I guess I'm delirious,

[Planogirl]

I agree. The line for butterbeer is crazy enough.

I agree but sometimes only on one side of the cart. It's a mystery to me but we noticed that often people like up only on one side and the other side is very short. But that's OT.

I also agree that trying to add character meet and greets a bad idea in this case. Bottlenecks, lack of authenticity and upseting JK Rowling is enough to keep this from happening.

 

[inkkognito]

Another problem with an all Harry, all the time, devoted park is that while he might be wildly popular now, it won't last forever. Kind of hard to retheme an entire park when there's a new flavor of the decade and people are like, "Harry Who?" or "Oh, yeah, my grandpa says those were good books." At least with a smaller land, it's cool enough to stand on its own because wizards are cool in general.

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

Another problem with an all Harry, all the time, devoted park is that while he might be wildly popular now, it won't last forever. Kind of hard to retheme an entire park when there's a new flavor of the decade and people are like, "Harry Who?" or "Oh, yeah, my grandpa says those were good books." At least with a smaller land, it's cool enough to stand on its own because wizards are cool in general.

Funny thing is books never go out of style. People still read Romeo and Juliet and it was written 400 or more years ago. It's the same reason why Seuss landing is still popular, people never stop reading. All of us HP crazy people will share this book with our children soon and then they will want to see the movies and go to the park.

 

[bartola]

Oh please no. Sorry, but Harry is not Mickey Mouse. The last thing I want is some Orlando college student walking around with a fake scar on his head and a bad British accent pretending to be Harry Potter.

The whole theme of the Wizarding World is that muggles are being allowed in Hogsmeade for the first time. And well, you're never going to see Voldemort posing for pictures in Hogsmeade with a bunch of muggles. Actors walking around playing the major characters would just take away the authenticity that Universal busted their butt to get so right.

If people want to see authenticity, they go to a museum like the Smithsonian... last time I checked Universal was still an amusement park. There are crowd of people that daily come here to be amused and to be scared, even by some Orlando college students walking around with fake make-up pretending to be monsters in HHN... Adding main characters to WWOHP will not take away what Universal busted their butt to get so right, as they did so right with Seusslanding, Marvel Island, ect... Moreover, this is based on a fantasy novel, not reality!

 

[fairyprincess88]

If people want to see authenticity, they go to a museum like the Smithsonian... last time I checked Universal was still an amusement park. There are crowd of people that daily come here to be amused and to be scared, even by some Orlando college students walking around with fake make-up pretending to be monsters in HHN... Adding main characters to WWOHP will not take away what Universal busted their butt to get so right, as they did so right with Seusslanding, Marvel Island, ect... Moreover, this is based on a fantasy novel, not reality!

True. Im also an adult who knows the difference between a novel and reality but thanks though. Also, kind of hard to go to a museum for Potter when nothing like that has been created, except for the traveling exhibit that will soon no longer be around.

However, the characters in this franchise are well known and are not animated like Mickey Mouse, they are associated with a set look, mainly that of the actors that portray them in the films. A costume just wont cut it.

There was a reason JKR said absolutely not to actors playing the main characters in the park, and that was to keep the land authentic to the books and as close to cannon as a theme park can get. Most fans of the books are not going to ride FJ or pose for a picture with Harry, they are going so they can walk through Hogwarts, buy sweets at Honeydukes ect. Universal has created a way for fans to actually almost step into the novels and onto the film sets in the closest way that is possible and in many ways it feels quite removed from a theme park setting.

We'll just have to agree to disagree on this but for me, I like that the WWoHP is not some Disneyfied in your face theme park experience.

 

[inkkognito]

Funny thing is books never go out of style. People still read Romeo and Juliet and it was written 400 or more years ago. It's the same reason why Seuss landing is still popular, people never stop reading. All of us HP crazy people will share this book with our children soon and then they will want to see the movies and go to the park.

Yes, but those are niche things, not enough to warrant a whole park. Romeo and Juliet wouldn't even warrant a land like Seuss does. Look at something as popular and enduring as Star Wars. It's still only one ride, a kiddie show and an annual convention at WDW. - suspect Harry will endure at the Star Wars/Star Trek level.

