Universal Harry Potter expansion

[Emma2288]

I think an October 2014 trip is on the cards!

[jonnykeogh]

I can see this being amazing. The Jaws space is huge, so they have so many possibilities. We're planning on a Oct 14 trip anyway so we should see this complete. I hope anyway. I was hoping for something other than Harry Potter, and that they would just expand the WWOHP in IOA instead, but I love the concept of a Hogwarts Express, Diagon Alley and London side of the park. The scale of this will be huge, and the rides will be phenomenal.

[Guest]

When we were at universa end of April last year one of the staff members told us about the plans for the Hogwarts Express joining the two parks, really hope it's all completed for when we are back in 2015.

[Guest]

There's talk of a Universal announcement on the weekend of D23 this year (August) to steal some thunder from Disney!

[Guest]

Is the whole Amity area going then? Obviously makes sense to use it but feel a little nostalgic for the shark photo op & fairground stalls

[jonnykeogh]

I'm pretty sure all of it will be gone. They may sell nostalgic memorabilia in the gift shops etc, but like the Back to the Future ride, they will eliminate all parts of Jaws in that area.

It will be very much Harry Potter in that area, and like Hogsmeade in IOA, they won't let anything else be visible once inside the area, as they want to keep the magic intact. Notice how there is minimal areas in Hogsmeade where you can see other areas of the park? This is to make you feel you are even more immersed into the Harry Potter world!

The DeLorean from BTTF did make a comeback in a different area of the park, and not sure if it is still in Universal, so you may find the Jaws shark in another area of the park as it did draw in huge crowds for a photo. It was customary for us to get a pic, even though we had tons from previous visits!

[Thousand Oaks]

They still have a shark there you can take photos with

[lottiesmum0]

We are plannjng on going in July 2014- not sure now as I'm wondering if it will be open then and what the crowds will be like if it is open!

[stevekath]

Big HP fans so think it looks amazing. Our only criticism of WWoHP was that it was just too small. Looks like we'll have to plan a 2015 trip afterall

[Letterhead]

What happens in ten years when nobody cares about HP anymore?

Nobody really travels to Orlando for Shrek or other short term ideas Universal has, and while HP will attract a lot of fans, I can't see it still being as popular in ten years time.

Meanwhile the majority of people will still be wondering what happened to Jaws, King Kong, Back to the Future, Hitchcock, and all the other classic stuff that the have the rights to.