My thoughts and ideas about this whole thing (might get long)
First off, I am a little sad to see the ride closing. I am glad that I was able to ride it a few times this past summer at least. However, I am looking forward to seeing what Universal has planned.
Now, first off about
HHN. I have never been (always been to scared, but maybe this year (I tell myself that every year, lol)). However, I always read about it and watch videos online.
What makes the most sense in my eyes is to go back to the two park experince. Make a large temp bridge over the water near Disaster that leads to the other side of the park (would lead to the right of Simpsons if facing the ride). So, for HHN, guests would have access to all the areas of the park they had in the past except the Amity area. Then they could open up a few lands in IOA as well to handle the smaller area for guests during the event. Would give them access to some showbuildings and areas that have not been used much for HHN in the past.
Now, lets switch gears to what I think they will be placing in the area. I personally think Transformers is not an option. Sure I would like the ride, but it really is just Spiderman with a new theme (same ride system). Also, I think if it was Transformers, today or tomorrow would be an ideal time to announce it since the first version of the ride offically opens either today or tomorrow (can't remember which). There has to be a reason they have not said anything.
I think that reason is, they are waiting to make a huge HP announcement. According to Screamscape, the rumor is that work walls will start going up in Feb. for the start of Phase 2 near the current HP area (notice the rumor just mentions the HP area, doesn't mention Jaws. Work walls can (and will now) go up sooner at Jaws). While I would like them to take over the rest of that side of the park up till Suess, I don't see that happening...at least for the time being. I simply think a train station will get added to IOA which will keep the flow of the park almost the same. I can't see them wanting to basically close off one entrance into the area only leaving the JP entrance as the only way in and out...that would be a nightmare!
In terms of Jaws, that is a huge piece of land they are clearing out which could easily handle a "train" ride. I personally don't see them placing a real working train into the parks that can be seen by the public going from one park to the other. Instead, the more logical I think idea, would be to greatly expand on the King Kong 360 experince (without the 3D) and basically create the look off a train that travels in a tunnel that is one very major video screen that shows the train ride. Think about it, the train could even get attacked like in the movies to really make the train experince a thrilling ride. There is simply no way they would create a train ride through the backlot that is open air simply because of the amount of theming involved. With this tunnel system, all they have to create is the tunnel and all the buildings around the area can stay the same. Personally, the train ride to Hogwarts is the missing feature to the area...it just doesn't seem right to walk there.
For those that don't know what King Kong 360 is, it is basically a large tunnel that wraps around nearly the whole train area (it stops below the track so the rider does not see where it ends). This tunnel then has a huge video screen wrapped around the whole tunnel and then video projection is played that wraps around the whole train. Basically they are able to totally wrap you (and the car you are sitting in) in a huge video so all you see is a video playing. It really transports the viewer to another place and time because of how well the effect works. The video projections could even be attached to the train or on a moving track so that way video is only playing when a car can see it and not always playing to save on some cost of projectors.
Now, that train ride would not take up much space, so a lot more can go into this area. I would think another MAJOR thrill ride and another family friendly ride is in order along with more shops and places to eat, and off course Butterbeer! The idea of getting Butterbeer at both parks makes me SOOOO happy!!
I think the reason they are holding off on the announcement is because they want to create a major announcement in the coming weeks that will cause all us HP fans to go nuts. The Hollywood version of HP has not been made offical yet. So, I am thinking we will get one major announcement about a whole new HP area at Orlando along with the first area in Hollywood.
A few months ago they finally knocked down the old Hard Rock building that had been empty for years. Not totally sure where that was, but maybe that was in the way for this "tunnel" train ride so it had to go.
In terms of profit, this will be huge for Universal Orlando. They will go from one park with HP to two parks with HP and yet it will all seem to "fit" together since in the books Hogwarts and the London train station are very far apart. Adding another HP restaurant to Universal will give die hard fans a place at each park to eat. In just makes a lot of sense to have HP in both parks.
The only thing I am not sure about are the tickets. I could see them simply doing away with the single park tickets and just making every ticket sold a ticket to both parks. That would make the train ride be open to all since everybody could switch between both parks when they wanted.
Of course, this is all my thoughts and ideas based on rumors I have heard and with the past success of the King Kong 360 experience. Expanding that concept into a train ride though the london country like in the movies with an attack would just be an
epic experince. But who knows, maybe they are planning a whole new movie (or book, or both) concept. The Hobbit is coming out soon, so maybe a land based on Lord of the Rings. With the success of HP, I can't see Universal closing a whole land to just replace it with a few rides from different movies or books. Universal sees that guests want a total experince that is very detailed based off of one concept. I personally and hoping for more HP, but whatever book or movie they pick to recreate in that area should be good and will most likely open up around the time of Avatar at
Disneyland to knock the wind out of Disney's sails once again.
It's different with JAWS for me. 
I just hope it's not Transformers. I seriously doubt that when kids grow up and get to be our age
).
