I just saw this article on Yahoo:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070531/people_nm/arts_potter_dc

And I can't decide if its an interesting idea, or an exceedingly sad one. In one way its quite sad that people can't just use their imaginations to

But in another, it might be quite interesting to see what they actually put in it. I imagine there will be Diagon Alley, with all the wee shop places, no doubt a roller coaster called The Seeker or The Snitch or something similar, the Shrieking Shack as the Haunted House. Anyone got any other ideas of what they might have?

And also...do you think this is a good idea, or a waste of money?

 

Complete and total waste of money.

 

Yeah, it's a waste. It'll be popular for about a year after the 7th book comes out, then attendance will drop and the park will close. Unless JKR writes a more HP books, I can only see this thing as a failing venture.

 

Think of the grand opening....

Fucking million people dressed up in robes, hat, and wand, talking about how awful it is to be a muggle. Fanboys and fangirls everywhere. It's a worse idea than Panic at the Disco. It's worse than an R.L. Stein book.

 

How Lame. The idea is an utterly pointless waste of money that could be used for better purposes.

 

Not entirely sure that's possible.

 

Radio 1 tells us that there will be a rollercoatser called 'The Hogwarts Express' and a lifesize replica of Hogsmead...
Im so excited
but also gutted that when it opens i will be a lowly student unable to afford across the Atlantic to Florida...
damn...

 

The article mentioned Dumbledore's Office also, which is amazing...

ly lame.

Do I think this is a good idea: If it was in town I'd probably drop by at some point just to take a cynical look; if they did it right I would enjoy myself, but somehow I doubt it.

The more important question is: Do I think this is profitable?

I do. In the short term as soon as the theme park opens, it would make bank. In the long term, I believe it would taper off unless, as Muttering Condolences said, JKR writes some more books.

Even without more books I think it would survive, depending on the amount of effort and who is designing it. I could see something like all three of the tasks from the Tri-Wizard Tournament, (a ride where you escape a dragon, perhaps an underwater roller coaster with merpeople, and a maze stacked with 'neat' obstacles) as well as tours of the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts. Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley are likely to be included as well.

Other ideas could be the flying car, the Whomping Willow, Acromantulas, Centuars and, oh my gosh, Death Eaters.

But of course, for kids, they would have things similar to broomstick rides 3 feet off the ground, thus killing the entire experience.

Not to mention 5 dollar tea and Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor for 10 bucks a pop.

LOL, and I bet you can trade dollars in for Galleons Sickles and Nuts at the front gate. Cute.

So, Harry Potter Themepark Review (in theory) 2.9/5

 

I imagine there might be a Madam Puddifoots as well. And probably a Three Broomsticks.

If its anything like Alton Towers they may well have an interactive activity or two, like the chase through the Department of Mystery's and so forth. And don't forget, Find the Horcrux, in the form of one of those daft games where you have to throw the ball through a hole thats like 6 feet away or something.

The Hogwarts Express does make sense, as does the use of the three tri-wizard tasks.

And who wants to bet that when it opens there will soon follow a flurry of fanfics which start:

AN I wus at "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" an it wus teh shiz! An ah got dis idea when ah wis walkin aroon teh Hogsmeade/taking the Hogwarts Express/Escaping the Dragon etc etc etc...

 

I doubt they'll put that much detail into it. Too many people in the world know next to nothing about Harry Potter besides the movies and maybe the books. They'll have a bit on Quidditch, Hogsmead, Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, but I doubt they'll do anything as extensive as the tri-wizard until the profit starts to drop and they need new items to get attention back.

 

Think about what you just wrote.

 

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busi...may31,0,1282343.story?coll=orl-home-headlines

One of the glaring oversights in the original link is that this Harry Potter Theme Park is going to be a part of the Universal Studios' Islands of Adventure park. Basically meaning that you won't be traveling to Florida, or to Orlando, just to go to a lone standing HP theme park.

Were that the case I'd agree with everyone that this would be a failure of the most colossal proportions waiting to happen. As a stand a lone it would be a smash for about a year or two and then would fade away terribly.

But as a part of Islands of Adventure the Universal folk will wallet rape us for the first couple years (read: charge admission to the Park, and then a secondary admission fee to the HP part of the park) then once interest tapers off, they'll open the the HP part up as just another part of the entire site.

You add the Potterverse to the Islands of Adventure package and you've got a ridiculously lucrative project on your hands. Providing Universal didn't get wallet raped themselves for the rights to build the new addition to their park.

See the above link for the story that talks about this.

Omagic

 

People shouldn't forget that there are still two movies to go (not counting the fifth one). The movies would end up drawing some attention to the place years after it opens up.

 

Yeah, wasn't that a pretty profound statement there? I should probably re-read what I write before I post it.

 

I wanna go! I wanna go!

Oh, wait. No I don't. I don't understand how they think that this will last anywhere past the release of the last movie. Oh, well.

 

I wouldn't go to that park if they paid me. The stench of commercialism would probably choke me.

 

I don't doubt it will be a tremendous success. I'll deffinatly go, though I will bow my head and mutter about everything they did wrong.

 

I nominate deathinapinkboa to be DLP's official representative and tester when this park opens in 2009. He can go and see what its like, and then come back and report to the rest of the board

Your sacrifice will be noted for generations to come I'm sure.

 

I second you nomination and also offer my condolences to deathinapinkboa's family in advance, vowing to hunt the fangirls who will rip him to shreds to the ends of the Earth. Your sacrifice for the entertainment betterment of the board will not be in vain.