London mayor says Harry Potter theme park belongs in London

Doesn't mean you can't have one too :)

And exactly who in London was going to front the $200+ million to build this thing? And that figure is without the included cost of building the 2 new coasters that Orlando already had in-stock.

Nothing stopping you, London, except for you getting Jo's approval. Go for it.

"In general I adore America."

When complaining and you have to add a qualifier like that, I call BS. I don't think he burns flags, but dear lord, it's a land with a few rides in an amusement park, how about we worry about the tanking Euro or the fact the whole state is under surveillance 24/7?

^
But does the tanking Euro really matter when you have genuine butterbeer ;) where are your priorities, Mole?

Riding Dragon Challenge in 55 degree rainy London weather sounds like an absolute blast. Why ever did Disney build in Paris? ;)

1) Who thinks it's a good idea to build a London themed attraction in London?

2) Is the mayor of Paris peeved with Kings Island and Kings Dominion?

I doubt it, because the 2 Eiffel knockoffs at those parks don't really look a lot like the original. Now Paris Las Vegas' version...

does the tanking Euro really matter when you have genuine butterbeer

More importantly, does the tanking Euro really matter when your currency is the Pound?

(Caveat: the UK has its own issues.)

I work for a UK company based an hour south of London - but reside here in the US - I can give you one solid reason it will not be financially sound to do in London - the currency exchange rate. It ranges from 2:1 to 1.5:1. A pint of Ale costs me about $8 over in Jolly old England... And I'm paid at the going "US" rate without a differential compensation.

I'll fly to Orlando any day to see it over visiting it in London when i'm there.

Now that I've read some of the reviews, I'm just wondering when Hollywood gets a version.

Isn't Hogwarts in Scotland?

James Whitmore said:
1) Who thinks it's a good idea to build a London themed attraction in London?

Disney and their idea to build a California themed park in California....

^Then I guess we should give the UK both of the "Great America" parks?

Seriously?!?!?!?

I have not seen a picture of this man, but I can bet you he is green. I am even more aghast at what he said below:

"this Potter business ... will run and run, and we must be utterly mad, as a country, to leave it to the Americans to make money from a great British invention."

What, like the invention of Harry Potter is equivalent to modern air conditioning? Get over yourself Johnson.

Universal owns the rights to Harry Potter and as a business, saw Orlando as the prime location to showcase it. Sounds like a shrewd business decision to me.

USA! USA! USA!

:)

Actually, J. K. Rowling and Warner Bros. own the rights to Harry Potter, Universal purchased the right to use those properties in a theme park.

I find it interesting that he's vexed with Orlando for having the thing, but not with countrywoman Ms Rowling for selling them the rights to it.

Brian Noble said:
More importantly, does the tanking Euro really matter when your currency is the Pound?

Which reminds me, I still have 40 Pounds in an envelope from my last trip to England (mind you, that was the ACE trip in 2002...)

I'm just another biased American, but I'm far more willing to fly to Florida for a Harry Potter theme park than to London -- if I'm going to London there are far more things I'm interested in doing than going to a London-themed park :)

USA! USA! USA!

Enjoy it while you can. With the composition of the group we're in, I would not be surprised to see England run up the score on us this Saturday if they get the chance.

Oh ye of little faith. We did beat Spain that one time... no?