Samuel Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 Universal Studios and Warner Brothers made a joint announcement this evening from Leavesden Studios on the set of Dumbledore's Office to reveal that a Harry Potter theme park is currently in development. The image to the left is the first piece of concept art for the park: Hogsmeade Village. Here's what we learned from Potter set designer Stuart Craig and a representative from Universal Studios (both of them hosted the big reveal): - "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort" - Announcement was made live via internet at 12:01 AM EST today to select media, including MuggleNet. - Areas of park to include Hogsmeade, Hogwarts Castle, and the Forbidden Forest. - 20 engineers working on project. - Universal came to WB looking for authenticity. - Potter park to be built in "Islands of Adventure" area of Universal. - Stuart wants to "take his grandchildren" to the park. - Opening early 2010. - Universal's Potter website to be available at this link soon. - JK Rowling has been involved "since the very beginning" of the project. Also "supportive and encouraging." - Stuart thinks that the park will be better off in the United States. - Have been in design "for at least a year and a half." - "Important that the theme park represents the entire saga from Book 1 to Book 7" In a rather cute way to end the announcement, the Universal representative asks Stuart Craig, "Now where's Dumbledore?" Stuart paused for a moment, looked around the office, and replied, "He was just here." The fansites will be receiving a special piece of concept art not seen anywhere else, so stay tuned for that! We'll be discussing these developments on this week's episode of MuggleCast (due out over the weekend). Source: http://mugglenet.com The concept art: Hogwarts Castle | Hogsmeade | The Park | Logo Full story, press release: [x] ----- :O Wow. That looks pretty darn awesome :P Would anyone go visit it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awesome_Paul Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 That looks quite cool. They're doing loads of them now-a-days, making themed theme parks. A Charles Dickens park has just opened last week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samuel Posted May 31, 2007 Author Share Posted May 31, 2007 Yeah, but that was a mini-park if anything. They're even making a Hogwarts for this ;o Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 Anyone who knows me also knows that I think Harry Potter is a load of tosh. This just adds to it. I mean, I struggle to see the point of Disney World. What's the point of making a theme park bit for a book? :| Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Big Cheese Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 Useless. I think that stuff like this just ruins you imagination of the place inside your head. Like when you read the book, you think of what the place looks like, then they come out with this kind of stuff and you just think its wrong. Movies are the same way, but they're a bit more entertaining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostaquarium Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 I love Harry Potter, and the concept art looks amazing. But I expect the theme park will be a let-down... probably full of plastic houses, souvenirs and junk food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samuel Posted May 31, 2007 Author Share Posted May 31, 2007 It really will be, I'm sure. Very much fake, and very much tacky. But it's such a big market; there's loads of Harry Potter fans. Whatever happens, they'll make a bombshell just because of the experiance people will get. And there's a load of fans, real dedicated fans - there's often seminars, for instance - so for the die-hard fan, it's not that bad at all :P I wouldn't go myself, because of the location, but it's certainly interesting. I'd go, if it was UK based, just for the experiance of it. JKR must be kicking herself. She's made millions of millions, had films on her creations, had major diehard fans, and now a themepark. Pretty good life :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parshy Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 I am DEFENTLY going to see this. Harrry potter is on my list of Must see Moives and Must-read books Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie_Penguin Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 I love the HP books and we better be thankful that they are coming up with a theme park version of the books. Sure, we all have an idea of what the castle looks like in our minds, but the movies already set a version in them. Feel free to mail them your own sketches and ideas if you don't like it. I've always wanted to live the books I read, so I think the upcoming theme park is the closest I can get to my imagination. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xepha Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 I saw that news on an other site just tonight (that has nothing to do with neopets or harry potter) and I was thinking... oh, this new park could bring me back to Florida. I already visited MGM studies twice, Magic Kingdom, Island of adventure, Universal studios... And it was a blast all time :P But like it was already said, the park will just be a market and it purpose will be to make money. Also, I doubt that they can really recreate the Harry Potter universe... But still, if somebody was praying me to go in Florida, I would say : "Alright, but we must stop by the Harry Potter park because I didn't visit it XD" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie_Penguin Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 I also hope they can come up with a Neopets Disney theme park LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glorious Gilbil Posted June 2, 2007 Share Posted June 2, 2007 I heard about this also, and I'm quite extatic about it, I think it will be quite interesting and a good complement to what they already have going on - books, movies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie_Penguin Posted June 2, 2007 Share Posted June 2, 2007 Are they also going to sell the candy (i.e. every flavor beans!!) and sort of "spell" books? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xepha Posted June 2, 2007 Share Posted June 2, 2007 They already sell the candies, you know :P. I bought the jellybeans... A neopets theme park would be very cool... <3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mini-Chan Posted June 2, 2007 Share Posted June 2, 2007 I think I would totally go! That's if I were allowed to! X3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie_Penguin Posted June 2, 2007 Share Posted June 2, 2007 They already sell the candies, you know :P . I bought the jellybeans... A neopets theme park would be very cool... <3 They do? Where o_O, I've never seen them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glorious Gilbil Posted June 2, 2007 Share Posted June 2, 2007 They already sell the candies, you know :P. I bought the jellybeans... A neopets theme park would be very cool... <3 You don't think a Neopets theme park would be a little kiddie... i dont see how they could make it adult. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie_Penguin Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 Well Disney is for everyone and the Neopets website looks pretty kiddie already XD. I think it would a great place for kids and also for grown ups who want to escape from "reality". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xepha Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 They do? Where o_O, I've never seen them. I bought some in a candy store near my University, lol. It tastes awfull! You don't think a Neopets theme park would be a little kiddie... i dont see how they could make it adult. Well, usually when you go in any theme park, it's always a bit kiddie... so you have to find the kid in your heart and enjoy it :P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie_Penguin Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 I bought some in a candy store near my University, lol. It tastes awfull! Well, usually when you go in any theme park, it's always a bit kiddie... so you have to find the kid in your heart and enjoy it :P . Well at Disney, most rides are not so kiddie (i.e. rollercoasters). So by having a Neopets and Harry Potter theme parks, I think it would help more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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