Wizarding World - Diagon Alley Discussion (Opens 2014)

[damond.themeparks]

Last time I went to IoA, lc was pretty much deserted except passerbys. The area was pretty boring to me and I wouldn't be sad to see it go. On the other hand, I don't think they should expand Harry. At least, not to all of lc. Harry potter had such a success because it was a thing MANY people loved, and the forbidden journey was outstanding (by far my favorite ride). They could redo lc so that there is more stuff to do like a really good ride (idk what the theme would be) or I think they should make it LoTR. But no more harry, that would be to much.

 

[Roxy91]

Hmm yeah I don't get how some people are saying WWoHP is the "perfect" size.

That comment makes me :bonk:

It might be a good size if the park was pretty deserted and you could freely walk around, but for the amount of traffic it gets, the land is actually much too small.

And far from dominating the park, it's not even the size of JP or of the old LC. It's basically one street.

So IMO the land still needs a couple more attractions and restaurants to be the "perfect size". Personally I'm not really impressed with the Diagon Alley ideas. It would just be way too similar to Hogsmeade, IMO (street full of shops, big building w/main attraction at the end). I would prefer they expand Hogwarts and the Forbidden Forest, maybe a couple more buildings in Hogsmeade (such as the shrieking shack). And maybe the MoM or the Burrow if they expand up to the Greek section of LC.

 

[TSSD]

Personally I'm not really impressed with the Diagon Alley ideas. It would just be way too similar to Hogsmeade, IMO (street full of shops, big building w/main attraction at the end). I would prefer they expand Hogwarts and the Forbidden Forest, maybe a couple more buildings in Hogsmeade (such as the shrieking shack). And maybe the MoM or the Burrow if they expand up to the Greek section of LC.

:iagree: The Forbidden Forest would be great, an expansion of Hogwarts could possibly work, and the Shrieking Shack could be awesome.

 

[damond.themeparks]

The thing is, the park is already getting max capacity. No matter what, they can only reach a certain amount of people, and making more Harry potter stuff won't do anything other than maybe flood the gates a little bit faster. The only reason to make Harry bigger would be to get more people, but they are already getting a lot. They need to either add more land, or another park to accommodate more people. In all trut, to me expanding Harry wouldn't really do much.

 

[Frogki]

:iagree: The Forbidden Forest would be great, an expansion of Hogwarts could possibly work, and the Shrieking Shack could be awesome.

You know, personally, I think a magic London part would be great. If we don't like the whole Diagon Alley ideas, than Kings Cross and Platform 9 and 3/4 (I have no idea how to make this work, possibly a projection on a screen that you could walk through? If not possible than just Kings Cross), Ministry of Magic (as for what to put in it I have no idea what would go in), and an expansion of Hogwarts, addition of Forbidden Forest, and possible some more classrooms to walk through in the castle (outside of the FJ que - this way we get more of a feel for just Hogwarts + the first good walk through attraction in a long time... Maybe add the rest of the Houses?)... These are just dream ideas, in reality, the effect will probably be either
A. A London section with MoM and possibly a Hogwarts Express simulator, with the exit at the "front" of the train, the static model, or

B. Forbidden Forest... I don't see how they could expand the castle unless they added another part of it and made it "another entrance from the grounds" (although that could work... Hmmm...)

--- Update ---

The thing is, the park is already getting max capacity. No matter what, they can only reach a certain amount of people, and making more Harry potter stuff won't do anything other than maybe flood the gates a little bit faster. The only reason to make Harry bigger would be to get more people, but they are already getting a lot. They need to either add more land, or another park to accommodate more people. In all trut, to me expanding Harry wouldn't really do much.

Partially, the point of an expansion would be crowd DISPERSION. Not reversing the effects and having less crowds, but IoA is not hugely crowded even when it's at capacity at Potter because it's an entire theme park. But the crowds concentrate in Potter and the tiny cobbled streets of Hogsmeade are not good for crowd congestion.

 

[TSSD]

I don't see how they could expand the castle unless they added another part of it and made it "another entrance from the grounds" (although that could work... Hmmm...)

All they need to do is expand the lower part of the facade by a couple of hundred feet, put another entrance, make a new part of the show building to hold whatever they would put there (personally, I like your walkthrough Hogwarts idea) and they're done.

 

[damond.themeparks]

I was actually thinking they could have hag rids hut, and then behind it could be the forbidden forest (I think that was the layout in the movie) and when people go in, it could be like a walk through trail, and as you go through you encounter different mythical animatronics (behind fences) and it would kind of be like a zoo. That would be pretty neat to walk up to like a animatronic, walking, hypagryph or centaurs.

