Is Harry Potter Land Just A Themed Mall?

[Figment632]

Yes I rode Forbidden Journey.

Im not sure what would impress you then?

 

[safetymom]

Actually I am very easy to impress. I didn't see anything new on FJ. It reminded me of other rides I had done.

It will be a popular ride but it won't be a game changer.

 

[cv workout]

Maybe they'll improve things and open some of those closed shops as time goes on. I hope so.

 

[irishdadx4]

As for Harry Potter as a shopping mall, it really depends on how many character meet and greets or similar experiences they have to make it truly more then just shopping.

I was under the impression the JKR did NOT license the main characters from her books for use in the WWOHP as face characters. You will not be able to have a meet-n-greet with Harry, Ron or Hermione or even Hagrid, or Dumbledoore. There are only character types in the WWOHP....anonymous students from Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, and other anonymous characters/CM's from Diagon Alley/Hogsmead.

 

[Commando2319]

I was under the impression the JKR did NOT license the main characters from her books for use in the WWOHP as face characters. You will not be able to have a meet-n-greet with Harry, Ron or Hermione or even Hagrid, or Dumbledoore. There are only character types in the WWOHP....anonymous students from Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, and other anonymous characters/CM's from Diagon Alley/Hogsmead.

Ugh. That stinks. So much for making a special Harry Potter world autograph book. Who wants to go meet some made up student that wasn't even in the movie or book.

It would be like Disney having Bill the Pig on main street in the Magic Kingdom. Who is Bill the Pig? Oh. Nobody. Just someone we made up for the park. Stupid.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

It would be like Disney having Bill the Pig on main street in the Magic Kingdom. Who is Bill the Pig? Oh. Nobody. Just someone we made up for the park. Stupid.

I also think that the initial attractions and shoppes are just a teaser for more to come. Or I hope so, at least. From a financial standpoint, US was just looking to up the income so they did "enough" to get people in the park without blowing their wad, so to speak. They will likely re-evaluate in a year or so to see if the attendance is still good. If not, they will likely tweak things to get more people in (or back). Let's face it, they are in this to make money and so far, this hype is getting people to visit or plan to visit. Once that wears off, I would think that more money will be invested to get people back in the park. This seems to be Disney's strategy of late (i.e., "Year of a Million Dreams", "Celebrate your [insert "important" day here] Day", and the ever popular "We-have-new-banners-but-no-new-rides promotion".

 

[dmccarty]

I also think that the initial attractions and shoppes are just a teaser for more to come. Or I hope so, at least. From a financial standpoint, US was just looking to up the income so they did "enough" to get people in the park without blowing their wad, so to speak. They will likely re-evaluate in a year or so to see if the attendance is still good. If not, they will likely tweak things to get more people in (or back).

The problem is that from the Podcast description I would not waste my money going to Universal to see HP in the first place. Our family is just not into roller coaster rides. But we sure would like to see HP. But from what has been discussed on the podcast I just don't see how HP can ever be a success. We do not wait more than 30 minutes for a ride. To wait hours is simply not going to happen.

I sent the podcast to a coworker who is going to Orlando to specifically see HP. I told her what I have been hearing and reading and she is not happy. It will be interesting to see what she and other people say after visiting HP.

The Harry Potter books have enough content to be a very big theme park. Every time we watch an HP moving there are so many obvious rides and attractions in each movie. What Universal has done is very limited. If HP is as bad as it sounds then people will not go back. People will hear on the Internet that the lines are too long and the place is too crowded so people will not go in the first place.

If people do not go then Universal may not have the money to make HP better. What is disturbing is that if the streets and stores are really as small as reported, and I do believe the podcast crew, then how the heck will Universal fix that mess. They really can't unless they spend lots of money and redo HP or at least parts of it.

Maybe Universal will need some money and sell the HP rights to Disney so HP can be done right.

