Wizarding World - Diagon Alley Discussion (Opens 2014)

[ChristopherSE]

Scroll through this page of the thread linke below and check out the date:

http://www.orlandounited.com/forums/showthread.php?9-The-Wizarding-World-Of-Harry-Potter/page18

That page is almost exactly what we're doing now, except now, it's plausible.

 

[Jymmymack]

I honestly don't doubt the plans for a Hogwarts Express, I just don't think it's a viable option for something so crowded.

 

[JungleSkip]

I honestly don't doubt the plans for a Hogwarts Express, I just don't think it's a viable option for something so crowded.

I'm interested to see how they do it. If they do it.

I'll also admit that I thought Forbidden Journey was going to have terrible capacity and they pulled that one off. So we'll see.

 

[Frogki]

Wow! This thread has BLOWN UP! I've had to read about 100 pages to catch up! When I heard of an HP clone (or the likes of it) at USH on more than two websites, and then confirmation from Universal that Jaws was closing, I knew I had to come back to OU I said it months ago - an HP expansion was all but inevitable, but I never would have guessed it would be on this kind of scale! It seems that Universal found a way for Diagon Alley that not only makes me think the idea is a million times cooler, but one that satisfies the most nitpicky fans (hopefully ). So to sum it up (just to confirm xP), the most current rumor is Diagon Alley will replace Amity Ville (still very sad to hear this :/ ) with two 2 E-Tickets and a C ticket, one being better than FJ, and a possible Hogwarts Express simulator/transport between being one of them, and Gringotts being another... Anything I'm missing?
Sounds like I'll be much more active on here again for the next couples of years This should be great!

 

[JungleSkip]

2 E-tickets may be getting ahead of yourself. I think it's basically a guarantee we'll see 2 rides. 1 will definitely be an E

 

[Frogki]

2 E-tickets may be getting ahead of yourself. I think it's basically a guarantee we'll see 2 rides. 1 will definitely be an E

Gotcha :thumbs:
In any case, it's shaping up to be an exciting couple of years... I'm glad I've got OU to turn to xD So is there anything else in the air? Where are the USH rumors going?

 

[JungleSkip]

Gotcha :thumbs:
In any case, it's shaping up to be an exciting couple of years... I'm glad I've got OU to turn to xD So is there anything else in the air? Where are the USH rumors going?

No clue on USH. I am interested to see if it might have been some misinformation or mistranslation.

 

[BJCool]

Let's think of it this way. Some indoor coasters need to have a plot of land dug up so that sections of the ride can be tall, have steep hills and whatnot. With the hole that for the most part already exists due to the Jaws lagoon, a Gringotts coaster seems all the more likely!


For those who want to know what theming could consist of, watch the Gringotts break-in scene from the final movie below. (In two parts)

[video=youtube;oI8TM9SJ6jQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oI8TM9SJ6jQ[/video]

[video=youtube;V6JFXnkqcmw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6JFXnkqcmw[/video]


And a great breakdown of the scene featuring cast and crew interviews:

[video=youtube;-BbN2Kf-TaM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BbN2Kf-TaM[/video]

I had posted this in the Jaws closing thread then realized it is 1000 times more relevant to this one.

 

[TSSD]

I'd love this idea if it they weren't closing Jaws for it. It solves the major problems I had for Phase 2 being Diagon Alley, as it makes it far enough from Hogwarts where distance isn't really a problem. I actually really hope that this project is Diagon Alley. I just really wish that it was somewhere other than Jaws.

Also, what I'd love is for Jaws to be made a London area, and have Diagon Alley next to that, instead of having the whole area be Potter.

 

[JungleSkip]

I'd love this idea if it they weren't closing Jaws for it. It solves the major problems I had for Phase 2 being Diagon Alley, as it makes it far enough from Hogwarts where distance isn't really a problem. I actually really hope that this project is Diagon Alley. I just really wish that it was somewhere other than Jaws.

There is no place it can be other than Jaws, though. It's really the only place they have that's big enough and that can be basically a clean slate.

 

[Frogki]

I'd love this idea if it they weren't closing Jaws for it. It solves the major problems I had for Phase 2 being Diagon Alley, as it makes it far enough from Hogwarts where distance isn't really a problem. I actually really hope that this project is Diagon Alley. I just really wish that it was somewhere other than Jaws.

