Universal Orlando expansion

Universal Studios' Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando is expanding.

TS

Does anyone know the expected finish date?

I need to take the big kids there and I want it to be a one and done type of thing. Since they are expanding, we may as well wait for it to be complete.

I think the article says Summer 2014 with a push to try for late spring. It's moving along pretty quickly, it seems. Impressive. I think it may be time for us to check it out in the next year or so. We really enjoyed Islands of Adventure a fewer years ago and the park hopper passes are more affordable than Disney's.

good, it's a start-------

I thought the Wizarding World of Harry Potter was underwhelming. Fun, lightly whimsical, not BAD and some parts very good, but just wayyyyy under what I had envisioned. Of course maybe my expectations were totally unrealistic. Took me a while to get there---I didn't see it until Fall of last year, so expectations grew a lot over time. I went back thru the attractions/rides/shops three times over a couple of days, did everything, and I still left disappointed. Sort of like I had just watched half a movie.

The initial reviews, many by admitted HP fanatics, were great after the grand opening a few years ago, so naturally I was very excited to visit. Couldn't believe I was finally, finally there.

The new Hogwart's Express rail ride sounds good, but there needs to be more.....and more of the "better" stuff. My first mental image of "anything Harry Potter" which always comes to mind whenever the name Harry Potter comes up, is the Great Dining Hall----the visual with the thousands of suspended candles, with Sir Nicholas' ghost passing thru, with Dumbledore standing at the front in total control, with the faculty in their places, and with the students sitting and immersed in the chatter which resounds thru the rafters.......

That scene, which always appears in each movie, continually brings me back to a baseline emotion and love for Harry Potter-----That room, for me, holds everything magical I feel for the books---- from the collective gathering of all the individual and unique characters and fantastic wizards (good and bad), to the gargantuan volume of space and gorgeous architecture which defines it, to the memories of the special scenes that have taken place there throughout the series------and an overriding sense that, in the end, despite the trials and tribulations, there will always be sitting there together with smiles (and with LOVE---that ethereal "thing" which conquers all) the three heroes Hermione, Ron, and Harry----and always when "all is well".

Therefore, I just KNEW that there was going to be a Great Hall at Universal----maybe a ride which went slowly thru it (to soak it all in) with marvelous, almost supernatural special effects, which would leave memorable impressions even after I left. But no, it was missing. Major void for me!!!! I wanted to see the ghosts parading thru, and maybe something akin to the regular multitude of people seated below----- generally evoking a feeling of a vast space which held endless possibilities, like the movie and all of Hogwarts itself. The Dining Hall is symbolic to me, I guess. Too bad they didn't develop that. If you ever visited the "real life true Hogwarts" (of course there is none) and didn't pass thru the Great Hall, seems like you would have left unfulfilled. (Like visiting Paris and not seeing the Eiffel Tower, or going to NYC and not walking thru Times Square, etc...)

Can't remember if there was a brief moment thru the Hall when doing the existing ride "Forbidden Journey", but if so, it was way too fast-----just a blink while being tossed-----very forgettable. Must be, because to tell you the truth, I can't remember due to the ride being so fast and furious. A ride thru the Great Hall should be slowwwww, allowing everyone to enjoy the grandeur of the place.

So, I hope they continue to add to the Harry Potter experience---but the Great Hall specifically. It will never seem right without it. I also feel they could add a few more notable areas as experienced in the different movies, such as an Enchanted Forest (maybe with a broom ride thru it, or something, or at least a walk). Or maybe something more happening at Hagrid's little cottage......but definitely "more". Yes, they were constrained by the space available after closing the old venue. But they are creative, just wave a wand.

After all, there has never been anything as wonderful as the Harry Potter series, movies and books. Can't imagine anyone coming up with anything as imaginative as what J K Rowling's genius mind did. So they owe it to the world to do it justice.






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Lisa P said:

I think the article says Summer 2014 with a push to try for late spring.

Click to expand...

That is quite a bit sooner than I expected. If it does completely open by then, maybe we will go for next turkey day. My first choice would be during lowest tourist season, but with 3 of them in college, I don't think we will be able to work that out.

On the Universal section of the DISBoards they posted that the Gringott's Bank ride and the train between US and IOA should be done by late summer 2014. The new coaster at magic Kingdom should be done by fall of 2014. Lots of good reasons to visit Orlando in fall of 2014. We go every 3 to 6 months but after this upcoming trip in November of this year we are going to not go (yeah right) at all in 2014 and wait until Jan/2015 so that all the new stuff will be done and the initial wave of ppl going to see it will have lessened by then.