Universal + Harry Potter...It's Official!

[holcomb-mania]

The Pooks on the DIS will always be the ignorant Pooks that we have come to know and love.

They will be singing a different tune once HP opens up and they are stuck with their craptastic Pixar attaractions that are destroying Disney.

Coming to a Universal board in 2010: "We liked it better when it wasn't so crowded!"

 

[mx3man123]

I am confused......

Why are you guys over here on the UNIVERSAL boards, bashing UNIVERSAL and its unimaginitive employees????

JK Rowling made a good decision, is very involved in the project and I have faith that UNIVERSAL will do her justice! You want to bash Uni? go back to the Disney side and this post:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1469492

I'm not bashing Universal I'm just saying Disney could have done it better. personally I like Universal, well IOA anyway. Out of all the parks I went to last year I'll rank them in order of favorite parks.

1. Epcot
2. SeaWorld
3. Islands of Adventure
4. Magic Kingdom
5. Animal Kingdom
6. MGM Studios
7. Universal Studios

 

[holcomb-mania]

I'm trying to think of a time I've ever bashed UO/IOA. I don't think it's ever happened, but I'm sure someone will look.

We loved it in December, and we're going back in October. I even have a Pfd AP.

 

[Nana Annie]

Coming to a Universal board in 2010: "We liked it better when it wasn't so crowded!"

Well, at least we know one person who won't be there

Just one less person in line.

For those who are lamenting the fact that Disney "could have done it better" - get over it, it 'ain't' happening. Rowling chose Universal over Disney for whatever reasons, and like it or not, it is going to be at Universal.

So, no use whining about how Disney could have done it better. Either embrace it at Universal or stay at Disney. Easy choice.

 

[GreyStr0ke]

But Disney is not doing it cause apparently they weren’t gonna do it better which is why Rowling went with Universal.

Your saying that something that isn’t even built yet could be better if Disney did create it. Thats um....intelligent....

 

[holcomb-mania]

Well, at least we know one person who won't be there

Just one less person in line.

Look up. Just a little bit.

 

[Claymax]

As to the bidding war thing, the impression I got was that JK asked for too much when it came to Disney. She wanted people to pass thru the brick wall, take a train to Diagon Alley, then tap a brick and have the door open. It was like she was asking them to make a real life movie. Sounds good as a wish, but kinda hard when thousands of people are passing thru. I think Disney told her that's not feasible and she went to Universal with a lower bar after thinking things over.

I think they'll go farther to the side of Dueling Dragons into the parking lot. I'm just wondering if they'll buy the gas station and use that land. I say they knock down the buildings between Dueling Dragons and the Ghost Busters area so they can make a walk way between the parks.

Yep, these are all the things I read too. The more I look at the thematic picture the more I think it will expand beyond the park's existing borders both in the back and along the side.

What's everyone mean they're out of room at UO? Compared to WDW well yes, but for a theme park they have plenty of room to fit in new attractions around the park. And I always forget about the backlot buildings between US and IOA. That allows lots of room to build attractions.

I sure hope they do put a link or entrance between the two parks, but I'd understand how businesswise you may want them to travel a more indirect path.

 

[SamIAm21]

I've never been to UO or IOA, so I would never bash without experiencing it first. I think Universal will actually do this better than Disney. Harry Potter has never been associated with the Disney company in any way, so why would they start now? The films are produced by Warner Bros, not Disney or Buena Vista Studios, so it would really seem sort of odd for Disney to be involved in this. And besides, if anyone visited the Narnia exhibit at the Studios, it wouldn't bode well for a Harry Potter themed area. That exhibit was pretty awful.

I am a huge Disney fan, but I am seriously excited by the prospect of a Harry Potter themed area at IOA. I will make it a point to get there during 2009!

 

[mx3man123]

But Disney is not doing it cause apparently they weren’t gonna do it better which is why Rowling went with Universal.

Your saying that something that isn’t even built yet could be better if Disney did create it. Thats um....intelligent....

No one knows why Rowling went to Universal instead of Disney, makbe it was creative control, money, maybe she hates Disney...who knows.

Going by past attractions, yes Disney's attractions are better than Universal's attractions so it would make perfect sense that if Disney did HP that it would turn out better than if Universal did it.

 

[GreyStr0ke]

Disney hasn't been able to touch Spiderman or ROTM for that matter.

Have fun on Midway Mania

 

[holcomb-mania]

Rowling chose Universal over Disney for whatever reasons

Link?

Clay and robvia with good posts.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

No one knows why Rowling went to Universal instead of Disney, makbe it was creative control, money, maybe she hates Disney...who knows.

Going by past attractions, yes Disney's attractions are better than Universal's attractions so it would make perfect sense that if Disney did HP that it would turn out better than if Universal did it.

Perfect sense?

I'm sorry, but the HP Island isn't even built yet. It's impossible for anyone to say anyone could have done a better job. Might want to hang on to that opinion until after you've been and can truly hypothesize about who could have done a better job.

