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Thread: So...who wants to go to Hogwarts??

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    Default So...who wants to go to Hogwarts??

    From the Orlando Sentinel


    The tourism industry buzzed feverishly Thursday with the announcement that Universal Orlando secured the rights to build an attraction centered on the hugely popular Harry Potter character.

    "Properly conceived and executed, this story line absolutely has the potential to be one of the all-time biggest hits in the theme-park industry," said Dennis Speigel, president of International Theme Park Services Inc. in Cincinnati.

    Universal intends to spend between $230 million to $265 million to create the "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" at Islands of Adventure along with a previously announced Simpsons attraction, according to a filing Thursday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    This year alone, the expenditure is expected to reach between $75 million and $85 million, the filing said.

    Speigel likened the Potter stories to the "timeless" and age barrier-breaking qualities of the "Wizard of Oz."

    Indeed, Harry Potter is so hot, the title character in the series of books about a world of witches and wizards scores just four popularity points behind pop culture icon and new cross-town competition Mickey Mouse, according to market research.

    Marketing executive Steven Levitt said Harry Potter carries big potential according to his company's Q Scores, which measure how familiar audiences are with specific characters, brands or personalities as well as how many people rank the character as one of their "favorites."

    The Harry Potter book series measures 39 and Mickey Mouse boasts a score of 43. Santa Claus trounces both at 56. Superman, the comic book version, scores at 26.

    "Eight out of 10 people already know the Harry Potter character," said Levitt, president of Marketing Evaluations Inc. The Q Scores Company. "The way it's going to grow [among] people who aren't saying, 'it's one of my favorites' is a new iteration of Harry Potter -- like a theme park attraction."

    Universal's challenge will be to create an attraction that delivers on its promise to exceed Potter fans' expectations for authenticity to the stories.

    The "Wizarding World" based on the phenomenon created by British author J.K. Rowling, who has sold more than 300 million books, is expected to be open by summer 2010. The four movies released so far have pulled in $3.5 billion.

    Universal Chairman Tom Williams told the Orlando Sentinel on Thursday that the Harry Potter attraction would be like "a theme park within a theme park" spanning about 20 acres of Islands of Adventures' 85 total acres.

    "Warner Bros., J.K. Rowling, Universal: We're all completely committed," he said. "We're committed financially; we're committed intellectually to deliver a product that exceeds expectations."

    The 10-year licensing deal between Universal City Development Partners and Warner Bros. Consumer Products Inc. was signed May 25 and includes an option for �two five-year renewal periods.

    The agreement also requires Universal to pay Warner Bros. licensing fees, merchandise royalties and other payments, though specifics were not disclosed.

    Williams said Thursday that he was "still kind of pinching myself" over the deal. The pressure to build an attraction that is true to the Harry Potter brand, he said, will be intense, though the company is looking forward to creating the smells, sounds and texture of Hogwarts Castle and the Forbidden Forest.

    "To have a chance to bring Harry Potter to life is right up our alley," he said.

    Local tourism boosters are hoping the celebrity of the character will mean more visitors to Orlando.

    "Harry Potter is printed in 63 languages; that shows you the power of the brand," said Gary Sain, president of the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau. "If we can tap into that and create that interest to visit Orlando, that's superb."

    Sain said he expected a large boost among international travelers, who have waned in recent years. The attraction also could give way to more repeat visitors who will return to Orlando to see what's new.

    At the same time, the Harry Potter attraction could inject new competition among theme parks in Orlando, where Universal has experienced declining visitors in recent years while Walt Disney World has seen attendance continue to increase.

    A Disney spokeswoman even lauded Universal's announcement.

    "Whenever one of our region's tourism industry players makes an investment in their business, it's good for our industry and our community as a whole," said Disney spokeswoman Kim Prunty. "That's why we continue to invest in our business."

    Disney's popular "Year of a Million Dreams" promotional campaign that runs through the end of the year and plans for a new ride based on Toy Story to open next year are likely to keep the race for fresh attractions at full speed.

    "I think Cinderella's Castle now has a new rival: Hogwart's Castle," said Speigel, the theme park consultant. "This is going to be a tough one to one-up right now."

    Sara K. Clarke of the Sentinel staff contributed to this report. Beth Kassab can be reached at [email protected] or 407-420-5448.


    I can't fucking wait. Universal Orlando is the best theme park on the planet and I've been to plenty. There is already TONS to do for kids and adults and a Harry Potter attraction is a huge addition to an already great park. The Islands of Adventure is broken up into different themed islands, so I'm guessing it'll be a whole Harry Potter island with a bunch of different rides and games. If you stay at one of their on-site hotels, you get front-of-the-line access. Show your room key to the attendant and you get in a separate line where you wait 20 minutes or less. On rides the other poor fools are waiting 2 hours in the Florida summer to get on!! Fuck that! I will only visit again if I'm staying at one of their hotels b/c that is the only way to do this theme park. It will make your trip so much more enjoyable. I recommend the Portofino, it's really nice. Oh, and they have cute little water taxis you can take for free between hotels, the 2 (soon to be 3!) theme parks, and CityWalk (the entertainment district).

    I can't wait for this new park to open!!

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    Default Re: So...who wants to go to Hogwarts??

    Oooo and it's so close by! Yay!
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    Default Re: So...who wants to go to Hogwarts??

    Yay! I'm so stoked about this it isn't even normal. I posted about it in the harry potter thread. Its fucking amazing.

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    Default Re: So...who wants to go to Hogwarts??

    ^^I'm jealous! You're so close to it. I'd still pay for a night in one of their 3 hotels to be able to skip those awful lines tho. So worth it. Esp when Harry Potter first opens, can you imagine?? At least the rest of the park will be uncrowded!!