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

IMO, what WWOHP lacks is their main characters walking among the crowd for a photo op... I know JKR specifically was against this, but for me, going to Hogsmeade and Hogswarts and not see (in person) Harry, Hermione, Ron, Snape, Voldemort, Draco, etc... is like going to Disney and not see Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald and Goofy... It kind of felt empty...

I personally do not want to see a character there. I think it would be cool to just have random witches and wizards walking around shopping but I do not want some fake Harry. I went to WWHP to see the castle not the characters.

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

Yes, but those are niche things, not enough to warrant a whole park. Romeo and Juliet wouldn't even warrant a land like Seuss does. Look at something as popular and enduring as Star Wars. It's still only one ride, a kiddie show and an annual convention at WDW. - suspect Harry will endure at the Star Wars/Star Trek level.

I disagree if Disney actually spent money and worked closer with Lucas ( who on his own I've heard is really hard to work with) they could have had something like HP at the studios. How about building the Cantena? I think Star Wars is a niche because it's all about the movies but if they went more into the books, Disney could see something big happen. People read the Star Wars books and kids watch the cartoon. Disney could expand. Disney owns The Narina Series and the Percy Jackson series too. They could easily do something similar to WWHP but they have no faith and won't take chances.

I think many are really missing the power of books and the passion people who read have. There is NOTHING like sharing a book you love with a child or anyone else. It's that constant sharing through generations that is going to keep WWHP going.
Universal is going to win for a while until the new Princess area in Disney opens. After that we shall see. There is so much that can be added to WWHP and Universal knows that.

 

[JenM]

DHS should totally expand their Star Wars section to something on the level of WWoHP - it would be amazing. The updated ride is a good start, but Star Wars is huge and it's really on to a whole new generation of fans now. It's not going away. I'm a huge SW fan (being part of that first generation of fans) and I would love to see something on that level in the Studios, which desperately needs the update.

But as far as the characters...while I love seeing stormtroopers as much as I love seeing Darth Vader, Boba Fett, stormtroopers and droids at DHS, the actors playing the "live" characters have always seemed weird to me. If you're not Harrison Ford, then you're not Han Solo!

That's why I'm glad they don't have the live characters at WWoHP. I like that you can see the three kids where they belong at the castle - and hear Hagrid on Flight of the Hippogriff, and even hear Moaning Myrtle in the bathrooms. It really feels like you're visiting their little world.

 

[Planogirl]

DHS should totally expand their Star Wars section to something on the level of WWoHP - it would be amazing. The updated ride is a good start, but Star Wars is huge and it's really on to a whole new generation of fans now. It's not going away. I'm a huge SW fan (being part of that first generation of fans) and I would love to see something on that level in the Studios, which desperately needs the update.

But as far as the characters...while I love seeing stormtroopers as much as I love seeing Darth Vader, Boba Fett, stormtroopers and droids at DHS, the actors playing the "live" characters have always seemed weird to me. If you're not Harrison Ford, then you're not Han Solo!

That's why I'm glad they don't have the live characters at WWoHP. I like that you can see the three kids where they belong at the castle - and hear Hagrid on Flight of the Hippogriff, and even hear Moaning Myrtle in the bathrooms. It really feels like you're visiting their little world.

I agree that Star Wars face characters do seem weird. One exception was a guy that Disney found to play Anakin for a while. He looked EXACTLY like Hayden Christensen - it was uncanny. However, otherwise it just looks odd.

 

[JenM]

I agree that Star Wars face characters do seem weird. One exception was a guy that Disney found to play Anakin for a while. He looked EXACTLY like Hayden Christensen - it was uncanny. However, otherwise it just looks odd.

Live characters can be fun - the guy who plays Doc Brown at Universal was great, and the princesses at Disney are terrific. But I think the fact that most of the HP characters are kids makes it a little weird to see them in the parks as live characters.

 

[bartola]

True. Im also an adult who knows the difference between a novel and reality but thanks though. Also, kind of hard to go to a museum for Potter when nothing like that has been created, except for the traveling exhibit that will soon no longer be around.

However, the characters in this franchise are well known and are not animated like Mickey Mouse, they are associated with a set look, mainly that of the actors that portray them in the films. A costume just wont cut it.