Not for nothing, the closest thing I can recollect that WDW has tried to do with this theme would be Narnia. Great hit, huh? Really packed in the crowds. IOA, on the other hand, has had pretty good success with a magical/mysterious "world." I love both USO and WDW, but using a past track record of both parks, my bet would have been on IOA to be able to pull it off.

Also, I can't help but notice your list of your favorite Orlando theme parks. IOA is No. 3 on your list. MGM is, what, No. 6? I really don't understand your logic that WDW "could have done better" when IOA ranks so much higher on your favorite list when WDW's own movie park ranks so low.

 

[Raider82]

This is very exciting news! Can we all be adults here are discuss the Harry Potter Island and not go into a whole thing about Disney this Disney that. I think all of us on these boards like both parks, or at least most of us.

The way I see things is why bother keeping the Lost Continent? I know, I know some love the island, but the whole theme was very medievil/Harry Potter anyway. The only thing there that I've enjoyed is the Dueling Dragons and the Flying Unicorn. The themeing is fantastic, but Poseidon's Fury and Sinbad are not the best attractions imo.

I'm guessing Lost Continent will be reduced to Posidon, Sinbad, Mythos, and some of the shops leading up to the Dueling Dragons. The castle in the Dueling Dragons was always great to walk through, but could be even better rethemed with Harry Potter stuff. They could lose the Flying Unicorn, but I guess it could be rethemed as the Potter books feature a unicorn. I'm guessing those two rides being re-themed, plus a new attraction will be in the island. The new ride I'm thinking will probably be a dark ride, possibly using wands - maybe using the spiderman tech and MIB? We shall see.

Also for those wondering about a direct route from the studios to islands, I think that would great, but they want you to walk through City Walk to try and get you to buy more things, or eat at the resturants.

 

[mx3man123]

Disney hasn't been able to touch Spiderman or ROTM for that matter.

Have fun on Midway Mania

Revenge of the mummy sucks first of all. Spiderman is a great ride though and true Disney hasn't been able to do a 3-D ride as good as Spiderman but I could make you a huge list of Disney attractions that Universal can't hold a candle too.

 

[GreyStr0ke]

Perfect sense?
Also, I can't help but notice your list of your favorite Orlando theme parks. IOA is No. 3 on your list. MGM is, what, No. 6? I really don't understand your logic that WDW "could have done better" when IOA ranks so much higher on your favorite list when WDW's own movie park ranks so low.

I'm lost with this one too.

I think I'm just gonna stop right now before I get banned

 

[tlinus]

No one knows why Rowling went to Universal instead of Disney, makbe it was creative control, money, maybe she hates Disney...who knows.

Going by past attractions, yes Disney's attractions are better than Universal's attractions so it would make perfect sense that if Disney did HP that it would turn out better than if Universal did it.

I am really going to bite my tounge here. Your comment highlighted above (and its the 4th or 5th time you have said it on this post) is what I and others consider Universal bashing and it really has NO PLACE here. While I respect your right to an opinion, you really need to stop with the negativity.

 

[lindalinda]

No one knows why Rowling went to Universal instead of Disney, makbe it was creative control, money, maybe she hates Disney...who knows.

Going by past attractions, yes Disney's attractions are better than Universal's attractions so it would make perfect sense that if Disney did HP that it would turn out better than if Universal did it.

Now youre just being silly.

 

[Timmy Boy]

Wow!!! This news is incredible! I'm very excited! I'm really proud to know that the only Harry Potter themed area in the WORLD will be my home park.

Their have been rumors about the new attraction being developed. I have heard several instances of the Kuka Arm Technology. I hope Universal can pull this whole area off with flying colors. There's waayyy too much expectations for this, and they better pull through.

 

[SamIAm21]

Revenge of the mummy sucks first of all. Spiderman is a great ride though and true Disney hasn't been able to do a 3-D ride as good as Spiderman but I could make you a huge list of Disney attractions that Universal can't hold a candle too.

This is not about who could do it better as it's a moot point. Universal has the contract and I'm sure with the $120 million budget it's been given, will do an extraordinary job with this new theme. As a huge Disney fan myself, I have to agree that coming to this thread and insisting on dissing UO and IOA is pretty rude. Sort of like going to a friends' house and picking on their choice of decor?

Let's get into some cool speculation! I can't wait to see a Hogwarts Castle, I am hoping for a Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. I know my DD would love a Whomping Willow. There's a tree in our neighborhood that looks a lot like the whomping willow and she just loves that tree!

Is it July yet!!? I need that book!

 

[GreyStr0ke]

I am really going to bite my tounge here. Your comment highlighted above (and its the 4th or 5th time you have said it on this post) is what I and others consider Universal bashing and it really has NO PLACE here. While I respect your right to an opinion, you really need to stop with the negativity.

Finally some back up.