Wizarding World - Diagon Alley Discussion (Opens 2014)

[Frogki]

Although you have a point, What buildings besides Gringotts are tall enough to block out Hogsmeade. Gringotts is too small to block it out for the entire area.

Touche


Yes, but the details wouldn't be as wonderful, since so much of the visual effects would be compromised.

--- Update ---



She would allow it, as long as it was anything besides Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. I love how you guys are always saying I make it seem like Jo vetos everything, and yet one of the things she wouldn't veto, you guys think she would. And I think people would much rather view DA than nothing.

There's a difference between adding onto an experience, and being able to do it right, and then making another version without the focal point of it and making it a cheaper experience instead of "Wow, we're in the only place in the world this can happen! We can go see Harry in the castle!" etc... Putting another one in Hollywood wouldn't make going as special, and HP fans wouldn't want to go see Diagon Alley, as you call "another shopping mall", and not see Hogwarts, you know? Adults and little kids alike might not complain, but why go to only Diagon Alley when you can go to the Orlando version and see Hogwarts!

--- Update ---

^ How would you even explain a cave taking you hundreds of miles? And, no, they can't pull it off, because they're both smart enough to not even try something that stupid.

Not just a cave, it would be a pathway, and there would be certain parts of it that have dark caves, others that are regular pathways with themed facades of villages along the sides... And yes, they can pull it off... And really, you're never going to make a hundred mile distance in a theme park, it simply isn't possible. They do lands all the time that are supposed to be very far apart and yet they make them much less realistic than Uni could make this...

 

[Roxy91]

I said it wouldn't make sense behind Hogsmeade. The FF is a Forest behind Hogwarts, not Hogsmeade. Diagon Alley is located in London, however, you could transition from it to Hogsmeade in numerous ways. The FF can't suddenly send you to Hogsmeade (unless your apparating...). Now if we had room behind Hogwarts, that would work... However, we have the room behind Hogsmeade, and with proper transitioning, it's too separate lands in one park... And you've argued it would be too much of the same - Hogsmeade looks quite a bit different from Diagon Alley (more village, less shop square), and I believe Diagon Alley was always a little more whimsical. There are enough different shops to make Diagon Alley another experience and then show up at Hogwarts/Hogsmeade...
I just don't see a way to add FF and make a transition from it to Hogsmeade because it's supposed to be from FF to Hogwarts... Diagon Alley could have transitioning with a Hogwarts Express (and walking would work as well - I can't currently think of a solution other than a themed walking portion next to the Hogwarts Express ride... That could work, kind of like the Polar Express walking only portion...)...

In regards to the placement of the FF in relation to Hogsmeade, we can look at this map drawn by JK Rowling to determine the correct geography of the area.

But if we compare this to the layout of the Wizarding World:

We can see that they are almost completely different. The Forbidden Forest, were it to be placed correctly, should actually be where Jurassic Park and the lagoon are now.

Plus as others have said, you can hardly complain about geography when you want Diagon Alley.

 

[Frogki]

In regards to the placement of the FF in relation to Hogsmeade, we can look at this map drawn by JK Rowling to determine the correct geography of the area.

But if we compare this to the layout of the Wizarding World:

We can see that they are almost completely different. The Forbidden Forest, were it to be placed correctly, should actually be where Jurassic Park and the lagoon are now.

Plus as others have said, you can hardly complain about geography when you want Diagon Alley.

Don't throw stones from a glass house, you can do a much better transition between to places that are hundreds of miles apart rather than explain FF being behind Hogsmeade, and they aren't going to place it in the lake/JP...

 

[TSSD]

In regards to the placement of the FF in relation to Hogsmeade, we can look at this map drawn by JK Rowling to determine the correct geography of the area.

But if we compare this to the layout of the Wizarding World:

We can see that they are almost completely different. The Forbidden Forest, were it to be placed correctly, should actually be where Jurassic Park and the lagoon are now.

Thats what I've been saying all along, just take some useless unused land from JP.

Plus as others have said, you can hardly complain about geography when you want Diagon Alley.

