What do you see for the future of Harry Potter Land? - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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What do you see for the future of Harry Potter Land?
Now that the last movie has been released and Universal has a year with Harry Potter under their belts, what do you think will be next? Have you heard any plans to the future? Is there room for them to add attractions? I haven't been there yet but I am a huge Harry Potter fan and after seeing the last movie, I was thinking a ride through Gringots would be awesome, or a show featuring a Quidditch match. I hope to visit next summer. Oh and by the way have they continued to add seats that would accommodate Pooh sized people on the Harry Potter ride?
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Could you imagine a Soarin'-like ride where you were flying in a Quidditch game? That would be awesome. Bludgers flying past you, flying up high looking for the Snitch... I also like your idea of a Gringotts type ride, especially since the book gives such vivid descriptions of how wild a ride it is. Haven't seen the movie yet, so I don't know what it looks like on film.
I have no clue if Universal could actually expand or not. I haven't been to the Studios since 2001, and have never been to IoA. My DD and I are planning a trip for next May for her 10th birthday since she's almost done with Order of the Phoenix, and I just finished the last book (literally, just finished it yesterday). Our rule is not to watch the movies until we've finished the book. There's a few on ABC FAmily this Saturday, so we'll be watching those. I told her to read fast because Order is one of them! I may sneak in Deathly Hallows part 1, simply so I can see part 2 on the big screen. So we're definitely Potterheads and are very much looking forward to May!
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The space looked rather landlocked -- but with all parks, you never really can tell what's there (backstage, buffer land, edges of other areas) that can be repurposed.
Personally, I'd like to see a couple more "family friendly" rides in WWoHP. I have motion sickness issues and a fear of heights. I won't do the dragon coaster, and it was pure willpower that got me through FJ.
The theming is fabulous, but truth be told there's not a lot to do there. Although to be fair, no one goes to WDW just for Adventureland, either....
WWoHP was a lot smaller than I expected. I don't see how they have room to expand, but you never know!
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I just saw the final movie last night and my FIRST thought during the Gringots part was 'this NEEDS to be a ride!' great minds think alike!
also--in response to the quiddich match soarin'-esque ride suggestion--you ARE briefly in a quiddich match on FJ. it's actually one of my favorite parts of the ride. wait--who am i kidding? the whole RIDE is my favorite part!
Practically? As long as the current attractions are drawing huge crowds, they have little incentive to add more. More shops and food? That would be more likely.
Yes, USF is short on expansion space. WWoHP was not an expansion, but a replace/retheme. So... What should go at IOA to make room for more HP? Or, more likely, what at either US or IOA would go to make room for an attraction(s) based on some other movie that's hugely popular with a different audience segment? The Twilight series, perhaps?
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That used to be the part of Lost Continent -- a few stores in front of the Dragons were the big casualties. Not a large space, which is why WWoHP is so squnched.
The Enchanted Oak Restaurant was there - right in front of Dueling Dragons. It was our favorite place to escape the heat. I'm still bummed that it's gone.
Yep, that's right - I think Enchanted Oak got transformed to the Three Broomsticks. They did a great job theming the restaurant. The food is British now - meat pasties, fish n chips, etc so no more chicken & ribs & corn on the cob. I'm not sure I'd call it a winner in the taste department, but it's one of those things a Harry Potter fan has to try.
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My only wish is that they expand Hogsmeade. Very crowded and tiny. I wish they planned it better.
I know I'm in the minority, but I love that they did make it small and cozy. It feels like an old European village, and you can almost believe you're walking onto the movie set. Anything bigger and roomier would have been just wrong.
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I also like your idea of a Gringotts type ride, especially since the book gives such vivid descriptions of how wild a ride it is. Haven't seen the movie yet, so I don't know what it looks like on film. 
Michelle - with my step sisters!
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