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

[Vyrus]

Vyrus, these tours have been available since December of 2009... sort of :look:

Secondly, you look at a picture of a motion picture star standing with cute girls and the only thing you notice is his Colorado sports sweats? You sports addicts.... yeeesh.

No I noticed the girls first, and dude, its an un-written rule that you notice the girls first, it doesn't have to be stated. The only thing that has to be stated would be if :

A. The girls are busted and you have say something like "Wow Beauxbatons REALLY lowered their standards of entrance lately."
B. One of the girls had her hand on his butt, or was giving him the "there's an empty storage shed around here" look
C. Something was off about the picture

In this case its C, cause he's dressed like he just woke up and went to the park in a Buffaloes sweat pants

 

[Teebin]

I just read several tweets stating that Islands of Adventure did close due to capacity and the WWoHP held a 120 minute entry wait.

I have NEVER seen this happen at IOA... BRAVO!

 

[Tbad556]

It seems like today may be even busier or just as busy as yesterday. From @JohnBdeHaas:

End of WWOHP line is now at front of IOA by Cinnabon.

Does anyone else think they may reach capacity again today?

 

[Roll N Fear]

Forbidden Journey has a 2 hour wait right now so probably.

 

[Vyrus]

I have NEVER seen this happen at IOA... BRAVO!

Well the Grand Opening day and a few days right after that IOA closed for capacity. I'm sure they PUSHED the limit of that capacity to get more people into the park, but I can't believe the kind of staying power WWoHP is having at this point. I don't think I've ever heard of a ride, let alone an area draw this many people 6 months after it opened :stunned::jaw:

 

[Tbad556]

We have been told via the Orlando United Twitter (@Orlando_United) that Islands of Adventure has hit capacity for the second day in a row!

 

[G8rBucsgirl]

Wow that is amazing!

 

[Splatter]

Well the Grand Opening day and a few days right after that IOA closed for capacity. I'm sure they PUSHED the limit of that capacity to get more people into the park, but I can't believe the kind of staying power WWoHP is having at this point. I don't think I've ever heard of a ride, let alone an area draw this many people 6 months after it opened :stunned::jaw:

Definately the best single theme park expansion investment ever.

 

[jj3352]

Lets hope they get to work on phase 2 ASAP! i am so happy for this resort! yay for UO

 

[Roxy91]

Definately the best single theme park expansion investment ever.

Definitely. It's pretty much unheard of for one new land to raise a resort's profits by 30% right?
And yet people are always questioning Potter's staying power...

 

[Mitchiez]

No Phase 2 jj3352.

 

[Frogki]

No Phase 2 jj3352.

Dude, if it keeps this up, Universal will be having their own little chat with you about a Phase 2 Mitchiez xD Because trust me, with these kinds of crowds, this many months, closing to capacity, it WILL expand. How far is up to debate, but there's going to be something more, because, knowing Universal, they'll milk it till the very end...

 

[Splatter]

Dude, if it keeps this up, Universal will be having their own little chat with you about a Phase 2 Mitchiez xD Because trust me, with these kinds of crowds, this many months, closing to capacity, it WILL expand. How far is up to debate, but there's going to be something more, because, knowing Universal, they'll milk it till the very end...

Holidays. Clearly if the park can easily hit capacity they don't need to add anything for awhile. I know we don't like to think this way but that is the way the parks run the business of attractions.

The new attracting is attracting. That is its job. If we see any true expansion it won't likely be for years.

 

[Mitchiez]

And like I said... In all of the new, added lands, parks, sections in the past years of Orlando, How many of them have been expanded with a Phase 2 due to crowds? None. Sure, I can see minor additions such as new merchandise to be up to date with HP7, and maybe a couple little new things here and there, but nothing as big as a Phase 2. Universal knows what their doing, and clearly they don't need to add any more then what they have and they won't. I know it's something we all want to happen, and we have some great ideas... but it's all the bluff getting to our heads.

 

[Splatter]

I as of now have to agree Mitchiez.

Spedial Events will be the next planning areas. I just know they are looking into that. Holidays, Infinitus, Leakycon. The Potter Equal to Star Wars Weekends. There are tons of actors from the Potter films that will not be doing huge time consuming projects that have agents that would love to have themselves and clients make extra buck.

 

[youhow2]

Holidays. Clearly if the park can easily hit capacity they don't need to add anything for awhile. I know we don't like to think this way but that is the way the parks run the business of attractions.

The new attracting is attracting. That is its job. If we see any true expansion it won't likely be for years.

I happen to disagree. If universal sees anyway to expand upon what they were doing that results in monetary increase for them, Im sure they will do it. Also, they need to think about the fact there are unhappy guest that have 2 hour waits to go inside WWOHP.... IOA doesnt have alot of rides, It could use some more attractions and quite a few replacements to get the park running at optimum effciency. Why let the investment wither away when you can add onto it and create a better product that will continuously draw in crowds.

If I were them, I'd be looking for ways to Make this happen year round, and increase spending and guest comfort levels. An area expansion (even if it doesnt have a major attraction), a night time show, and events are what I think we may see in the near future. Next thing im sure we'll see is a answer to WWOHP at the universal side of the resort.... It needs it. They cant do like they dude throughout the first decade and let the park run dry before expanding, and Im sure they have learned this....

