Universal To Open Harry Potter "Land" in Florida

[AwallaceUNC]

HUGE news today. The battle for Warner's theme park rights to the Harry Potter franchise has been ongoing for years. It looked like Disney was going to get them for a while and I was very hopeful that they would. Alas, they have gone to Universal, which will be opening a Harry Potter theme park within Islands of Adventure. I'm very excited to have a HP park, but very disappointed that it's going to be handled by a second-rate cheap amusement factory at Disney's expense.

Universal confirms it will add new Harry Potter-themed area

Orlando Business Journal - 8:47 AM EDT Thursday, May 31, 2007

Universal Orlando confirmed Thursday that it will build a new Harry Potter-themed area at Islands of Adventure, as previously reported by Orlando Business Journal in April.

Universal officials say they expect to break ground on "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" this summer, with the opening scheduled for late 2009.

A 20-acre site will be devoted to all things Harry Potter, including recreations of the Hogwarts castle, locations from the Forbidden Forest and Hogsmeade village. The new "island" also will feature attractions, restaurants and shops.

The official announcement about the new theme park addition will be made today by Universal, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. Studios, which makes the Harry Potter movies.

http://washington.bizjournals.com/orlan ... ily16.html

-Aaron

[blackcauldron85]

I've never read the HP books or seen the movies, so I don't understand where everyone else is coming from. When I've mentioned to people that I hoped that the HP attraction would go to Universal, others have argued that Disney-MGM (or Disney-Pixar, or whatever) is a movie park. I hate to see Universal have some good news, but Disney can do better with a Disney-owned property. Hopefully sometime soon....

[Disney-Fan]

I thought there wasn't any room to expand Islands of Adventure!
I love love love the park, but where the hell would they add a whole new island?

[Disneyfreak1990]

they're going to get rid of half of The Lost Continent for Harry Potter. what they're keeping are the two coasters they have. and i'd rather have Universal have HP than Disney since Disney would most likely mess it up thanks to current mangement while Universal can get it close to being exact. heck there was a rumor a few years back that there might be a Harry Potter theme park in England and there was enough an unofficial website for a rumored one. it was actually good.

[The Little Merman]

To tell you the truth, I'm glad that Universal received the rights. This just means that Disney'll crank out another beauty in competition with "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter".

[MickeyMousePal]

Universal Stuidos in Orlando might get The Simpsons ride with Harry Potter Land that would be cool.

Source: http://www.simpsonschannel.com

Rumours are circulating among Back To The Future fans that the ride at Universal Studios in Orlando based on the movie will close down at the end of the summer to be tweaked and reused as an all new movie themed ride for 2007.

Sources close to theme park website 'Screamscape' tell them that a new Simpsons themed ride was confirmed to be the replacement for Back To The Future. This has apparently been a very hush-hush project in the works for a while now (much like the Simpson’s film) and the two companies are said to be working on big plans to connect the hype for the film and new ride next summer. News is only sketchy at the moment, but keep your eyes on Screamscape, who are investigating the issue at great length.

Hopefully this rumor is true because BTTF is really getting old make room for The Simpsons.

[Super Aurora]

Universal Stuidos in Orlando might get The Simpsons ride with Harry Potter Land that would be cool.

Source: http://www.simpsonschannel.com

Rumours are circulating among Back To The Future fans that the ride at Universal Studios in Orlando based on the movie will close down at the end of the summer to be tweaked and reused as an all new movie themed ride for 2007.

Sources close to theme park website 'Screamscape' tell them that a new Simpsons themed ride was confirmed to be the replacement for Back To The Future. This has apparently been a very hush-hush project in the works for a while now (much like the Simpson’s film) and the two companies are said to be working on big plans to connect the hype for the film and new ride next summer. News is only sketchy at the moment, but keep your eyes on Screamscape, who are investigating the issue at great length.

Hopefully this rumor is true because BTTF is really getting old make room for The Simpsons.

NNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

[Just Myself]

BTTF is't closig, it's closed. It has't bee ope sice March 31.

Cheers,
JM

[blackcauldron85]

BTTF is't closig, it's closed. It has't bee ope sice March 31.

