Harry Potter Theme Park

Well, it's been confirmed. There is going to be a Harry Potter theme park, at Universal Studios.

Here's the link to the TLC article:

http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/#article:9918

What does everyone think about this? I'm in two minds about it, to be honest. On the one hand, it could be very very cool if done well, but on the other hand it's commercialisation of a book series we love, and is that a good thing?

Quote :

There have been some rumors swirling around that Universal Orlando in Flordia will be building a Harry Potter attraction. The rumors are indeed comfirmed. IoA (Islands of Adventure) is replacing the Lost Continent - Land of Jurassic Park to host a Harry Potter World. Working alongside Uk filmmakers and Jk Rowling herself, IoA hopes to have this fantasty worl up and running by summer of 2009.

The land of Harry Potter will include Hogwarts Castle, the village of Hogsmeade and select rides based on the books and movies. As well as some wizard shops like Honeydukes and The Three Broomsticks.

The Managers of IoA think that this will bring in more people from all over the world to the parks to see this imagined magical world that has now been turned into reality. With the movies topping off the box offices and the books bringing in over $300 million dollars and sold in over 200 countries has made Harry Potter and thing to remember and having it as an attraction seems another way to rake in money for Orlando.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK *dances around*

Thank god, I still have my free passes that expire until 2011!!!! I'm gonna be first in line to see it!!!! Since, I do plan to go to University of Florida which is practically right next door.!!!

Aaaannnnndddd...it is 100% true b/c they just broadcasted it onthe news this morning!! I nearly screamed my lungs out! So all you others should save up your money!!!! Tickets cost around 60-70 dollars. SO save save save!


Hmm...I forgot where I got that article from. I just googled it..lol


Oh yea...I'm Back!!!!

well... I would probably go there if I had the chance... but your point about commercialisation is true.. It somehow takes the whole magic from it - and people who criticise it heavily anyway will probably have one more reason to say "There you go! Silly, childish madness, not worth a penny!" ...
But lots of people will also enjoy it - and we have already seen a great commercialisation of HP: all kinds of games, toys, candy, socks etc etc etc, so this is somehow just the natural development of it. It's just getting a bit far from the essential, that is the book, though. Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't that be the world's first theme park inspired by a book? (not comic) ... a bit megalomaniac XD

Here's another link to an article...I couldn't get tlc one...
http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=263952&GT1=7701

Mweeeeehh, I sooo so so so so so wanna go But why does it have to be in America!? I personally think it should belong somewhere in UK, where Harry Potter belongs, goddarnit! >__< ...besides, it would be cheaper for me to just fly within Europe xD

But really, in America? OH PLEASE!!!! America sucks :D *ducks the several things she's being attacked by*

...but it does, you have a 'great' and 'peace-loving' president. He's so cooooool, really xD

As I said in the other thread, I still think it belongs in UK, NOT in stupid America

*whistles innocently*

...slightly racist, I am! xD

yeh i think the theme park should be in the UK but americas bigger so gets all the good stuff.
Personally i can't wait im gonna camp outside there for the opening 'cos im cool like that XD

I've merged the two threads on this topic together

ah, good idea :D

well... only reason they're building it in America is, I guess... that the studios are there XD .. but I also think it belongs to the UK .. and I also agree it would be cheaper to fly to the UK XD .. but it's in Florida so I might get to see it when I'm... 30? 40? XD

Now I have another reason to go to Universal Studios in Florida!!!!!!!!!

*does happy dance*

I thought it would have been wiser to build a small Harry Potter Wonderland in the UK. That is where it originates from, but I suppose since Disney is world widely popular, it makes sense to build an attraction there.

I guess I should plan to visit Florida. I can take my little boy or girl there with me and my future husband! *pats tummy*

Very exciting though!

i wish they would do something like that in australia but nothing good ever happens here im going to have to come to the states just to see it when its done

I heard about this over the news. I actually think it's a great idea and I can't wait to see it. Unfortunately I don't live near FLorida as much I'd like to, but flying over to plan a vacation there is always an option!

OMG, and thats when we have our family trip down there schduled!!!! yay!

I think my family might go down there when it opens to for vacation. That would be completely awesome. I've never been to universal before and if we went to FLorida after it was built I would definitly go to see it,

my parents better take me down or i will cry for hours! that would be soooo sad if i didn't get to go to it!

My mum said that I could go there for christmas it opens on December the 15th so we could go the week after christmas or go the day it opens and come back before christmas. I'd love to be there the day it opens =]

ooh, lucky! You are gonna come all the way over here just for the HP park! i bet you'll go before me...I'll maybe go the summer after >.< or maybe in April, for my next birthday...yay! i'll stick with that choice!

