Wizarding World - Diagon Alley Discussion (Opens 2014)

[illumination]

I was watching some of the extras on the Harry Potter DVD today, briefly it showed JK discussing park options with UC, well at least I think it was UC. Any way it only touched upon it on the DVD is there any where I can see more of this footage? I would love the insight of how phase one grew from Idea through concept to completed land and now into phase 2. Any one else seen this?

I have seen a little bit of this in the 8 disc DVD set. I remember JK saying that she wasn't into the theme park idea in general until Universal presented her with all the exciting ideas they had. To me the footage I saw seemed to be similar as what was on the TV special about the park.

Also, I really believe that Universal/JK should create some kind of a Harry Potter themed hotel experience. Even if it's just a wing or small size hotel added somewhere on existing property. How awesome would it be if they had special harry potter boats that would take you directly inside of Universal Studios? They could connect the lagoon with the waterway and have these guests be brought directly to the Harry Potter area, or even into Islands near the castle. I think people would really be excited to experience something like that. At the very least, what if they created a single high-end hotel suite inside of the new expansion, so you could actually stay inside of the park (similar to the Cinderella Castle suite at Disney). :smiley:

 

[rhino4evr]

A potter themed hotel? No thanks. Maybe a Potter wing, or a Potter themed restaurant in a hotel, but to be honest enough Potter. He's quickly becoming Universal Orlando's Mickey Mouse.

 

[Kevin38]

Will Dragons be closing at all during construction?

It will be closed from Jan 11th for two weeks

Is it too cold to paint?

 

[blue180]

A potter themed hotel? No thanks. Maybe a Potter wing, or a Potter themed restaurant in a hotel, but to be honest enough Potter. He's quickly becoming Universal Orlando's Mickey Mouse.

hahhaahaha. Agreed! I love Potter, but I think the two lands in both parks will be enough. Dont need to beat a dead horse with this

 

[Hatetofly]

It will be closed from Jan 11th for two weeks

Is it too cold to paint?

It would take a month to do the job properly.

 

[Disneyhead]

The Royal Pacific already has this:

So I wouldn't be surprised to find a Potter version somewhere on-property.

 

[Hatetofly]

The Royal Pacific already has this:

So I wouldn't be surprised to find a Potter version somewhere on-property.

It has to coming to cabana bay. I'm shocked we haven't seen it yet.

 

[JungleSkip]

It has to coming to cabana bay. I'm shocked we haven't seen it yet.

God I hope not. Talk about a clash of themes.

 

[Disneyhead]

God I hope not. Talk about a clash of themes.

But after you walk in your suite and close the door. It really won't matter. And there will be plenty of Non-Potter suites if you just want a regular one.

 

[JungleSkip]

But after you walk in your suite and close the door. It really won't matter. And there will be plenty of Non-Potter suites if you just want a regular one.

Eh. It's cheap and desperate if you ask me. Just as bad as having the Royal Princess Rooms in Riverside.

 

[Hatetofly]

Eh. It's cheap and desperate if you ask me. Just as bad as having the Royal Princess Rooms in Riverside.

Tell that to a child...

 

[JungleSkip]

Tell that to a child...

As a kid I would think, why are we going from a 50s, American roadside motel to an English Wizard locale?

But then again, I was a weird kid.

 

[Jymmymack]

As a kid I would think, why are we going from a 50s, American roadside motel to an English Wizard locale?

But then again, I was a weird kid.

Something tells me you and I wouldn't have spent many hours playing action figures together...

 

[ReelJustice]

I have no shame. I would stay in a Harry Potter suite.

 

[JungleSkip]

Something tells me you and I wouldn't have spent many hours playing action figures together...

Oh no. I was no holds barred with that kind of stuff. Spider-man and Luke Skywalker were very good friends.

But something like that would have taken me out of the moment. Again: Weird kid

 

[jtsalien]

Oh no. I was no holds barred with that kind of stuff. Spider-man and Luke Skywalker were very good friends.

But something like that would have taken me out of the moment. Again: Weird kid

I don't think it's weird. All kids aren't completely indifferent to the world. It would have thrown me for a loop. Why is Harry Potter vacationing in Wildwood?

However, I have no doubts in it coming. They'll sell anything and everything they can for Potter.

 

[BJCool]

I was watching some of the extras on the Harry Potter DVD today, briefly it showed JK discussing park options with UC, well at least I think it was UC. Any way it only touched upon it on the DVD is there any where I can see more of this footage? I would love the insight of how phase one grew from Idea through concept to completed land and now into phase 2. Any one else seen this?

The only thing I have ever seen of Rowling actually discussing the park with UC is this bit from the documentary "J.K. Rowling - A Year In The Life".

[video=youtube;_Bcz6vfff18]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Bcz6vfff18[/video]


Full documentary here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6-6zaa4NI4

 

[UK-Trigg]

The only thing I have ever seen of Rowling actually discussing the park with UC is this bit from the documentary "J.K. Rowling - A Year In The Life".

[video=youtube;_Bcz6vfff18]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Bcz6vfff18[/video]


Full documentary here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6-6zaa4NI4

Yep, that is the one I watched, really interesting. Just though/hoped there was more footage between JK and UC.

 

[illumination]

A potter themed hotel? No thanks. Maybe a Potter wing, or a Potter themed restaurant in a hotel, but to be honest enough Potter. He's quickly becoming Universal Orlando's Mickey Mouse.

Fair enough. However people were saying there was enough Potter before the expansion was announced. I think if they are more than doubling the Potter themed area, it seems like an important enough part of Universal to justify some sort of themed resort/hotel room area. I bet a lot of people are only drawn there to see the Potter related stuff, and they would be interested in staying in the hotel too.

The Jurassic Park themed rooms are kind of tacky to me, maybe if they did an entire floor of a hotel in Harry Potter the theme could be consistent enough to make it work. If they just wanted to do the rooms similar to how they did the Jurassic Park ones at Royal Pacific, I would probably prefer them to do nothing at all tbh. If they did a high floor at Portofino you could see Hogwarts from the window Ok I realize I'm daydreaming at this point.

 

[ReelJustice]

The only thing I have ever seen of Rowling actually discussing the park with UC is this bit from the documentary "J.K. Rowling - A Year In The Life".


Full documentary here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6-6zaa4NI4

What I wouldn't give to see this whole meeting and the book of concept art!