Later,
Dan

 

[WaltD4Me]

IMHO, I think HP needed at least one more ride. A cool ride the whole family could do together. There are many, many children that love HP, younger kids that can't ride FJ or Dragon Challenge. The only ride for them is Flight of the Hippogriff, which is just a re-themed coaster. FJ sounds extremely cool, but after the HP books did so much for kids and reading, I think it's disappointing there isn't more for kids. I'm was thinking maybe a Small World type ride through attraction or at the very least, it would have been nice if there was just a walk thru line for the castle for kids not big enough to ride.

 

[TMcDwyer]

As a true HP enthusiast, I can't wait to get to WWoHP at the end of November. I have listened to the Podcast, so I totally know what to expect, but I still can't wait to see it for myself. I have read the books more times than I care to admit and even being in a small part of that world is a thrilling idea to me. I do agree that Universal could have done more, and I truly hope that there are already plans to expand it. I also listen to a Harry Potter podcast and they just recently posted their review of the WWoHP. I look forward to listening to it to get the point of view of a true Harry Potter enthusiast as opposed to a theme park enthusiast/specialist.

Plus...I can't wait to get my wand at Olivanders!

 

[TMcDwyer]

I'm was thinking maybe a Small World type ride through attraction or at the very least, it would have been nice if there was just a walk thru line for the castle for kids not big enough to ride.

This would be awesome!

 

[pjacobi]

It's an expensive mall, too.

Wands: $25.00
HP scarf: $35.00
Brooms: $250-$300 (it better fly for that much!)


-Paul

 

[PeterPan09]

I'm hoping that they are not done. I agree with the podcast team that Universal could get rid of that insipid Sinbad thing and pretty much redo the whole area it's in and make more Potter-land. I'd like to see a show added, and at least one more ride.

 

[Tekneek]

I'm not picking on Universal. I often feel the same way about World Showcase at Epcot.

World Showcase is more of an adult area, with a few things thrown in for kids here and there. It is known more for the restaurants and wine/beer than anything else.

 

[eeyorethegreat]

It's an expensive mall, too.

Wands: $25.00
HP scarf: $35.00
Brooms: $250-$300 (it better fly for that much!)


-Paul

Actually $25 for a wand isn't bad. I have gotten wands at Alivans online (they are beautiful!!) and they were all over $25.

 

[rsbuxt]

Hi

This website seems pretty detailed on what is there.....

http://www.angelfire.com/tx5/worldofmagic/intro.html#top

Rich

 

[Tekneek]

Hi

This website seems pretty detailed on what is there.....

http://www.angelfire.com/tx5/worldofmagic/intro.html#top

Rich

Hahah. Very nice.

 

[rsbuxt]

Sorry, forget last link - misinformation from daughter

Rich

 

[JB2K]

Is HP just a "themed mall"?

Actually, in my family, we have a similar saying about WDW attractions - "Ride the ride and see the shop as you exit the ride".

I haven't been to Universal Studios Florida in a long time (pre-IOA), so while I can't comment on the current setup, I can offer some things to consider:

First of all, HP is not a Universal-owned character - he is licensed (as much of USF's attractions are, only because most of Universal's modern-day properties aren't exactly "theme park marketable"). Warner Bros. made all the HP movies which means those holding the HP licenses and setting-up something at USF would be much better than, say, Six Flags (of whom Warner already has a historically long relationship with).

Secondly, if this HP attraction does perform well, I wouldn't be surprised to see USF begin to consider the possibility of getting out of those existing contracts with (now Disney-owned) Marvel and perhaps using that existing platform for an expansion of the HP franchise (or something completely different).

Thoughts?

 

[pjacobi]

Actually $25 for a wand isn't bad. I have gotten wands at Alivans online (they are beautiful!!) and they were all over $25.

The real magic of Harry Potter is turning 2 cents of wood into $25.00!

Who needs alchemy when you can do that?


-Paul

 

[dalt01]

IMHO, I think HP needed at least one more ride. A cool ride the whole family could do together.

YUP, something like ET or Soarin'