Speculation on Wizarding World of Harry Potter

[ADP]

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will open in a little over 3 months from now at Islands of Adventure. The anticipation for this themed area continues to be very high.

With all the hype and anticipation what are the chances of guests being disappointed with the newly themed area? Looking at what is planned for this area it appears to include:
- A replica Hogwarts Castle
- A newly constructed dark ride inside Hogwarts Castle with first of its kind technology
- A village with shops, eateries, and interactive experiences (Hogsmeade Village)
- 2 newly rethemed attractions with Potter overlays (the old Dueling Dragons & Flying Unicorn)

Here's a link to the official Wizarding World of Harry Potter website. Be sure to check out the first look video in the videos section of the website.
http://www.universalorlandoresort.com/harrypotter/

I'm trying to keep my expectations low, but with quite a bit of hype out there it is difficult. I'm sort of thinking with all of the high expectations it maybe doomed to be a disappointment. Universal has proven to build advanced attractions and experiences ahead of their time; i.e. Spiderman, but this is different. Because of the success of the Potter brand guests will only expect the very best. Anything less will be a disappointment.

Based on the information out there what are your expectations of this highly anticipated, newly themed area?

 

[safetymom]

I am 100% sure that you will hear people complaining after it opens. Without a lot of details I am sure a lot of people are expecting more than what will be there.

On the other hand I do think lots and lots and lots of people are going to be very happy with what they did.

I sure hope everyone packs a lot of patience because I think this is going to be very popular for quite awhile.

 

[ADP]

I am 100% sure that you will hear people complaining after it opens. Without a lot of details I am sure a lot of people are expecting more than what will be there.

On the other hand I do think lots and lots and lots of people are going to be very happy with what they did.

I sure hope everyone packs a lot of patience because I think this is going to be very popular for quite awhile.

I agree...Patience is going to be needed. Since most guests are going to want to immediately experience this crowds in the new area are going to be "off the charts". I hope there is a decent amount of physical space, or else it could get quite uncomfortable; especially in the summer.

 

[safetymom]

It will be interesting to see how Universal is going to handle the crowds.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I agree...Patience is going to be needed. Since most guests are going to want to immediately experience this crowds in the new area are going to be "off the charts". I hope there is a decent amount of physical space, or else it could get quite uncomfortable; especially in the summer.

I am especially wondering how WWofHP will absorb and disperse crowds. I'm excited to see it, I'm a huge fan, but I am keeping my expectations low, I think there will be some very cool things there, things we have never seen, but I also know there is potential for disappointment. I'm hoping the shops don't just sell a bunch of cheap junk, that they will really offer some fun and unique items. I hope they are able to do justice to the Hogwarts castle and that the Hippogriff rollercoaster isn't just a rollercoaster with a car made to look like a Hippogriff. I've never been to Universal, but it looks WWofHP will finally be the thing to draw me in. I will be definitely waiting to hear reviews though and looking for a time when it's only mobbed, not "so mobbed you can't even move an inch."

 

[cathie1327]

DBF and I had considered foregoing our normal Disney trip this year to go to Universal Orlando, as he's never been there, and I only got to see some of it during a band trip 10 years ago in high school.

I have to admit, that the WWoHP is making me want to consider this even more. (that and rising prices at WDW)

My expectations are really not that high, but that being said, I am REALLY excited for this. I really only expect for the village of Hogsmeade to be a cool atmosphere, with touches from the movies/books. I am sure their "imagineers" did their homework on the books and movies and hopefully added some of those things.

Aside from that, I also believe, as said above, that there will 100% definitely be disappointed people. You can't please everyone.

 

[mark2311]

There's a thread on the Universal board with construction pics. Everything I have seen so far looks very impresssive and certainly from a visual point of view I don't think people will be disappointed

 

[DisneyDaddy-O]

Here is the thread PP was referring to I think, looks very cool so far!

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2219505

 

[MagicalKingdom]

agreed with ADP, we will need a lot of patience specially when were on the crowd..

 

[DavidandLeahZ]

My two cents:

As long as people understand that this is not a theme park and simply a "land" within an existing park, I think everything will be fine. It seems to me (from what I've read) that it's more of an immersive experience. If there will only be three (1 brand new) attractions, it may be that the ones who enjoy it the most will be fans of the series who want to experience what it's like to visit the life-world of Harry Potter. In other words, hopefully potential visitors don't expect a dozen "rides."

- Dave

 

[lindsey clare]

My two cents:

As long as people understand that this is not a theme park and simply a "land" within an existing park, I think everything will be fine. It seems to me (from what I've read) that it's more of an immersive experience. If there will only be two attractions, it may be that the ones who enjoy it the most will be fans of the series who want to experience what it's like to visit the life-world of Harry Potter. In other words, hopefully potential visitors don't expect a dozen "rides."

- Dave

that's a really good point about it being a land, not a whole park.

i am a big HP fan but coming from Australia, i think i'll be impressed by pretty much anything!

 

[kim532]

It seems to me (from what I've read) that it's more of an immersive experience.
- Dave

I agree. I am looking forward to it. We have decided to wait until our 2011 trip to hit WWoHP. So excited though.

