From Universal Orlando's press release:
Building on the global phenomenon that is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Orlando Resort and Warner Bros. Entertainment today announced an expansion of historic proportion with the entirely new themed environment, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley.Scheduled to open in 2014, the world’s first centrally themed, multi-park experience expands The Wizarding World of Harry Potter across both Universal Orlando theme parks and allows Universal’s creative team to bring an unparalleled vision to this unique project. The new area will bring to life some of the experiences and places found in and around London in the Harry Potter books and films, offering brand-new adventures for fans and theme park guests from around the world.
Diagon Alley and ‘London’ will be located within the Universal Studios Florida theme park, which is adjacent to Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park, where guests now experience Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. The new area within Universal Studios will be just as expansive, immersive and authentic as the existing themed environment.
And – just like in the books and films – guests will be able to travel between ‘London’ and Hogsmeade aboard the Hogwarts Express.
Work on the new area is already underway. When complete, it will feature shops, a restaurant and an innovative, marquee attraction based on Gringotts bank – all directly inspired by the fiction and films.
More details on The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley will be released over time.
We first reported the plans for the new land in December 2011, revealing the Gringotts coaster and basic layout of the Diagon Alley. And we first reported in March this year that Universal was aiming for opening Diagon Alley in July 2014.
You can read our complete coverage of Universal's Harry Potter attractions on our Wizarding World of Harry Potter page.
Update: Just confirmed from an inside source: The dragon atop Gringotts in the Harry Potter concept art is not an artist's embellishment. It will be real (i.e. a physical prop and not a projection). And the dragon will breathe fire.
As Dewayne Bevil from the Sentinel said to me earlier, when we were looking at the concept art, "It looks like Disney's dragon from New Fantasyland flew over to Gringotts."
Yeah, and it's going to be living there now.
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Bob P:
Yes Transformers opens first so why not keep promoting that and not HP which is not until Next Summer....
Jaws last day of operation was Jan 2, 2012. It took months to clear out the land and take down the ride. HP London will have gone up from flat land to finished in about 2 years or 730 days. Considering the anount of acres they are dealing with, I would say that is lightning quick.
That includes the park to park Express and a station at IOA. We were there last Summer when they started punching holes in the walls at the unused studio where Transformers now stands. The ride is already operational and is going through testing. We were there ten months ago....
Since I don't really follow Disney expansion, I have no idea how long the new land at WDW took from start to finish, but I think Universal will do HP 2.0 in much less time.
But it's great that Potter is in fact coming during the same time period as the Dwarf Train (attracting varying demographics to Florida). All boats rise together.
All this followed by Disney Springs and Avatar.
Congrats to Mr. Niles.
You must be... Potter at IOA paid for itself within a year of opening and already financed the new expansion. Attendance rose dramatically at IOA as well.
Basically, there is no way they could lose money since the funds are abundant and Comcast is also handing out blank checks.
I love all of the negativity and comparisons to Disney...
Actually, it will.....
You actually have it backwards! If you were to follow the original book, you start out in the Muggle World (Downtown London facade), go to Diagon Alley, take the train and then end up at Hogsmeade/Hogwarts(in Islands of Adventure).
Consider me astonished.
I doubt that the increase in AP price after WWHP 2.0 will be that large.
"You'll be able to travel between the two parks, from King's Cross station in London to Hogsmeade, aboard the Hogwarts Express with a Park-to-Park Ticket."
So that should clear up any confusion.
Great job on the reporting as always Mr. Niles!!!
All my kids watch are Disney movies, Pixar movies, and Harry Potter. Orlando has them locked up for the rest of their lives. Potter was a phenomenon on the level of Star Wars for the children (and adults) of the past ten years. It will live on like Star Wars did. Star Wars didn't have another movie for 17-18 years and was wildly popular. HP will definitely live on. We are doing Disney World this year and skipping Orlando next year. So we will be there in 2015 when everything is finished...well until something else goes into construction. :)
And, in my opinion, I think the HP story is pretty captivating, and should delight readers, and generations to come.
Conclusion: This will be money well spent! By Universal, AND us!!!
I Respond: Um ... you got a source for that $750 million assertion? Because ... I really, really, really doubt the cost is that high.
Yes, they built a brand new ride and some stores, but there were two ride re-brandings and the HP area is pretty small for the area they had to shoehorn it into.
There is also the new London themed concrete structure along the lagoon.
Gringotts is supposed to be incredibly advanced, the Hogwarts Express, track and two stations cannot be very cheap to build either.
If I had to guess, I would say 500-750 at the high end.
I'm sure someone will release an official figure soon.
I am sure that figure includes the cost of removing Jaws and the studio building where Transformers now stands as well.
This was the article I was referring to:
Your posts are entertaining if nothing else.
I Respond: Respectfully, speaking as someone who has spent the last 20 years working as a commercial construction project manager/estimator in Central Florida (which includes estimating costs and managing the construction of theme park attractions and resorts at WDW and UO) my professional experience causes me to question a dollar value advanced by a marketing/social media expert who is not directly affiliated with the project.
NB writes: "You also had a problem with theme park attendance numbers a while back, and they were official."
I Respond: The only attendance figures I have questioned were those published by TEA/AECOM -- and that report was NOT official. Neither Disney nor Universal releases attendance figures. TEA/AECOM compiled an estimate of what they believe attendance figures to be. Further the report publishing those numbers provides limited information related to their methodology.
Does Disney just use the slowest, most expensive contractors available?
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