When
Universal Orlando announced that it would be bringing Harry Potter to its parks (and I was among
the first to break the news), the anticipation was enormous. As one of the most popular book series and film franchises ever created, J.K. Rowling's rich stories have enchanted readers and audiences around the world and have established a rarefied place in popular culture. It only makes sense that there would be incredible pent-up demand to visit the theme park version of Harry Potter's lands and commune with the beloved characters.
In developing The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, however, the wizards at Universal Creative did more than merely deliver a perfectly adequate park facsimile of the Potter mythology. They dramatically raised the bar and redefined the art of theme park storytelling. The centerpiece ride, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, with its groundbreaking technology and stunning effects, immediately became the new standard bearer for the best theme park attractions.
Instead of satisfying demand, the land, which opened in June of 2010, fanned the flames of desire even more among Potter's legions of fans. Attendance is up dramatically at Islands of Adventure, and revenues have soared throughout Universal Orlando. Lines, especially the ones to get onto the signature ride, to purchase an addictive butterbeer, and to witness the wand-chooses-the-wizard experience at Ollivanders, can swell up to two hours and longer during peak periods. Inevitably, Universal announced (a scant 18 months after the land debuted), that it would expand The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
So, what can muggles expect in the next chapter of Potter at the park? Unfortunately, park honchos generally prefer to keep a cloak of invisibility on their plans, especially for something as big as this. They tend to release info in small doses to capitalize and build on the excitement. Fortunately, I have some good sources to help fill in the blanks and speculate about what is likely to be on the way. Keep in mind that plans made months in advance, even those shared by the most reliable sources, can change before construction actually begins and attractions open (which may be part of the reason why parks usually wait to announce project details until they are closer to finishing them). The following info, therefore, may not ultimately pass the probity probe (a lie detector of sorts in the Potter world).
I will update this page as news about the Potter expansion evolves. For more info, be sure to check out Screamscape the great site run by Lance Hart, the esteemed Dumbledore of park industry rumors and news.
As of Early December 2011
What we know for sure: On Tuesday, December 6, 2011, Universal reps announced that they would be expanding The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando. And that was pretty much all they revealed. The info was presented as part of a ceremony at
Universal Studios Hollywood which featured the announcement that the California park would be getting a West Coast version of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (and was similarly light on details).
What may be planned: Remember, the info that follows has not been officially confirmed by Universal and should be considered strictly rumor. Got that? According to sources, two additional phases of expansion will be taking place at Islands of Adventure. The second phase, which would possibly break ground in 2012 and open in 2013, would use the existing Wizarding World and backstage areas of the park. It would feature the introduction of next-gen technology with interactive wands that would enable guests to trigger effects throughout the land.
Many of the shops in Hogsmeade currently have some pretty nifty animated effects, including musical instruments that play themselves and broomsticks that float. Instead of randomly happening, be-wanded visitors would be able to "cast spells" to trigger the effects. It's likely that wand-enabled stations would also be built into the Forbidden Journey queue inside Hogwart's Castle as well as elsewhere throughout the land.
Phase two would also include the building of Diagon Alley, the mythical cobblestoned street in London that is only accessible to wizards (but would presumably be open to muggles at The Wizarding World). By creating the new area, Universal would be able to move some of the shops out of Hogsmeade, most notably Ollivanders wand shop, to their rightful places in Diagon Alley. It is probable that the wand shop, which has proven wildly popular, would be considerably expanded to accommodate many more guests.
The creation of Diagon Alley would allow Universal to offer many more shops. By all accounts, the retail sales at The Wizarding World have been filling the coffers at Gringott's Bank to overflowing, and new locations to sell butterbeer and Potter merchandise should help keep guests as well as Universal's bean counters and shareholders deliriously happy.
Phase Three (as of Early December 2011)
What may be planned:
Again, please consider that the following info has not been officially confirmed by Universal and should therefore be considered rumor. OK? Things would really start to get interesting in the next phase of development, which wouldn't probably open until 2015. According to sources, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter would encompass what remains of The Lost Continent, the Islands of Adventure land that Universal appropriated for the first phase of its bewitching project. The new area would continue building out the London-based Diagon Alley.
Mythos (one of my favorite theme park restaurants) would become The Leaky Cauldron, the pub that is frequented by wizards and serves as the entrance to Diagon Alley. Across the way, The Eighth Voyage of Sinbad Stunt Show theater would instead present a Potter-themed stunt show. Of all the possible developments, this one gives me the most pause. Maybe it's just me (testify, stunt show fans!), but couldn't the area be used for something more intriguing?
The building that now holds Poseidon's Fury (perhaps one of the most underrated shows in parkdom; I'll be sorry to see it go) would be retrofitted for an indoor roller coaster, probably based on Gringotts Wizarding Bank. For more info about possible ride innovations for the coaster, see Screamscape.
Perhaps the most intriguing phase-three development would be the introduction of King's Cross Station and its storied Platform 9¾, the secret gate for the Hogwarts Express. Sources say that guests would magically walk through what appears to be a solid wall and board a train bound for Hogsmeade. The soundstage would incorporate the same kind of immersive technology used for the highly regarded King Kong 360 3-D attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood.
The ride would end at Hogsmeade Station, replacing the stationary Howgwarts Express locomotive now on display in The Wizarding World. The train attraction would be the primary way guests would enter Hogsmeade and would afford a more dramatic introduction to the village.
Whew! There are a lot of potentially exciting, major changes in store. It will be interesting to see how the plans actually unfold. Whatever the future may hold, it's likely that Universal will deliver something spectacular given its impressive Potter park performance thus far. Check back for updates. And I'll look forward to sharing a cold, frosty butterbeer with you a few years hence at The Leaky Cauldron.
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