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

[ScottInNY]

I would love if the warning signs posted a, NO CELL PHONE policy and perhaps a "please respect your fellow riders and keep noise to a minimum" notice.

 

[Latveria]

I would love if the warning signs posted a, NO CELL PHONE policy and perhaps a "please respect your fellow riders and keep noise to a minimum" notice.

Nice thought, but people wouldn't adhere to it lol.

 

[Claire-Bear]

What concerns me more is Universal setting an appropriate tone regarding people feeling comfortable staying back, passing, keeping talk / noise to a minimum, etc. I think this is going to be a very different experience than we're used to, and I don't know how intrinsic its going to feel to stay back and the people behind you knowing it's okay to pass.

I wonder that as well. I'd like to enjoy each room (a reasonable amount, not necessarily standing there waiting for a repeat) whilst not having to suffer the fate of a much longer wait time than displayed when I first go in due to people rushing past.

 

[InProduction23]

I agree Teebin some of these just have to be stop room then you can chose to stay in a stop room & watch it again. There has to be some sort of barrier between some of the rooms or crowd flow will not be pretty.

Without stops, you also risk people breezing right by the scenes that provide the backstory when the line isn't long. Besides those of us on here, how many people do you really think stopped in the stained-glass window room of DD for that attraction's pre-show? Those folks who breezed on by had no idea that there was even a story behind why the dragons were dueling, or why the castle was ransacked, or why the dragons stay put around the castle.

They'll need to pulse these sections to make the Musion elements work as intended - to set up the story. :\

 

[Teebin]

That was my first reaction and assumption, too. There is no "starts" and "stops" other than the crowd itself.

Well, I liked the two preshow ideas better... but if your contact knows both about the entire ride and the entire queue... he is a rare fellow in the group. Only handfuls know this breadth of information.

 

[DisFreakBrent]

Well the question is will FJ have a no loose article policy? The good in that would be of coarse most cell phones would be stored but I don't see it happening due to people wanting to take so many queue pics. FJ depending on how fast the KUKA is moving could set a new record for lost items on a ride.Should be interesting to see how everything turns out.

 

[ScottInNY]

Nice thought, but people wouldn't adhere to it lol.

Why not? That's my point. If this queue/walk through is the attraction - as much as the "ride" - than why can't Universal find a way to instruct us all to behave differently. The dialogue is important, it's like going to a play. Sure there are rude people who talk, but basically we know to keep quiet. People know to put away their cells when they actually board the vehicle, how do we re-educate the crowd that this IS the attraction and it's now time to settle down and take it in.

Perhaps it will be so remarkably awesome that people will just know. Perhaps with a quick announcement outside of the castle, both before going into the dungeon and in the greenhouse, we can change "queues" forever. Wouldn't that be cool. That would be truly revolutionary!

 

[Claire-Bear]

Well the question is will FJ have a no loose article policy? The good in that would be of coarse most cell phones would be stored but I don't see it happening due to people wanting to take so many queue pics. FJ depending on how fast the KUKA is moving FJ could set a new record for lost items on a ride.Should be interesting to see how everything turns out.

Related to this, I'm curious as to where they're placing the lockers.

 

[Bryan]

Besides those of us on here, how many people do you really think stopped in the stained-glass window room of DD for that attraction's pre-show? Those folks who breezed on by had no idea that there was even a story behind why the dragons were dueling, or why the castle was ransacked, or why the dragons stay put around the castle.

okay I'm guilty

care to enlighten me with their story

 

[ScottInNY]

Without stops, you also risk people breezing right by the scenes that provide the backstory when the line isn't long. Besides those of us on here, how many people do you really think stopped in the stained-glass window room of DD for that attraction's pre-show? Those folks who breezed on by had no idea that there was even a story behind why the dragons were dueling, or why the castle was ransacked, or why the dragons stay put around the castle.

They'll need to pulse these sections to make the Musion elements work as intended - to set up the story. :\

This is a brilliant post. I totally agree. Every single time I rode Dueling Dragons, I stopped and watched the stained glass. IT WAS AMAZING AND BEAUTIFUL and one of my most favorite parts of the attraction. Every time I took a friend (several) I made them stop and watch it.

Most people just missed it.

Do we care, as long as those who wish to move forward and just get to the "ride" do so quietly and respectfully, as we watch the queue come to life? Did Universal design the actually lines in such a way that this is possible?

I truly hope so.

--- Update ---

Well, I liked the two preshow ideas better... but if your contact knows both about the entire ride and the entire queue... he is a rare fellow in the group. Only handfuls know this breadth of information.

The queue information is common knowledge at this point. I had the no "start" and "stops" verified, because I too didn't believe it, but I had read this and witnessed a discussion about just this very issue online before asking my friend.

 

[HpFan]

I think someone did a great job making the wizarding world of harry potter using a computer game here is the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62GssUIqRKQ .

 

[ScottInNY]

okay I'm guilty

care to enlighten me with their story

Bryan, you missed an amazing film. The animation was spectacular. Not just the story, but the way the story was told. Basically, at the end of a series of switchbacks was a wall of stained glass (projection). The shards of color morphed from scene to scene making for a visually amazing experience. Perhaps you can find the film online. Try youtube. If you can't, ask again and I, or someone will tell you the story.

--- Update ---

Dueling Dragon's preshow: found this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcTZT2K7TyQ

It's not complete, the quality is terrible, and the sound is poor, but... you get an idea.

