Originally Posted By AutoPost This topic is for Discussion of <a href="http://www.laughingplace.com/News-ID10046720.asp" target="_blank"><b>Latest: Harry Potter Coming to Universal Hollywood and Expanding in Universal Orlando</b></a> <p> <p class="MsoNormal">Warner Bros. Entertainment and Universal Parks and Resorts today announced a partnership to bring The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – the enormously popular themed entertainment environment which debuted in Orlando in June 2010 – to Universal Studios Hollywood. The two companies also announced their plans to significantly expand The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort.</p> </p>
Originally Posted By utahjosh Reading between the lines, it looks like California will not get Hogsmeade. I'm guessing they'll cone the castle and ride, and add a place to buy a wand and a butterbeer.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood will be as impressive as what has been created in Orlando" Sounds like more than a castle, ride and a couple of shops. I hope that's the case. Hogsmeade in Florida is not really that large, I'd say about the size of Adventureland at Disneyland. So if they are able to use the 200 acres they say are available this should be every bit as impressive as the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at USO.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper ^^^200 acres is flipping huge, especially for a theme park ride. Carsland is 12, I think, for comparison.
Originally Posted By tonyanton I assume the two leftover coasters in Florida that were rethemed a bit for Potter will not show up in California, but I think they are the weakest part of the Florida land anyway.
Originally Posted By dshyates Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if Flight of the Hippogriff shows up in Hollywood.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb I would assume that of the 200 acres available that not all would be used for the land or even be contiguous. It's just my hope with all that land available that a large enough block can be used to build an entire themed area and not just a castle housing a ride and a couple shops and/or ODV carts.
Originally Posted By DlandDug If it were up to me, I'd make USH's WWoHP a much larger and more immersive experience. They could build it virtually anywhere on property, and connect it with a shuttle themed to the Hogwart's Express. Imagine how much better crowd control would be if there was a gateway attraction that led to the land. USH also has genuine hills and canyons. They could really take advantage of some of their "problem" topography to create the illusion that guests are leaving Universal Studios and heading off to Hogsmeade.
Originally Posted By CDF2 What would be the point of building just the Potter ride if you couldn't have at least some part of the Hogsmead area to generate cash in the form of restaurants and Potter-themed shops? I's sure USH folks will find a way to shoehorn both of the above into their park since the opportunity for making big profits seems almost guaranteed for them.
Originally Posted By oc_dean I love the idea some have to jump on that train in the films ... that would provide the only entry-way .. to a Harry Potter land .. positioned a bit away from the main park. For those of us who did grow up with the park in the 70s ....... This is way before they built a parking structure, those long escalators .. and the Terminator attraction on top ......... At one point in the tram ride .. we came to a stop .. midway - boarded off ... and experienced another entertaining area separate from the rest of it all. After 30-45 minutes .. we picked up the tram again ... and continued the journey. I really liked that "separate world" quality to Uni back in the 70s. Now, it's all ONE giant, hectic place. But while Harry Potter's land .. will be hectic, no doubt .. the quality of boarding a transport - Your only entry to this world ... would put Uni ahead of the DLR in one regard. Anyhow ... I'm dreaming of the possibilities - I hope Uni'magineers ;-) ... do a good job - whatever they do.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Agreed OC Dean, like Disneyland and Knott's, I much preferred USH in the 70's and early 80's with the stop. It was so cool, it felt like an event.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper Some info/proof with Jaws being replaced by Potter. <a href="http://ht.ly/1gjcg8" target="_blank">http://ht.ly/1gjcg8</a>
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo They were, and there were boulders you could through, and jail bars you could bend, it was fun
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>At one point in the tram ride .. we came to a stop .. midway - boarded off ... and experienced another entertaining area separate from the rest of it all. << Yep. The Prop Plaza. I never experienced it, but I have early guide books that have extensive photos of this area. The giant props were from Incredible Shrinking Man. There was also a bridge from Thoroughly Modern Millie. Interestingly, the Prop Plaza still exists, and a couple of times I have been on trams tours that were routed through there. No props left, and the area looks like it is used for storage now. But a couple of times (a few years ago) there was some reason to travel up the drive and across the area that used to be such a charming little diversion.
Originally Posted By DlandDug And here it is! <a href="http://www.thestudiotour.com/ush/studiotour/propplaza.html" target="_blank">http://www.thestudiotour.com/u...aza.html</a> There are a couple of amusing errors in the text. Main one is the identification of the giant telephone with Incredible Shrinking Woman. That prop was in place years before the Lily Tomlin film was made. It is actually from Incredible Shrinking Man. Note that the area is listed as a working portion of the Lot today. That's the area I recall-- and even the little concrete bridge from Thoroughly Modern Millie...
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< What would be the point of building just the Potter ride if you couldn't have at least some part of the Hogsmead area to generate cash in the form of restaurants and Potter-themed shops? >>> Perhaps to drive gate revenue and attendance? Every additional guest that visits the park just to see a Potter attraction is going to generate gate revenue, and they're likely to generate additional food and beverage revenue during their visit even if it's not at a Potter-themed venue.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox <<That's the area I recall-- and even the little concrete bridge from Thoroughly Modern Millie...>> Ditto, Doug. When I saw the postcard, memories came back of that area from tram tours I took in the late sixties with my folks. I remember the bridge, but mostly remember the model steamboat near the bridge. (Probably because of my fondness for the Mark Twain.) I had forgotten all about the old Prop Plaza until I saw those photos. Thanks.
