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AUGUST 8, 2003 at 10:49 AM
Posted by GRAE
Source: Orlando Sentinel via Wizard News
As we reported previously here and here, rumors were speculating that both Universal and Disney were pursuing the idea of obtaining the rights for the Harry Potter characters in order to construct a theme-park attraction based on the books' adventures. There's only one problem - AOL Time Warner says no way
.
Turns out, those rights are well inside the AOL Time Warner family -- and the folks over there aren't willing to give 'em up.
"AOL Time Warner lawyers are talking to the attorneys at Universal and Disney about the rumor," said a Warner Bros. spokeswoman.
But, it's not meant to be, at least for now. And don't expect Harry Potter to find his way into a theme park of his very own -- such as Potter World -- or to land at Six Flags, which licenses other Warner Bros. characters.
"Right now, we don't care to do anything," a spokeswoman said.
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Transfiguration Professor
Points: 2990
Choralee says:
No HP theme park? Not even a ride at another existing park? Those folks at AOL Time Warner need to wake up and smell the dollar bills! I would certainly be a regular patron of an HP park - and make sure I took all my friends with me!
Posted Aug 8, 2003 at 10:55 AM EST
Metamorphmagus
Points: 37939
tonks black says:
Thats wrong. Wouldnt they get money for letting people do that stuff? also, it would give harry potter more publicity.
Posted Aug 8, 2003 at 11:00 AM EST
Witch
Points: 676
Madame Rosmerta says:
Hmmm, sometimes rumors become current events... And if it happens, I will be there!
Posted Aug 8, 2003 at 11:09 AM EST
Witch
Points: 917
Slytherin_Punk says:
Why don't they jsut have it at Six Flags. Its a Warber Bros. Theme Park so just put it there and they wouldn't have to go through all that law stuff.
Posted Aug 8, 2003 at 11:21 AM EST
Head Boy
Points: 461
Fawkes says:
It's probably because JK won't let them.
There's a serious problem (no pun intended) with doing a Harry Potter attraction before the books are all done. Remember after the first two book and the toys started coming out, there were cuddly Scabbers plush toys? Who would buy one now? And what if last year they had decided to build a ride called "Sirius and Harry live together happily ever after"?
Posted Aug 8, 2003 at 11:37 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1124
mattie says:
Warner Bros. seems rather grumpy...
Well still hopeing to see something someday.
Posted Aug 8, 2003 at 11:45 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2251
Snufflesmom says:
I had a feeling this was a just a pie in the sky idea. AOL/Time Warner, which seems to have a strangle hold on media in general is probably holding out until all the HP books are published to make an announcement about the real thing, whether it be a Disney experience or a completely new venue, such as their own park.
After all, Walt Disney once said: "It's all started with a mouse!"
Posted Aug 8, 2003 at 1:10 PM EST
Madam Librarian
Points: 13208
I-Pie says:
Does AOL/Warner have the right to do it without JKR's
permission? I know JKR said she did not want to see
Harry on a hamburger box, would she feel the same about
the Harry Potter roller coaster.
Posted Aug 8, 2003 at 1:13 PM EST
Student
Points: 251
Jupiter Lumos says:
Dude, that is so not cool. Didn't AOL T/W ever learn to share?
Posted Aug 8, 2003 at 1:53 PM EST
Headmaster
(Moderator)
Cheeser says:
I-Pie: From what I understand, AOLTW owns the worldwide licensing rights to everything Harry Potter. I believe this arrangement was made long before Potter became so popular, so it may not have been this way in a parallel universe. All JK Rowling can do is flex her own media muscle and say what she wouldn't like to see. She's already complained publicly that there's too much merchandise as is, but I believe it's not under her control.
Posted Aug 8, 2003 at 2:46 PM EST
Student
Points: 293
jjkhp says:
Tht stinks. I think tey should make a Harry Potter theme park.
