Harry Potter officially coming to Islands of Adventure

Thanks, ThemeDesigner.

I am glad that you and I saw things the same though, as what I made matches up exactly with what you made.

Mike

Very helpful MHammer82. Still looks like a tight fit. Also wondering if the service roads can be re-routed or if Jurassic can be pushed back in the upper left of this shot. Certainly means the gateway of Dueling Dragons is on the chopping block. I sure hope they can move the entrance because the Dragons would be a huge loss. And the tree themed restaurant is cool too. Tough choices.

BTW, in reading more I've realized I was wrong about the main entrance to the land... looks like you walk past the Hogwart's Express right into Hogsmeade, not Diagon Alley. This makes much more sense (Cuz I was all like, "Why is teh Hogwart's Express in teh Diagon Alley?")
I hope Hogwarts has some exploration elements to it, and isn't just a facade hiding the queue to the ride.

Hi guys, I have a slightly altered map of the new area. from various sites it seems that DD and FU are going to be completely rethemed. Sinbad is also a likely candidate for an "Interactive Adverture Show". It seems also that Hogwart's will be incorporated into the existing DD castle structure with the area between FU and JP being developed into a "Forbidden Forrest" area. I have been searching google all day so too many sources to reference but 15 mins goggling will bring up most of the sites I used.

http://img358.imageshack.us/img358/8103/ioawwohpek7.jpg

Nice, gtr2002. I'm seeing similar maps on other sites that show that backstage area being used, one in particular shows the train you can see in the art taking passengers back to that area.

Do be careful with how much of that backstage area is available, though, as the upper left corner item is a gas station that probably won't be going anywhere.

I really have no idea if they are using that backstage or not, I was just going off of what could be seen in the art. I wish I had informed details, but alas, I do not.

Mike*** This post was edited by MHammer82 5/31/2007 5:00:20 PM ***

Has anyone noticed this on the concept artwork... above and below the right wing of the owl there appears to be some sort of new track in the lake, i have highlighted these in red. What do you think?

http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/415/newridejm0.jpg

That track you circled in red looks like Dueling Dragons to me.

What about Hogsmeade look at the Hogmeade concepet drawing its is def snow covered and to the west of the Castle from the main piece of art work, so you guys who have done the map need yet another chunk of land used.

Hopefully well finally get cool Potter merhandise like they have been getting in Japan for years.

We've been suggesting that the Booster Bike concept does kinda resemble a Quidditch match...

Of course, that's *completely* idle speculation. IoA has been needing something new for at least 3 years now...

Ok, so in the FAQ section on the official website, it says a portion of the Lost Continent will be used.

Maybe the new land will finally shorten Dueling Dragons' queue line...

This sounds awesome, again if the artwork resembles the land at all.

That bit of land is twenty acres? Dueling Dragons is as large as that piece of land and it sure isn't twenty acres. The park is only around 110 acres.

Quidditch into a ride, awesome! I wonder if it would be anything like Soarin'.

Heh, has that whole queue ever been used? Its massive. My gf and I decided to skip the resort fast pass and walk through the whole thing, it took forever! And that wasn' t the entire outside area that had a queue. I can't imagine that ever being used.

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And that wasn't the entire outside area that had a queue. I can't imagine that ever being used.

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And if you did it after Flying Unicorn was added you missed the outdoor queue area that was originally there and later removed to add the Unicorn coaster.

This is just a rumor I herd back in the begining in may, so don't quote me. When I was at Busch Gardens Africa I ran into some Universal employees and I said to them if they knew any thing about this project.(Again they could of just been messing with my head) They said that the big attraction was going to be a 3D Robotic arm. The reason I beleve that they could of been lying to me is that they said it was going to take the place of Poseidons Fury. Now that I see some of the facts it looks like Poseidons Fury has nothing to do with this, but just putting this out there for thought. A 3D Robotic Arm would be pretty unique and something totally new.

^I'd be VERY surprised, unless they've managed to increase capacity *drastically*, but this is the ride you're referencing. http://www.kuka.com/en/products/systems/robocoaster/

I think this might help out with the robotic arm thing.
http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2007/02/05/monday-mousewatch-you-ll-believe-a-car-can-fly.aspx

If I'm looking at Universal's concept and the aerial view of IOA correctly, isn't the entrance to Dueling Dragons' castle now featuring a tent?

Not unlike the tent Harry preps in before facing off against the dragon in Goblet of Fire? Looks identical to me, actually.

I'd think they might build 2-3 Arms at a time to help with capacity. That would be my guess

LegoLand Billund (Denmark) bought ten of them at once....that's ONE way to increase capacity...and at 500K/per, still not THAT expensive.

Of course, one "robot" that could hold 20 people would REALLY help cut down on operating and staffing costs... ;)

The Disneyphreak sites I frequent have gone totally gaga over this. I've got one site of hardcore WDW-at-least-once-per-year people overflowing with folks talking about 2010 trips to Universal.

Interesting shot across Disney's bow, for sure.