The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade (Orlando): Part 2

[epcyclopedia]

Ironic that DHS has the metal tape lines embedded in the ground but doesn't have a parade.

 

[fryoj]

I'm very surprised the entrance to and from JP hasn't been reconfigured yet...Maybe if/when DD finally closes there will be a major hub created for a show such as this..

I thought about this, but the Hippo is between the DC plot and the castle. Unless they were to remove or move it, it really wouldn't be useable for that.

 

[Joel]

I thought about this, but the Hippo is between the DC plot and the castle. Unless they were to remove or move it, it really wouldn't be useable for that.

I can see them moving the Hippo further back on the DC plot. The castle will make for a great night time show, especially if they can expand the hub to hold more people.

 

[fryoj]

I can see them moving the Hippo further back on the DC plot. The castle will make for a great night time show, especially if they can expand the hub to hold more people.

I'm on the flip side of that. I can't see them paying probably millions of dollars to move a ride just for a show. I agree though, that it does open up things quite a bit for a show and makes a Great Hall restaurant much more practical to put in.

 

[Joel]

I'm on the flip side of that. I can't see them paying probably millions of dollars to move a ride just for a show. I agree though, that it does open up things quite a bit for a show and makes a Great Hall restaurant much more practical to put in.

I don't think it would cost millions to move the coaster, but if so I could see them scratching the coaster. I was just thinking when the DC replacement comes along, expanding that area in general is a good idea, especially with the upcoming show.

 

[epcyclopedia]

I think the easiest fix would be to axe the end of the block of buildings across from Hogwarts. That bit with the snowman just holds storage space and carts and such. It's insane that they allow the path to be so congested and near impassable while that thing is essentially hollow.

 

[belloq87]

Understanding the operational concerns inherent, I'm still just not a huge fan of the idea of making Hogsmeade feel more wide open. Part of the charm is that it is relatively more confined than you'd conventionally expect in a theme park land. It feels, in a way, quaint, which actually serves to underline the grandeur of Hogwarts and to make the tiny details throughout the land feel more authentic. I think opening up a ton of space to become walkable areas or show viewing would undercut some of the charm of the land.

 

[Teebin]

Why they planted the weeds that they did is beyond me. I finally had a "smack" v8. I finally thought of where I could look at a few options.

Home
watch the video, it is informative about the options.

 

[epcyclopedia]

Understanding the operational concerns inherent, I'm still just not a huge fan of the idea of making Hogsmeade feel more wide open. Part of the charm is that it is relatively more confined than you'd conventionally expect in a theme park land. It feels, in a way, quaint, which actually serves to underline the grandeur of Hogwarts and to make the tiny details throughout the land feel more authentic. I think opening up a ton of space to become walkable areas or show viewing would undercut some of the charm of the land.

But clipping that corner that isn't used for anything would dramatically improve guest flow through the area.

Further, imagine if FJ's exterior queue was actually an accessible sort of garden and they relocated all of that part of the queue into the lower - unused mind you - level of the show building?

Pretty much everything underneath the main queue rooms is just empty space. If they rerouted and used that space, they could even give a pathway right from JP where the queue currently touches it as an emergency exit.

 

[LJGonz]

A firework show would be more than amazing, it would be one of the smartest things universal has done in a while. A firework show keeps people staying longer, and if people do go back to their hotels, they end up coming back at night for the fireworks. I went to Disney this weekend and my cousin who's an employee said that the park is its fullest during the fireworks show. Disneys fireworks are AMAZING, and I would like to see universal give it a try since guest have pretty much nothing to look forward to at night.

 

[LJGonz]

I think they should rethink the entire JP area. The one in Osaka (excluding the flying dinosaur ride) is amazing. It's clean, not a lot of trees, and the space is well occupied. I think our JP are is big, but is not holding up to its full potential. There is so much wasted space with camp Jurassic, and the triceratops thing. Also, those silly games that no one plays wastes space. The Jurassic park entrance shouldn't be in the castles view when they have so much space. They should cut the Jurassic park area short (the area that interfiers with the greenhouse queue) the part where your in jp, and you can see the greenhouse, ya, take out that little chunk of JP. Lastly, add more things to JP by taking out some plants, as we'll as camp Jurassic, and the triceratops encounter. Going back to the wizarding world, the bridge (if it is going to be a popular spot for the fireworks) should be a little more potter themed.

