The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

[Don Pacho]

Courtesy of Screamscape
http://screamscape.com

Park News - (3/2/10) A new construction update from IOA, including the Potter-Verse and the rest of the park, can be seen at

Orlando Parks News.

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[bubba's mom]

I totally understand (and will never complain) about the safety issue.

YOU may not complain about the safety issue, but there ARE people out there who will and some get outright angry. Some people don't understand it's a safety thing set by the manufacturer and not Universal.

Will they let a kid that's too short even go through the queue? It seems like there'd be a chance that some family might try to go ahead and sneak a kid on. I know they'll probably have someone measuring both before the queue and at the ride, but still. At WDW kids that are too short are not even allowed in line. Parents have to do the parent swap thing beforehand.

I have never been to IOA so maybe they do the measuring at the end before getting on the ride itself?

Yes...short looking kids are measured before boarding...at the end of the queue. My son was once measured while he was standing in line (he was NEXT) for DD. Our coaster was pulling up into the station, and the TM had the measuring stick handy. At Hulk, what they measure you with is actually a line on a plaque attached to the wall...so there is no mis-measuring. So, you'd HAVE to go thru the queue to be measured. IF there is someone measuring at the entrance, just say "they aren't riding. We are doing child swap" and there shouldn't be any problem.

 

[Don Pacho]

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

Just go to mugglenet.com and it's the first story. A new piece of concept art has risen (in case some missed it):

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[MadeToLove]

NBC will air "Making of Wizarding World of Harry Potter" on Sunday, June 6th, a sneak peak of Potterland and all its new attractions.

I suspect they'll be filming a lot of it during the Grand Opening, which I still believe is going to be sometime during the week prior to Memorial Day.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

NBC will air "Making of Wizarding World of Harry Potter" on Sunday, June 6th, a sneak peak of Potterland and all its new attractions.

I suspect they'll be filming a lot of it during the Grand Opening, which I still believe is going to be sometime during the week prior to Memorial Day.

That's awesome! We'll actually be at Universal then so I'll have to Tivo it.

But this will be me when I get back:

 

[englishrose47]

Total Universal newbie here !! How long will the new Harry Potter attraction take ?? I don't mean the line , just the actual attraction !!

 

[MonkeyDishwasher]

It's not open yet. Nobody knows.

 

[fan of the TTA]

hey.

i've got a couple of questions.. and the thread is so long it's going to take me forever to find it.

first... which IOA atractions are getting rethemed?. i heard that maybe duelling dragons was going to become a new coaster, but i can't be sure.

secondly, is this going to be a new area of IOA, a new park, or a cut off from an exesting area.

also i have heard there are shops from the books.. . which ones?

thanks

 

[englishrose47]

It's not open yet. Nobody knows.

Rumors you here are crazy !!! My daughter said someone just got back and said it took ALL Day to do that one attraction, her friend went last year and said No it was quite quick !! I am standing there saying it's NOT OPEN!!!!

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

hey.

i've got a couple of questions.. and the thread is so long it's going to take me forever to find it.

first... which IOA atractions are getting rethemed?. i heard that maybe duelling dragons was going to become a new coaster, but i can't be sure.

secondly, is this going to be a new area of IOA, a new park, or a cut off from an exesting area.

also i have heard there are shops from the books.. . which ones?

thanks

The Flying Unicorn is becoming Flight of the Hippogriff. Dueling Dragons is becoming Dragons Challenge. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a brand new E-Ticket.

It's a new island in Islands of Adventure.

Zonko's, Ollivander's, Honeydukes, Owl Post, Dervish and Banges, and Filch's Emporium of Confiscated Goods. For dining, The Three Broomsticks.

 

[damo]

Total Universal newbie here !! How long will the new Harry Potter attraction take ?? I don't mean the line , just the actual attraction !!

I think someone said 4 minutes.

 

[yaytezIOA]

New picture from Universal with the Hogwarts Express in operation!
As for the rumors, whatever happens people will be disappointed.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

Which ride are you talking about? Flight of the Hippograff (The Flying Unicorn) is 36" and Dragon Challenge (Dueling Dragons) is 54". The new ride...which is not open...is 48"...are you talking about that one?

I was talking about the Flying Dragons. Nearly put me in the hospital.
My Daughter(who is a coaster fanatic) was crying and I was reaching over trying to calm her down, when the ride ended. And let me tell you it ends fast. I thought that was 48 and was kinda shocked.

 

[bumbershoot]

While 48" seems high (I was also thinking along the 40"), maybe they are thinking it's the 'older' kids (=taller) that are more "into" HP and the books/movies/stories.

