...but not at Disney. Bill will be furious

http://www.miceage.com/kevinyee/ky051707a.htm

I know this probably falls under the category of "Other Theme Parks," but I thought it'd get more attention here.

Interesting stuff, I think Universal should make a good job of it. It will also be intriguing to see if Disney do something major in response. I assume a Narnia attraction is most likely, as Disney is already involved there. Lord of the Rings is bigger but I don't see the rights being sold.

Yeah... Narnia only seems to have a lukewarm reception at best especially in comparison to Harry Potter. I haven't heard of any real big cases of Narnia-mania!

I have an Aslan Tshirt - does that count as mania? 8)

The Narina Movies have a Weird Vibe...Like I wasnt excited to watch it Once I watched it a Really enjoyed it...And Im Feeling the same way about the sequel.

Im not sure I agree with the article about Star Wars. There is a lot of potenial there but im not sure its the franchise to vie against HP

LOL wonder what happened to the movie exec from Disney that passed on Potter originally scouting locations for Disney Antartica no doubt

No kiddin'!

Have a great day!

I might be the only one here but I am kinda glad about this information. 8O

I don't think that HP fits into disney very well. Don't get me wrong, I am a huge HP fan (Read all the books, and have seen all the movies) but for some reason it just doesn't sound right beeing in a Disney park, and to be honest I don't know how well HP is going to convert from book and movies to Theme Parks attractions, although the flying weasly car ride does sound pretty awesome.

It's official, and not just a ride...

www.orlandosentinel.com/business/custom/...l=orl-home-headlines

This actually made the news in the UK this morning!

This is the official link

www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/

I think this is a huge story! I think that Harry Potter will draw people to Florida to specifically visit Universal, rather that people going because of WDW and visiting USF as an extra.

It all depends on if they do it really well or not. If they do then Universal will make loads of money and Disney will have reason to be a bit scared.

No I think that this is good for Disney..... If people are going to come to Orlando on vacation to go to Universal it only makes sense that most people are going to go to Disney as well.

Disney will just have to capitalize on bringing in the extra influx of people coming into the area, wheather that be another ride will be the question, but I am willing to bet that they are going to let Universal slide by unchallanged!

Tigger Podge--the DC's official European correspondent!

I agree with dznylvr. I think this will just bring more people to Orlando. Really, IOA is still going to be a one day park. Course, now it might actually be a whole day park instead of half a day. I might actually get that Universal pass now. Anyway, it looks cool and I'll definitely be checking it out. Oh, and the local news station Ch. 9, just had a blurb about it. Followed by a commercial for Star WArs weekends at MGM. 8)

I just hope they do it up right.

Gah! Now I have to go back to IOA. :o

Yah, so much for all those who insisted HP was coming to Disney. Just because they play the music at MGM.

Yeah Looks Like I'll be extending My vacations to Include universal.

Three Things Im Thinking....

#1 Its a Real Shame Disney Didnt Score HP when it had the chance, I know some People say HP "Isnt Disney" I'm Sorry but if Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Aerosmith can be Disney. HP would be awsome at Disney.

#2 Whats Disney Gonna do to top a whole HP Land? Villians back on the Drawing board? Beastly Kingdome?? you know they are going to try they dont want you to take those 2 extra days and go to universal they want to keep you on property and thats good for everyone.

#3 The Best part is until they do top Potter....the crowds will be lighter

I would think that they are going to try to do something in MGM. for years now there has been seriously lacking in certain areas of the park, and I think that a Villains theme would be a perfect fit there. they already have the Villians store, and a Villians show (Fantasmic), so it would be a natual fit there.

I am one of the people who would love to see "Beastly Kingdom" come but I think that now we have Everestest in that park, it could be a while before we see anything else for AK. :cry:

I like my new title 8) . I agree that Disney can still benefit to some extent, but people who spend a week or two weeks (or in my case usually3) in Florida will now likely spend a greater percentage of their time at USF than they did before. It may spark major investment at WDW, but there are very few brands with the clout of HP.

Agreed....I am a huge HP fan, but I still couldn't see spending more then a day at the park. I mean lets face it, the rest of IOA still stinks,, and HP is only going to have 3 attractions, with only one being a ride! I definately think that it is going to draw people away from Disney property and into Universal, but then I think that they will be right back to Disney again.

I think that Universal would have done better if they turned the WHOLE IOA into HP land. that way the could have made each different section of the park into its owned themed section of HP, (ie. Hogwarts, Hogsmead.) as it stands now it might be a little crowded for all that, in one section of IOA, considering the crowds they are expecting to receive.

