The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hollywood

[Jonathan]

^ that rumor was originally started by Jim Hill when he did a podcast with a site ( I don't remember which one). Whether its true or not we'll find out. To give him credit though, he does have connections with Mark Woodbury. USF did let him be the first to release the concept art. Plus he had the first sit down interview with Mark as well. Sometimes Jim's stuff is off but, we'll see.

 

[Jon Fu]

^ that rumor was originally started by Jim Hill when he did a podcast with a site ( I don't remember which one). Whether its true or not we'll find out. To give him credit though, he does have connections with Mark Woodbury. USF did let him be the first to release the concept art. Plus he had the first sit down interview with Mark as well. Sometimes Jim's stuff is off but, we'll see.

It's still a bit unreal that we're getting anything-Potter as well, so let's wait and see. I still don't know how they're going to play this out.


This is seriously one of those "I'll believe it when I see it" projects Universal has in store.

 

[Jonathan]

^ totally agree. I was just saying where that rumor was started.

 

[Allen The Actor]

^ that rumor was originally started by Jim Hill when he did a podcast with a site ( I don't remember which one). Whether its true or not we'll find out. To give him credit though, he does have connections with Mark Woodbury. USF did let him be the first to release the concept art. Plus he had the first sit down interview with Mark as well. Sometimes Jim's stuff is off but, we'll see.

Ok, but a "Full Size" Hogwarts would be larger than all of USH, and then some. If he meant just a larger Hogwarts facade/larger towers, I...kind a don't see the point in that. The forced perspective in Florida is currently fantastic, I don't see why they'd bother creating different construction plans and make a larger Hogwarts exterior. But hey, what comes, will come. I'll be happy with whatever. I just don't see a larger Hogwarts for us being realistic. Afterall, it's only a rocky hill facade with some forced perspective structures on top of it. But hey, we'll see...I'm gonna guess Jim Hill is a bit off this time. Only one of his rumors I would've liked is if they added a Great Hall dining restaurant that could be connected from both Citywalk and the Park. That would be cool if it was feasible

 

[William]

Florida's current façade is incredible, and that's all I see us getting. Anyways, when announcing Potter's arrival in our park, they reused the concept art that was used for Orlando. Wouldn't that imply we'd be getting the same model?

 

[Jonathan]

Don't get me wrong. I don't think we're getting it. I was just trying to let everyone know how the rumor came about. Ultimately I don't care if its a full size or not.

 

[William]

It'd make things a lot harder for space, too - how would we end up fitting in a full-size Hogwarts and a mini shopping outlet?

 

[Allen The Actor]

Again: full size Hogwarts would be the size of all of the acreage that Universal owns

 

[William]

I think we should save a full-sized Hogwarts for an actual recreation in Scotland. New tourist attraction? 

 

[Chris]

Jon, its time to take you to Orlando!

I look forward to Potter here in California, but my expectations are low compared to Orlando's standards, although high for California standards.  Has anyone heard of the possible interactive additions to Hogsmeade in Orlando?  I figure its something very similar to the interactive card game at WDW currently going on now.  If USO was able to integrate this in time, I would love to see this built into the USH version and get some interactivity before DR.

How many of you got my abbreviations???

USO = Universal Studios Orlando

WDW = Walt Disney World

DR = Disneyland Resort

If you didn't get USH... all hope is lost for you..LOL!!!

 

[William]

I got all abbreviations. 

There are rumors for wand interactivity where kids can use special wands to interact with the environment within Hogsmeade. Apparently it may be in the process of installation for the Diagon Alley expansion in USF, and if that follows through, it'll be added to the current Wizarding World in IOA. Sorta cool, but if it isn't done correctly, it could be a disaster. Imagine a bunch of kids crowded around a light trying to make if flicker on and off.  <_< I doubt they'll do something like that, but only time will tell.

 

[William]

...and we return to this thread yet again to address certain rumors! According to Behind the Thrills, rumors state that our version of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter may be a lot different than we thought it'd be. To sum up the major points, here's a list of what we may or may not see in USH in 2016:

• smaller WWoHP (obviously)
• smaller Hogsmeade - only including wand shop, candy shop, and joke shop
• Hogsmeade will include small Butterbeer tavern
• no Three Broomsticks restaurant
• no Dragon Challenge coaster
• clone of Flight of the Hippogriff coaster, though a tad larger and with more interactive scenery
• a walkthrough queue experience through Hagrid's Hut for FotH
• no Triwizard Rally show (save for the frog choir)
• much bigger Hogwarts to house not only the ride and shop, but an all new dining experience held within a replicated Great Hall
• Hogwarts will also house a new interactive Defense Against the Dark Arts show, matching guests against magical creatures and dark wizards

Again, these are all rumors - some more liable than others. What do you guys think? Could we be getting something Orlando doesn't currently have?

