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

[Raider82]

Anybody else think, like me, that Poseidon could go bye-bye and make room for a significant chunk of this plan?

I know I wouldn't mind if Poseidon went bye-bye. When I look at the outside of Poseidon it's like wow this looks like it could be amazing, but the inside eh, it's alright. I don't think they would get rid of the building, to much money etc, plus what would they have in the Lost Contient if they got rid of poseidon and sinbad?

 

[pilferk]

I'm psyched about this for 2 reasons:

First off, I love IOA. Haven't been back for a couple years ( IOA is tough with REALLY young kids, I think, but by '09 they'll be the perfect age to get quite a bit out of it), but with a recent DVC purchase, we'll be heading back probably both in early '09, and late '09. Hopefully Potter world will be open by late '09...if not, it'll be a good excuse to head over in 2010. I think this has the potential to be really gangbuster stuff and I wish IOA all the best....for my own selfish reasons: Because I can't wait to experience it.

Second, as we all know, whenever a big "thing" happens in Orlando, Disney tries to one up it. I don't think this will be much different. I'm HOPING (please, please, please, please) that this might fastrack Disney's Beastly Kingdom addition to AKL.

This, I think, is probably going to be win/win for Orlando Theme Park junkies in general.

 

[mx3man123]

Two and a half years for a project doesn't seem like much time. How will they keep all the attractions open in IOA during contruction?

 

[goofy!]

The attacks of individual posters and inidividual posts needs to stop. If someone is just trying to start an argument please do not repond to him or her. Be assured that any violations will result in warning or infractions.

If you see a post that violates Dis guidelines, please report it so it can be taken care of.

Although being a moderator sometimes seems to be a thankless job, our hats off to you for doing so well the tricky job of keeping the Universal boards in line while still allowing a reasonable amount of discourse.

Thank you!

 

[robvia]

The link to the article with the HP back story is here.
http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_h...as-well-as-kuka-s-robotic-arm-technology.aspx

We forgot to talk about Strong Arm on a track, which would be the flying car. I hope it's a cool new coaster and not 3 kiddie rides. Only bummer about Strong Arm is it seems like there are only 4 people in a row, low capacity.

They said the Lost Continent would stay (Including Mythos), just be smaller. That leads me to believe the LC will be Mythos, Posidens Fury, Talking Fountain, and Sinbad show. The articles said that Dueling Dragons would become part of the new HP land and the parking lot would be used. That means the Flying Unicorn also becomes a part of the new HP land, and they can add one more attraction to the empty field behind Pizza Predatoria. Look at the overhead picture of the parking lot just north of Dueling Dragons. It's practically empty, and that parking lot along with the land next to Dueling Dragons is about 20 acres. There are basically two buildings between USF and Dueling Dragons where a path could go linking the two parks together.

The walk way between the parks is needed. I've found that attractions in the back of a park get less action, than those at the front. They need to make it easy for people to walk between the Mummy, and the new HP land.

 

[phisigprincess]

I am SO excited for this to be completed!!! In all honesty, I don't like IOA. When we do US we like the Studio side, but I am one of those people who will absolutely make a special trip to IOA to see this! I can't wait.

 

[pilferk]

The link to the article with the HP back story is here.
http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_h...as-well-as-kuka-s-robotic-arm-technology.aspx

We forgot to talk about Strong Arm on a track, which would be the flying car. I hope it's a cool new coaster and not 3 kiddie rides. Only bummer about Strong Arm is it seems like there are only 4 people in a row, low capacity.

They said the Lost Continent would stay (Including Mythos), just be smaller. That leads me to believe the LC will be Mythos, Posidens Fury, Talking Fountain, and Sinbad show. The articles said the Dueling Dragons would become part of the new HP land and the parking lot would be used. That means the Flying Unicorn also becomes a part of the new HP land, and they can add one more attraction to the empty field behind Pizza Predatoria.

The walk way between the parks is needed. I've found that attractions in the back of a park get less action, than those at the front. They need to make it easy for people to walk between the Mummy, and the new HP land.

