The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade (Orlando): Part 2

[Felipe]

EDIT: Videos are up http://www.youtube.com/user/FelipeWWoHP

 

[RingMaster]

Yeah, it seems themed around 3-4...or somewhere about there. Not my personal preference, but it's HP, so it is still amazing...of course, most of my favorite themes of the series come from more of the character development, backstories, and the core plots rather than every bit of action. Still incredible though.
Do we know why Diggory isn't in the queue for DC? I was thinking it may have something to do with the whole Rob Pattinson/Twilight craze, but I would think it wouldn't affect the experience too much.

Aside from the fact that Twilight fangirls would be screaming out that Edward was there in person (if another musion effect would have been used in DC to showcase individual players) and die-hard Potter fans would say it wasn't Edward but Cedric, and then bickering would lead to arguing, which would lead to fighting, etc.

But I do believe portions of the second book/movie are prevalent in the Wizarding World, specifically in Hogsmeade. Remember that in one of the shop windows, Gilderoy Lockhart is plastered everywhere, with moving portraits, books, and other knick-knacks.

Not to mention the infamous Ford Anglia sitting in the outskirts of the castle in DC's queue, also from CoS.

 

[psion]

omg i thought it was just me. I agree with you % 100. It dosent seem like if your walking threw hogwarts at all. I wish that there was more light.

I think we all fell the same,
but at the same time, yep, it is a theme park.
NOT REAL.

also, this doesnt just served Potter fans but all theme park guests.

As fan, I am sad a bit , but as a theme park guest, this is the mos bad ass thing ever.

just not having the great hall, already have me, bitching like a little girl.

it is the best they can do. Take it or leave it right?
I take it.

 

[FloRida848]

this I agree, and about the fat lady too.

I do think they hit some technical and logical snag while planning it

I said back in a few pages that, why would they ruin the magic by connecting the rooms next to each other
as, Dumbloredores office is NEXT to DADA and NEXT to Common room.
without any hallways in between.

and then, I find out that RoR is also tiny not big.
Fat lady is just on a side of a wall. and Common Room is kind of small, and OPENED, not really a room.

I guess, in the end, theme park logistics, ends up to serve the guests, flow of the lines and spacing, etc.
It ended it up like this.

It is possible to seperate the rooms but operational procudure wise would be a nightmare in Orlando.

It is possible, considering Tower of Terror preshow, opens and closes door with one group at a time
instead of a constant flow of line.

but FJ have 3 major preshow rooms, dont think the line flow will flow very well, if
they did the open and close door for each rooms with a certain amount number of people.

The problem was SPACE !!! Thats why i think that disney would have done a better job, taking that into acount. Because even if they had the $$$ they cant make space. It dosent look like a school inside. Whatever, i still like it. =)

 

[ralphoutloud]

The problem was SPACE !!! Thats why i think that disney would have done a better job, taking that into acount. Because even if they had the $$$ they cant make space. It dosent look like a school inside. Whatever, i still like it. =)

Didn't Disney only want to do one ride? So I highly doubt it.

 

[speckles]

'I accept it is the best they could do with their budget however I will not accept it is a game changer, this ride is great to enjoy, may be the best ride currently available, a montage of the best that's available todate in rides... however it is not a paradigm shift that I understood this ride to be from officialdom.'

 

[Teebin]

Didn't Disney only want to do one ride? So I highly doubt it.

Totally correct. Disney would have massacred HP and turned it into Disney. Look at Star Wars. That is all they wanted from HP, a name. How big is Star Wars at WDW? How many attractions does it offer and how good are those attractions and the shops and the feel of being in Star Wars?