Kim

 

[BriarRosie]

I am especially wondering how WWofHP will absorb and disperse crowds. I'm excited to see it, I'm a huge fan, but I am keeping my expectations low, I think there will be some very cool things there, things we have never seen, but I also know there is potential for disappointment. I'm hoping the shops don't just sell a bunch of cheap junk, that they will really offer some fun and unique items. I hope they are able to do justice to the Hogwarts castle and that the Hippogriff rollercoaster isn't just a rollercoaster with a car made to look like a Hippogriff. I've never been to Universal, but it looks WWofHP will finally be the thing to draw me in. I will be definitely waiting to hear reviews though and looking for a time when it's only mobbed, not "so mobbed you can't even move an inch."

I was under the impression that they were re-theming the existing Flying Unicorn kiddie coaster for that purpose, just as they're slapping a new theme on Fire and Ice.

I personally am looking forward to this, especially if WB and Jo Rowling are involved. I'm a big fan of the Potter books, and I listen to Pottercast. From what I've heard, the theming should be impressive.

I agree with those who feel that this is a richly themed land, not a mini-park unto itself. The only thing I'm worried about is the technology. Universal has a track record of attractions "going 101" in Disneyspeak.

 

[dmwang9]

What I'm looking forward to most is the immersion, not the rides or attractions. Yes, the headliner attraction sounds really cool, but mostly, I want to be able to wander around and soak up the atmosphere.

I'm going to be at Infinitus, a Harry Potter symposium in Orlando July 15 - 18. Anyone else?

 

[DavidandLeahZ]

The only thing I'm worried about is the technology. Universal has a track record of attractions "going 101" in Disneyspeak.

Actually, if I remember correctly- Universal will be using the same kuka (sp?) arm technology that's used at The Sum of All Thrills in the new Potter attraction. I believe they were the first to purchase the technology, but due to the scope of Universal's project, WDW got to utilize it first.

 

[Rip]

The only thing I'm worried about is the technology. Universal has a track record of attractions "going 101" in Disneyspeak.

Then I doubt you have anything to worry about, UO has some of the most technologically advanced rides in the world, much moreso than Disney at this point. Nothing they have built since IoA opened has disappointed, and Disney really has nothing that compares to Spiderman, The Mummy Returns, MiB, Shrek 4-D, or even the Simpsons. As a PP mentioned, Universal was the first to purchase the rights to use the Kuka robotic arms and this will be the only ride in existence where those arms are mounted on a moving track. Disney essentially jumped on the band wagon with The Sum of All Thrills, and since all that was required for that ride was to install the arm in a stationary position in an already existing facility, they were able to get them in their Orlando park quicker.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coBf3G_pEZU&mode=related&search=

Now, imagine that on a moving track.

 

[ADP]

Then I doubt you have anything to worry about, UO has some of the most technologically advanced rides in the world, much moreso than Disney at this point. Nothing they have built since IoA opened has disappointed, and Disney really has nothing that compares to Spiderman, The Mummy Returns, MiB, Shrek 4-D, or even the Simpsons. As a PP mentioned, Universal was the first to purchase the rights to use the Kuka robotic arms and this will be the only ride in existence where those arms are mounted on a moving track. Disney essentially jumped on the band wagon with The Sum of All Thrills, and since all that was required for that ride was to install the arm in a stationary position in an already existing facility, they were able to get them in their Orlando park quicker.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coBf3G_pEZU&mode=related&search=

Now, imagine that on a moving track.

The Kuka arm technology looks very cool. They've been discussing it for a few years now. It's good to see it in use by Disney and eventually UO. Seeing this on a moving track should be amazing.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

I can not wait to see the new WWOHP. Thanks for all the links and pics everyone. I am getting very excited!!!

 

[heidi8]

The "immersion" aspect of it is what I am looking forward to most. I've peeked through over the wall as much as possible over by the Sinbad area, and stopped on the bridge for ten-plus minutes just looking at everything I can see, and I think it's going to feel like you're in the HP books and films when you're standing in the middle of it all (as long as you don't look too closely towards the Hulk ride). It's going to be as much about the atmosphere as it's going to be about the rides themselves. Not that I'm not really looking forward to the Hogwarts ride, of course!

 

[klam_chowder]

We forgoed our WDW visit this December and headed to US/IoA for the first time. Even walking by the WWoHP construction site was very exciting and a lot of visitors stopped on the bridge to watch it, including us everytime we passed by.

We liked US - their thrill rides def top WDW's; DH much preferred US's thrill attractions. And there are some things I experienced at US that would be unthinkable at WDW...like the stores and carts having last wk's map so the show schedules were all wrong. Imagine that happening at WDW

IMHO, one thing US has up on WDW is the unique and interesting merchandise. At different parts I saw replica LoTR swords, really cool (not chintzy) costume pieces for belly dancing and complementary floor cushions, etc., and wonderful mini-plants. I look fwd to what WWoHP has, esp with JK being involved.

DH & I both Duelling Dragons, and working it into the HP theming will be fab. We liked Duelling Dragons much more than Rip Ride Rocket. Can't wait to see the new land. We'll be in Orlando for PC 2.0 and plan to take a day out to see WWoHP

cheers,