My guesses:

Dueling Dragons gets a Quidditch makeover, with the 2 current "dragons" both Snitch hunting.

The flying unicorn ride gets a buckbeak makeover.

Posted for posterity so we can revisit them in 2+ years to see if I'm right.

 

[GemmaPixie]

Two and a half years for a project doesn't seem like much time. How will they keep all the attractions open in IOA during contruction?

Are you honestly trying to think of ANYTHING that you can say to try and convince others that this is a terrible idea?? Why would it be so much better in Disney- It hasn't even been built yet!!!!

Its not going to be in Disney- Its in ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE!! So just let it go and stop slagging UO in the UO boards!!!

Sorry everyone, rant over

 

[tlinus]

Anybody else think, like me, that Poseidon could go bye-bye and make room for a significant chunk of this plan?

that is what I was thinking as well......maybe even Sinbad too

 

[kenban]

Here's the quote from the press release on page one of this thread.

Some current "Lost Continent" attractions such as The Dueling Dragons roller coasters and The Flying Unicorn coaster ride likely would be adapted to fit the Harry Potter story. Trowbridge would not discuss specific attractions, but did say that Universal intended to "leverage some existing infrastructure." He said that would have to include far more than a new paint job and a new sign, because too much is at stake.

While not gospel, I imagine this to be true. Again, if you look at the theme picture of the owl flying overhead and overlay it on this satellite image (link below) it lines up pretty well including bridges and Fire and Ice being in HP land.

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v...t=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=3909181&encType=1

While it might line up with the picture it does not agree with what is known about where it is going to go. This is from the Orlando Sentinel

Universal plans a 20-acre "Wizarding World," a little bigger than the average size of its themed "islands" at Islands of Adventure. Part would be carved away from what is now "The Lost Continent" island, and the rest would be land now used for employee parking and park support, outside the back fence.

They clearly say its going to end up taking part of what is currently employee parking and the location your linking does not have an employee lot. Where I think its going to end up is right here. I think the entrance to the new area will be to the left of Sinbad. It might not be the start of the HP area but I believe the new sections will start there. Then you will go into what is currently used for park support and the castle will be what is currently that employee parking lot.

You might be right but I hope that you are wrong because Universal will be spending a lot of money to rebuild a section of the park instead of doing what it needs to be doing with this license and thats building new attractions on land that is currently not used for a park.

 

[rolltideroll]

They should just make Universal one big park. Who buys a ticket that's not a park hopper anyway? They also need to reinstitute the fastpass type system. With this new attraction, I expect that Universal hotels will be at capacity, and they will probably even build another hotel. The current EP perk will not work.

 

[damo]

If you check out the hi-def pictures from the universal orlando website, you can really see where things are. It looks the train will definitely be moving people. Maybe to the other side of DD into the now parking lot area? The tent area will lead into Dueling Dragons. The little coaster is flying unicorn.

http://media.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/


There is a video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogAeQ1DbX6U

 

[GemmaPixie]

They should just make Universal one big park. Who buys a ticket that's not a park hopper anyway? They also need to reinstitute the fastpass type system. With this new attraction, I expect that Universal hotels will be at capacity, and they will probably even build another hotel. The current EP perk will not work.

They can't make IOA and UO into one park, they are different parks. Universal revolves around TV and Movies wheras IOA is a theme park made up of different islands, with their own themes. The two parks wouldn't 'fit' with eachother if they were all one park.

 

[phamton]

Two and a half years for a project doesn't seem like much time. How will they keep all the attractions open in IOA during contruction?

That is a very legitimate concern. I suspect it will be business as usual at DD and Flying Unicorn. I too wonder how much of Lost Continent will be closed during construction though.

 

[Claymax]

While it might line up with the picture it does not agree with what is known about where it is going to go. This is from the Orlando Sentinel


They clearly say its going to end up taking part of what is currently employee parking and the location your linking does not have an employee lot. Where I think its going to end up is right here. I think the entrance to the new area will be to the left of Sinbad. It might not be the start of the HP area but I believe the new sections will start there. Then you will go into what is currently used for park support and the castle will be what is currently that employee parking lot.

