Harry Potter in Disneyworld? Walt Disney World (WDW) Rumors Discuss Harry Potter in Disneyworld? in the News & Rumors forums; So i heard this from one of my family friends on our fourth of july retreat this year and she said that Disney was teaming up with WB to create ...

[Mr.Blik]

So i heard this from one of my family friends on our fourth of july retreat this year and she said that Disney was teaming up with WB to create a new harry potter themed park opening in sinc with the coming of the very last harry potter movie. Apparently it'd have a lifesize hogwarts replica and a "Diagon alley" along with a bunch of new rides and attractions. Anyone know anything about this or where this park might go? Or if this is even legitimate?

[Mr.Blik]

Actually sorry about this. Just did a little research and actually from what i read it seems that universal is opening this park up. The article i read is claiming that this park is going to be absolutely ginormous.

[doconeill]

It isn't a full park, but it is at Universal Studios - specifically at Islands Of Adventure, and is a section of the park being remade into "The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter":

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Universal Orlando Resort

Disney had a shot at this, but lost to Universal.

It won't be open for the upcoming movie though...it will be sometime in 2010. And I don't think it will be "ginormous", since it is just a section of the existing park.

[End007]

Yes, I also read in a book that the Port of Entry area and the area of Simbad and the 7 seas is what will be replaced and turned into the Harry Potter Section

[dag0620]

I herd it was going to be a full park at Universal, But did'nt hear anything about it at Disney World.

[ta2edgoofy]

i wouldnt say that disney lost this to universal, they never really made a bid for it, considering that disney has nothing to do with the books or movies there would be no tie in for them. also in my opinion this is a passing craze, and as harry potter mania is already dying down, i dont see this as being a wise investment. also its universal so i cant imagine it will be executed like we all expect it to be.

[doconeill]

Originally Posted by ta2edgoofy

i wouldnt say that disney lost this to universal, they never really made a bid for it, considering that disney has nothing to do with the books or movies there would be no tie in for them.

Neither did Universal.

From reports, Disney DID make a play for it. J.K. Rowling apparently retained the rights for any sort of theme park tie in independent of the movie rights (otherwise Warner Bros. probably would have tried to tie it in to Six Flags), and it was open discussions. Word on the street was that Disney didn't want to do a whole section of a park, but just an attraction. Universal wanted to go whole hog (at least as far as they could), and won the contract.

[ta2edgoofy]

Originally Posted by doconeill

Neither did Universal.

From reports, Disney DID make a play for it. J.K. Rowling apparently retained the rights for any sort of theme park tie in independent of the movie rights (otherwise Warner Bros. probably would have tried to tie it in to Six Flags), and it was open discussions. Word on the street was that Disney didn't want to do a whole section of a park, but just an attraction. Universal wanted to go whole hog (at least as far as they could), and won the contract.

i still dont see how that is winnning
i mean i dont even see disney doing an attraction dealing with harry potter, there is entirely too much information. the story doesnt really warrant a real life counter part. i think thats why disney had no interest, there is no way of doing it properly, everyone would be mad that you left out this little part, or this character. and the books are based on children getting into places they arent supposed to be then fighting the most evil person in the world. i dont see how that can translate into a land or even an entire park. to me it just doesnt work, and that why it fits so well at universal, because they are about rides and not themes, and this is a weak attempt at being a theme park
/rant

[Cap'nHookdonwdw]

This would be the only reason i would go to a non disney park!

[NC_WDW_Daddy]

I think Universal will be a fine home for Harry Potter. He doesn't really fit at WDW.

[WDWmemories]

I thought I read somewhere (hows is that for certaintly) that Disney did negotiate wtih J.K. Rowling, but that the cost and details (i.e. creative control) made it a bad deal for Disney so they walked away. I'm personally glad - I think that Harry doesn't really fit well at Disney.

[dag0620]

Well for one reason or another, Itll be cool, and besides family telling me I have to because they want to see all of Orlando, This will be the only reason I will go to Universal.

[clion]

I don't know. No matter how it happened, I think Disney missed the boat here. True, they don't have anything to do with Potter, but Disney wasn't involved in the making of Star Wars either, yet there is Star Tours, Star Wars Weekends, the Jedi Training Academy... I think you see my point. Besides, Potter would have fit nicely at the Studios - that park needs all the additional attractions it can get. The hitch is finding room to expand DHS. The only real open area is on the other side of the main vehicle entrance.

[aaron18]

When J.K was thinking about making the harry potter films she first went to Disney and ask for them to back her with the making of the films. Disney said to J.K that the film would not make any money so Disney backed out. However when the films came out Disney was the first company to go and ask if they could do something with harry potter like rides or shows a bit like star wars weekends. Disney wanted Disney characters to be potter characters so mickey as harry and so on. J.k said no and Universal ask her to make the wizarding world of Harry potter. But dont worry disney fans when the harry potter world opens disney has some plans to get back sales. starting with the new upgrade of space mountain.

[Mr.Blik]

Originally Posted by WDWmemories

I thought I read somewhere (hows is that for certaintly) that Disney did negotiate wtih J.K. Rowling, but that the cost and details (i.e. creative control) made it a bad deal for Disney so they walked away. I'm personally glad - I think that Harry doesn't really fit well at Disney.

I think Harry Potter would be fine at hollywood studios as a section or maybe an even bigger extension. No matter what park this is at (universal it looks like) i will still go and visit it on my next trip to florida because imo that could things can be made out of harry potter (rides, attractions, shops, etc).