Is the wizarding world of Harry potter being expanded?
Universal Orlando: Wizarding world expansion?
Rumor is that the wizarding world of Harry potter is starting to get expanded. What would u like to see come to the area
From Tyler Bell
Posted September 4, 2010 at 9:50 AM
An actual NEW rollercoaster.
I doubt it will be expanded into Lost Continent anytime soon, Universal wants to milk its new land for all its worth - we're talking years here - before it again expands and can advertise a new section all over again.
When it does eventually eat up lost continent (and hopefully half of jurassic park as well - it only has one ride in the whole land!) I would love a boat ride to hogwarts, a forbidden forest adventure of some kind, and a diagon alley section with the leaky cauldron!
From Formula 40
Posted September 4, 2010 at 11:51 AM
I don't want them to expand. The land is fine the way it is. If they were to change Lost Continent I would like it to be changed into something else not harry potter. I wouldn't want the park to become too overloaded with Pottermania. It's just one land. One aspect of the park. There's so much more to focus on there like what to do with the Marvel attractions, which I think Universal should really consider what to do is Disney decides to add it to their parks.
Poseidons Fury = Chamber of Secrets
Does not need a new coaster as mentioned above. Three coasters in ONE land is enough. I am pushing for a nighttime show with a battle of Harry VS Voldemort to take over Sinbad!!!
I was just there, and news around the muggle world all seems to agree that there are plans to expand in 2 or 3 years. I feel like they are expanding it to include the final movies perhaps.
It needs hippos.
I find it interesting that TPI talkers are already calmmoring for an expansion of Potter -- less than three months after its grand opening. Other theme park sites have complained that the WWOHP is really just one new attraction and two retrofits.
Is there a feeling that the expansion at IOA is amazing but ... not quite enough?
IOA JUST spent hundreds of millions of dollars on this place. There is no way that there is going to be an expansion anytime soon. I expect to wait a while before the Studios unveil their next big thing.
TH,
Shouldn't Universal be working on a new ride where visitors get to shoot the hippos? "Men in Black: Jungle Attack" just sounds right, doesn't it?
/threadjack
Good one Robert. lol
Three cheers and a beer for our fearless leader.
Bobby, formally known as Bob & Robert!!!!!!!
The way they've done the land is phenomenal in my opinion, but I really can't see them doing a good or even passable show based on the series. I would be nice to see little touches added after the final film comes out. Even though I'm a coaster freak, even I think another coaster would be overload in that small area! It might be nice to have a quieter area put in, that relates to the books/films to walk around and take in. I couldn't believe so many people who got early entry into the park missed out on the absolutely perfectly themed Dragon Challenge queue! It was my favourite experience of the whole trip, I walked round the whole thing without seeing ONE person (while try used express passes!), plus that would make something else child friendly in the area (which seemed like it was a complaint from some people).
I can't imagine that Universal Creative wouldn't add to the land
eventually, and I've heard from several sources that an addition is addressed in the contracts between Universal and Rowling/Warner Bros.
But don't expect any new attractions soon - at least not for the next couple of summers.
Between now and then, though, I'd look for some holiday overlays in the decor of the the land, especially at Halloween and Christmastime. (Maybe as early as 2011.) Holidays play a huge role in the Harry Potter books, and I know that a few nods toward Halloween and Christmas would help rewards folks for a return visit during those periods.
While I do hope The Wizarding World of Harry Potter does get expanded upon in the future.....perhaps after the last of the films have been released, I would hope that Universal would do 2 major things with their parks first. 1)Find a new and better show or attraction to replace Fear Factor Live at Universal Studios, as well as give the rest of Islands of Adventure some much needed TLC(i.e. The Hulk Coaster). After that is taken care of, then Universal should invest more into expanding The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
From Tyler Bell
Posted September 8, 2010 at 7:39 AM
I think that they could put a Clash of the Titans attraction at Universal,or expand Marvel Superhero Island.
Im pretty sure a expansion of Marvel island is not going to happen. Still hoping for a Nintendo world
From Ray Karch
Posted September 14, 2010 at 11:13 AM
I would like to see a ride below the vaults of Gringott's Bank similar to that in the movie. They could also have a simulated train ride on the Hogwarts Express through the English countryside. And for thrill seekers they could have a flying Ford Anglia that goes upside down a few times.
But what I REALLY like are some modified seats on Forbidden Journey to acomodate larger patrons like me who didn't fit the tiny seats they have. (Maybe only 3 to a bench instead of the 4 they have now?)
From Scott B
Posted September 14, 2010 at 11:42 AM
Some comments. First, someone mentioned a Nintendo world above. Let me say kind sir, that suggestion is brilliant. My brain is already buzzing with Mario Kart racer rides, Star Fox motion simulators and Mario pipe flume rides.
