The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

[dizcrazee]

I think it will be open in June, but they may still be working a few kinks out.

I've got a friend who is working on this project who said they were told to have everything up and running before the Grand Opening/Memorial Day. That's not to say the Grand Opening is Memorial Day. This person wasn't allowed to tell me what date that would be as that's very hush hush still.

My guess is that it will be sometime between May 21st and 29th. We know that several of the actors have said they are coming in May, and one even said late May (though I can't remember which one). Also, the Universal hotels were blacked out for the weekend of the 21st for a while, suggesting that a large event was taking place where they would need to ensure they had enough rooms for the events guests, and a grand opening with lots of rooms for press, celebs, and contest winners would fit that bill the best. In addition, the contest sponsored by the Today show for a class of school kids to get to go to the opening states that the winners will be selected April 23rd - 29th, and then will have about 25 days to make their travel arrangements. This would have them going to Universal during that magic week I've just stated.

Thank you for this analysis, MadeToLove! I'm hoping it's Memorial Day weekend or later. I'm checking on this every day so that I can change my hotel reservations to the correct date, and I certainly hope that the Universal hotels don't have the grand opening time blocked out. That would not be good!

Hopefully, they'll make the announcement soon, and then the daily-watchers like me can jump on the hotel reservations pronto. Here's me checking constantly:

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for all of us hopeful-grand-opening-attendees! Here's me cheering us on:

 

[damo]

This is the same time I had planned on going, but I hesitate to book anything without knowing if WW will be open or not by this time. I had planned on a two week vacation, do a few other things in FL while we are there, but I would positively hate to go and not see WWoHP.
It will probably be the last trip we make to FL for a very long time, so it's very frustrating, not being able to plan with any certainty.

Will it be open in early June? or will it not? Educated guesses anyone?

The only other time we could go is mid August, and the kids would rather not go right before school. Would delaying our trip until 6/12 make much difference? I'm reading that early June is a slightly less crowded time, but how much worse can a week or two be?

My only suggestion is to keep an eye on message boards who deal more intensely with this issue. The best one is probably here

http://www.orlandounited.com/forums/showthread.php?9-The-Wizarding-World-Of-Harry-Potter

 

[dizcrazee]

My only suggestion is to keep an eye on message boards who deal more intensely with this issue. The best one is probably here

http://www.orlandounited.com/forums/showthread.php?9-The-Wizarding-World-Of-Harry-Potter

Thanks for the link, damo. Now I have another place to check obsessively.

 

[Poly-Anna]

I was hoping someone would address the issue! Kinda got out of hand.

 

[Don Pacho]

My only suggestion is to keep an eye on message boards who deal more intensely with this issue. The best one is probably here

http://www.orlandounited.com/forums/showthread.php?9-The-Wizarding-World-Of-Harry-Potter

For me Orlando United is the best for the WWHP because they have guys like BriMan (the administrator of the site) and Disneyhead that go to IOA almost every day.

However, IMHO the very best place to know the latest on anything on theme parks is Screamscape. They will give you links to the sites with the lastest news or rumors on anything.


For instance, this is the latest info they have regarding WWHP:

2010 - The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - (2/8/10) Take a look at what’s been going on around Islands of Adventure lately in the latest update to RCPro, including a good look around the Wizarding World. Of course if you really want a unique look at the Potter-verse, then head over to Orlando United where they took a helicopter tour over the park this past week to get a really good look at everything. One sharp eyed reader has even spotted what looks like a covered up Buckbeak figure next to the coaster track before the lift hill on the Flying Hippogriff.
Also rumors about a possible late March soft opening of the Wizarding World (ride or no ride) are still everywhere. Of course it is also quite interesting to see in writing under the terms of use for the Florida Resident 2-Day / 2-Park pass that your “Ticket expires 30 days after use or in full on March 19, 2010.” I find it quite interesting that they would choose March 19th as a strange deadline for these tickets, don’t you think?
On a related news item, we’ve been told from an insider that Dueling Dragons is slated to close down for it’s final transformation into Dragon’s Challenge at the end of February 26th.

.

 

[Don Pacho]

Images courtesy of Orlando United
http://www.orlandounited.com

.​

 

[Don Pacho]

Images courtesy of Orlando United
http://www.orlandounited.com

.​

 

[the Dark Marauder]

I find it quite interesting that they would choose March 19th as a strange deadline for these tickets, don’t you think?
On a related news item, we’ve been told from an insider that Dueling Dragons is slated to close down for it’s final transformation into Dragon’s Challenge at the end of February 26th.

I have heard DD will close after River Adventure comes back from rehab, which is slated for early March.

We'll know soon enough...

 

[frequency]

One of the menu items listed on the universal website is "Great Feast Platter". Could that be a buffet? I know we are think this will be a CS restaurant like The Oak Tavern was but any chance it could include buffet too? I kind of get a Biergarten vibe from it.

 

[Don Pacho]

Courtesy of Disneyhead, Orlando United
http://www.orlandounited.com

Because pretty much none of my questions get answered I shorten them. That one there was a short, shortened message (it was ignored twice). The question is: In Hogsmeade, one of the buildings is incomplete (from the Ariel shots). It is missing part of a roof and wall and inside, it has something blue. Will they ever fill this building up? The building is between Honeydukes and the Three Broomsticks. Another question is: on the toilets, it has a sloped, pointy roof, but it stops halfway back on the building. Will this roof ever stretch right across to the lake side? I am pretty sure no-one reads long comments; most people dont even read me short comments. One time I put a wizard swear in the middle. Chances are no one is reading this either... Another question (it has already been answered, but I need to check again), is there a way to find my previous posts? Thanks

OK, here is the blue thing that Descendo was talking about. My guess is, if it not air conditioning, it is something to do with the snow machines.

