. Stay for the tea no matter how frilly and cheruby the place gets!


If they really should've done anything though, I really wish that they had added the Shrieking Shack...if only as background decor with the shrieking noises and all.