Also, what I'd love is for Jaws to be made a London area, and have Diagon Alley next to that, instead of having the whole area be Potter.

Well, I'm not so sure something like that won't happen. I mean, I can practically see the Ministry of Magic and Kings Cross now, but I don't know how much of London they would make that wouldn't be Potter. But I've thought that a London transition to Diagon Alley would be great...
I'm still in shock about Jaws though, that came right out of left field for me...
And about getting from this area of the WWoHP to the IoA, are there any other ideas on getting there besides the Hogwarts Express? I heard Floo Network before lol...

 

[Henrick]

Guys, being a former Team Member, I can't see how they are going to expand WWoHP through US. Although the idea of building a Hogwarts Express railway sounds interesting, I can't see it happening. First because the area between both lands is the backstage. The wardrobe, office buildings, the cafeteria. team members pathway to IOA and US and even soundstages. That would harm the area so much. They would have to build something indoor or underground, after all, it would be basically a tour through the backstage.

 

[JungleSkip]

Guys, being a former Team Member, I can't see how they are going to expand WWoHP through US. Although the idea of building a Hogwarts Express railway sounds interesting, I can't see it happening. First because the area between both lands is the backstage. The wardrobe, office buildings, the cafeteria. team members pathway to IOA and US and even soundstages. That would harm the area so much. They would have to build something indoor or underground, after all, it would be basically a tour through the backstage.

Screens for windows.

 

[Teebin]

Mercy, you people are putting this choo-choo rumor through the meat grinder! First, you should think to yourself, 'this is a major theme park, anything is possible'. Second, back up a bit and ask whether or not you are taking this rumor TOO LITERALLY. Just because one might board a train near Hogwarts and end up in another land in a different park doesn't necessarily mean there will be a train on tracks, or even a real train at all.

I have NO idea whether there is truth to this rumor of any kind of train experience but I do ask that all of us rethink how they might pull off such an idea/experience.

Edit: As a point of reference, back of sinbad to rear of jaws is 1600'. Each of the parking buildings are approx. 1000' long. Have fun.

 

[Teknik_DC2]

I have NO idea whether there is truth to this rumor of any kind of train experience but I do ask that all of us rethink how they might pull off such an idea/experience.

Edit: As a point of reference, back of sinbad to rear of jaws is 1600'. Each of the parking buildings are approx. 1000' long. Have fun.

I've tried giving thought to how this could happen so these are just my thoughts. I don't know if there really will be a train ride or not but it would be pretty cool if they do build potter in USF as well.

First of all the "Train" wouldn't be a train at all. It would be similar to the tram system at MCO airport. This is because the system is quiter and runs on electicity instead of fuel. You would board the train in USF in an area that resembles Kings cross. Both the Loading and Unloading areas in both parks will be indoors with a simulated environment. This is so when you board and exit you really walk thru a train car fascade to give the apperance that your climbing in a train car. To give the train as much capacity as possible I doubt it would be like a real train or how its depected in the Harry Potter movies. Instead seating would be in rows similar to that found on the subway car at Disaster. The "Windows" would be video screens. Upon boarding they will have the scenery on the depecting the station your departing from. As you travel the screens change from London to Country side sceneries before finally pulling into Hogsmead station. Although your not on a actual train you would never know it because it looks like a train when boarding and exiting and you never see out into the backstage areas of the park. Guest in ether park won't be able to see the "trams" moving ether thru the backlot. Only employees would see them. I'd imagine each "train" would consist of 4 cars.

I would imagine that the track for the ride would go down the backstage road 5th avenue. Yes it is highly traveled and used so the road would not be removed. Instead the trains tracks would be elevated much like the Metra train system is in Chicago. The track would sit about 30+ feet above the road and would the train will start elevating the moment it leaves the station. There would be two sets of tracks on the elevated platform. If configured correctly it could possibly run 4 trains at a time. 1 train in Hogsmead, 1 train in USF, and 2 trains traveling on the tracks. Although Evacs are bound to happen I think the biggest draw back from one would be that your being evaced into a backstage area that may be a long walk back to ether theme park.

Anyways those are my ideas of how a train connecting both Harry Potter sections could work. The thing with this Idea is that it could cost alot of money to accomplish. And I don't know if its something Universal would be willing to drop alot of money into for just a Transportation ride.