Cheers,
JM

Sometimes, when I read the "Cheers" at the end of your posts, I think of people toasting each other with mugs of beer. It seems as though you were drinking one of those while typing...

(again, just playing, JM! I know you're not drunk! It's just funny how you forgot some letters... )

[Anthony]

This "World of Harry Potter" thing is coming in 2009? Will people still care about Harry Potter by then? I mean the last book is coming this summer and the movies are almost done. It seems kinda late to be doing this.

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

Well, considering I'm not exactly a big HP fan, I'm glad Disney isn't using HP. They don't need him anyway. I agree with TLM, I hope this means Disney has something huge planned to compete with it. I hope they'll finally make the long abandoned concept of "Beastly Kingdom" with the Narnia theme through-out at Animal Kingdom.

BTTF is still running at Hollywood until Labor Day. But it's already gone at Orlando.

R.I.P. Back to the Future: The Ride.

[kbehm29]

This "World of Harry Potter" thing is coming in 2009? Will people still care about Harry Potter by then? I mean the last book is coming this summer and the movies are almost done. It seems kinda late to be doing this.

It's supposed to coincide with the release of the last HP movie. I'm sure Harry Potter will have a die-hard following for years to come.

The thing that bothered me about the news announced yesterday was the comment: "We are going to devote more time, more money, more expertise and more executive talent from throughout our entire organization and creative team - as well as from Warner Bros., our partners - to ensure that this entire environment is second-to-none," said Tom Williams, chairman and CEO, Universal Parks and Resorts.

Gee - I wonder who the "none" is in that statement. Hopefully Disney has something huge to burst their HP bubble (lol....not that I won't go check it out!).

[Super Aurora]

damn that sucks. BttF was such a great ride. I'm going to miss it.

[Disneyfreak1990]

there's plenty of room in that area for them to put a buliding for Simpsons the Ride instead of getting rid of a classic, it's like disney suddenly getting rid of all the e-tickets and replacing them with stores/restraunts/a-tickets.

[QueenRahel]

yea i heard bttf will be the simpsons with the same type of ride just different movies and scenery...also islands of adventure have a ton to expand actually...they still have a bit of room up to i-4....so plenty of room for harry and his friends and future parks!

[Simba3]

Man, I would be really upset if they got rid of the Back to the Future ride, it is one of my favorites at Universal, it's such a classic. It would be really cool if they added a Simpson's attraction, but in my humble opinion, NOT if it meant closing down Back to the Future. That's cool that they will be getting a Harry Potter-land, even though I am not much of a Harry Potter fan, I know there a lot of people out there who are and would really enjoy this.

[pinkrenata]

Very cool news, Aaron! Somebody was talking about it last night and I dismissed it as a rumor with only partial truth. But, lo and behold, Awall has the facts! If done well, the new addition might even give me reason to visit Universal Studios again. We shall see.

[Disneyfreak1990]

off topic: you know Universal has enough space for them to expand but they won't fill up the space they have. the space i'm talking about is between BTTF and MIB. it has enough room for a whole land/area. and enough area for 2/3 E-tickets, or about 5 D-tickets and one soundstage for HHN. or they could put one huge ride there. why they didn't put Simpsons there i'll never know. if BTTF was getting old then put in a new film and updated effects. Mummy i can understand since when it was King Kong they had to fix the track but in order to do that they would have to take the roof off and they couldn't afford to take off a roof that's not ment to be taken off so the only solution was either A. close the ride forever or B. put in a new ride so they chose B. since it's cheaper to put in a new ride than close one for some reason.
i would be sad if they replaced Jaws, Earthquake, and Twister before i got there .

[Fidget1234]

i got the email from universal the other day about this too. i was wondering if it was going to refurb TLC land or if they were going to add on. between this new land, & simpsons attraction - seems like universal is really going to be giving wdw some good competition. sounds like a wicked good time over at universal.

[PeterPanfan]

Aaron,that's AWESOME! Harry Potter movies/books are the best!!!!!

Thanks so much for this info. Does anyone know what type of rides there will be there?