 

[Splatter]

I happen to disagree. If universal sees anyway to expand upon what they were doing that results in monetary increase for them, Im sure they will do it. Also, they need to think about the fact there are unhappy guest that have 2 hour waits to go inside WWOHP.... IOA doesnt have alot of rides, It could use some more attractions and quite a few replacements to get the park running at optimum effciency. Why let the investment wither away when you can add onto it and create a better product that will continuously draw in crowds.

If I were them, I'd be looking for ways to Make this happen year round, and increase spending and guest comfort levels. An area expansion (even if it doesnt have a major attraction), a night time show, and events are what I think we may see in the near future. Next thing im sure we'll see is a answer to WWOHP at the universal side of the resort.... It needs it. They cant do like they dude throughout the first decade and let the park run dry before expanding, and Im sure they have learned this....

I agree with this, but I never said I don't see them expanding anything at all. What Mitchiez and I are saying is with Potter for the most part, what we have is what we get. Its not going to wither away. Millions of people will be wanting to both return and millions more will want to go for their first time for years to come.

As far work on other areas of the parks, I agree that should and probably will be the focus.

 

[Mitchiez]

Universal isn't going use all this money they are getting from Potter to add onto it, because it won't stop coming. They need to touch up all the other areas, and make sure they have the same quality that Potter does. That way guests will come for Potter, and stay for IOA. There are a lot of places that need to be painted, and touched up badly. A lot of Toon Lagoon needs to be painted and kept up. And of course the other things such as painting the hulk, keeping Lost Continent updated, and then IOA will be improved all around.

I would like a night show, and some how an improved Ollivanders, and we'll definitely see some events coming soon.... But no Phase 2, and no major expansions.

 

[Frogki]

Yes but have you ever seen crowds like this and MERCHANDISE sales. I think we all have to agree to disagree because I'm almost positive that, even if it isn't broken, they want to attract MORE crowds and get people back there to experience things they didn't have there. And buy new merch, which is one of the MAJOR things here. They are selling HUGE, and yes, it'll be a while, but I'm willing to bet that sure enough there will be a phase 2...

--- Update ---

I as of now have to agree Mitchiez.

Spedial Events will be the next planning areas. I just know they are looking into that. Holidays, Infinitus, Leakycon. The Potter Equal to Star Wars Weekends. There are tons of actors from the Potter films that will not be doing huge time consuming projects that have agents that would love to have themselves and clients make extra buck.

No... Just, no... J.K. Rowling would NEVER allow something as corny as that to happen in the parks. What we got was authenticity, and that is what will continue to sell, and be delivered.

--- Update ---

Universal isn't going use all this money they are getting from Potter to add onto it, because it won't stop coming. They need to touch up all the other areas, and make sure they have the same quality that Potter does. That way guests will come for Potter, and stay for IOA. There are a lot of places that need to be painted, and touched up badly. A lot of Toon Lagoon needs to be painted and kept up. And of course the other things such as painting the hulk, keeping Lost Continent updated, and then IOA will be improved all around.

I would like a night show, and some how an improved Ollivanders, and we'll definitely see some events coming soon.... But no Phase 2, and no major expansions.

Dude, your clinging to a dead area with Lost Continent. You guys all insist "It just needs a major rehab", but come on. The worst two attractions are all that's left, and the great resturant and shops that no one stays for. You guys keep insisting that it will stay, because you love it, however, LC is on it's way out. Of course they need to touch up the park as a whole, but you know how much money Potter has been and is still making. If it isn't broken, no, you don't fix it. But you improve it. And add to it.

If they've got to add DH elements, I fail to see how they will without some kind of land expansion or they'll make it corny and plain un realistic to the books... "Hey kids, one of Voldemort's horcruxes is right over here, pay a couple bucks to get it". I can, to a certain extent, see them adding Ravenclaws Diadem to the Room of Requirement, but I don't see how they would incorporate it. Bottom line is, if Potter continues to sell this much, there will be an expansion. Because they want to sell more. Enough is never enough with them. It won't take up any more room than LC did excluding the castle...

 

[Roxy91]

Aren't we all forgetting that Universal asked people about a phase 2 in recent surveys? That proves definitively that they are at least considering it.
What about the millions of people that are/will be coming to Universal just because of Potter? While they may enjoy the rest of the park, they will wish to spend more time in the Wizarding World, or wish that it wasn't so crowded. Not to mention repeat visitors who need a little extra incentive to spend another vacation at UO. Universal would greatly satisfy these people with an expansion, and if recent reports are anything to go by it is the Potter fans that Uni is most anxious to please right now.

There is nothing stopping them from planning an expansion (which even if they decided to do it tomorrow, wouldn't be built for likely 2-3 years) and touching up the rest of the park in the meantime. Anyway we all know the only reason that Universal would even consider a park-wide "refurbishment" is because of the new customers Potter is bringing in. That shows just how "Potter-centric" the current feeling of the resort is.

On the future of LC I agree with Frogki - it's going. What's the point in keeping it around? It was a good idea, but the attractions there now are mediocre at best (widespread opinion) and they are original, which, while that may appeal to us theme park fans, is not going to sell a lot of merchandise or get a ton of people's interest. There is no way Universal is going to spend millions of dollars adding a major new attraction to LC or some other land when that is simply not where the money's at. What kind of return are they going to get by spending money on LC, compared to an expansion of Potter? And they are a company which means first and foremost they care about making money.

IMO we can expect the park to be touched up generally in the next year or so, some new effects added here and there, then a moderate to major expansion of Potter in 3-4 years, then a major expansion to a different land.