Wizarding World - Diagon Alley Discussion - Part 2

[Felipe]

Over time you will see changes made to the section by Beetlejuice. Before Grand Open? Maybe but nothing is for sure yet. I'll tell you this the one area I'm concerned we "lose" the magic is the HE extended overflow at the North Station.

No phased openings. The North Station is one of the furthest buildings behind schedule. Many aspects of this project are behind schedule so the main thing I'm concerned with is ride effects that could be cut at the last minute in order to open on time. It happened at the FJ and it could happen here.

Is the overflow part of King's Cross or Platform 9 3/4? I think this will be really bad if we go into 9 3/4 and then back out, but if it's part of King's Cross where we go in and out before we cross over into 9 3/4 it's not too bad. Obviously it would be better if all overflow queuing could be done before even entering King's Cross... but I think going in and out of King's Cross while we're still in London / Muggle world, it's not as bad as if we had to see backstage once we are in 9 3/4 or Diagon Alley. At least King's Cross it's supposed to be something in the city and seeing some random buildings around it wouldn't feel too out of place, you know what I mean?

Came across these today:

FOUNTIAN OF FAIR FORTUNE/FLOREAN FORTESCUE'S:
https://www.myfloridalicense.com/LicenseDetail.asp?SID=&id=08EC626F26E6B00C7DA2CD9C85A07C51

LEAKY CAULDRON:
https://www.myfloridalicense.com/LicenseDetail.asp?SID=&id=81CACEE559F1F97600F71A0AC7ED0486

LONDON FOOD CART:
https://www.myfloridalicense.com/LicenseDetail.asp?SID=&id=4004CE892E05E4D04DF4F820C792E60F


Not really anything new/groundbreaking, but still nice to see a couple of locations being confirmed through permit filings.

TOO COOL!! That seriously made me a bit giddy I love the Beedle the Bard reference
The area between Ollivanders and Gringotts looks like it has a fountain(s), and I wonder if they'll pay homage to the look of the fountain from the tale as drawn by Jo Rowling:

 

[Hatetofly]

The overflow is part of Kings Cross Felipe. You don't actually cross over into 9 3/4 until you go upstairs.

 

[Felipe]

The overflow is part of Kings Cross Felipe. You don't actually cross over into 9 3/4 until you go upstairs.

Cool beans :thumbs: BTW, any info on the fountain? :look:



Here are some of today's pics of London from around Twitter:

From @cmdisbrow
"Diagon Alley details"

And from @UORBuzz

 

[Hatetofly]

In terms of design or location for the fountain?

 

[Teebin]

Nice to see the pediment removed from the rooftop and back in place. I think it is the Wyndham that has me most excited on this project, which I know, seems odd.

Those appear to be speaker mount holes between the windows on Grimmauld. We must remember that we still have wrought iron balconies that should apparently mask the speakers when installed.

 

[Felipe]

In terms of design or location for the fountain?

In design, do you know if it will look similar to Jo Rowling's sketch?
And location, I'm assuming on the street behind Ollivanders and in front of Gringotts / outdoor theater area, correct?

 

[badlactose]

Thanks for posting those Twitter photos, Felipe!

A thought just occurred to me. Grimmauld Place looks pretty much exactly like the building from the movie, which in turn, is a real townhouse row in London. How bizarre will it be for the inhabitants of those townhouses to visit a theme park in Florida and see their homes re-created?

Also, I wonder if legally Universal had to obtain permission from the architects or homeowners of the original building? Same thing goes for Wyndham Theater and King's Cross. What special permissions need to be obtained (and money exchanged?) before a theme park can create a wholesale recreation of an existing bit of architecture?

 

[Teebin]

Also, I wonder if legally Universal had to obtain permission from the architects or homeowners of the original building? Same thing goes for Wyndham Theater and King's Cross. What special permissions need to be obtained (and money exchanged?) before a theme park can create a wholesale recreation of an existing bit of architecture?

The original in London appears to be a Georgian period building, thus the architects are dead. As the Georgian style has been so oft recreated all over the world, there would be no grounds on which to seek money. The Wyndham might be a different arrangement, however it is really good advertising for the original, so who knows.

Example:

54th St, New York City

 

[Felipe]

Thanks for posting those Twitter photos, Felipe!

A thought just occurred to me. Grimmauld Place looks pretty much exactly like the building from the movie, which in turn, is a real townhouse row in London. How bizarre will it be for the inhabitants of those townhouses to visit a theme park in Florida and see their homes re-created?

Also, I wonder if legally Universal had to obtain permission from the architects or homeowners of the original building? Same thing goes for Wyndham Theater and King's Cross. What special permissions need to be obtained (and money exchanged?) before a theme park can create a wholesale recreation of an existing bit of architecture?