 

[jj3352]

i hate to say this but i have to. i liked harry potter the exhibition more then i live the Fj queue. i have no problem with the lighting, it does take awhile for your eyes to adjust inside but take your time SLOW DOWN and enjoy what this amazing Theme Park attraction is. nice but not what i expected. So many things inside the queue, but uh i just feel like not upset but its an empty feeling, i grew up with harry potter and his world, and i immerse myself in his world every day of my life with the books.
I hate hate hate hate hate hate the shopping bags, id pay for a themed bag for my crap! id love a zonkos bag or honeydukes bag. but plastic crap!
I really think a glass of butter beer is 2 times too small.
3 broomsticks has pretty good food, just not what i thought it would be. zonko's has some merch again not what i thought it would be. mainly children's toys.
pumpkin juice is the most delicious thing on earth, its like the holidays in a bottle. i have had 12 of them already and i'm buying 40 more tomorrow =] maybe ill get a box and see where the stuff comes from!
Don't drink too much pumpkin juice in one day you will get super sick!
im not ashamed to have made a pig of myself, I'm also not ashamed of how much i used my credit card!
Ill be wearing my Robes to the park tomorrow! I'm going in full blown costume! and I'm going to just enjoy hogsmeade! so many great places to just read your favorite harrypotter book and just escape! also i love dragons challenge but not what i thought it would be the theming starts so well and just ends! i was disappointed with that. and i don't like the music choices too much of the same thing it kind of gets annoying. i wish they has more subtile area music. sorry for bitching guys i just have alot to get off my chest.

--- Update ---

Btw i think disney could have kicked universals A** even if they just had one ride. look at Indiana jones in california. and look at journey to the center of the earth in tokyo. Hell look at Everest, the awesome theme. the beautiful detail on ALL sides of the great ride. and trust me im not a huge fan of wdw or disney it's self i prefer universal. but i think disney would have blown universal away. altho i don't think disney could provide an experience that is Hogsmeade. anybody think Gary Goddard helped with Hogsmeade?

let the S**t talking begin

 

[avadakedavra]

Coming out of my lurkdom to say...

Alright, jj3352, we get it - the place disappointed you because you were a fan expecting so much more. You set yourself up for disappointment and I'm sorry there is a lot you dislike. But please find a fan forum to gripe in, not a theme park one. That goes to similar people who have been griping about how it lacks "authenticity."

To everyone who has been uploading photos and reports, thank you SO much for sharing with those of us who aren't so lucky to get to it just yet! I've been selective about what I read and view and what I have let myself get a glimpse of has only made me much more excited for my first visit. I am a HP fan, but first and foremost, I'm a theme park fan and know that realism can only go so far when budgets and a rough economy are involved. And from what I've seen so far? I'm giving the IOA staff a big ol' thumbs up! :thumbs:

 

[frequency]

I guess I'm just the kind of person who looks for what I like in a situation, rather than nit picking it apart. I am charmed by Universal. Everything I have seen so far , incuding the spoilers, lead me to believe I will be charmed by everything in WWOHP. The absolute only thing I am nervous about is if the ride will be too scary for my 8 yr old nephew.

 

[El Erico]

Aside from the fact that Twilight fangirls would be screaming out that Edward was there in person (if another musion effect would have been used in DC to showcase individual players) and die-hard Potter fans would say it wasn't Edward but Cedric, and then bickering would lead to arguing, which would lead to fighting, etc.

But I do believe portions of the second book/movie are prevalent in the Wizarding World, specifically in Hogsmeade. Remember that in one of the shop windows, Gilderoy Lockhart is plastered everywhere, with moving portraits, books, and other knick-knacks.

Not to mention the infamous Ford Anglia sitting in the outskirts of the castle in DC's queue, also from CoS.

My guess is that Gilderoy probably was still popular post-CoS, so it's probably just a nod to the books, as well. I'm fairly certain they picked Goblet of Fire to be the book they centered Potterland around.

 

[jj3352]

I think the ride is way to scary for an 8 year old! it was scary for me and i don't get scared easy. i might have nightmares the noises on the ride and the flashes of light in the forest and just not being able to see or have control. scary! loud noises! and scary noises! the forbidden forest is scary as hell. favorite part of the whole ride!