For Harry Potter, what they need is more narrow stores that people cannot move around in.
On a side note, have any tall passengers ridden Forbidden Journey? I am 6'4" and I was pretty freaked out that during the ride, my foot crashed into the Whomping Willow. It was all rubbery. Okay, maybe it was less of a crash and more of a brush up, but still.....the whomping willow!!!
Where could they expand?
anthony, they could wipe out the rest of lost continent but there's not much room - the first aid station there can't be moved, and mythos is pretty much never going to be killed so unless they ditched part of jurassic park as well or filled in part of the lagoon or something there's really only room for maybe 2 more rides.
I think they should update the rest of the park before they think of expanding Potter, but once the last 2 movies are over then they probably should add something new to generate a bit of buzz - not sure what they could add though....definately another ride of some sort.
From Jessie B
Posted September 26, 2010 at 5:31 PM
I just visited the park recently and spoke to an employee of universal who said they are definitely replacing the lost continent with more harry potter but no final time line has been released, considering it took 5 yrs to built what they have I think we will all have to wait awhile for it to expand.
I haven't been there yet, but going soon. I'm one of those purests that hates when they change anything from the books. Just like putting in stuff that didn't ever happen in the book, or even more importantly leading out important stuff to make the movie shorter. I hate that they combined Diagon Alley and Hogsmead together. I think if they separated the two areas and add some more rides it would be much better. I have a bad neck and can't ride big coasters so I'd love for them to figure out a ride that falls between the hippogrif and the dueling dragons. Perhaps a show of some kind? JK could try her hand at writing a 20 minute musical or something.
i think that a quidicth pit area would be great with a recreation of the hogworts quidicth stadium and in the middle of the stadium would be a flying rollercoaster. They would have to build it near hogworts though so that it makes sense.
as a dedicated lifelong harry potter fan i would like to see
the lake, the forbidden forest, the shrieking shack, the chamber of secrets, hagrids hut, the triwizard tournament maze, the ministry of magic, the weasleys' home, diagon alley(with the leaky cauldron), knockturn alley, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, the dueling club, more rides, maybe having to do with quidditch, the train, the troll, Wizards Chess, the seven chambers from the sorcerer's stone, the chamber of secrets, the second task, etc. there is so much more that can be done with this, and while i havent had a chance to visit the park in person, it looks like yet another disappointment from the sellouts of the harry potter franchise.
hagrids hut is there and its not even close to being a disappointment it has some of the best themeing in the world and probably the best overall attraction in the world. Remember that this is only one section in a theme park. Its not just one theme park based off harry potter. Also half the stuff u mentioned is in the harry potter forbidden journey ride (the forbidden forest, the black lake, the chamber of secrets). When they do expand into lost continet the would probably have room for diagon alley. Maybye transform posideon furry into the minstry of magic. Add a gringotts bank attraction and demolish sinbad (i have always felt a live action harry potter stunt would be rather hard to do with).
With all this talk about harry potter i still feel that universal should continue to revamp its attractions before working on harry potter again. The Hulk is the first thing that needs help. Return it to its glory when it was bright green. All that is needed is to spend maybye a month or 2 repainting it and add some more special effects such as lights and smoke in the tunnel Mythos is also in need of work since the exteroir is rather molding. The problem with Islands of adventure is that a lot of the rides are left to rot (ex the hulk). Fixing this problem is very easy and good thing they are finally getting on that.
Okay, so I go to Wizarding World almost every weekend. I can see why they want to expand, they need more space fore the ridiculous amounts of people coming (that's not going to change anytime soo, with the last movie coming out, in two parts no less) Mythos could be harry potter themed, They could add a Gringotts ride(I'm praying for one!) and diagon alley or privett drive could make a nice addition. I like the Harry vs.Voldie show idea, that'd be great.
Meghan, The only way you are going to get ALL of that is if they just tear down the rest of IOA and make all into HP. I mean do you really want to see the Weasley' house next to the Ministry of Magic? People would then complain its not like the books. So it's not really feasible to have entire Wizarding world at Universal. Go visit it first with an open mind before being disappointed!!!!
I just went last week and as HP fanatic, I was absolutely in love! The details are fantastic. The Forbidden Journey ride is so fun!
The stores are small. I would like to see those expand. I think they missed some marketing opportunities by not having any of the jewelry. I have seen Fudge Flies and Blood pops in stores here at home, but didn't see any there. And they did have some generic candy. They could have spent more time on getting more HP candy. *shrug* minor details
I would love to see Diagon Alley or the Forbidden Forest incorporated. They could do a Gringotts ride or a Flying Car ride. But since they a few wild rides already, I would be happy to see something calm.