Thank you, finally, someone besides me pointing out how ridiculous that is

 

[Frogki]

Thats what I've been saying all along, just take some useless unused land from JP.

Thank you, finally, someone besides me pointing out how ridiculous that is

But you've got to understand there isn't enough useless land to make the FF unless you made it very small and not really an attraction, more like a short little pathway unless you clear the lake and do that (and that would hardly take less work then converting LC)...

 

[Roxy91]

Don't throw stones from a glass house, you can do a much better transition between to places that are hundreds of miles apart rather than explain FF being behind Hogsmeade, and they aren't going to place it in the lake/JP...

No, no, no, that's not what I'm saying. I'm trying to point out that if we want to talk geography (the FF can't be such and such place, it doesn't make sense), I'm pointing out it's already in the wrong place. I'm not saying to put it somewhere else. I'm just saying it doesn't really matter where the FF is in relation to the rest of the grounds. Because the whole layout is already wrong. It shouldn't be an issue.

 

[TSSD]

But you've got to understand there isn't enough useless land to make the FF unless you made it very small and not really an attraction, more like a short little pathway unless you clear the lake and do that (and that would hardly take less work then converting LC)...

It doesn't need much land. Just a short pathway with some animatronic animals on the side, useing forced perception to make it look like the forest is bigger. Remember, we wouldn't go in too far, its too dangerous.

 

[Frogki]

No, no, no, that's not what I'm saying. I'm trying to point out that if we want to talk geography (the FF can't be such and such place, it doesn't make sense), I'm pointing out it's already in the wrong place. I'm not saying to put it somewhere else. I'm just saying it doesn't really matter where the FF is in relation to the rest of the grounds. Because the whole layout is already wrong. It shouldn't be an issue.

Alrighty, then you have no problems with Diagon Alley's location lol... JKing, honestly, there is a way to make it work, and there are enough different shops to make it while keeping other shops as window displays and allowing us to experience more in Hogsmeade...

 

[TSSD]

Alrighty, then you have no problems with Diagon Alley's location lol... JKing, honestly, there is a way to make it work, and there are enough different shops to make it while keeping other shops as window displays and allowing us to experience more in Hogsmeade...

Yes, and just adding more shops and 1 ride is so worth wrecking the entire theming. Thank you for making me see the light.

 

[Frogki]

It doesn't need much land. Just a short pathway with some animatronic animals on the side, useing forced perception to make it look like the forest is bigger. Remember, we wouldn't go in too far, its too dangerous.

Yes but what kind of an "expansion" would that be? Sure it could be advertised as such, but I'm sure that quite a few fans (including myself) would want something more...

--- Update ---

Yes, and just adding more shops and 1 ride is so worth wrecking the entire theming. Thank you for making me see the light.

It wouldn't wreck the themeing, and with what I'm proposing, we'd have at least 2 rides. (And if things really worked out the way I could envision it, there would be a Ministry of Magic attraction as well)...
It would hardly wreck the theming to do this. Once again, it happens all the time in theme parks, Potter just so happens to be extremely detailed. In other words, they would preserve the themeing in one way or another in order to do it...

 

[Roxy91]

Location isn't really my main problem with DA.

Here's what is:

1. It would be an unnecessary counterpart to Hogsmeade. (Strong risk of repetitiveness)
2. There would be two "Main Streets" in one land. Starts to look like it's own theme park.

Look, if they were to build DA, I would still go there and probably enjoy it, I just doubt they would do an expansion so big it would include DA and something else. So I'm basically seeing it as a choice between DA or many other individual attractions. Right now there are a lot of other things I'd rather see.

Now if they were to build more than just DA (which I highly doubt, but let's just say they did), then I would start worrying about IoA as a park being dominated by one land, that is unless they also planned to expand all the other lands afterward (which is basically impossible, isn't it? And even more unlikely), in which case that would pretty much be the best thing ever and we could all party. But the chances of all that....1% or less.

 

[Frogki]

Location isn't really my main problem with DA.

