Harry Potter Expansion - Universal Orlando
- Thread starter Ollie
- Start date
^
To elaborate, we knew that Jaws was to be closed, but not what would replace it. This topic was made to discuss the addition of Harry Potter to the park, while the original topic covered the closure of Jaws.
The very first sentence in the opening post of this topic said:
To elaborate, we knew that Jaws was to be closed, but not what would replace it. This topic was made to discuss the addition of Harry Potter to the park, while the original topic covered the closure of Jaws.
Mark
Strata Poster
I can't wait for this expansion and I can totally see why Universal are going for it. Of course it's for the money but that is business full stop.
The beauty of the HP franchise is the large universe that has been created with the books and the films. Beyond the castle itself there is ample oppurtunity for rides, gift shops, shows and everything else. What I loved about the IoA part is that it also utilised some characters that were never actually seen in the movies and one that wasn't even mentioned.
Universal are definitely aware of just how much they can do with it and just how much the fans will enjoy it and hopefully boost the gate numbers for both parks.
At first I didn't agree with the two different HP sections being included in different parks but the more I think about the more it makes perfect sense. The wizarding world fits really well into the IoAdventure 'theme' whereas the hidden London section would fit great in the studios. I didn't particularly like the fact that they want to ensure people get a 2 park ticket BUT in a business sense it is a clever way to ensure people visit both parks.
I wonder whether they are going to give this area its own name or whether it will also fit under the Wizarding World banner, since they are in different parks it may be a little confusing perhaps.
I remember seeing HP7ii and commenting on how the Gringotts section was blatantly designed with the theme park franchise developments in mind. I am sure others on here said it too. I always knew the Gringotts Vaults were 'coaster-like' from the books but in the films it was like they literally designed the whole thing around one.
Still, what I really wish is that Warners would take the whole world of HP and turn it into a standalone park in the UK (where the weather is actually like what it is supposed to be
). It would be a massive task but it would also have pretty good tourism and economy benefits too. Oh well, I can dream...
The beauty of the HP franchise is the large universe that has been created with the books and the films. Beyond the castle itself there is ample oppurtunity for rides, gift shops, shows and everything else. What I loved about the IoA part is that it also utilised some characters that were never actually seen in the movies and one that wasn't even mentioned.
Universal are definitely aware of just how much they can do with it and just how much the fans will enjoy it and hopefully boost the gate numbers for both parks.
At first I didn't agree with the two different HP sections being included in different parks but the more I think about the more it makes perfect sense. The wizarding world fits really well into the IoAdventure 'theme' whereas the hidden London section would fit great in the studios. I didn't particularly like the fact that they want to ensure people get a 2 park ticket BUT in a business sense it is a clever way to ensure people visit both parks.
I wonder whether they are going to give this area its own name or whether it will also fit under the Wizarding World banner, since they are in different parks it may be a little confusing perhaps.
I remember seeing HP7ii and commenting on how the Gringotts section was blatantly designed with the theme park franchise developments in mind. I am sure others on here said it too. I always knew the Gringotts Vaults were 'coaster-like' from the books but in the films it was like they literally designed the whole thing around one.
Still, what I really wish is that Warners would take the whole world of HP and turn it into a standalone park in the UK (where the weather is actually like what it is supposed to be
). It would be a massive task but it would also have pretty good tourism and economy benefits too. Oh well, I can dream...rollermonkey
Strata Poster
^Sorry, but when companies design tourist attraction, I'm pretty sure they way the weather to be as unlike UK weather as possible. Hence no Universal Studios Seattle or Disneyland London. Besides, it never rains or is foggy in HP.
D1993
Hyper Poster
Isnt there supposed to be a train that is going to connect the two worlds?
that way you wouldnt be paying extra?
Well I think the expansion is actually much needed. The other day I was raving about the park and how cool it is and how badly I want to go, then my sisters were asking me what sort of rides there were.
And I realize, there are only 3 .....
Harry Potter is an industry that US and IOA can make so much money from, and they need to add more attractions and make it bigger IMO, so this is a perfect move really from US..........
I just hope that train that connects the two parks will be true.
that way you wouldnt be paying extra?
Well I think the expansion is actually much needed. The other day I was raving about the park and how cool it is and how badly I want to go, then my sisters were asking me what sort of rides there were.
And I realize, there are only 3 .....
Harry Potter is an industry that US and IOA can make so much money from, and they need to add more attractions and make it bigger IMO, so this is a perfect move really from US..........
I just hope that train that connects the two parks will be true.
