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JULY 25, 2003 at 4:46 PM
Posted by JAMES
Source: Screamscape via The Leaky Cauldron
Information garnered from an open lunchtime meeting between Bob Gault and the staff of Disney may have revealed that Disney is in a preliminary stage of constructing a Harry Potter-themed park.
Gault revealed
that the Potter theme park has been completed as a rough draft and the Disney staff is now looking into building a Lord of the Rings-oriented park.
...it seems the head of Universal Orlando was having an open Q&A lunch session with his staff a few weeks ago when he was asked if Universal had any plans to pursue either the Harry Potter franchise or Lord of the Rings for possible future park projects. Bob Gault's answer was that "Disney has Harry Potter wrapped up" and that Universal was instead checking into Lord of the Rings.
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Metamorphmagus
Points: 37939
tonks black says:
ooooo! i might have to talk my parents into going there if they do build a harry potter park and they admissions prices dont sky rocket. i wonder if they would have a ride where it is kinda like quidditch. that would be cool if you were like bungeed or something and you got to play to for pretend.
Posted Jul 25, 2003 at 5:00 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 57
Mrs. Norris says:
haha, i see it all now: The Whomping Willow ride! Get twisted around on all the branches for a full 5 minutes. Enough to make anyone sick to their stomach.
Posted Jul 25, 2003 at 5:18 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1124
mattie says:
Sounds cool... I've been expecting a Harry Potter-park for a while. Actual from the fourth book....
Like in the Harry Potter game, to the first book/movie where you are driving with those wagons in Gringrotts - or however it's spelled.
Posted Jul 25, 2003 at 5:19 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 502
Padfoot05 says:
I'm definitely going to the park I've never been to disney land but I'm absolutely going to harry potte park HURRRAH
Posted Jul 25, 2003 at 5:20 PM EST
Witch
Points: 576
Chandra80D says:
Ugh ::puts head in hands:: well - there goes the idea of "Quidditch Cup: The Roller Coaster" at my HP themed hotel in Vegas.
Posted Jul 25, 2003 at 5:28 PM EST
Animagus
Points: 19544
Sirius-Ella says:
THAT would be sooooo awesome..just as long as its not too scary..I've never NEVER been on a rollarcoaster..thats really sad I know lol
Posted Jul 25, 2003 at 6:19 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1012
Imperio says:
Wow, this sounds like it could be pretty cool but it is also the type of thing that could become horrible... I guess we will have to wait to find out!
Posted Jul 25, 2003 at 6:24 PM EST
Student
Points: 246
Gryffindork says:
That would be the coolest thing in the world. They need to make it be really scary roller coasters. That will be so cool.
Posted Jul 25, 2003 at 8:01 PM EST
Editor of the Squibbler
(Moderator)
Points: 2031
eudaemonia says:
This is strange, very strange. I thought Warner Bros. held the Harry Potter rights and they have their own theme parks (I believe; they have Six Flags Magic Mountain here), but I suppose they only have... movie rights? That would mean that if Disney did make a theme park out of the series, it wouldn't (or is unlikely to) have any images from the movie... and it's also unlikely to have the Scholastic or Bloomsbury imagery. It'd be a whole different illustration!
So there's a movie interpretation, at least 2 book interpretations, and now a theme park one... This is very unusual for a franchise.
Posted Jul 25, 2003 at 9:17 PM EST
Witch
Points: 609
Aravis says:
Eudaemonia...that's an excellent point. I mean, aren't Warner Bros. and Disney complete competitors? And most of us (well, at least I do) think of most of the characters as looking like their movie actor counterparts. I mean, I really don't like the drawing/sculptures of Harry & Co. on a lot of the merchandise so I wouldn't want to go to a theme park. Barring that, however, I would be so there! I wish it would be in Southern Calif though, not Disney World in Florida. Then I might actually be able to go LOL!
Posted Jul 25, 2003 at 10:28 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 342
Precious says:
Oh my gosh that would be SOOOOOO AWESOME!!!! AHHHHHHH That is way to neat!! I would love to go there!! Could you imagine the attractions, the rides, the scenery and everything?! Way to cool!
Posted Jul 25, 2003 at 10:40 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1065
Lerah99 says:
The big mouse of Orlando finally has a great idea. (Sorry, I live close enough that many of my friends had summer jobs at Disney. The mouse is much nicer when you don't work for him.) Though I will only go to Disney World upon threat of death, I would go to see a Harry Potter themed park. :o)
Posted Jul 25, 2003 at 11:42 PM EST
Lycanthropist for W.S.S.
Points: 3603
Alchemist 530 says:
There are so many cool ideas for rides and attractions in the books, it would be so cool to go! That would be amazing- imagine working there, or working to design a place like that, wow.
