I've heard from enough second-hand sources that I'm pretty well sold that the Hollywood version of the Wizarding World is going in on the east side of the park, around Waterworld. But what will have to be removed to make way for Harry Potter? Here's an aerial view of the Orlando Wizarding World:
And here, to the same scale, is an aerial view of the east side of Universal Studios Hollywood (images via Google Maps):
In the upper image, that big building to the lower left is the show building for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Since we've been told that Hogwarts is coming to Hollywood, let's assume that's the same building that's providing the centerpiece of the Hollywood version. So we have to fit that building somewhere into the space shown in the lower photograph.
In the lower image (Hollywood), the large, white semicircle is the Gibson Amphitheatre. The blue area below and to the left of the amphitheatre is the Waterworld show. The grey area to the direct left of the amphitheatre is the Shrek-4D theater.
To my eye, there's no way to make the Hogwarts building and Hogsmeade street fit in the Hollywood site without removing both the amphitheatre and Waterworld. Maybe there might be space to fit in the Flying Hippogriff coaster, too, depending upon how buildings align on the site.
Perhaps Universal could fit the Hogwarts building onto the site of the Waterworld theater, and run an abbreviated Hogsmeade street toward it, which would save the amphitheatre. But Hogsmeade is such a potential cash cow, which all the merchandise, food and Butterbeer revenue it brings to the table, that I think Universal might be better off financially with an expanded Hogsmeade than it would with the amphitheatre.
The Gibson faces competition from long-standing rivals, the Greek Theater and the Hollywood Bowl, in addition to new competition from the Nokia theater downtown and the former Kodak theater in Hollywood, neither of which existed when the Universal Amphitheater was expanded and covered in the 1980s. But the nearest Harry Potter attraction is in Orlando, more than 2,500 miles away.
I haven't see Universal's financials on the amphitheatre, but as a fan, I would gladly trade the loss of one more concert site near downtown LA for the expansion of Hogsmeade and a larger Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
By the way, I tried to look up the building permits for the Wizarding World project, but that portion of Universal Studios Hollywood lies in unincorporated Los Angeles County, which doesn't list building and construction permits online. To see them, I'd have to visit the LA County Department of Public Works Building and Safety office that covers Universal Studios.
Inconveniently enough, that office is located… inside a trailer on the backlot of Universal Studios. Universal has its own County Building and Safety office. It's almost like Reedy Creek!
So let's throw this open for discussion again: What would you like to see Universal do to fit Harry Potter into Hollywood?
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Originally I thought that maybe even the Gringotts coaster, that is rumored to be replacing Jaws in Orlando, would also be in Hollywood. I remember hearing about that somewhere. I don't think there's much land for that unless they decide to take down Shrek 4-D and the Curious George play area for that.
Realistically though with the amphitheate and Water World down there should be ample space for the Forbidden Journey, some shops, a quick-service restaurant, possibly Flight of the Hippogriff, and another family ride(a Dumbo-like spinner with broomsticks instead of elephants, perhaps?).
Question is though when will WaterWorld close and if and when the amphitheater will make way for the Boy Wizard. Comedian, Gabriel Iglesias, has a show scheduled in the amphitheater on December 28, so we know the amphitheater won't close this year.
They should relocate the current Tour tram boarding station to the lower lot. Add a Hogwarts Train Station there. Create a new Hogmeade Village at a distance away. You take the train to get there. At the far away location, they have plenty of space for future expansion as well as have room for an evening special effects show with the mountain as backdrop.
I had to drive to San Diego that night, so I could be at a client's house the next morning. The drive on the I-5 took me right through Ananheim, right past Disney, then of course past Sea World.
So close to all of them..... I wish I would have taken a few extra days for some solo visits. It will be interesting to see how Universal squeezes the HP portion of the park in there.
I'm hoping that the first phase is only Forbidden Journey and Hogsmeade. Maybe a small ride or show could be squeezed in as well, but I really don't want to see a complete copy of Florida's (aka no coasters). Then, a few years down the road, the park could build a much larger area on the backlot with additional attractions (ideally ones that aren't represented in Florida since there is so much in the Harry Potter universe), and connect the two with a train. I just really hope the area doesn't ever require the removal of a current attraction since USH barely has enough to justify its ticket price as it is (probably why I only go once every 2-3 years) and needs to add instead of replacing.
Oh and Dominick, The Simpsons are on the East Side of the park, not west.
OK I have to admit that HP as a franchise boasts a huge fan base. It's a current draw and moneyspinner but only time will tell us if it's something that can sustain it's popularity for years to come in the way that Waterworld has. I also admit that I'm not a big fan of the Potter movies but then again I don't hate them either. I'm , shall we say, ambivalent to them. The HP themed attractions in Orlando are a different kettle of fish.
I can't comment on those because I haven't experienced them yet .
What I do find absurd is talk of removing an attraction that is possibly the best of it's genre to make way for something which only has potential. They must surely examine any attraction where interest is waning. Cut out the dead wood to allow something new to replace it. Not simply hack out something healthy and still a big draw.
The problem in Hollywood is the same one that faces Disney in Anaheim : A lack of space and affordable land to expand. So something has to make way. Let's hope it's a wise choice or it could alienate a lot of visitors.
If it is placed in Water World's location, guests entering the park will see the back
I would hope that they trash the lackluster Shrek show before they get rid of Water World.
As others have said, WW is a people eater that is very much needed to regulate crowds.
Hmm...that's quite a negative stance to take on the subject...
The same can be said of Disneyland...if you recall, it was once a Southern California exclusive as well. Then Orlando went ahead and built their own version sometime later, slowly exapnding WDW into what it is today.
But just beacuse Orlando built a replica of what once was an exclusive facet of the SoCal area, doesn't mean that it took everything to the east coast. The Anaheim version of the popular park is still a big draw for tourists from all over the world (Heck, in many cases maybe even more so...as a resident of the area I've frequently been witness to the insane ammount of crowds that force the park to close down and turn people away. Just this last year alone it occured at least three times!).
So, to drive the point home...your fears of a Hollywood version of Wizarding World drawing away crowds from the Orlando-based original are unfounded.
P.S, besides, Orlando already has everything else that's freaken awesome in regards to the theme park scene...give us SoCal residents a chance to revel in some of that in our OWN backyards for a change!
From the videos Ive seen its more than just a single show, its an experience. There will be people coming to park Just to hang out in Hogsmead, to eat there, shop there, heck even send their mail off from there. And Ive herd rumors that they might even expand down into the back lot in the 6 Points Texas area.
As beloved as Waterworld is HP, being the major cash cow that it will be, trumps WW on all fronts. It will be a MAJOR source of revenue for the park AND a major source of Jobs for LA (Over 1000 Ive heard).
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