I'm pretty sure Universal can't touch WWOHP for 10 years and they definitely will not be able to touch anything without JK rowling's permission. I don't know how much control she has, but it's more than Disney was willing to give her. I also heard that written in the contract, Universal must maintain opening day quality of WWOHP for ten years. I think that will keep them more than occupied for a while. I don't think an expansion is in the near future.
It is written in their contract something new has to be added every two to three years sooo...
Jordan,I guess you TRULY know the contract...After all, you ARE a student at Hogwarts.
Exactly
Gryffindor, 6th Year. I WROTE the contract
Nah I read it on several different press releases over the last few years but I admit things probably have changed in the contract such as the absense of the Forbidden Forest which was planned.
i wouldn't count on an expansion of WiZardding World, unless they eradicate lost Continent completely, retheme mythos and put a different kind of show in posideon.
OR, they change posideon into a permanent building for horror nights, but thats just my wish:).
Someone recently told me that all those fake shop fronts have real buildings behind them that are sitting empty. Maybe they will put in more short show/shop type of experiences without having to expand outside it's borders?
I have no idea if that's true or not - I thought the shops were fake because there was storage/behind the scenes stuff there.
A couple of them are, but part of that building (if not all of it is for the restrooms). The building in between Three Broomsticks and F.J.
I think if they do expand Harry potter (which I think they should while it's still pretty big) it should go into the jurassic park area and they should take out that discovery area and replace it with hagrid's hut and turn it into a farm/zoo area where people could visit some magical creatures. That would be interesting
It must be have, because in the christmas eve through any date, are very full of many People and there aren't enough free way from walking though, we have walking same who like the snail in the one footstep, in piece again and again...*sweat*
It could better expand the street bigger and more free moving the walk
I understand that they cant fit everything in and it can't be exactly like the books, I was merely throwing some ideas around for if they do expand, some of the things that I would like to see. I have yet to visit WWOHP, I am excited to see it, and I would love to be pleasantly surprised, but based on movies 1-6, I dont have high hopes.
Cast member rumours are that, yes, there's going to be an expansion. It should be announced by the end of this month. There's a rumor that part of the expansion will be to add a diagon alley, move ollivanders and add a ride based on gringotts carts. Also, another rumour states that there will be a leaky cauldron with an actual inn. Construction should be completed by 2013, if I heard correctly.
ahh, I don't think they should add diagon alley...I mean it would be pretty cool - but having it right next to Hogwarts when they are meant to be miles and miles away from each other may be a bit silly....
and if they expand it, wouldnt they have to close the area, which mean FJ will be closed for ages!
From steve lee
Posted February 7, 2011 at 6:38 PM
I hardly think fictional geographical distances are going to have a big impact on expansions. It's not like Potter fans were up in arms over the inclusion of Ollivanders at WWOHP - Ollivanders is in Diagon Alley, not Hogsmeade...
I suppose you're right!
I would just kinda find it weird - the same as I found having ollivanders in Hogsmeade weird also.
But i guess its more Harry Potter awesomeness for us to enjoy :P
As someone who hasn't visited WWOHP, but is a huge fan of the books, I'll jump on board with those who have suggested a Gringotts tram ride. I just started re-reading the first book yesterday, and that was all I could think of while reading Rowling's description of the bank's system.
Meghan,
I've been a devoted Harry Potter fan since I was four, which is when the first book came out. Movies 1-5 were very good representations of the books, while the sixth movie was crap. However, the new seventh movie was beyond phenomenal and it is one of my favorite movies.
As to WWoHP, as I walked in to IoA, I realized that if I were to hate, or even remotely dislike what they did, they would never receive my business again. Islands of Adventure is my new favorite theme park. It is a fantastic production that incorporates all of the books, and not a single detail was missed. My friend, who does not care for Harry Potter at all, told me FJ is his favorite ride. The only way I can imagine someone not liking WWoHP is if they go in dead-set on hating it.
From Ali Soueid
Posted February 22, 2011 at 8:55 PM
I would definitely expand the Wizarding World into the Lost Continent. The very least they could do is take out all the crappy little boutiques between the WW and the Sinbad show and extend the WW into that area. I'd also like to see another a 3-D ride - a Gringotts experience would be a great option, perhaps in place of Sinbad.
However, it might be a better idea to divide up the WW crowds by splitting the WW into two parts, adding a Diagon Alley/Gringotts area in the Jurassic Park section or Toons Lagoon (although to be honest, the Port of Entry strip would make a perfect Diagon Alley), and connecting the two areas with an actual Hogwarts Express that circles the park.
They should also consider adding a Harry Potter-based water ride into the Lake - either a Durmstrang ride or something reminiscent of Harry's first trip from the Hogwarts Express to the castle via boats. The lake appears to be the one area they can actually extend without tearing down other sections. All the same, I would convert those Lost Continent shops or add a Diagon Alley elsewhere before I added a water ride on the lake.
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