My pleasure! And that's a great question... I do wonder... You know, funnily enough, there's a couple of differences between this replica(?) and the original Grimmauld Place building, like the doors and windows on the ground floor have switched sides, and the top of those windows are not rounded either... Creative license, mistake, or intentional differences? :shrug:

 

[badlactose]

Teebin, good point. I'd think anything from the Georgian period is fair game (it is my dream to live in an actual Georgian townhouse one day, by the way. But no authentic ones to be found here in Toronto).

Felipe, I've included a pic of the actual filming location I got from Google Streetview. The Universal version looks like an exact replica to me, except for the roof. They've added a sloping roof and visible chimneys.

[/URL][/IMG]

 

[Felipe]

Felipe, I've included a pic of the actual filming location I got from Google Streetview. The Universal version looks like an exact replica to me, except for the roof. They've added a sloping roof and visible chimneys.

Hmm... Curious... I was comparing it to this picture below, which is from the wiki page, but I'm not sure where it came from since the clip from the film also shows what you found :shrug:

[video=youtube;FYZvBeZj7ic]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYZvBeZj7ic[/video]

 

[Sleepyhollowstudios]

I can't seem to remember who said on these boards that London would be like "New York" in terms of size, but it is really blowing me away. You can look at aerial pictures of dirt all day, but nothing prepares you for the scope of a project like this until you see actual building facades nearing completion. I can't wait to see these in person again!

-Andy

 

[badlactose]

Felipe, yeah, there seems to be a lot of confusion online about the filming location. I suspect it stems from the fact that a lot of buildings in London share similar architectural features.

 

[Teebin]

Hmm... Curious... I was comparing it to this picture below, which is from the wiki page, but I'm not sure where it came from since the clip from the film also shows what you found :shrug:

Yep, and then this image from wikia. Was this shot in the movie?

And which of the films use the massive Grimmauld set that they built versus a real location in London?

 

[Felipe]

Felipe, yeah, there seems to be a lot of confusion online about the filming location. I suspect it stems from the fact that a lot of buildings in London share similar architectural features.

That makes sense :thumbs:

Yep, and then this image from wikia. Was this shot in the movie?

And which of the films use the massive Grimmauld set that they built versus a real location in London?

I don't think a shot like that was ever in the movies.

Grimmauld Place was in Order of the Phoenix and then again in Deathly Hallows (Part 1, I believe).

 

[badlactose]

The above photo that Teebin posted has me thinking. Do you think, down the line, the London facades will get a Christmas overlay, complete with a dusting of snow? That would be lovely.

 

[Sherbert_Lemon]

Teebin, good point. I'd think anything from the Georgian period is fair game (it is my dream to live in an actual Georgian townhouse one day, by the way. But no authentic ones to be found here in Toronto).

Felipe, I've included a pic of the actual filming location I got from Google Streetview. The Universal version looks like an exact replica to me, except for the roof. They've added a sloping roof and visible chimneys.

[/URL][/IMG]

Hi guys long time lurker from the UK. Just to mention Grimmauld Place was filmed entirely on the backlot at Leavesden. They built replica Georgian housing (which was also used in Sherlock Holmes 1 & 2). However the image above is as close to the real thing as possible.

Yep, and then this image from wikia. Was this shot in the movie?

And which of the films use the massive Grimmauld set that they built versus a real location in London?

The image above was featured in Order of the Phoenix at Christmas time when they go to Grimmauld Place just after Arthur Weasley has been injured by Nagini.

 

[Teebin]

^ Danke Sherbert! I have always wondered why they would have filmed on location at all, when I knew they built such an elaborate set. Too bad it was built as temporary, but perhaps permanent fakery is difficult to maintain in a more changeable climate.

There is your answer badlac. It is a designed and contrived Georgian street set. Any similarities to real facades in London were by chance only.

 

[badlactose]

Thanks for solving the mystery, Sherbert!

I guess it's just coincidence then (Of course, it's possible the street I posted was one of their inspirations).
Stuart Craig confirms that Grimmauld is entirely a set in this interview:
http://www.comingsoon.net/news/interviewsnews.php?id=21229

CS: Did you build out Grimmauld Place?
Craig: We are building out the exterior here on the back lot, considering it a London location. But in the film, it's a night scene in London, so when it comes to the reality of keeping a whole neighborhood awake at night with big cranes and lighting, it was decided to build it back here. We're building a street, the square, we're building the corner of a Georgian town square.

 

[reme]

Any idea what time to expect the updates from universal today ??