Here's what is:

1. It would be an unnecessary counterpart to Hogsmeade. (Strong risk of repetitiveness)
2. There would be two "Main Streets" in one land. Starts to look like it's own theme park.

Look, if they were to build DA, I would still go there and probably enjoy it, I just doubt they would do an expansion so big it would include DA and something else. So I'm basically seeing it as a choice between DA or many other individual attractions. Right now there are a lot of other things I'd rather see.

Now if they were to build more than just DA (which I highly doubt, but let's just say they did), then I would start worrying about IoA as a park being dominated by one land, that is unless they also planned to expand all the other lands afterward (which is basically impossible, isn't it? And even more unlikely), in which case that would pretty much be the best thing ever and we could all party. But the chances of all that....1% or less.

How would you know? Are you a mathematician (no rudeness intended, just saying)... I fail to see how it would be dominated by one land, seeing as the only difference is the fact that we have the castle. Shops are hardly counted as an attraction to anyone other than an HP/Theme park fan. And so far, Suessland has more attractions (and probably shops) than HP. So don't say it's going to be dominating, I'm getting kind of tired of that argument ._. If they were to add Diagon Alley, I'm thinking it wouldn't so much be a "diagon alley section" as a "London" section. And the only reason Hogsmeade is a main street is because the designers made it that way. In the books, Hogsmeade is a couple of miles away from Hogwarts. Here it's a walk away, because of convenience... Diagon Alley wouldn't so much be a main street the way I'm picturing it if it were to happen - seeing as I think there would be more attractions than Gringotts, I don't think a bank would make for a grand end to a "main street" to a themed section...

 

[mantaguy]

If they can't even hide the FJ show building, then they're not boing to be able to hide the 150 ft tall Hogwarts from 100 yards away.

They will not touch JP or else Spielberg would flip. They named the park Islands for a reason: You're supposed to be on an island. Nearly every transition is via a bridge. The only exceptions are HP-LC and Marvel-TL.

They almost certainly won't in my mind ever ever fo' shizzles add Diagon Alley. There's too many things about it that would compromise the themeatic completedness of the WW.

 

[TSSD]

^^ But its at the end of Diagon Alley in the books and movies, and in order for it to look good, that is what it would have to be.

 

[Frogki]

If they can't even hide the FJ show building, then they're not boing to be able to hide the 150 ft tall Hogwarts from 100 yards away.

They will not touch JP. They named the park Islands for a reason: You're supposed to be on an island. Nearly every transition is via a bridge. The only exceptions are HP-LC and Marvel-TL.

They won't add Diagon Alley. There's too many things about it that would compromise the themeatic completedness of the WW.

Once again, don't tell me not to have a cocky attitude if you will. If we're all assuming here and none of us work for Universal, it's speculation. Let's keep at a "what if"/"probably will/won't" level, not a "I know it won't happen because I'm so sure of myself"...

 

[TSSD]

If they can't even hide the FJ show building, then they're not boing to be able to hide the 150 ft tall Hogwarts from 100 yards away.

Good point!

 

[Frogki]

^^ But its at the end of Diagon Alley in the books and movies, and in order for it to look good, that is what it would have to be.

And it would be - but do you really think that's very grand?

And once again at Manta - sorry, double posting is bad so I'm keeping it at one xD - they have themed it to an extent, and it's also in the distance, once again, well placed buildings can hide a LOT...

 

[TSSD]

And it would be - but do you really think that's very grand?

And thats an argument for DA?

 

[Frogki]

And thats an argument for DA?

I'm saying the bank isn't a grand end, therefore, hardly an argument that it would be "too much" of the same, a bank hardly compares to Hogwarts in the distance, even when it's hiding Hogwarts rotfl...

Listen, as I've said previously, this is what I think could happen, Uni might have other ideas... We don't know yet... Speculation. So I think it's kind of pointless to argue for the next 3-5 years until something new is announced...

 

[Brian G.]

There is no land in JP to even give Potter a small expansion. The land of JP will stay as the land of JP. Any expansion for Potter will consume whatever is left of the Lost Continent.