The Wizarding World of Harry Potter encroaches on IOA Spring 2010. - Walt Disney Boards - Message Boards & Forum Discussing The Genius Of Walter Elias Disney!

StitchedTogether · #1 (**permalink**) 02-06-2010, 06:18 PM

Although I'm not at all a giant fan of the Harry Potter books or movies, I'm always a fan of new technologies being implanted in theme park attractions across the globe. I don't know if someone has mentioned this previously, but I really just wanted to create a thread about the potential opening date, as I feel it will bring many people into the welcoming arms of the WDB. I've heard rumors between December 15th and June 30th, 2010.

Twice I've stood victim to Universal making a fool out of my travel plans. I recollect living in Orlando, and eagerly awaiting the opening of the Simpson's ride, and yet week after week the soft opening date was pushed back. Even more recently, I travelled down to experience the Rip Ride Rockit, but was disappointed to hear the attraction was experiencing difficulties just weeks after opening, and during my entire vacation it was out of service. I understand opening an area with new attractions can pose many engineering problems. We can only hope the Wizarding World of Harry Potter won't experience these delays or operating issues, otherwise Universal Orlando will have a riot of muggles, breaking down the doors to get to Hogwarts.

Although it's impossible to pin point when the themed island and attractions will be open to park goers, teams of avid Harry Potter fans are hoping a flux in Universal's Hours of Operation can be attributed to the opening. I personally feel like they will be missing out on a great deal of travel during Spring Break, and many are encouraging a soft opening by mid-March. One thing is for sure though...Mum is the word on the opening date of this highly anticipated addition to Islands of Adventure.

**albino_pygmy** · #2 (**permalink**) 02-06-2010, 09:12 PM

Things look like they're going well over there, unlike that of Rockit, and is slated for a Spring opening, so we're guessing April or May-ish would be the opening.

StitchedTogether · #3 (**permalink**) 02-06-2010, 09:14 PM

We can only hope, Lol. There are going to be quite a few 'sad pandas' if it's not...

**WDBArnyVee** · #4 (**permalink**) 02-07-2010, 07:45 AM

I'm not a Harry Potter fan, but I love anything that makes its way to a theme park which brings technology and creativeness. So, I'm excited to make a trip to Universal either later this year or early next year to take in the new sights and sounds

cruiseshipfan · #5 (**permalink**) 02-11-2010, 03:34 AM

i cant wait to see what everything looks like from inside. and i hope everything works properly for this.

**albino_pygmy** · #6 (**permalink**) 02-19-2010, 09:24 AM

Ok folks, we've got a date! May 28th has been announced that this area of the park should be open by then. This is NOT the official opening date.

Orlando Sentinel – Theme Park Rangers

Quote:

Universal’s media release emphasizes that the “May 28 travel date was set to help consumers with vacation planning and does not represent the opening date for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort. Universal has announced that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will open in Spring 2010. Specific opening information will come as soon as it is available.”

StitchedTogether · #7 (**permalink**) 02-19-2010, 04:40 PM

I'm so sad that I planned my vacation the 12-19th of May. What a bummer!!!

**albino_pygmy** · #8 (**permalink**) 02-19-2010, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StitchedTogether

I'm so sad that I planned my vacation the 12-19th of May. What a bummer!!!

There's a good chance the new ride could be under a soft opening or test phase. I'm sure you'll at least get to walk through the area and maybe shop and eat there. Dueling Dragons will be closed between Feb. 27 and March 16 so it can be rethemed to Dragon Challenge. So, my guess is that come March 17th Dragon Challenge will be open, and part of the new area would be open as well. The last thing to open in this area would obviously be the new robocoaster ride.

StitchedTogether · #9 (**permalink**) 02-19-2010, 07:09 PM

I sure hope you're right AP... All of my friends were supposed to come up from South Florida to hang out with me, but now it looks like most are waiting until the 28th. Gosh I'm so bummed out. I hope you're right. As everyone can remember, last October down in Orlando, I tried to ride the Rockit, and it was out of order for the day. Well, this trip I've scheduled two days at Universal, so we can only hope for smooth sailing! Thanks for the tip AP, and please keep me posted!

**albino_pygmy** · #10 (**permalink**) 02-19-2010, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StitchedTogether

I sure hope you're right AP... All of my friends were supposed to come up from South Florida to hang out with me, but now it looks like most are waiting until the 28th. Gosh I'm so bummed out. I hope you're right. As everyone can remember, last October down in Orlando, I tried to ride the Rockit, and it was out of order for the day. Well, this trip I've scheduled two days at Universal, so we can only hope for smooth sailing! Thanks for the tip AP, and please keep me posted!

Yeah . . . Rockit was one thing, it was doomed from the start, and had many many setbacks and still isn't quite right now. I'm sure they've put more thought and effort into into HP, especially with JK Rowling on their backs. I'm not saying that their new ride will go off well from the start, but I'm sure it's not going to disappoint like Rockit. We'll just have to wait and see what happens. If it makes you feel any better, I haven't heard ANYTHING wrong with this new ride, whereas before Rockit opened, we've heard at least a dozen things wrong with it.

StitchedTogether · #11 (**permalink**) 02-19-2010, 08:05 PM

I hope to God the Rockit is open on one of the two days I'm going to be there.
If Dragon Challenge is open, it'll be cool to at least see some of the added HP theming. Just booked my flight today, so there's no turning back now. Lol.

**albino_pygmy** · #12 (**permalink**) 02-20-2010, 09:21 AM

Rockit sounds like it's doing better. It was reported that a couple of days ago, they've got the moving walkway working with 4 trains on it. So far so good. Express line isn't open yet for some reason. They say as soon as they get the moving walkway working they'll open up the Express line. I wonder what else is keeping them from opening this line?

**WDBArnyVee** · #13 (**permalink**) 02-21-2010, 08:27 AM

I hadn't actually watched a video of the Rockit attraction yet, but here's one....

YouTube- Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit at Universal Studios Now Open

....and, here's a fly-over video of the Harry Potter area of the park....

YouTube- Helicopter tour above Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal's Islands of Adventure Update

StitchedTogether · #14 (**permalink**) 02-21-2010, 10:02 PM

Wow...Nevermind about staying at the Hard Rock, or for that matter ANY hotel on Universal property. 3 Days ago all kinds of rooms were available, and now they're all sold out (My reservation was going to start on the 12th, and finish on the 19th, almost 10 days before the anticipated opening date). I hope people aren't jumping the gun too hard, sources like MTV.com are telling surfers that they're interpretting "Spring 2010," to mean the entire month of May, and the article was written after the May 28th announcement. I think a lot of people are going to be disappointed when they start speculating an opening date, but that's just my two cents. Hopefully, come time for my vacation I'll be able to call and get a room maybe a week before, I think a lot of little Harry Potter fans will start pushing their travel plans back when they realize May 28th, might mean May 28th.