There was a reason JKR said absolutely not to actors playing the main characters in the park, and that was to keep the land authentic to the books and as close to cannon as a theme park can get. Most fans of the books are not going to ride FJ or pose for a picture with Harry, they are going so they can walk through Hogwarts, buy sweets at Honeydukes ect. Universal has created a way for fans to actually almost step into the novels and onto the film sets in the closest way that is possible and in many ways it feels quite removed from a theme park setting.

We'll just have to agree to disagree on this but for me, I like that the WWoHP is not some Disneyfied in your face theme park experience.

In which part did I invite you to go visit a Potter museum???

The characters in this franchise are animated... in the myriad of videogames that have been "cutting" gazillion amount of dollars... which JKR I'm sure doesn't mind.

Most fans of the books are dying to pose for a picture with Harry and the rest of the characters, Disneyfied or not!

 

[damo]

In which part did I invite you to go visit a Potter museum???

The characters in this franchise are animated... in the myriad of videogames that have been "cutting" gazillion amount of dollars... which JKR I'm sure doesn't mind.

Most fans of the books are dying to pose for a picture with Harry and the rest of the characters, Disneyfied or not!

I don't agree. Nobody I know wants to pose with anyone other than the real Daniel Radcliffe and the other real actors. I think because the real actors are still so available in the media, fake ones just wouldn't cut it.

 

[Bradsdadg]

Another problem with an all Harry, all the time, devoted park is that while he might be wildly popular now, it won't last forever. Kind of hard to retheme an entire park when there's a new flavor of the decade and people are like, "Harry Who?" or "Oh, yeah, my grandpa says those were good books." At least with a smaller land, it's cool enough to stand on its own because wizards are cool in general.

I defintely agree with this. It's a fun novelty now. But 20 years from now I seriously doubt people will be lining up for an hour to see a five minute wand show. Best to keep it one land and not a whole park.

 

[bartola]

I don't agree. Nobody I know wants to pose with anyone other than the real Daniel Radcliffe and the other real actors. I think because the real actors are still so available in the media, fake ones just wouldn't cut it.

Yeah, right!

 

[damo]

Yeah, right!

There were tons of people dressed as Harry Potter for the last several Hallowe'ens. It just isn't anything special. Fake Harry Potters are a dime a dozen. Throwing one into the park wouldn't make a difference; it is just so overdone. Keeping the area as authentic as possible while in the middle of a theme park means not making it look like another Hallowe'en party. I'm sure there would be lots of people still willing to line up for a pose, but I don't think it would add anything new to the area at all.

I like how they've got unknown characters, like the train conductor, posing. That, to me, works.

 

[JenM]

I don't agree. Nobody I know wants to pose with anyone other than the real Daniel Radcliffe and the other real actors. I think because the real actors are still so available in the media, fake ones just wouldn't cut it.

Agreed. I don't know a single Harry Potter fan (and I mod another message board that's full of them) that wants to "meet" Harry, nor have any of the ones who've visited WWoHP complained that the characters weren't there.

 

[dan-tot]

They do have the students and the ones with the frogs. I think they should have like a star wars weekend so you could have a signing with the main characters. I got the empression that the only person who was there at the rope drop was dan radcliff. All the other characters like emma and robe were by themselves on a private tour.

Dan

 

[JenM]

They do have the students and the ones with the frogs. I think they should have like a star wars weekend so you could have a signing with the main characters. I got the empression that the only person who was there at the rope drop was dan radcliff. All the other characters like emma and robe were by themselves on a private tour.

Dan

At the official opening were: Daniel Radcliffe (Harry), Rupert Grint (Ron), Michael Gambon (Dumbledore), James and Oliver Phelps (the Weasley twins), Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), Matt Lewis (Neville) and Warwick Davis (Griphook and Professor Flitwick).


(my boss's husband worked on the Today Show coverage of the opening, so he got to see all of them)

 

[Jabber_Jaws]

I personally do not want to see a character there. I think it would be cool to just have random witches and wizards walking around shopping but I do not want some fake Harry. I went to WWHP to see the castle not the characters.

I Think is going to happen. They have been holding auditions the past several weeks. No Main HP characters, just random witches and wizards walking around. That is the rumor around IOA.