The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hollywood

[Allen The Actor]

I have heard the talk of Hogsmead being open in December. I could see this happening, but some others seem to believe there are contract issues for opening the land without a ride.

If Hippogriff was ready to go, then perhaps Hogsmead will open. But I highly doubt FJ will be ready for December. More like February.

Orlando's Hogsmeade soft opened without Forbidden Journey early on. Would definitely help cash in on all the merch sales and build hype for the main attraction. Hell, maybe do a limited soft opening with only tours of the castle if the ride isn't ready until early Spring 2016?

 

[William]

There seems to be confusion over whether or not the original WWoHP opened in phases. If I remember correctly, HateToFly mentioned in a recent IU podcast that the land opened altogether rather than in phases. I'd prefer the former for us as well, to be honest.

 

[Allen The Actor]

For some reason I have memory of it soft opening without FJ for a bit before grand opening, or I think it was soft opened to hotel guests who could tour hogsmeade but not ride FJ.

I'd prefer it opening all at once as well.

 

[Brandonshah97]

Just a little off topic, but I'm in Orlando right now and I rode the forbidden journey ride. I imagined it with 3D glasses and it made me feel like it would be worse.... I just feel as if the ride is very dark and the glasses make things more dim and you won't be able to fully experience all of the neat physical effects the ride has to offer...

 

[Wesker69]

May 28th, 2010 (which happened to also be the IOA's 11th anniversary), Wizarding World of Harry Potter soft opened to muggle media & reserved (hotel) guests. Everything that WWOHP - Hogsmeade has to offer was open for them to experience, including FJ...

And here is the line at one point that day...

Now just like when WWOHP "officially opened" (June 18th, 2010), FJ was plagued with multiple breakdowns. So not everyone got to experience it. But yes, when WWOHP soft-opened, FJ was very much operating. Don't expect differently here.

As for Diagon Alley, Hogwarts Express soft-opened first since it is technically outside of the new land. I got to ride it before I moved out here. The actual land/Gringotts opened the next day or day after... it was funny though because in Orlando, people seriously camp out in front of a new ride/attraction literally all day long hoping for it to soft open (I did it for Transformers which was thankfully next to Monsters Café so yay food & Finnegans so yay alcohol).

 

[Park Man]

I don’t see Wizarding World opening in December. I think that would be a bad move on Universal’s part. If they’re anything like other Southern California theme parks, that’s their busiest time of year. You don’t want to work the kinks out of a huge new addition like that when the place is mobbed. Plus you don’t need the incentive of a new attraction to fill the park. It’s going to get filled anyway. Throw in all the additional people who would come to see Potter and it would just be a nightmare for everyone. And I don’t think the parking structure will be ready by then, and they’ll definitely need it if they want to try opening in December.

I think we might see an increased Potter merchandise presence in the park that time of year, but I think that’s probably it.

My guess is we’ll start seeing invitational soft openings for employees, pass holders and other groups in January. There’ll be a soft opening for the general public in February. This will enable them to break the place in and raise attendance during an otherwise quiet time of year. Then they should be ready for a Grand Opening in March.

 

[William]

You bring up a good point, Park Man. These new parking structures are vital for the opening of the land. I'm sure it's possible to have that project completed by December, but Grinchmas crowds will already fill the park to the brim with guests.

 

[Brandonshah97]

There's no way it could even open in December bc all posters say 2016 not 2015

 

[Allen The Actor]

Very true, but lots of attractions open before their grand opening date for "tech previews/soft opening", and knowing Universal, they can change an opening date the last second anyway. I WOULD prefer it opened in 2016 when it's all perfect and 100% ready to go.

We don't want a repeat of Supercharged....

 

[k_peek_2000]

Hogsmeade won't soft-open if either ride doesn't have the same potential of soft opening on the same day. If USH botches the soft opening of WWoHP west like they did with F&F, you better believe JK won't give her blessing to bring Diagon as well in the future. A lot is riding on this.

 

[HereWeGo]

I remember reading a while back that originally Universal wanted to make the queue for Hippogriff go through Hagrid's hut so you could see the interior but JK Rowling wouldn't allow them to put a ramp leading up to it because it wasn't authentic. Do you think they might have come to an agreement since then and maybe ours will go through his hut?

 

[k_peek_2000]

I remember reading a while back that originally Universal wanted to make the queue for Hippogriff go through Hagrid's hut so you could see the interior but JK Rowling wouldn't allow them to put a ramp leading up to it because it wasn't authentic. Do you think they might have come to an agreement since then and maybe ours will go through his hut?

As much as i'd love hat, probably not.

 

[Allen The Actor]

I've always wanted to walk through Hagrid's Hut. Would've been so cool to have everything semi-giant and oversized, would've made for some photo ops!

 

[Brandonshah97]

Very true, but lots of attractions open before their grand opening date for "tech previews/soft opening", and knowing Universal, they can change an opening date the last second anyway. I WOULD prefer it opened in 2016 when it's all perfect and 100% ready to go.

We don't want a repeat of Supercharged....

Or even Springfield.... They soft opened the land without the exteriors fully finished... Really disliked that we got wiggum and bob months after soft opening

 

[William]

Or even Springfield.... They soft opened the land without the exteriors fully finished... Really disliked that we got wiggum and bob months after soft opening

But guests aren't guaranteed to get a "full experience", so to say, during soft openings. Technically speaking, Springfield didn't officially have a "soft opening" period. I do think that the late placement of the Sideshow Bob statue was a bit odd considering it's technically part of one of the façades, but late atmospheric additions throughout the new land didn't diminish the quality of the food inside the food court.

 

[Brandonshah97]

True... But potter is different... Any lack of detail or anything could set off the experience and make it inauthentic.... If they were to "soft open" it should definitely be complete and they should just be using the crowds to test the attractions...

 

[JPLA]

Terra Server updated it's satellite view on June 22.

http://www.terraserver.com/view.asp?cx=-118.35057790000002&cy=34.1397694&proj=4326&mpp=1&sdrt=jax

 

[Park Man]

When I was at the park yesterday, I reached two conclusions about Wizarding World West.

1st the unfinished Owlry is being left that way purposefully as a visual queue to visitors that the land is still unfinished. 

2nd, the balustrade around the Hogwarts courtyard is more detailed than the one in Florida.

I stopped off in the Feature Presentation store to pick up some Peppermint Toads. The bag they put them in said, "Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Studios Hollywood, Coming in 2016," and put an instant smile on my face and suddenly I was very excited for next year!

I'm even willing to overlook the fact that the Peppermint Toad package said Universal Orlando on the back of it. I wonder how much of the HP merchandise will say Orlando on it.

 

[JPLA]

Weekly update.  Greenhouse moving rather quickly.

More new trees planted along top of hill.

Gorgeous rock work.

 

[Imdbman]

I think scaffolding will come down from the rest of Hogwarts soon.  Looks like the bridge is now out of scaffold.  You can really see all the window/decor details now and it looks nearly done at this point!  That will undoubtedly be the most exciting part of the construction.