 

[Joel]

I would love to see this happen (especially for the show and logistics of holding/moving people around).

• RED = current path from hogsmeade through jurassic park
• YELLOW = current JP gates
• GREEN = move JP gates to this point, really only cuts out the Watering Hole and helps maintain the identity of the two lands (you'll be walking through more trees/foliage before seeing the gates)
• BLUE = two hubs for watching the nighttime show. Where flight of Hippogriff is now would be converted into a Hogwarts hub, reconfigure the current stage so the castle is more in the background. The Watering Hole area would be converted from JP land to Harry Potter land without any substantial additions, just more space for the nighttime shows and relaxing gardens.
• PINK = have this overflow bridge always be open as a way to skip going through Hogsmeade, helping cut down on foot traffic through Hogsmeade and facilitate post-nighttime show traffic

 

[Andysol]

I don't think it would cost millions to move the coaster, but if so I could see them scratching the coaster. I was just thinking when the DC replacement comes along, expanding that area in general is a good idea, especially with the upcoming show.

They need to keep Hippogriff. It is the only ride a kid under 4/5 can do in Hogsmeade or DA. The 36" Height Requirement is also one of the few toddler friendly ride in both parks together- and toddlers parents buy them wands, robes, and butterbeer too. I think the idea of moving it would be brilliant.

-Drop Dragon Challenge and replace with a forbidden forest ride and shrieking shack queue.
-Add a Great Hall Table Service Restaurant in the back off the castle (near exit shop). Heck- this would even be a perfect time to reconfigure all that space- lockers and gift shop bottlenecks- entrance to ride and entrance can both be in same spot.
-Add both fireworks viewing area as @ConvolutedFrippery drew.
-Rebuild Hippogriff similar to Hulk (brand new ride) where DCs indoor Queue is now.

Dragon Challenge takes up SO MUCH space- that by simply dropping that one ride, you could add another dark ride, viewing area for fireworks, great hall restaurant, and fix all the bottlenecks associated with FJ as well as fixing sightlines of the Hogwarts Express. Great Hall alone would pay for that project...

 

[Joel]

They need to keep Hippogriff. It is the only ride a kid under 4/5 can do in Hogsmeade or DA. The 36" Height Requirement is also one of the few toddler friendly ride in both parks together- and toddlers parents buy them wands, robes, and butterbeer too. I think the idea of moving it would be brilliant.

-Drop Dragon Challenge and replace with a forbidden forest ride and shrieking shack queue.
-Add a Great Hall Table Service Restaurant in the back off the castle (near exit shop). Heck- this would even be a perfect time to reconfigure all that space- lockers and gift shop bottlenecks- entrance to ride and entrance can both be in same spot.
-Add both fireworks viewing area as @ConvolutedFrippery drew.
-Rebuild Hippogriff similar to Hulk (brand new ride) where DCs indoor Queue is now.

Dragon Challenge takes up SO MUCH space- that by simply dropping that one ride, you could add another dark ride, viewing area for fireworks, great hall restaurant, and fix all the bottlenecks associated with FJ as well as fixing sightlines of the Hogwarts Express. Great Hall alone would pay for that project...

Agreed, didn't mean to get rid of hippo, just to move it (had mentioned that in an earlier post).

 

[LJGonz]

They need to keep Hippogriff. It is the only ride a kid under 4/5 can do in Hogsmeade or DA. The 36" Height Requirement is also one of the few toddler friendly ride in both parks together- and toddlers parents buy them wands, robes, and butterbeer too. I think the idea of moving it would be brilliant.