Posted Jul 25, 2003 at 11:54 PM EST
Squib
Points: 121
ying reilly says:
It'll be great to be able to pretend to be a Hogwarts student for a day, explore the castle, walk the corridors, play in the lake, visit Hagrid's cabin etc etc etc.
But if they are going to feature too many dragons, Basilisks, Whomping Willow rides, I get a bit worried. I know the movie side of Harry Potter has already become too commercialised, what with all the action figures and other such merchandise, but the theme park could be even worse.
I sincerely hope they don't cheapen the Harry Potter universe - and JK's wonderful ideas.
Posted Jul 26, 2003 at 12:09 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1106
Ima Quidditch Fan says:
OK... please don't blow my moment of happieness.
I *might* get to play Quidditch!!!!
Wahooooooooooo!!!! That would be so awesome!
I wonder if Disney took note of the recent Orlando event?
Posted Jul 26, 2003 at 12:53 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1093
neoepiphany says:
Actually, I like Chandra80D's casino idea better. Just think--the slot machines could have three golden snitches for a jackpot, the place could be shaped like a giant castle, and the hotel information channel could screen the movies three times a day... Of course, if there were a theme park, I would definitely go, and ride every ride despite my deep and personal hatred for all theme park rides.
Posted Jul 26, 2003 at 1:25 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1782
Juno Puddifoot says:
I'm going for Chandra80D's casino too - chin up Chandra work towards your dream! heheh I lurvv Las Vegas and that would be the perfect to go stay at Hogwarts ...
Posted Jul 26, 2003 at 3:56 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 463
Madam Hooch says:
That'd be really cooool! If they do that, I really have to go there! How great would it be to actually LIVE the magic?
Posted Jul 26, 2003 at 6:18 AM EST
Snape's Woman
(Moderator)
Points: 5392
Prof. Andaxia Moonstar says:
Great idea, but I hope they don't cheapen it by putting in stupid, poorly planned, or unrelated things. Definitely a maze, some roller coasters, perhaps even a virtual reality ride that puts you in the middle of a game of Quidditch. A mini-museum would be cool too, if they could get permission, with costumes and props from the movies. If it comes to fruition and is well-done, I will be there, opening day!
Posted Jul 26, 2003 at 7:36 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 463
Madam Hooch says:
I totally agree with you Andaxia Moonstar, it has to be a good theme park, related to the books and movies. Otherwise, there's no need going.
Posted Jul 26, 2003 at 8:42 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2303
padfoot5312 says:
"Disney has Harry Potter wrapped up" and that Universal was instead checking into Lord of the Rings."
Disney, Harry Potter, and Lord of Rings - um..... what a combination. Have to start a fund to go there.
Posted Jul 26, 2003 at 10:41 AM EST
Student
Points: 233
magic_cat111587 says:
Wow that's really cool. I hope they actually do it.
Posted Jul 26, 2003 at 12:12 PM EST
Witch
Points: 576
Chandra80D says:
Haha...I hope no one is actually planning on me building a Hogwarts Hotel/Casino, even though I would just love it (and I would make sure it was not cheesy or disrespectful in any way to JKR or HP), and I have it planned somewhat in my head (sad I cannot draw sketches or anything...). But I have no where near the money or resources to do it.
Just imagine...conventions could be held, movie premeres...ah - God this would be the coolest.
I need to find where I left the first post on the HP Hotel...
Posted Jul 26, 2003 at 1:34 PM EST
Points: 466
sillyxjuney says:
Woicked! I could definitely go to the park... I could just imagine people playing Quidditch in the mid air. LOL! Too bad I'm afraid of height!
Posted Jul 26, 2003 at 2:23 PM EST
Witch
Points: 576
Chandra80D says:
luna lovegood, I agree - I really do - HP is literally nothing but a marketing tool nowadays. It's really annoying to see it posted on EVERYTHING and used with everything. But then again - I am the one talking about a hotel/casino here - which would be the ultimate merchanising ordeal.
I was never a fan of theme parks, they always seemed to me quite stupid, like money suckers or something. I don't think I'd even go to the Harry Potter one, just because I'd feel like I was slapping JKR's creation or something. Now if it was one attraction (and it wasn't stupid like "Adventure in the Forbidden Forest" and it's like a "mystery cart ride" or something) I might go see it, and if they had a museum of the movie stuff, oh - that would be cool. But other than that, eh - I'd have to think about it.
The question is - would we all still be major HP fans if there wasn't mass merchandising, if the movies hadn't been made - who here would have not been fans?
Posted Jul 26, 2003 at 6:25 PM EST
Points: 245
Tonks510 says:
Cooooooool!!!! It does sound cheesy but i luv amusement parks. I just luv them. Probably from living in a town that has one.
Posted Jul 27, 2003 at 12:12 AM EST
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