I've not heard anything about this, so if this has actually been said then I will take all of this back... but...D1993 said:
Are you serious? I can't see any way that would work. What would stop you going into the Studios from the HP area? Or likewise, back to IoA from the Studios? I can't see any logical way of policing that, without both HP areas feeling like prisons. :roll:
Mark
Strata Poster
rollermonkey said:^Sorry, but when companies design tourist attraction, I'm pretty sure they way the weather to be as unlike UK weather as possible. Hence no Universal Studios Seattle or Disneyland London. Besides, it never rains or is foggy in HP.
The books and the films do follow the weather, this is quite often reflected in the ceiling of the great hall etc. It certainly does rain and have fog in HP because there are scenes/chapters that show and detail it. There are frequent references to the changing seasons and the subsequent weather in the books etc.
Whilst I agree that a company designing a tourist attraction would want the weather to be as unlike the UK weather as possible I don't think that it would actually stop them. It certainly didn't stop Disney building in Paris which has a climate relatively similar to London. On every trip to DLRP I have had a least one rainy day out of the three day visit. It may also be worth noting that London was also considered when development of Euro-Disney started.
Granted a lot of the Disney attractions are indoor based so 'weather proof'- but that is consistent in all of their attractions accross all continents regardless of the locations weather.
Having a large brand resort in the UK is not that unviable purely on the basis of weather and we already have resorts here that proove it is doable. So my wishful thinking stands
Hixee said:
I agree with Hixee. This train, if it happens, I find it hard to believe it will be a free ride over to the other section of HP stuff without a cost because there is no way to stop people going into the rest of the parks. That would essentially mean you are giving people access to 2 parks for the price of one and whats more you might aswell just merge the parks into one.
I think it is more likely that you would need a park hopper ticket to visit both parts. They Could even build the extra park hopper ticket into the storyline of it all. You need to buy a 'train ticket' to Hogsmeade (or Kings Cross station respectively) which also comes with access to the Islands of Adventure (or Studios). You could even have an old-school style ticket conductor on the trains who 'checks' your tickets.
Having said all this, details and confirmation on the attractions have not been released so it is all very speculative at the moment. I shall be waiting with baited breath!
D1993
Hyper Poster
Hixee said:
I guess there really wouldnt be any way .....
I'd rather added security at the parks' entrance rather than having to pay extra. Its the lesser of two evils.
I mean, if someone had an IOA ticket then that would be valid to head into the US harry section, and as guests leave that section of the park to US, there could be security and booths making sure people with IOA tickets only cant make it into US.
And then they could try and make it the same way with those who have US tickets.
I know its sounds all complicated and unlikely, but I really would prefer that, than having to pay extra for the two separate harry potter parks! (which are ultimately not theme parks, but just themed lands of each theme park) ...
So the idea of charging for each themed area is really actually quite ludicrous, but it could definetly happen I guess.
^But they're not going to charge more for the HP thing once you're inside US, so what's the problem? They're both theme parks in their own right, both have loads of other great rides, and both well worth a visit. What's the issue in just having two theme parks with one little overlap?
They could do it that way but I still think it will be done the other way, scan your ticket before you get on the train/or off the train.
If they don't do that there will only be one way into the Harry potter stuff and that would be via ioa still as you would not be able to get into universal studios.
It will get far to complicated shutting off areas leading to the other parks.
Barriers will make the areas look a bit of a mess and space leading to the areas at ioa is really tight. Plus off your in the park you would not want to keep having to show your ticket to walk through an area.
I can see your logic though hixee but I just think that it could make it harder and you could end up with problems. Maybe they will just say one ticket gives access to both parks?
If they don't do that there will only be one way into the Harry potter stuff and that would be via ioa still as you would not be able to get into universal studios.
It will get far to complicated shutting off areas leading to the other parks.
Barriers will make the areas look a bit of a mess and space leading to the areas at ioa is really tight. Plus off your in the park you would not want to keep having to show your ticket to walk through an area.
I can see your logic though hixee but I just think that it could make it harder and you could end up with problems. Maybe they will just say one ticket gives access to both parks?
I may be being dense here, but how does scanning people's tickets on/off the train have any effect on whether they'd just walk into the next park? I just don't see how you can stop people getting the train from IoA to US, then just walking into the rest of US without some sort of fence/scanning system around the HP areas to stop that happening. I don't think they'll do that as, like you said and I said above, it'd look awful and make it feel like a prison.
Unless I'm missing the point...
Unless I'm missing the point...
I mean in order to leave ioa you scan your ticket at the train station, same for US.
Have people getting on the train use one side people getting off the other side of the train.
So it's just like entering the other park but at a different location.