I do agree however that the cheifs over at Disney are beating themselves over the head about it!!!

That kind of bothers me a little. Because unless you're in the very first car of the coaster, to me Dueling Dragons are just another coaster. I was more impressed with the queue area than the ride itself. And I wouldn't wait more than 5 minutes for the Flying Unicorn. If they're doing a ride or rides for Harry Potter, they need to be something the whole family can enjoy. And preferably themed to Harry Potter. *ok, calming down*

However, I have no doubt the whole Harry Potter area will look gorgeous. I imagine they will try to make one feel totally immersed in the world of Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. I think it'll be themed wonderfully. Like I said, it's just the attractions I'm worried about. And I know a lot can happen from now till 2009. I hope my worrying will be for nothing.

And Disney should be worried. Unless they get the rights to LOTR or something (which I majorly doubt), they're gonna have competition from this. Now people really will have a good reason for going to IOA and spending time at Universal.

Some rambling thoughts of mine.

Not everyone is a Harry Potter fan so I don't imagine WDW attendance will suddenly shrink and everything will be walk on because of this new land. My Dad could care less about HP.

It's only one land. Not a whole theme park. IOA has Seuss landing, that's popular with kids, but it sure didnt dent Disney's attendance any. HP fans will be sure to go to IOA now, but after seeing the land, then what? As someone else said, the rest of the park still needs help.

I can't really see a HP land fitting in anywhere at DIsney. Universal does seem the right fit. There's speculation that Rowling will be given final say so over the Land like Dr. Seuess's widow was. I can't see Disney giving up control to Rowling.

The concept art looks fantastic, but in reality IOA is borded by Universal and roads that can be seen from the parks. Will these be screened out or, as you come off the Hogwarts express will you look up to see the latest back up of traffic on Turkey Lake Road? IOA still does not have that much land or space to work with. Where will the wispy clouds and mountains and forests in the art come from? :?

Disney will survive and prosper beyond HP. I'm sure they have new rides and attractions up thier sleeves. Disney still has 4 great parks to choose from and now Universal will have one, hopefully great, land to visit.

And what is HP Land without a Hogwarts Castle....... there is no way that J.K. Rowling would let them do this project without it..... :roll:

...and there is no way that Disney is going to build another castle in one of its WDW theme parks! :roll:

Thats just my opinion anyway!

I think HP appeals to adults as well as kids, and it's surely on another level to Dr Seuss which isn't popular in the UK, so I can't even guess at it's level of interest in the US. Are we sure there will only be 3 attractions? I can see a number of attractions/experiences being built in to Hogwarts and Hogsmeade.

Maybe it's a UK thing, but I see this land getting more press over here than when MGM or AK opened - a heck of a lot more. I see spin-off parks in the future. And dare I say it, I'm pretty sure HP means a lot more to this generation of kids/teens than Disney does.

Well Lets meet in the middle here

Sue: I know you know HP is WAAAAAY bigger than Dr. Seuss.

Podge: I dont think its big enough to Dwarf Disney. If it was someone would be shelling out to give Potter a whole park instead of attach it to an exsisting one.

For one thing the finality of it all Rwoling said there will only be seven books. Therefore 7 movies. HP will probably never be unpopular as new generations discover the stories. But how long can the franchise maintain this level of interest if nothing new is coming out.

Can any of you old folks think of a brand that was HUGE in the 80's but kind of died out now. Pac man maybe

Whats this about 3 rides??? I didnt see anything in the story where they would limit it to 3?? I just want to shop Diagon alley

Sorry double post :oops:

Disney is bigger than HP as an all-in entity, but I'm confident Harry Potter will be a big draw for at least another 10-15 years. It's not that I see WDW as under any great threat from HP Island, it's more that this is probably the biggest coup that Universal could have pulled off against Disney. Even a new land at MK wouldn't independently attract as many new guests as this will IMO.

I agree that interest in HP must dip. I know LotR is hugely popular now, but it didn't maintain that level from it's publication to the present.

Yeah, but there's a "magic" (for lack of a better term) to the Harry Potter story that I don't see fading away any time soon. Those books will draw kids to read them for many generations to come.

I do think Disney should worry, at least to some degree. Maybe they'll think about adding some new attractions soon? I don't know...
But Disney will always rake in the moola. The theming of their parks and overall widespread popularity of Disney will never die, no matter what Universal brings to their plate.

Lots of Good Potter Rumors on www.Screamscape.com today