 

[InProduction23]

Bryan, you missed an amazing film. The animation was spectacular. Not just the story, but the way the story was told. Basically, at the end of a series of switchbacks was a wall of stained glass (projection). The shards of color morphed from scene to scene making for a visually amazing experience. Perhaps you can find the film online. Try youtube. If you can't, ask again and I, or someone will tell you the story.

--- Update ---

Dueling Dragon's preshow: found this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcTZT2K7TyQ

It's not complete, the quality is terrible, and the sound is poor, but... you get an idea.

and to piggy-back on Scott's link... here's a blurb from another website with an article on the park from way back in 1999:

"The exterior portion of the queue winds through Merlinwood Forest, where we can watch the Dragons perform their nasty business. Various signs, hung by locals long gone, warn us to keep away (to no avail, of course). Eventually, we enter Merlinwood castle, where the Dragons have taken up residence. Inside the first chamber, the stained glass windows at the far end come to life and Merlin himself recounts the legend of the Fire and Ice Dragons. Seems these two ancient monsters have been endlessly fighting to rule over the kingdom and those who have strayed into their domain have met with a most unpleasant end. Only if the bravest of the brave can ride, and thereby tame one of the beasts, will the kingdom be saved."

(http://www.thrillride.com/Islands/islands.html)

 

[Bryan]

well i suppose if the dragons line was ever that long I would've sat and watched it

well actually if the line was so long to actually back up in that room I probably would've bailed.

oh well to late now. I never went into the enchanted oak tavern and i guess it's too late for that too

 

[Latveria]

I remember opening week at Islands and the line for Dragons actually snaked around in the extended queue behind the drawbridge of the castle....insane times.

 

[ScottInNY]

Let's start right here. From now on, pay attention to the queues. Tell your friends to be quiet and take it in.

How many people here watch the credits to films? They're important. Watch them. Besides giving you a moment to take in the film you just watched, you can notice how many people it took to make the film you just enjoyed and imagine their role in the making of. A lot of people - some right here - go to enormous efforts to create art. Honor their art. Honor them.

 

[YETI PINTRADER]

The problem with having a place where people will be able to watch the rooms than they will need to build a section seperate from the regular line and somehow mark it as such without making it seem forced and takes you out of the mood. Many people also would not read the signs and take it for an actual part of the line thus causing problems. And the people going through the line may have there vision of the scene obscured by thoes watching. About keeping the noise down, The Simpsons has a part where they say to keep the screaming down. I have never heard someone scream on the ride once.

 

[metscool]

Bryan, you missed an amazing film. The animation was spectacular. Not just the story, but the way the story was told. Basically, at the end of a series of switchbacks was a wall of stained glass (projection). The shards of color morphed from scene to scene making for a visually amazing experience. Perhaps you can find the film online. Try youtube. If you can't, ask again and I, or someone will tell you the story.

--- Update ---

Dueling Dragon's preshow: found this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcTZT2K7TyQ

It's not complete, the quality is terrible, and the sound is poor, but... you get an idea.

Awesome video. I wanted to take pictures and video in Oct. but they shut down the Que two weeks before I went.

Also a fact for people that did not know the old que with all extended que used = 2.5 miles. The only time that I saw almost all of it was during Grad Bash the year that I worked there.

 

[Teebin]

Bryan, you missed an amazing film. The animation was spectacular. Not just the story, but the way the story was told. Basically, at the end of a series of switchbacks was a wall of stained glass (projection). The shards of color morphed from scene to scene making for a visually amazing experience. Perhaps you can find the film online. Try youtube. If you can't, ask again and I, or someone will tell you the story.

--- Update ---

Dueling Dragon's preshow: found this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcTZT2K7TyQ

It's not complete, the quality is terrible, and the sound is poor, but... you get an idea.

See, that is why that was a poor show.... that should have been the LAST thing you saw before entering the final queue and boarding DD. Loved the queue... but I never saw that video... I just wizzed by as the queue is seldom filled past the frozen knight... why would you stop and wait in an empty queue unless there was a big sign that said, "STOP, WAIT FOR VIDEO BEFORE YOU PROCEED"? While I have a lot of beef's with disney, I like the final one room tell the story before entering the final mini queue just prior to boarding.

Example... I have ridden spidey over 100 times... yet it never hit me till today why they called the vehicle the "scoop". That is why a final control room queue works so well. They explain the story on which you are about to embark. It really needed a final preshow that forced you to listen. "OK FOLKS, I KNOW YOU ARE NEW HERE BUT THAT AIN'T MY PROBLEM!!!, THIS PAPER NEEDS THE SCOOP ON THIS SPIDERMAN STORY NOW. I AM GOING TO PROVIDE YOU WITH MY NEWS VEHICLE WHICH I CALL "THE SCOOP" IN ORDER TO GET ME THE STORY FAST... WE GO TO PRINT IN 15 MINUTES! SO GET IN THE SCOOP AND GET ME THE SCOOP!!!" OR YOU'RE FIRED!!!"

 

[Latveria]

I just hope they have security cams in the queue, I know other attractions don't have this feature but I hope FJ does indeed have some because, well, I don't want to see this queue end up like Ripsaw's. What I mean by that is the lowlifes that come into the park write on walls and carve out initials on the walls. Hopefully with security cams they could catch these people and put them where they belong, right back out on kirkman road.

EDIT : I remember Rockit had a similar problem with these idiots peeling paint/carving names in the wall or writing with markers on the walls...they put up metal sheets on the walls so no one could peel or write on them. However we all know this is impossible to do in a castle so all the more reason to put those cams up imo.