Wizarding World - Diagon Alley Discussion (Opens 2014)

[TheBigSqueeze]

I just got back on Tuesday from my annual trip! It was awesome, as usual… except those tacky tourists on the waterfront. They watched me like a hawk…

I tried taking pics last week and they bum rushed me like I was an escaped convict. I think next time I'll just scream RAPE!! and perhaps they'll leave me alone lol.

[Elizabeth.June]

I tried taking pics last week and they bum rushed me like I was an escaped convict. I think next time I'll just scream RAPE!! and perhaps they'll leave me alone lol.

There were two of them that rushed up to me when I was taking pictures on my iPod of Gringotts. They asked me what I was looking at and played dumb like there wasn't anything there

[ReelJustice]

WhyLightBulb

Hogwarts Express will be the real deal! The train stations include highly detailed scenery and effects. The trains themselves will be very realistic including steam wafting from each car, scenic treatment and sounds. Each interior cabin includes period props and treatments. The window in each cabin will utlize an advanced optics display making it appear as though you are looking outside a window. As the train travels to the station riders will be treated to different storylines depending on which station they are going to. The cabins are also equipped with a full effects package including heat blast, leg ticklers, lighting etc. One storyline includes a dementors attack where it will get dark, the air will go cold and lights will flicker among other things.

Make no mistake the connector train ride is a full E-ticket! The R&D for the display system alone is staggering. Nothing like this has been done before on this scale and it will be spectacular. Avatar looks to be a joke compared to just this attraction. I haven't even mentioned the major new ride for Potter 2.0 yet.

That brings me to Gringott's. The queue, in my opinion, will be even better than Forbidden Journey's queue. Let's put it this way...the queue includes a really cool elevator ride that will simulate moving vertically and horizontally. You'll feel the air coming from the right side as you move to the right and you'll feel the air from below as you travel down. Each of the two elevator simulators include a projection dome above to enhance the visuals. That's just in the queue. Maybe I'll save the actual ride description for another time but suffice it to say that everything from the unique ride system to the exciting show elements will make this attraction one of the most impressive rides to date.

[Captain Tragedy]

Oh my. There are really no words for this description. This one blurb has gotten me more excited than the entirety of proposed Avatarland.

[maxairmike]

Mind=BLOWN! :drool5:

Seriously, if things end up even half as good as those descriptions...wow! Two simulators in a line with ride-quality effects, before you even get to the ride...I just can't...wow...

[ReelJustice]

Anyone wanting a visual of the elevator effect, look for Ministry of Magic scenes from Order of the Phoenix and/or Deathly Hallows Part 1

[doc brown]

all i can say is wow avatar land who

[BJCool]

WhyLightBulb

Hogwarts Express will be the real deal! The train stations include highly detailed scenery and effects. The trains themselves will be very realistic including steam wafting from each car, scenic treatment and sounds. Each interior cabin includes period props and treatments. The window in each cabin will utlize an advanced optics display making it appear as though you are looking outside a window. As the train travels to the station riders will be treated to different storylines depending on which station they are going to. The cabins are also equipped with a full effects package including heat blast, leg ticklers, lighting etc. One storyline includes a dementors attack where it will get dark, the air will go cold and lights will flicker among other things.

Make no mistake the connector train ride is a full E-ticket! The R&D for the display system alone is staggering. Nothing like this has been done before on this scale and it will be spectacular. Avatar looks to be a joke compared to just this attraction. I haven't even mentioned the major new ride for Potter 2.0 yet.

That brings me to Gringott's. The queue, in my opinion, will be even better than Forbidden Journey's queue. Let's put it this way...the queue includes a really cool elevator ride that will simulate moving vertically and horizontally. You'll feel the air coming from the right side as you move to the right and you'll feel the air from below as you travel down. Each of the two elevator simulators include a projection dome above to enhance the visuals. That's just in the queue. Maybe I'll save the actual ride description for another time but suffice it to say that everything from the unique ride system to the exciting show elements will make this attraction one of the most impressive rides to date.

[violarum]

I think I just died from a non-official description...

Yep, I did.

[hatetofly]

My apologies, I have been battlling a migraine for the last 8 hours. The full update will be up no later than tomorrow afternoon. But for you guys I leave you with a short preview.

[ReelJustice]

Whylightbulb in response to FJ criticisms

I wouldn't say they opted to make it less spectacular but it was more an issue of execution and Warner/J.K. trusting Creative Studios a bit too much. From what I've seen during the development so far they have learned their lesson. I'm not going to say that Creative isn't still full of incompetent knuckle-heads, along with some very competent and talented individuals, but Warner and J.K. are running the show and have been putting feet to fire to ensure a hgh quality execution.

On top of that understand that FJ was developed under the old Universal/GE regime. Comcast has commited a healthy budget - more than twice phase one's budget - to ensure that the inevitable blunders will be taken care of. They have to because J.K. has already threatened to pull the IP a few times already after some design reviews stating that what she was seeing was not exactly what was pitched initially. She has won every battle so far. They will not risk losing her blessing. One example concerns consumables such as LN2 and steam. UC wanted to cut that budget in half. Instead they were only able to cut about 10 percent. This expansion is about three times the size of the first. Regardless of individual opinions everything I've stated so far will be included. The quantity of props and show sets alone, something you shouldn't be able to complain about with respect to FJ or the existing land, should be enough to get you excited. If you like FJ queue and some of the land details you're sure to love what's coming. There are a few additions s slated for the existing land as well by the way.

When asked when construction would be complete

Expect some activity around summer of 2014.

[Descendo]

I don't know too much about Disney World, but I have read that WDW is trying to lose their reputation of neglecting their parks. Apparently Avatarland was supposed to be the solution to the abandonment (and a competitor to Phase 2), but if Avatarland is as lacklustre and low budget as it is rumoured to be (in comparison to HP Phase 2- which according to Whylightbulb, is looking brilliant!); what are Disney Worlds’ future intentions to match the awesome additions at Universals parks? Is there any talk going on such as a 5th theme park?

[rhino4evr]

Disney doesn't need a fifth park. They need to take some risks and expand their current parks, without constantly trying to nickel and dime everything. Fantasyland is a step in the right direction, but its also too little too late, not to mention not all that exciting or revolutionary. Avatarland may turn out great, but once again it's rumored to have been scaled back due to budget

[JungleSkip]

WWoHP 2 is just going to knock our socks off.

Universal, Comcast, and JKR are going to blow us away.

And while we wait, we get Transformers. Mind = blown

And yea, you'll never see a 5th gate.

[Eric]

I can't wait until this opens. Hearing those descriptions...I couldn't not smile.

I don't what it will take for Disney to up their game. I wish Disney would be doing similar things as Universal right now. It's truly remarkable witnessing the transformation right now at UOR.