As I said but probably added that after you posted, maybe they will just add a bit on the ticket and say 1 ticket gets you both parks rather than needing to scan your US ticket for one area and your ioa for the other.
I am probably not being very clear.
Have people getting on the train use one side people getting off the other side of the train.
So it's just like entering the other park but at a different location.
As I said but probably added that after you posted, maybe they will just add a bit on the ticket and say 1 ticket gets you both parks rather than needing to scan your US ticket for one area and your ioa for the other.
I am probably not being very clear.
[Yeah, I think you made your edit after I posted]
I wasn't thinking of it as another entrance to the park. Guess it could work, but I don't know if it might cause more problems/hassle with guests getting confused maybe? I guess we'll just have to wait and see, I'm sure they've got a good solution to it.
I wasn't thinking of it as another entrance to the park. Guess it could work, but I don't know if it might cause more problems/hassle with guests getting confused maybe? I guess we'll just have to wait and see, I'm sure they've got a good solution to it.
rollermonkey
Strata Poster
He's right.
Back in the day, they did the exact same thing at Disneyland in CA. The monorail had a station in Tomorrowland, and another adjacent to the Disneyland hotel.
If you had a DL ticket, you could board cars that unloaded in TL. If you didn't, you boarded cars whose doors would remain closed at the TL station. If you boarded in park, you could stay on the train for the round trip or get off at the hotel.
At USF, there could/would be a similar simple sorting system. Two park ticket, one set of cars. One park ticket, different group of cars. They could modify the number of cars being used for each group based on demand.
If you get to Hogsmeade (or Diagon Alley) and you decide that you want to upgrade to a two park ticket, I'm sure they'd be willing and able to sell you an upgrade at the ticket counter in the train station before you board. (What a stretch of theming that'd be, huh?)
Oh, and if that idea for flat-screen sided trains pan out, they could show different scenes to peeps who were round trip or one way from either park. You could have three 'different' rides in one train system. Heck, the folks with one way tickets might never notice that they were stopped in the other station if they were being shown rolling countryside while the train was taking on passengers in the other park and the doors never open in that car.
Back in the day, they did the exact same thing at Disneyland in CA. The monorail had a station in Tomorrowland, and another adjacent to the Disneyland hotel.
If you had a DL ticket, you could board cars that unloaded in TL. If you didn't, you boarded cars whose doors would remain closed at the TL station. If you boarded in park, you could stay on the train for the round trip or get off at the hotel.
At USF, there could/would be a similar simple sorting system. Two park ticket, one set of cars. One park ticket, different group of cars. They could modify the number of cars being used for each group based on demand.
If you get to Hogsmeade (or Diagon Alley) and you decide that you want to upgrade to a two park ticket, I'm sure they'd be willing and able to sell you an upgrade at the ticket counter in the train station before you board. (What a stretch of theming that'd be, huh?)
Oh, and if that idea for flat-screen sided trains pan out, they could show different scenes to peeps who were round trip or one way from either park. You could have three 'different' rides in one train system. Heck, the folks with one way tickets might never notice that they were stopped in the other station if they were being shown rolling countryside while the train was taking on passengers in the other park and the doors never open in that car.
Ollie
CF Legend
Because they'd have tickets for the other park. IOA and US are two separate parks obviously and the train would be a way to get between the two parks.Hixee said:
So to get on the train you'd have to present a ticket thats valid for both parks to board.
So your options are...
Buy an IOA ticket and just go in the HP land in that park.
Buy a US ticket and just go in the HP land there.
Or buy a combo ticket for both parks and be allowed to take the train in between the two parks.
I think you're thinking of the Harry Potter land as one area even though it's in two parks and the ticket just lets you in the HP area. That would be hard to enforce. Whereas Im just seeing it as a way to get into both parks without having to walk back to the entrance and across to the entrance of the other park.
Hope I've not made it more confusing but it's pretty simple the way Im thinking of it lol.
nadroJ
CF Legend
It makes me wonder, if the whole train thing will be the case, if Universal would consider a Potter only ticket? I mean, tons and tons of people want the Harry Potter experience but may not be that into the other rides. I know for a fact there must be a lot of guests already who only go to IoA for Potter.
I know it's all good for moneymaking and stuff, but it does make me feel sorry for the rest of the parts of the parks, it seems like they're all going to be lost in the shadow of Potter.
Like I keep saying, it should have been a completely separate project from the offset.
I know it's all good for moneymaking and stuff, but it does make me feel sorry for the rest of the parts of the parks, it seems like they're all going to be lost in the shadow of Potter.
Like I keep saying, it should have been a completely separate project from the offset.