-Drop Dragon Challenge and replace with a forbidden forest ride and shrieking shack queue.
-Add a Great Hall Table Service Restaurant in the back off the castle (near exit shop). Heck- this would even be a perfect time to reconfigure all that space- lockers and gift shop bottlenecks- entrance to ride and entrance can both be in same spot.
-Add both fireworks viewing area as @ConvolutedFrippery drew.
-Rebuild Hippogriff similar to Hulk (brand new ride) where DCs indoor Queue is now.

Dragon Challenge takes up SO MUCH space- that by simply dropping that one ride, you could add another dark ride, viewing area for fireworks, great hall restaurant, and fix all the bottlenecks associated with FJ as well as fixing sightlines of the Hogwarts Express. Great Hall alone would pay for that project...

I totally agree with the green idea. I hate hoe your walking through JP, and you can easily see the greenhouse line.

They need to keep Hippogriff. It is the only ride a kid under 4/5 can do in Hogsmeade or DA. The 36" Height Requirement is also one of the few toddler friendly ride in both parks together- and toddlers parents buy them wands, robes, and butterbeer too. I think the idea of moving it would be brilliant.

-Drop Dragon Challenge and replace with a forbidden forest ride and shrieking shack queue.
-Add a Great Hall Table Service Restaurant in the back off the castle (near exit shop). Heck- this would even be a perfect time to reconfigure all that space- lockers and gift shop bottlenecks- entrance to ride and entrance can both be in same spot.
-Add both fireworks viewing area as @ConvolutedFrippery drew.
-Rebuild Hippogriff similar to Hulk (brand new ride) where DCs indoor Queue is now.

Dragon Challenge takes up SO MUCH space- that by simply dropping that one ride, you could add another dark ride, viewing area for fireworks, great hall restaurant, and fix all the bottlenecks associated with FJ as well as fixing sightlines of the Hogwarts Express. Great Hall alone would pay for that project...

I agree, even though I love DC. The great hall restaurant can't just be placed wherever. It can only be placed behind the castle tho.

 

[belloq87]

I would love to see this happen (especially for the show and logistics of holding/moving people around).

• RED = current path from hogsmeade through jurassic park
• YELLOW = current JP gates
• GREEN = move JP gates to this point, really only cuts out the Watering Hole and helps maintain the identity of the two lands (you'll be walking through more trees/foliage before seeing the gates)
• BLUE = two hubs for watching the nighttime show. Where flight of Hippogriff is now would be converted into a Hogwarts hub, reconfigure the current stage so the castle is more in the background. The Watering Hole area would be converted from JP land to Harry Potter land without any substantial additions, just more space for the nighttime shows and relaxing gardens.
• PINK = have this overflow bridge always be open as a way to skip going through Hogsmeade, helping cut down on foot traffic through Hogsmeade and facilitate post-nighttime show traffic

View attachment 3484

I'm definitely in favor of moving the JP gates further into the land. I can't really get behind turning Flight of the Hippogriff into just an open area, though.

 

[LJGonz]

I'm definitely in favor of moving the JP gates further into the land. I can't really get behind turning Flight of the Hippogriff into just an open area, though.

Same. I think that the Jurassic park area that interfiers with the wizarding world should but cut off, and moved. The wizarding world should also add more trees to cover things up. I also can't think of moving hippo, but that area is a really tight squeeze, and other wizarding worlds have a pretty lengthy space between the castle and the ride. I don't want to move hippo, but I want more space between FJ and the ride.

 

[rcoasterdude]

I think adding the dark forest would be great. A launch indoor coaster would be great by Intamin like Taron at Phantasialand and it would be very different then the mummy. You could probably even put in a large restaurant and another roller coaster maybe but more likely than not a interactive ride like the video game like attraction they filed for. Fight off some dementors spiders and other fun things

 

[Mr. EPCOT]

They need to keep Hippogriff. It is the only ride a kid under 4/5 can do in Hogsmeade or DA.

Are you forgetting the Hogwarts Express?

 

[shiekra38]

Are you forgetting the Hogwarts Express?

Still important to have Hippo though...HE is merely a transportation system