You might be right but I hope that you are wrong because Universal will be spending a lot of money to rebuild a section of the park instead of doing what it needs to be doing with this license and thats building new attractions on land that is currently not used for a park.

Well one thing that is for sure is that I do not know for sure! I think it might be a combination of the two ideas, yours and mine which is pretty much what Robvia discusses above. Pretty sure they'll use the area I mentioned as you can literally draw it in to the current map with the empty lot in the back where the new mountain/castle would go.

But now I also agree with you and robvia that it will stretch into the right side of LC into the 'empty buildings' area. Especially since this is probably the car parking area they mentioned.

Oh and Strong Arm exclusive for 10 years!!! That could be big too. Flying car along with so much else, they're just getting started.

Also agree with an earlier post that this is great for all park goers. With all the press Uni will get from this, Simpsons and again when HP opens, NO WAY will WDW sit back and spectate.

We all win!

 

[CoPirate]

Considering she is the first billionaire author ever, she has proven herself to be an extremely savy business woman when marketing Harry Potter. I highly doubt she made this decision lightly without lots of reseach. And based on her past successes, I highly doubt she made a mistake.

Billionare authors are not alone on their business endeavors.

I remind you she started out as a normal, single mom, writing harry potter, the philosphers stone, on napkins in a coffee house.

She might have gained some business sense over the years, but she has a team that helps give her the pros and cons of every situation.

I am hoping, praying even, that they do this right. I want to visit this attraction.

But im also open to the fact that with every good idea, comes the possibility of bad orchestration. And IMO a lot of Universal/IOA concepts were GREAT IDEAS with bad orchestration. I enjoy Universal/IOA a lot, I have the power pass, we go often. I also have a Disney pass and admit that with every good idea comes bad orchestration for them too.. Stitch being a great example. And again IMO, Test Track too. Universal? Halloween Horror Nights, Great Idea, Bad orchestration. The Mummy? Great idea. Great coaster. Bad orchestration.

I think as much as you're obviously accusing me and a lot of other people of being Disney snobs, you (and others) need to take a step back and realize you're being Universal snobs. Universal has just as much possibility of making a crappy attraction as Disney does. Just because JK rolling and her business sense is behind it, doesnt make it gold. Michael Eisner and his business sense were behind a lot of projects too, and not everyone is in love with a lot of his ideas.

Even if Disney was doing this, Id be anticipating the worse and hoping for the best. Seeing how they deeply themed one of their most recent rides (everest) I would have a little more faith in them going on track record, when it comes to theming large scale attractions. Universals most recent was Mummy, and while the technology and ideas are great, it just doesnt work for me, and many others.

 

[damo]

That is a very legitimate concern. I suspect it will be business as usual at DD and Flying Unicorn. I too wonder how much of Lost Continent will be closed during construction though.

Since a lot of it is just cosmetic, I would imagine that they will close off the entrance to Lost Continent from Jurassic park for the time being. I think you will probably be able to go as far as the DD entrance and the rest will be closed.

It looks like the DD entrance will get moved further up (where the tents are in the picture) and then the old entrance will be closed.

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

Without getting into an argument about the relative merits of the Orlando theme parks:

I've never been to Universal. Ever. I've never felt any major desire to go to Universal. But I'll be going now. And I would imagine I'm not alone.

So this seems like a pretty good thing for Universal, and not so good for Disney. (Although I'll grant you I'd STILL need to spend a week at Disney while I was there to visit Universal).

Meanwhile, I'm just happy that a Harry Potter park is opening SOMEWHERE.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

http://www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/ also has the video and pictures.

 

[phamton]

Since a lot of it is just cosmetic, I would imagine that they will close off the entrance to Lost Continent from Jurassic park for the time being. I think you will probably be able to go as far as the DD entrance and the rest will be closed.

It looks like the DD entrance will get moved further up (where the tents are in the picture) and then the old entrance will be closed.

This would be my guess too. Time will tell.