I am SO going to this park... I also hope to be one of the first ones to do so...

I want to go soooo badly but my parents are not really that into wizards and such and don't wanna take me. rar. I will find a way to go....

xxKat

I can't wait till this opens. I'll likely never go but it'll be fun to see pictures of it

YOU GUYS ALL MUST COME!

I've been going over to Universal every other week for like....the last year now just to sit infront of gates and watch them build it. It's so beautiful guys! I'm going tomorrow too ^^

If anyone is actually going to go and know when they are going, please tell me because it would be super cool to meet any of you.

I'm going in the last week of August!!! YESSSS. I will be completley broke by the end of the week but I don't care! It's definitley worth it!

*cries and hides in her cupboard under the stairs, realises where she is, and goes into her brother's second bedroom. Realises where she is again, and hides under the couch, hoping it doesn't turn into a Potions Professor.*

I LIVE SO VERY VERY FAR AWAY!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

I actually think you just made my entire week with those actions^^

But I'm sorry!!! I'm so sad for you.

Hahaha.

I know. Will you... have lots of fun for me??? MAKE MAGICAL MEMORIES!?

I will I will!!!! I'll bring you back some butterbeer!!!!!!

Omg butterbeer!!!

I need to get a job so I can afford to go over there and have an awesome fun time!!

Yessss. You should. Cause that'd be awesome.

I have no job and no money.

Awww. I've been saving up ever since I heard there was gonna be a themepark. I know when I come back I'll be totally broke though...yeah, I don't have a job either. I'm not old enough to legally have a job job and I dont get an allowance or anything so it's mostly birthday money. hahaha.

I'm old enough... I'm just soooooo lazy. I get pocket money and slowly save up though.

I can't save either, I always spend it. ><'

^^That's very true. I'm kinda concerned about the lines but I bought some passes to cut the line -evil laugh- and since there's supposedly a limited quantity for those hopefully they wont' be too long but even with that I still want to look at all the shops and stuff and I know those will be ridiculous.

We're just hoping since a lot of people will be back at school when I go the lines will have lessened slightly...unlikely but hopefully it won't be as long as some people have had to wait.

Yeah, I don't think the prices will drop anytime soon. >.< I'll be completley broke by the time I get back...-looks sadly at money-

Ooh yeah I may go in something like four or five years... after I've finished my degree. So... Hopefully I'll have lots of money saved! :D

You're going to have soooo much fun!!

Ooh yeah, they're always changing and updating theme parks!!!

OHMYGOSH GUYS. THE WIZARDING WORLD IS WORTH THE WAIT.

It was amazing!!!!! Everything was really well done and really detailed!!! The lines weren't even as bad as I thought they would be (in the mornings everyone rushes for it and then you'd have to wait a few hours but if you take advantage of how the rest of the park is practically empty and come back in the afternoon you can walk right in (though it's still kinda crowded).

The whole Hogsmeade street was amazing especially if you wait for it to be lit up at night and then go window shopping becasue all of the displays are super cool! The shops were all really crowded and it was hard to move (not to mention you had to wait in line to even get into the shops) but they were fun to look into and I bought way to much stuff that I didn't need to put around my room. Hahahha.

The rides were also really fun!!! And the Forbidden Journey is my new favorite ride ever! The only disappointing thing was that once you get into Hogwarts (which the line didn't take too long) the line really slowed up while we were waiting outside in the Herbology area (which thank goodness it wasn't very hot) but then as soon as we got inside of the main building the line started moving pretty quickly so there wasn't a lot of time to just take it all in...but everything in Hogwarts was beautiful and they had a lot of the originals from the movies like the Mirror of Erised and the Pensieve, ect ect. And the ride was awesome!!!! I don't even know how to explain it but it was really well done! I was very impressed with the whole area!

Oh, and we ate at the Three Broomsticks and it was actually really good for theme park food! And speaking of food, Butterbeer is amazing (though I preferred frozen to normal) and pumpkin juice is delicious!

Hahaha, alrighty, I'll try to get pictures up either in here or in my blog thing or something so you guys can see! xDD

EDIT:: I've only just remembered but in the bathrooms, you can hear Moaning Myrtle!!!!! I almost died when I heard her!! Hahaha

Omg I'm so jealous!!!

But so awesome that you had a good time! Looking foward to pics, so as to live vicariously through you.

Hahahaha, yeah, I'll post them as soon as I figure out how to do that thumbnail thing? Do you know how?