Posted Aug 8, 2003 at 3:18 PM EST
Witch
Points: 532
Obsessed-Harry-N-Dan-Fan says:
Hey i agree with Moony. if they wait then hopefully there will be better rides. i would love to go to an hp theme park. harry potter would get more publicity like some of you said and i bet with all the hp fans going then they will make quite a bit of money.i think there would be a lot of positive outcomes of building an hp theme park. what kinds of rides would there be? flying motorcycles? night buses? brooms? hehe. just thinking. or how about hippogrifs or thestrals? horseless carriages? ok now i am getting carried away.
Posted Aug 8, 2003 at 3:27 PM EST
Witch
Points: 750
siriusgurl says:
That's horrible news! I so wanted Harry Potter in Disney World.... :(
Posted Aug 8, 2003 at 6:13 PM EST
Head Boy
Points: 423
ApplebyArrows says:
I really want a Harry Potter ride somewhere, talk about a theme park, that would be amazing. I wish that they would just make one somewhere!.
Posted Aug 9, 2003 at 11:52 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2303
padfoot5312 says:
I also disappointed in no park. But there may be one later, like Aurora says maybe their waiting until all the books are done. That way it would be more interesting with themes from all the books.
Posted Aug 9, 2003 at 12:45 PM EST
Lycanthropist for W.S.S.
Points: 3603
Alchemist 530 says:
No surprise here. I didn't think that Warner Bros. and Disney would collaborate on much of anything, as much fun as it could be. Oh, well... I still really want a HP park- maybe in the future.
Posted Aug 9, 2003 at 8:45 PM EST
Witch
Points: 576
Chandra80D says:
Hey Hey...more chances for the hotel - right? LOL, j/k...ah - I'm glad they're not making a theme park...that's just a ultimate level of corny to me. I wish there wasn't so much publicity for Harry Potter - really - I don't...a small, cult following would be perfect for it, but all this BS merchandising...it blows the whole thing out of the water.
Posted Aug 10, 2003 at 12:56 AM EST
Witch
Points: 607
billywig_99 says:
For awhile they did have a Harry Potter themed attraction at WB Movieworld (Gold Coast, Queesnland, Australia). I*t wasn't an actual ride, but the whole of Diagon Alley was set up and some other stuff from the movie.
Posted Aug 10, 2003 at 3:09 AM EST
Student
Points: 222
soccerwizard18 says:
oh thats not good.
but you know what a fun right would be?
you are strapperd onto broom sticks in the air and it goes arOund like you are playing quiditch!!
Posted Aug 10, 2003 at 11:22 AM EST
High Inquisitor
Points: 23483
KT Lady says:
Oh no! I wanted there to be a ride!! and I live so close to Disney..errg..those gosh darn Time Warner Folk..lol
Posted Aug 10, 2003 at 2:19 PM EST
Squib
Points: 163
ObsessedWithDan says:
That's too bad! I'm sure they would make tons of money and attract tons of guests. Think of all the food they would buy at the concession stands!! soccerwizard18: That ride idea sounds really cool! Too bad they are dumb enough to not make it real!
Posted Aug 10, 2003 at 9:12 PM EST
Witch
Points: 657
Wotcher_Tonks says:
thank goodness! No tacky HP theme park.
Posted Aug 10, 2003 at 10:45 PM EST
Witch
Points: 558
Quagmire127 says:
Amusement parks and Harry Potter are my two favorite things! I've actually thought that a HP themed amusement park would be a good idea for a while, I think even pre-movie, since I want to design amusement parks and rides for a living and try to think of themes for parks. I told my dad and he didn't recognize my brilliance. I wanted there to be one so I could go to him and be like, who's got the bad idea now? But anyway, they probably should wait until the books are all done.
Posted Aug 13, 2003 at 12:30 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1186
Godric11 says:
I will make my own park!, (starts to laugh evily...pause) umm yeah...(looks around), no park waht a bummer.
Posted Aug 14, 2003 at 11:18 PM EST
Mediwitch
Points: 2608
nickyole1 says:
I don't think that I would want a Harry Potter ride at a theme park, especailly at Disneyland! Harry POtter is no way related to Disney!
Posted Jul 27, 2004 at 12:36 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1375
'Arry + Hermy says:
That would be so incrediably sweet if they created one of them parc d'attractions! Come'm Warner... you know you'd make tonnes of money!
Posted Dec 27, 2005 at 11:49 AM EST
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