Is Harry Potter Land Just A Themed Mall?

[lugnut33]

From the descriptions of it that's what it appears to be. You got a couple of rides (just re-themed from what I understand) and a bunch of stores and some restaurants. How is that any different than just being a fancy themed shopping experience?

 

[myhouseofmouse]

I agree, it sure sounds that way. i have been on both the Re-themed coasters (before the Retheming), so besides the new ride, what all is there to do but shop and eat? alot fo money spent on just good sights!

 

[ADP]

I think we can all agree that not enough of a capital investment was made for WWoHP. Maybe Universal feels they've invested enough, but I'm sure most theme park/Harry Potter fans won't/don't feel that way.

Universal is not fiscally healthy right now. Spielberg played a huge role in the creation of Islands of Adventure, and Universal will be paying for his services and licensing for quite some time (the actual theme park wasn't cheap to build either). The Spiderman attraction alone cost Universal Approximately 75 million dollars to create and build in the late 1990s. I can understand to some degree why Universal didn't invest more into WWoHP; although I wish, as a fan, they would have spent a billion dollars.

I really want WWoHP to be a huge success. If for anything else, I was hopeful it would push Disney to do more. Competition is to our advantage. If WWoHP is successful for a number of years Disney will feel compelled to up their game and make additional theme park investments. In the end, the guests and fans win.

 

[lugnut33]

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

 

[DiRTyBuNNy]

From the descriptions of it that's what it appears to be. You got a couple of rides (just re-themed from what I understand) and a bunch of stores and some restaurants. How is that any different than just being a fancy themed shopping experience?

Yes and you're right..it's pretty much a big Medieval Times! Go Universal! Way to make JK look like a sell out and have to explain away your failures once this blows up in your face!

--DB

 

[Icecoldpenguin]

I am a HUGE DIE HARD HP fan and while I am super excited and of course I am going opening day I am kind of like hmm....I mean I have ridden the two re-themed rides and so that is kind of lame, the height restrictions for FJ are annoying my BF and his brother are 6'3" and 6'4" both hardcore fans as well.

I want to see the shops and stuff and I want to see the design but I have a feeling im going to be left thinking WOW they could have done this better. I really think Disney should have done it just because they would have taken the time with it.

I have so many ideas they could have done the following: Built the forbidden forest, built a hagrid's hut you can go in, built the weasley's house, built attractions like getting to do stuff from the goblet of fire, they could have made the castle resorts where you could stay in the different houses there are just so many things and also don't make hogsmeade and then put diagon alley inside it...just so not cool.

So to say the least I hope it gets better and I am going to enjoy it for what it is but the disney part of my vacation will be so much better.... **sigh** thanks universal way to go!

TD

 

[NancyIL]

I have never been to Universal Orlando, but I bought the 7-day ticket for $99 before prices increased. I intend to go next February - primarily to see the WWoHP. I like theming and don't "do coasters" - so I will enjoy the shops and eateries.

 

[safetymom]

I wouldn't think of Wizarding World as a themed mall. I am sure for the HP fan there is plenty to see and enjoy. I do think they could have done so much more.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I'm actually surprised there aren't more shops. Honeydukes, Zonko's, Ollivander's and Filch's at the end of Forbidden Journey I think is it. I was surprised there was no book shop or no "Villian/Dark Arts" type shop.

 

[jeanigor]

From the descriptions of it that's what it appears to be. You got a couple of rides (just re-themed from what I understand) and a bunch of stores and some restaurants. How is that any different than just being a fancy themed shopping experience?

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

As soon as I read your first post, your second post popped into my head. But at least WS has some walking room and can handle crowds.

 

[disneysteve]

I think this is going to accomplish just what Universal wanted. It is going to draw in people like me - people who are regular Disney visitors but have never been to Universal. We are going in August for the first time and it is because of WWOHP. If not for that, we would be staying in the "never been there" camp. If we like the parks (not just the HP section), it will likely become a regular part of our Disney trips and Universal will have "won" another family.

 

[NancyIL]

When Disney opened MGM and Animal Kingdom - a lot of people complained that they weren't full-day parks, and those were separate theme parks. I imagine Universal will add to the WWoHP as time goes on, but it is only part of a theme park (like Fantasyland) and not a new theme park.

By the way, I LOVE World Showcase at Epcot.

 

[Commando2319]

The problem I see is expansion. In looking at the map, I don't see a lot of room to make Harry Potter World any bigger. You'd think with a world as rich as Harry Potter that it could have its own entire theme park.

But look what Disney did with Star Wars. One little ride, a small show and a gift show. I am still waiting for a Star Wars Land at least the size of Tomorrowland.

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.

 

[Informer1906]

I think we can all agree that not enough of a capital investment was made for WWoHP. Maybe Universal feels they've invested enough, but I'm sure most theme park/Harry Potter fans won't/don't feel that way.

Universal is not fiscally healthy right now. Spielberg played a huge role in the creation of Islands of Adventure, and Universal will be paying for his services and licensing for quite some time (the actual theme park wasn't cheap to build either). The Spiderman attraction alone cost Universal Approximately 75 million dollars to create and build in the late 1990s. I can understand to some degree why Universal didn't invest more into WWoHP; although I wish, as a fan, they would have spent a billion dollars.

I really want WWoHP to be a huge success. If for anything else, I was hopeful it would push Disney to do more. Competition is to our advantage. If WWoHP is successful for a number of years Disney will feel compelled to up their game and make additional theme park investments. In the end, the guests and fans win.

Great post,competition is good for all.

 

[Icecoldpenguin]

All i can say is that if they were not going to invest and they were not going to do it RIGHT then they should not have done it at all.

To make a better comparison here Harry potter is the star wars of the younger generation and this is coming from a person who has star wars tattoos and is only 25. I love SW but I am a huge HP fan too. If I want to go to a HP theme park I want it to be a HP Theme park not just a piece of it. I want to be immersed! So many people want to be a part of that world and if universal could not do that they should have waited.

They could have done this to something like Twilight and it would have been fine but to HP i mean come on. Its going to be great because all us HP Dorks will be able to have a piece of it but I mean maybe we are asking for too much the HP fans will always want more and to be honest I would rather have more books than more theme park.

TD

 

[MaxTheIntern]

I'm actually surprised there aren't more shops. Honeydukes, Zonko's, Ollivander's and Filch's at the end of Forbidden Journey I think is it. I was surprised there was no book shop or no "Villian/Dark Arts" type shop.

there is a book shop but its a fake shop. It says Closed on the door. There is about 3 or 4 of these "fake" shops that say closed

 

[Figment632]

No its main attraction will change theme park attractions forever it is a definate game changer.

 

[safetymom]

I used to think that before I got to see Wizarding World. I don't believe it will be a game changer.

 

[Figment632]

I used to think that before I got to see Wizarding World. I don't believe it will be a game changer.

Have you been on the dark ride?

 

[safetymom]

Yes I rode Forbidden Journey.