To hint at what the trees/landscaping will look like.Here are some of the new trees they have already put in:

Here is where I believe the lockers for Dragon Challenge will be:

And finally, a guess as to where things will be inside of the Hogwarts show building:

Red= Entry Hall with moving staircase (I think the big box-thing on the roof may be the mechinism that moves the stairs)
Blue= Classrooms/ House Common Rooms/ Dumbledore's office (Queue pre-show rooms)
Green= Great Hall with Load/Unload
Black= Filtch's Emporium
Lavender= Exit Corridor
Of course the ride itself will be in the major portion on the right.

.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

One of the menu items listed on the universal website is "Great Feast Platter". Could that be a buffet? I know we are think this will be a CS restaurant like The Oak Tavern was but any chance it could include buffet too? I kind of get a Biergarten vibe from it.

Sounds like a CS location to me and the "Great Feast Platter" sounds like it'll be a combo meal of some sort. Also, a place that lists Turkey Leg as an option to me sounds like a definite CS. I would've loved another table service or a buffet though.

 

[TnRobin]

Well, I finally decided to take a chance and book the week of May 23rd. I would love for this to be open, but I dread it if it is Grand Opening crowds. We were at DL when Nemo opened - that was a nightmare and that was only one ride, not an entire section of the park.

Thanks for all the info guys.

 

[heatherbelle]

Here in the UK, universal have just shown an advert, featuring Harry and friends on Broom sticks flying around the theme park buildings, being chased by a fire eating dragon. It looked really good.

Myself and my DS can't wait to go. Now I need to read all these posts to figure out all this talk about the resturants etc.

We could do with mini posts, or well back the reading.

 

[Don Pacho]

Courtesy of WWOHP fan, Orlando United
http://www.orlandounited.com

Just receive from an brasilian website webmaster

seems that Emma watson, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and JK Rowling will be present at WWOHP Openning day , the first day will be open only for guest !

Rumors say that it will have an attraction in 4D in the castle of Hogwarts,
with a total sensory experience. No one knows for sure what this attraction
is, but there are indications that it is a flight of Quidditch or a class.

The Hogwarts' windows were designed with a fascinating technology, first
will come one with 3m high, then another with 2m and the last one with 1m,
so that, when viewed from below, it appears that the building hasn't an end,
providing more high to it.

More here : http://arquivo.potterish.com/2010/02/exclusivo-trio-e-jkr-na-inauguracao-do-parque-tematico in portuguese ^^

It also says in the article, when I translated it into babelfish, that the grand opening will be open to only VIP personnel and the winners of the various contests that offer a trip to the event. Don't know if this is a result of a bad translation or just a rumor OR the truth.

 

[Don Pacho]

Courtesy of psion, Orlando United
http://www.orlandounited.com

some lame and random thought from me, becasue i am bored.
bare with me.


more speculation and observation.

 

[tttessa]

Woooohooo -

have booked RPH in October for a night - hope everything is fully up and running and bugfixed etc by then...... Soooooooo looking forward to it - we keep getting ads on UK TV - makes it all seem more real....

We keep going to the Universal website and sending each other owl posts now too.... cute...

Tessa

 

[OrlandoUnited]

Don Pacho,
Could you please stop posting images from Orlando United without getting permission? Copying and pasting forum code that links to images exlusive to Orlando United is not only unfair because of a bandwidth issue, but also unfair because it takes away from the hard work from Orlando United members to get said exclusive content.

What would be acceptable is a link to the exact posting with the images on Orlando United, rather than posting the images themselves.

P.S. - It is also insulting that you write "courtest of [membername]", when no consent or courtesies were given.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Don Pacho,
Could you please stop posting images from Orlando United without getting permission? Copying and pasting forum code that links to images exlusive to Orlando United is not only unfair because of a bandwidth issue, but also unfair because it takes away from the hard work from Orlando United members to get said exclusive content.

What would be acceptable is a link to the exact posting with the images on Orlando United, rather than posting the images themselves.

P.S. - It is also insulting that you write "courtest of [membername]", when no consent or courtesies were given.

I can't speak for Don Pacho, but it seems that the intent in posting the pictures was to share the excitement of WWOHP while still acknowledging the source. You are totally within your rights to request a link to your site instead. That's a very reasonable request. "Insulting" seems a bit strong, though. I don't see any ill intent in Don Pacho's posts, and because of them, I have bookmarked your site (that I didnt even know existed) and have been working through the 300+ pages on your WWOHP thread.

I know I appreciate all your hard work and photos and I'm glad that I have become aware of them through the DIS.

 

[OrlandoUnited]

I can't speak for Don Pacho, but it seems that the intent in posting the pictures was to share the excitement of WWOHP while still acknowledging the source. You are totally within your rights to request a link to your site instead. That's a very reasonable request. "Insulting" seems a bit strong, though. I don't see any ill intent in Don Pacho's posts, and because of them, I have bookmarked your site (that I didnt even know existed) and have been working through the 300+ pages on your WWOHP thread.

I know I appreciate all your hard work and photos and I'm glad that I have become aware of them through the DIS.

I am not offiliated with OrlandoUnited.com.

 

[sayhello]

I am not offiliated with OrlandoUnited.com.

Then why are you complaining, and in what capacity? And how do you know Don Pacho doesn't have permission if you aren't affiliated with them? I also think your username is deliberately mis-leading.

Sayhello