 

[Felipe]

Let's toy with the idea, which I dislike and I've been reluctant to accept, but which I can no longer deny is possible...

If they were to build Potter 2.0 at the Studios, and they were to connect them (which we are just speculating they're going to do but it's not certain), then an elevated tram system is probably the best option. I guess they could also run tracks at ground level and make it circle around the backstage, but it would still create a problem for traffic going in and out of the backlot area. So a lifted track is the most feasible option that I can see right now, if they're going to connect these alleged two Potter lands at both parks.

 

[Teebin]

I've tried giving thought to how this could happen so these are just my thoughts. I don't know if there really will be a train ride or not but it would be pretty cool if they do build potter in USF as well.

First of all the "Train" wouldn't be a train at all. It would be similar to the tram system at MCO airport. This is because the system is quiter and runs on electicity instead of fuel. You would board the train in USF in an area that resembles Kings cross. Both the Loading and Unloading areas in both parks will be indoors with a simulated environment. This is so when you board and exit you really walk thru a train car fascade to give the apperance that your climbing in a train car. To give the train as much capacity as possible I doubt it would be like a real train or how its depected in the Harry Potter movies. Instead seating would be in rows similar to that found on the subway car at Disaster. The "Windows" would be video screens. Upon boarding they will have the scenery on the depecting the station your departing from. As you travel the screens change from London to Country side sceneries before finally pulling into Hogsmead station. Although your not on a actual train you would never know it because it looks like a train when boarding and exiting and you never see out into the backstage areas of the park. Guest in ether park won't be able to see the "trams" moving ether thru the backlot. Only employees would see them. I'd imagine each "train" would consist of 4 cars.

I would imagine that the track for the ride would go down the backstage road 5th avenue. Yes it is highly traveled and used so the road would not be removed. Instead the trains tracks would be elevated much like the Metra train system is in Chicago. The track would sit about 30+ feet above the road and would the train will start elevating the moment it leaves the station. There would be two sets of tracks on the elevated platform. If configured correctly it could possibly run 4 trains at a time. 1 train in Hogsmead, 1 train in USF, and 2 trains traveling on the tracks. Although Evacs are bound to happen I think the biggest draw back from one would be that your being evaced into a backstage area that may be a long walk back to ether theme park.

Anyways those are my ideas of how a train connecting both Harry Potter sections could work. The thing with this Idea is that it could cost alot of money to accomplish. And I don't know if its something Universal would be willing to drop alot of money into for just a Transportation ride.

Now we're talkin'. Can we throw a kong 360 thing in the middle to actually make it an attraction. Announcement to put on your luna lovegood glasses because of a flight of those thingys she sees with them. Slow down as the 3D screens speed up thus the train never seems to stop. Screen motion slows down as the train starts moving into the final station. So, a queue, a train ride 'queue' and then the attraction, then ride queue and stop walk queue. Not sure how to handle the windows before the show building, but with engineers and numerous artists and techies of the trade sitting at the table... I think they could make the details work. Airport tram was a great suggestion.

 

[Jymmymack]

Now we're talkin'. Can we throw a kong 360 thing in the middle to actually make it an attraction. Announcement to put on your luna lovegood glasses because of a flight of those thingys she sees with them. Slow down as the 3D screens speed up thus the train never seems to stop. Screen motion slows down as the train starts moving into the final station. So, a queue, a train ride 'queue' and then the attraction, then ride queue and stop walk queue. Not sure how to handle the windows before the show building, but with engineers and numerous artists and techies of the trade sitting at the table... I think they could make the details work. Airport tram was a great suggestion.

The only thing would be a nightmare capacity. Kong at USH works because it's on the tram tour which is like 30 minutes long, so there are a TON of trams rolling through the backlot at any given time. It seems like a system like this would have a very limited number of trams/trains.

 

[emily7793]

Not sure if it's possible, but if you've considered the logistics of such a train going behind the park, can we also consider that it may go around the front of the park?

 

[tiredoldspook]

I was watching a Warner Brothers film today and next year Warner Brothers is opening a Backlot Harry Potter tour in England. It will have props and back stories from the movies including whole sound stages and such. I wonder if any of this will effect version 2.0