 

[TSSD]

I was actually thinking they could have hag rids hut, and then behind it could be the forbidden forest (I think that was the layout in the movie) and when people go in, it could be like a walk through trail, and as you go through you encounter different mythical animatronics (behind fences) and it would kind of be like a zoo. That would be pretty neat to walk up to like a animatronic, walking, hypagryph or centaurs.

That's a great idea and could be amazing, the only problem is that Hagrid's Hut already exists in FOTH's queue. I guess they could move it though.

 

[Frogki]

I was actually thinking they could have hag rids hut, and then behind it could be the forbidden forest (I think that was the layout in the movie) and when people go in, it could be like a walk through trail, and as you go through you encounter different mythical animatronics (behind fences) and it would kind of be like a zoo. That would be pretty neat to walk up to like a animatronic, walking, hypagryph or centaurs.

That's actually a very good idea. Unfortunately, designers did limit themselves on placement if they do do FJ, Hagrid's Hut is off in the grounds relatively close to the Forbidden Forest, so since they already made it, they would have to place the Forbidden Forest near that, and it wouldn't... fit... So the layout might be a little... Off... But yes, if they could do it, that would be cool too... I think a guide, such as a wizard (like the ones they have working the que for FJ) would work, because honestly, the Forbidden Forest is dangerous for someone, especially without a guide, so you would have to have someone showing you the animals to make it make sense (plus, it's a wild forest, so they would have to make it look "natural"... With the right line workers, and placement of animatronics, I think your idea would work out well)...

 

[Roxy91]

Partially, the point of an expansion would be crowd DISPERSION. Not reversing the effects and having less crowds, but IoA is not hugely crowded even when it's at capacity at Potter because it's an entire theme park. But the crowds concentrate in Potter and the tiny cobbled streets of Hogsmeade are not good for crowd congestion.

Right, Frogki nailed it. The huge crowds of the Wizarding World are being packed into Hogsmeade and into the tiny shops. The FJ line probably helps a lot but from the nightmarish pictures we keep seeing it's still not enough. Now the other two rides, Hippogriff and DC, don't help all that much the way I see it because they are both catering to a specific group (young children or thrill seekers) not the general public. This is supported by the fact that even when the park is fairly busy DC struggles to get more than a 15 minute wait. Hippogriff tends to have a little bit longer of a wait but that is probably just because the amount of people it holds is tiny.

 

[damond.themeparks]

That's actually a very good idea. Unfortunately, designers did limit themselves on placement if they do do FJ, Hagrid's Hut is off in the grounds relatively close to the Forbidden Forest, so since they already made it, they would have to place the Forbidden Forest near that, and it wouldn't... fit... So the layout might be a little... Off... But yes, if they could do it, that would be cool too... I think a guide, such as a wizard (like the ones they have working the que for FJ) would work, because honestly, the Forbidden Forest is dangerous for someone, especially without a guide, so you would have to have someone showing you the animals to make it make sense (plus, it's a wild forest, so they would have to make it look "natural"... With the right line workers, and placement of animatronics, I think your idea would work out well)...

Yeah I was thinking of a wizard being a guide but then I thought everyone on this thread would be like NOO JK WOULDNT DO THAT so I was like fine then a free roam would be nice too. And I was also thinking this would be something if they bought a lot more land that they could put behind hogwarts (which would be geographically correct in the movie). That would defiantly disperse the crowds especially if people would get to move at their own pace instead of as a group.

 

[Frogki]

Yeah I was thinking of a wizard being a guide but then I thought everyone on this thread would be like NOO JK WOULDNT DO THAT so I was like fine then a free roam would be nice too. And I was also thinking this would be something if they bought a lot more land that they could put behind hogwarts (which would be geographically correct in the movie). That would defiantly disperse the crowds especially if people would get to move at their own pace instead of as a group.

Well I think that would be confusing the character thing. We've got random wizards about, that's not the issue. What would be the issue is if someone were to dress up as, oh say Hagrid, or Hermione.... Then we would have the problem. J.K. Rowling didn't want any characters in the park (I don't blame her - actors at a theme park PLAYING someone who is already played by a celebrity on screen is kind of... cheesy lol...

And I agree. I think this, along with an expansion of Hogwarts (maybe adding some Post-DH elements along the way), would make an expansion that we would all like and, I think we'd all agree, it wouldn't be overkill. We're actually trying now to limit this to the current confines of the land lol...