 

[avadakedavra]

My guess is that Gilderoy probably was still popular post-CoS, so it's probably just a nod to the books, as well. I'm fairly certain they picked Goblet of Fire to be the book they centered Potterland around.

I agree. And random, but where is your sig GIF from? It hypnotizes me every time I see it for a solid minute or two.

 

[Jymmymack]

i hate to say this but i have to. i liked harry potter the exhibition more then i live the Fj queue. i have no problem with the lighting, it does take awhile for your eyes to adjust inside but take your time SLOW DOWN and enjoy what this amazing Theme Park attraction is. nice but not what i expected. So many things inside the queue, but uh i just feel like not upset but its an empty feeling, i grew up with harry potter and his world, and i immerse myself in his world every day of my life with the books.
I hate hate hate hate hate hate the shopping bags, id pay for a themed bag for my crap! id love a zonkos bag or honeydukes bag. but plastic crap!
I really think a glass of butter beer is 2 times too small.
3 broomsticks has pretty good food, just not what i thought it would be. zonko's has some merch again not what i thought it would be. mainly children's toys.
pumpkin juice is the most delicious thing on earth, its like the holidays in a bottle. i have had 12 of them already and i'm buying 40 more tomorrow =] maybe ill get a box and see where the stuff comes from!
Don't drink too much pumpkin juice in one day you will get super sick!
im not ashamed to have made a pig of myself, I'm also not ashamed of how much i used my credit card!
Ill be wearing my Robes to the park tomorrow! I'm going in full blown costume! and I'm going to just enjoy hogsmeade! so many great places to just read your favorite harrypotter book and just escape! also i love dragons challenge but not what i thought it would be the theming starts so well and just ends! i was disappointed with that. and i don't like the music choices too much of the same thing it kind of gets annoying. i wish they has more subtile area music. sorry for bitching guys i just have alot to get off my chest.

--- Update ---

Btw i think disney could have kicked universals A** even if they just had one ride. look at Indiana jones in california. and look at journey to the center of the earth in tokyo. Hell look at Everest, the awesome theme. the beautiful detail on ALL sides of the great ride. and trust me im not a huge fan of wdw or disney it's self i prefer universal. but i think disney would have blown universal away. altho i don't think disney could provide an experience that is Hogsmeade. anybody think Gary Goddard helped with Hogsmeade?

let the S**t talking begin

Disney's proposed attraction was MIB with wands instead of guns. Part of their "interactivity" kick that started with Astro Blasters, continued on with Monsters, Inc. Hide and Go Peek, and was revolutionized in Midway Mania (not to say these rides aren't good).

I think I'd rather take the 20 foot tall robo-arm that whips me around and puts me face-to-face with giant spiders and Dementors.

 

[jj3352]

yuck midway mania is crap! DHS is crap

and make sure you don't Blink when you see the spider or you will miss it, the spider doesn't move its a flash of light and thats it.

 

[Captainwalker42]

I agree. And random, but where is your sig GIF from? It hypnotizes me every time I see it for a solid minute or two.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

 

[TheDecemberists]

My guess is that Gilderoy probably was still popular post-CoS, so it's probably just a nod to the books, as well. I'm fairly certain they picked Goblet of Fire to be the book they centered Potterland around.

No. There is no specific date, and there definitely isn't a specific book; they drew from all of the books (and movies). But if it makes you feel any better, if I were to choose a a date, it would probably be in Goblet of Fire.

 

[avadakedavra]

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

I KNEW it looked familiar. Thank you!

PS. Disney would never have done as excellent a job as Universal has!

 

[giant4203]

My guess is that Gilderoy probably was still popular post-CoS, so it's probably just a nod to the books, as well. I'm fairly certain they picked Goblet of Fire to be the book they centered Potterland around.

Gilmore said that it's like a snapshot of the best/most iconic places and moments throughout the series....kinda many points in time come together

 

[jj3352]

Fj reminds me of Indiana jones the ride that is its like an updated indy ride with soarin screens