Full article here: http://behindthethrills.com/2013/06/rumor-mill-harry-potter-and-the-hollywood-adventure/

 

[William]

I find it interesting that our park is throwing some smaller rides (unnamed SSFL ride, FotH) into the mix.

But all we get is a tavern for Butterbeer? It's gonna be a nightmare on peak days. There'd better be carts here and there selling some as well.

 

[William]

I'm sure there will be at least an extra cart for Butterbeer, but what can you do? The drink can only be sold in the land itself... which won't be very big.

I totally get that, our rendition of the Wizarding World will definitely have limitations. I guess I'm just not ready to face them.

 

[Allen The Actor]

There will definitely be carts in addition to the tavern.

Personally I think we'll still have The Three Broomsticks, just a much smaller version that'll have less food options on the menu compared to Florida, and focus more on the speciality drinks. The tavern is very iconic to the movies and books.

Regarding a bigger Hogwarts, it makes me giggle and roll my eyes when people say we'll get an exact scale Hogwarts at USH all the time....Hogwarts is bigger than the entirety of USH, CityWalk, and almost half of the Backlot

Also, the forced perspective scale of the Hogwarts structure is already great. Bigger would be cooler but it isn't a necessity. All that other extra stuff that would be "inside" would just mean a bigger show building or a few attached show buildings. That wouldn't and shouldnt affect the rocky cliff facade or the scale of the Hogwarts castle structures.

The Defense Against the Dark Arts/dueling wizards show and Great Hall restaurant were all rumored (or planned) parts of the original Wizarding World when it was being built. I remember many people were excited when these projects were brought up and then sad when it didn't actually happen. So maybe we're getting the scrapped projects that were originally planned for Florida's Phase 1 to make up for not having Dragon Challenge.

I think a Great Hall restaurant would be one of the hottest and most popular restaurants in all of California.....especially if it would have the rumored CityWalk Great Hall entrance as well!

Also, ScreamScape also posted this:

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"Oh… and for the record, don’t think that they are done with the Wizarding World once this phase opens in 2016. While obviously nothing will be decided and made official for years to come, there is a loose plan to possible create an expansion. Since land space is a major issue at the Hollywood park, they may take a nod from what is being built at Orlando right now, and look into building a Hogwarts Express ride  that guests can ride out into a section of the backlot where another Diagon Alley would be built, complete with a copy of the Gringott’s Bank coaster ride. Don’t look for Phase 2 to happen until at least 2020 however… and only if the Harry Potter money machine is still alive and well for them by then."

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I personally still think that'll never happen. I can't see us getting a Hogwarts express taking us to a Phase 2 over the hill somewhere on the backlot. I want Orlando to keep something original. And I don't want our tiny park to be 50% Harry Potter....

 

[William]

When a bigger Hogwarts is mentioned, I don't think a full-scale model is implied - just bigger than Orlando's version to hide the larger show building.

 

[Allen The Actor]

Oh no, I've seen people actually mention we'll get a full scale Hogwarts....that's when I get the case of the uncontrollable giggles and eye rolling

Regardless, we won't see the back of Hogwarts show building (maybe a bit on the studio tour, but that won't bother USH, you can slightly see the show building currently in Florida)

If the show building is bigger (which I wonder how the hell they'd do considering we don't have THAT much space where the Gibson is), then they could just add more rock/cliff facade, and keep the hogwarts scale the same. Pretty simple. But I won't complain if it turns out bigger it's just hard to imagine anything bigger at USH (understandably so lol)

 

[Allen The Actor]

I think the only people who would be surprised that we're not getting Dragon Challenge would be people who have never been to USH and aren't aware of its size

 

[William]

Flight of the Hippogriff was an overlay of The Flying Unicorn, but apparently we'll still be getting that. Will it really be a clone, or will we get a slightly modified version to accomodate space?

 

[Allen The Actor]

I'm sure it'll be slightly modified to accommodate the space. Same ride though.