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    Default Re: So...who wants to go to Hogwarts??

    I freaking love Universal Orlando. I thought the Portofino was nice but I'm a sucker for the Hard Rock. And I agree, the water taxis are very cool.

    One of the best restaurants ever is in the Royal Pacific Hotel... Emeril's Tcoup Chop. Not the Emeril's on City Walk. This one is really pricey but the ambience is fantastic and the food is to die for.

    Now, a Harry Potter park? OMG, it's almost time to renew my annual pass. I was hedging on it, but now it's a definite. But the Spiderman ride will still be my ultimate fave.

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    Default Re: So...who wants to go to Hogwarts??

    oooo i wanna gooo!


  7. #7
    miss marina
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    Default Re: So...who wants to go to Hogwarts??

    ohhh i cant wait for this...i actually just started on the first harry potter(i know im way f'ing late) but Universal is only an hour away! i will probably wait a month or so after it opens cause i get so impatient waiting!

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    Default Re: So...who wants to go to Hogwarts??

    I wanna go, I wanna go, I wanna goooooooooooooo!

  9. #9
    Callyish
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    Default Re: So...who wants to go to Hogwarts??

    I wanna gooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!! Harry Potter is my fav so a park with Harry Potter... HELLZ YA!!!! *hops a plane with rozz*

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    Default Re: So...who wants to go to Hogwarts??

    It looks like exciting times for Universal. Blue Man Group opens on June 7. The Simpsons ride is coming in 2008. The Harry Potter land opens in 2009/2010. It's time to renew my annual pass for 3 more years!

  11. #11
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: So...who wants to go to Hogwarts??

    Not sure if they still do, but Warner Bros. has a theme park called Movie World on the Gold Coast in Australia, and they used to have a Harry Potter section. My husband used to work at Movie World and for awhile he was a wizard there, LOL. He couldn't fake an accent so he was a visiting American dignitary wizard, and the kids loved that. It was a pretty cool park. They had a lot of sets from the second movie, and there was this neat way of going into the Harry Potter section where you stepped into a living room fireplace, the wizard leading the group would throw "floo powder" and yell "DIAGON ALLEY!" Everything would go dark and the room would shake, then a few flashing green lights and you were suddenly in Borgin & Burkes. It was neat!

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    Default Re: So...who wants to go to Hogwarts??

    I was discussing with twin the possibilities... and LAWLZ of the character actors.
    Number of times Rickrolled on stage: 6
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    Marasmus ... "Ladies don't fart. They butt-laugh."
    Marasmus says, "Oh no, that wasn't gas, it was merely a rectal chuckle."

    Marek says, "A friend of mine got punched in the face by a dominatrix stripper about two weeks ago and I thought of you."

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    Default Re: So...who wants to go to Hogwarts??

    I can see it now....the minute I get to the front gates I'm going to burst into tears! lol Who am I kidding, I'll probably start tearing up as soon as I can see the place from the car window. (Yeah, big dork, I know.)

    I cannot wait! If they have people playing the characters....the guy who plays Snape is in serious trouble. The fangirls will maul him!

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    Default Re: So...who wants to go to Hogwarts??

    I am so there.

  15. #15
    Lola Rose
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    Default Re: So...who wants to go to Hogwarts??

    omg omgo mog !!!!!

    I wanna goooo!!!

    are we there yet!?!

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    Default Re: So...who wants to go to Hogwarts??

    Wow that sounds so cool! I'd love to go there when it opens!

    I hear ya about the long lines. I used to skip them when I lived there. My ex bf used to tell the attendant that our VIP passes got soaked on the water ride so we'd go up front, it always worked.

    Another way to beat the lines is to go in the single rider line. Even if you're with someone you just don't get to ride with them but you save hours of standing in line.

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    Default Re: So...who wants to go to Hogwarts??

    Quote Originally Posted by Lola Rose View Post
    omg omgo mog !!!!!

    I wanna goooo!!!

    are we there yet!?!


    Gonna go wif me and the wife?
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    Marasmus says, "Oh no, that wasn't gas, it was merely a rectal chuckle."

    Marek says, "A friend of mine got punched in the face by a dominatrix stripper about two weeks ago and I thought of you."

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    Default Re: So...who wants to go to Hogwarts??

    Yeah Lola go wif us!

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    Default Re: So...who wants to go to Hogwarts??

    Quote Originally Posted by short skirts View Post
    Another way to beat the lines is to go in the single rider line. Even if you're with someone you just don't get to ride with them but you save hours of standing in line.
    Another way to beat the lines is to arrive right at opening. I've arrived at IOA 30-45 minutes before opening. Sometimes I can get in early. When I arrive before opening, I can usually do a lap around IOA and do the major rides before 11 am. The crowds tend to come in around 11 am to noon.

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    Default Re: So...who wants to go to Hogwarts??

    See... now Twin and I have been really talking. If they DO have a want for a butt-ton of character actors, and maybe um... I dunno... need generic professor characters, for whatever... I'd so do it.
    Number of times Rickrolled on stage: 6
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    Marasmus ... "Ladies don't fart. They butt-laugh."
    Marasmus says, "Oh no, that wasn't gas, it was merely a rectal chuckle."

    Marek says, "A friend of mine got punched in the face by a dominatrix stripper about two weeks ago and I thought of you."

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    Default Re: So...who wants to go to Hogwarts??

    Even though I could give two shits about theme parks, THIS is something I'd probably go see. It sounds very cool.
    "She has written so well, and marvellously well, that I was completely ashamed of myself as a writer...But this girl, who is to my knowledge very unpleasant and we might even say a high-grade bitch, can write rings around all of us who consider ourselves as writers"

    Ernest Hemingway on writer, aviation pioneer and horse trainer Beryl Markham


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