Unless your kid is kinda short, maybe they don't think many younger kids are "into" HP?

They would have lost their minds if they thought that.

While I never *thought* I would let DS get into the stories/movies until he was Hogwarts age (we actually had that convo while I was pregnant), ultimately, when a kid is growing up in a household where those stories are being read, movies are being purchased, there are some lines that end up being crossed.

Therefore, our 5.5 year old has seen the first two HP movies, and feels VERY strongly that he IS Harry Potter (and I'm Hermione and DH is Ron), despite the fact that he has bright red hair (and hubby has black hair! lol).

I just found out this evening that this ride is 48", and I am actually thinking hard about waiting to book Universal until closer to our trip, to see if he'll hit that height. He's about 46" now, and I just don't think he'll make it...and I don't know how we would all feel if this coolest-sounding ride is off limits on this trip.

I'm trying to show myself all the other rides in the park that he will like, and we would never delay a Disney trip just b/c of height stuff, but I'm really bummed about Universal making a ride for 48" that sounds so cool...

As for Hippogriff...DS hasn't even seen that movie or been read that book yet (we do have SOME guidelines, LOL) and had NO idea what it is until this evening when I was reading about the rides and he asked me to read about the rides.

Anyway, the books were just coming out right before DH and I met; we courted and got engaged and planned our wedding while the first two movies were coming out...DS arrived as Azkaban was released in theaters...it's hard to have a movie series coming out like that and NOT have the kids be aware of it! (hence DS's mad adoration for Jack Sparrow as well) They have lost their minds if they don't think the place will be packed with 5 year olds dreaming of Hogwarts in 6 years....

 

[mom2aidanNpiper]

They have lost their minds if they don't think the place will be packed with 5 year olds dreaming of Hogwarts in 6 years....

As I've stated before, my DD5 is obsessed with HP. She understands the movies and story lines better than her 9 year old brother. Her actual b-day is next week (5 yr) and she has requested a wand, a robe and a stuffed buckbeak and owl. She calls herself "er-my-knee".

Because I haven't hyped up the ride, I think we'll be ok- but she wants in the castle- which I believe from what I've read we can go through the queue. But I really hope she doesn't get too upset when she realizes there is also a ride in there that she can't go on. And there is no way she will make the height by June.

As a typical girl though she can't wait to go shopping! I figure I can bribe her with new HP merchandise and she'll forget about it quick!

The taller height restriction will just mean we have to come back in a couple years!

 

[Claire-Bear]

For those who haven't seen: http://insiderrewards.warnerbros.com/docs/wizardingschool.pdf

Some clips from it:

"Howler featured in the Owl Post shop front window whose ranting can be heard by guests as they pass by; The Monster Book of Monsters in Dervish and Banges that will snarl and growl at anyone who tries to get too close, and the Hog’s Head which can be seen puffing his jowls at visitors who visit the Hog’s Head pub."

"Wandkeeper, who will guide them through an enchanting experience to find their very own wand. First the Wandkeeper will ask the guest a few special questions and then select the first wand for them to try. Just like Harry, the guest will be prompted by the Wandkeeper to give the wand a wave, and a series of magical mishaps will occur until the right fit is found"

 

[Howellsy]

They have lost their minds if they don't think the place will be packed with 5 year olds dreaming of Hogwarts in 6 years....

I can understand that you're a little annoyed at the height limit, but for every 5 or 6 year old there will 10 insane HP fans who are my age (19) or older. Those who grew up with the books coming out, before there was talk of a film and before anyone really knew what it was, are now in their late teens and 20s. I was kind of expecting this height restriction to be honest.

 

[SmallWorld71]

My sympathy to those with kids who are too short. I, too, was a little surprised by the 48". I had been expecting more like 44". DS14, DS11 and I are the huge Harry Potter fans. But, it is all but impossible to keep the excitement from the little ones. DD7 is too young for much of it, IMO, but is familiar with the first book/ movie and is definitely a Hermione want to be. She's over 48", but I know that many of her friends are not. Hopefully, there will be a way for those in the 5-7 age range who are too short to ride to visit inside the castle and still enjoy themselves.

 

[Tinks1984]

We're heading there on May 6th through 22nd and I understand we're more than likely just going to miss out on the opening. But, does anyone know if Dueling Dragons will re-open before the main part? I adore this coaster, as it was the 1st one I ever rode and I'd love to know if I'll be able to ride it all over again!

 

[abbie13_15]

Universal seems to have more information now on thier website than before. http://www.universalorlando.com/Amu...q.aspx?ComponentId=13170&SourcePageId=13128#6 has some pretty good pictures.