new Harry Potter opening?

[carly chloe]

Has anyone heard ANY mention when they think the new HP will open. I've been trying to decide when to plan our next trip. Late next year or into the following year?

 

[Metro West]

Has anyone heard ANY mention when they think the new HP will open. I've been trying to decide when to plan our next trip. Late next year or into the following year?

No official word yet...I'm guessing sometime in late 2013 or early 2014.

 

[Eclpz314]

Our local tv news reporter did a story on Transformers last night and ended it with "no mention of the new Harry Potter during the announcement."

This morning's Orlando Sentinel has an article about the Transformers, and this little quote from Robert Niles, editor of the Theme Park Insider website

"I think it makes pretty smart business sense for them to plug Transformers into that spot and really keep the momentum going through this year, taking them into next year, 2015 or whenever they get the new Potter project done," Niles said.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/trav...orlando-transformers-20121101,0,4075295.story

 

[DCTooTall]

No official word yet...I'm guessing sometime in late 2013 or early 2014.

right now my completely uneducated guess works like this.

They just announced Transformers opening in Summer 2013.

In Fall 2013 after the big tourist season, They'll officially announce HP Phase 2 for a Summer (or Fall?) 2014 opening.


The reason I'm guessing this is because it would keep the momentum going, and would give them about 2.5yrs to complete the "Amity Project".

January 2012: Jaws Closes
Summer 2012: Despicable Me/New Spiderman/New Lagoon Show/ New parade
Fall 2012: Announce Transformers.
Summer 2013: Open Transformers
Fall 2013: Announce Potter Phase 2
Summer 2014: Open Potter Phase 2.

Considering the water-side walkway is done being reworked, and we are starting to see vertical construction behind the walls in the old Amity area, I'm thinking there is a realistic possibility that Potter Phase 2 in the Amity Section of the park could be (mostly) completed by Summer '14. That would give them another 1.5yrs to finish the outside construction and the new ride and other support systems within those structures.

I'm also just guessing on the Fall 2013 announcement date as I'm basing that on the simple fact they may not want to take away from the spotlight of Transformers opening season. Depending on the status of the construction however, I could foresee an earlier announcement if it's looking like the exterior construction would reach a point prior to the fall where the details/shapes would make it harder, if not impossible, to conceal the project. (You know, like if an obvious landmark, such as the HogWarts castle, starts to get enough detail that it would be hard to hide what it's going to be)

 

[wiigirl]

No official word yet...I'm guessing sometime in late 2013 or early 2014.

Ughhh

 

[CentralFloridian99]

right now my completely uneducated guess works like this.

They just announced Transformers opening in Summer 2013.

In Fall 2013 after the big tourist season, They'll officially announce HP Phase 2 for a Summer (or Fall?) 2014 opening.


The reason I'm guessing this is because it would keep the momentum going, and would give them about 2.5yrs to complete the "Amity Project".

January 2012: Jaws Closes
Summer 2012: Despicable Me/New Spiderman/New Lagoon Show/ New parade
Fall 2012: Announce Transformers.
Summer 2013: Open Transformers
Fall 2013: Announce Potter Phase 2
Summer 2014: Open Potter Phase 2.

Considering the water-side walkway is done being reworked, and we are starting to see vertical construction behind the walls in the old Amity area, I'm thinking there is a realistic possibility that Potter Phase 2 in the Amity Section of the park could be (mostly) completed by Summer '14. That would give them another 1.5yrs to finish the outside construction and the new ride and other support systems within those structures.

I'm also just guessing on the Fall 2013 announcement date as I'm basing that on the simple fact they may not want to take away from the spotlight of Transformers opening season. Depending on the status of the construction however, I could foresee an earlier announcement if it's looking like the exterior construction would reach a point prior to the fall where the details/shapes would make it harder, if not impossible, to conceal the project. (You know, like if an obvious landmark, such as the HogWarts castle, starts to get enough detail that it would be hard to hide what it's going to be)

They might do it around D23 to steal thunder from Disney.