 

[Roxy91]

I was actually thinking they could have hag rids hut, and then behind it could be the forbidden forest (I think that was the layout in the movie) and when people go in, it could be like a walk through trail, and as you go through you encounter different mythical animatronics (behind fences) and it would kind of be like a zoo. That would be pretty neat to walk up to like a animatronic, walking, hypagryph or centaurs.

I was thinking sort of an interactive area ala Camp Jurassic, and I definitely like the idea of having magical creatures in it so maybe throw in some elements of If I Ran the Zoo.
And let's not forget about the Magiquest program. IMO that was one of the most interesting proposals that was talked about originally. It's pretty much the only thing that would get me to buy a wand.

 

[TSSD]

I was thinking sort of an interactive area ala Camp Jurassic, and I definitely like the idea of having magical creatures in it so maybe throw in some elements of If I Ran the Zoo.
And let's not forget about the Magiquest program. IMO that was one of the most interesting proposals that was talked about originally. It's pretty much the only thing that would get me to buy a wand.

Magiquest has to happen! The only problem with that though, would be that I would need to buy a second wand.

 

[damond.themeparks]

Well I think that would be confusing the character thing. We've got random wizards about, that's not the issue. What would be the issue is if someone were to dress up as, oh say Hagrid, or Hermione.... Then we would have the problem. J.K. Rowling didn't want any characters in the park (I don't blame her - actors at a theme park PLAYING someone who is already played by a celebrity on screen is kind of... cheesy lol...

And I agree. I think this, along with an expansion of Hogwarts (maybe adding some Post-DH elements along the way), would make an expansion that we would all like and, I think we'd all agree, it wouldn't be overkill. We're actually trying now to limit this to the current confines of the land lol...

Well I wasn't thinking of it like that. The wizards would have just been some staff member. Kind of like the jaws attraction. People have to memorize a script, learn something about each species so they can answer peoples questions, and then yeah just be a tour guide through the forest. Ut having people free walk would be much more pleasing because then they could move at their own pace. And we all know how slow people can move at theme parks XD

--- Update ---

And what's magi quest? I haven't heard of this yet.

 

[TSSD]

And what's magi quest? I haven't heard of this yet.

Magiquest are wands that would trigger interactive elements in the WW. There were rumors of it being included in Ollivander's wands, but it turned out to not be true.

 

[Frogki]

I was thinking sort of an interactive area ala Camp Jurassic, and I definitely like the idea of having magical creatures in it so maybe throw in some elements of If I Ran the Zoo.
And let's not forget about the Magiquest program. IMO that was one of the most interesting proposals that was talked about originally. It's pretty much the only thing that would get me to buy a wand.

rotfl, Yeah, I think that is one of the major additions that would happen in Phase 2. I think they could really do some cool things with that, such as spells in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom that are started by YOU, and stuff happening in the other sections of the castle (including the expanded section I talked about earlier...

Magiquest has to happen! The only problem with that though, would be that I would need to buy a second wand.

I agree ... I think that what we're talking about, along with magi quest, would be a really good expansion of the WWoHP.

 

[damond.themeparks]

Huh that sounds really.... AMAZING!!!! Haha now that would make a lot of money but my only concern is, what would happen if multiple wizards started to try and activate something and it short circuited XD There would only be a certain number of interactive elements and I'm sure 1 to many people will try and activate it at the same time and it won't work.

But, (hear me out on this, I haven't read the books and I don't remember anything like this in the movies) if in the self guided tour through the forest, they could have some kind of magical thing that with a flick of the interactive wand could activate it, and it would be able to tell you about the creature in the fenced area. That would be neat.

 

[TSSD]

But, (hear me out on this, I haven't read the books and I don't remember anything like this in the movies) if in the self guided tour through the forest, they could have some kind of magical thing that with a flick of the interactive wand could activate it, and it would be able to tell you about the creature in the fenced area. That would be neat.

There's nothing like that in the book, but I guess they could make the speakers in OOTP say info using magic. Only problem is, what about people who haven't bought wands?

 

[Roxy91]

Huh that sounds really.... AMAZING!!!! Haha now that would make a lot of money but my only concern is, what would happen if multiple wizards started to try and activate something and it short circuited XD There would only be a certain number of interactive elements and I'm sure 1 to many people will try and activate it at the same time and it won't work.

Well maybe there could be a different effect depending on the number of "spellcasters" it senses. Like it would be a stronger spell so the effect would be slightly more dramatic.

But yeah I also thought the idea was awesome. And at one time there were rumors of having Magiquest sensors throughout the whole park so you could take your wand and cast spells in other lands and have things react. That would be epic.