 

[macraven]

big new items usually open for the summer crowds.


i have no idea when the new parry hotter thing will open.



whatever date it is, i'll be in the line for the new ride a few months later.

i prefer avoiding the rush that way.

 

[CentralFloridian99]

big new items usually open for the summer crowds.


i have no idea when the new parry hotter thing will open.



whatever date it is, i'll be in the line for the new ride a few months later.

i prefer avoiding the rush that way.

Yeah, I like to wait 2 months if it's a summer opening.

 

[SammySlythers]

I would like to believe Diagon Alley will be open in summer of 2014 but I think that 2015 is more likely. Universal has to do construction at both parks to open the USF side and they don't have a very good track record with meeting deadlines (coughrockitcough), plus supposedly the company that designed rockit is in the running for building the Gringotts coaster so...

 

[damo]

I would like to believe Diagon Alley will be open in summer of 2014 but I think that 2015 is more likely. Universal has to do construction at both parks to open the USF side and they don't have a very good track record with meeting deadlines (coughrockitcough), plus supposedly the company that designed rockit is in the running for building the Gringotts coaster so...

More likely it will be Premier, like the Mummy, or Intamin. I don't think they'll work with Maurer Söhne again.

 

[ChrisFL]

More likely it will be Premier, like the Mummy, or Intamin. I don't think they'll work with Maurer Söhne again.

I don't either...I think its a good company, but the project for RRR was too big/different for them.

 

[CentralFloridian99]

More likely it will be Premier, like the Mummy, or Intamin. I don't think they'll work with Maurer Söhne again.

Screamscape is pointing Intamin because of the drop, but keep in mind Intamin coasters get downtime alot, and I don't think Universal wants to risk that.

 

[damo]

Universal has worked a lot with Premier rides, so it is most likely them. There are some great Intamin coasters out there though....Millenium Force and Califonia Screamin just to name a few...that are very reliable and great fun.

 

[pokee99]

Any idea when next summer Transformers will open? I'll be there July 7, 8, 9 - too early maybe?

Will it likely be excluded from Express Pass, too?

 

[Metro West]

Any idea when next summer Transformers will open? I'll be there July 7, 8, 9 - too early maybe?

Will it likely be excluded from Express Pass, too?

There's no way to tell of course but obviously construction is moving right along. I would guess they will try to have it ready for the summer season so maybe mid-June maybe? I doubt if Express will be available when it first opens but we'll have to wait and see.

 

[CentralFloridian99]

Another reason why Intamin is a bad choice: the Hagrid sized riders probably won't be able to fit.

 

[damo]

Another reason why Intamin is a bad choice: the Hagrid sized riders probably won't be able to fit.

Does California Screamin have any issues? I hadn't heard of any.

 

[CentralFloridian99]

Does California Screamin have any issues? I hadn't heard of any.

Most Intamin coaster vehicles have size issues.

 

[DCTooTall]

I would like to believe Diagon Alley will be open in summer of 2014 but I think that 2015 is more likely. Universal has to do construction at both parks to open the USF side and they don't have a very good track record with meeting deadlines (coughrockitcough), plus supposedly the company that designed rockit is in the running for building the Gringotts coaster so...

Besides the unique Coaster issues people have hinted at which could be unique to Rockit...... I'm also thinking the ownership change could have a huge influence. With only 1 owner now (instead of 2 different owners with different priorities), AND with that owner being so obvious in their belief in investing within the parks, I'm thinking the support and resources are much more likely to be readily given to help avoid or mitigate delays in the projects.

 

[damo]

Most Intamin coaster vehicles have size issues.

Since it is unlikely we're going to get a rocket coaster or a giga or even a hyper and probably won't have inversions like Cheetah Hunt, I would say that Intamin can probably handle the size issues for the small coaster that would go into Gringott's. Heck, if they can do it for Disney, they can do it for Universal.