Rowling close to deal for Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure

While this is going to be undoubtedly awesome, where does IoA have room for a whole new section? For those of you are fans of the series, how great would a life-size, animatronic Whomping Willow tree be?

YES!

SFog I believe they I heard they are rethemeing the Lost Continent area of the park.

Honestly, if you think about it, Lost Continent doesn't need a whole lot of re-working to fit in perfectly with Harry Potter.

The Vekoma booster-bike coaster themed to a quiddich match should be ALOT of fun. :)

I think that would be a bad idea. It's the most well-executed theme at the park. I'd hate to seem the undo that.

The Vekoma booster-bike coaster themed to a quiddich match should be ALOT of fun.

What a great idea Gator. The booster-bike seems taylor made for it. That or they could always bring back the steeplechase.

Hopefully Diagon Alley, Knockturn Alley, and Hogsmeade would be included as well. Can't wait for a visit to the Honeyduke's Sweetshop.

Edit for spelling. Dumbledore would be proud.

*** This post was edited by thrillerman1 4/23/2007 6:22:56 PM ***

Well yea I don't know what they would have to do to retheme because I am going there for the first time this summer. Just think I saw it on the IOA Central Boards or something like that.

Perhaps we'll get to taste Butterbeer.

I think the real need is Hogwarts express to get across the park from the main gate.

I can't imagine that the planners of IoA never considered the prospects of adding another land to one of the world's best theme parks. If it ain't broke, don't fix it and leave Lost Continent because it is quite perfect. IoA's ten year anniversary is coming up. A new land is needed to compete with Expedition Everest.

^I agree. IOA obviously has some of the best park planners in the world, and they had to know they would want to expand at some point.

At the same time though, The lost continent would be pretty similar to a 'Potterland' area. With all the areas of the park so different, I could see them retheming the area, though I wouldnt' want to see that. On the other hand, they would have to close down that area of the park to update it, and I can't see them doing that.

Regardless, from a marketing standpoint, bringing Harry Potter to the park would be an obvious choice. Kudos to IOA and I hope this deal is finalized.

:EDIT: $250 million? That has got to be a completely new land.
*** This post was edited by TimmyD 4/23/2007 4:53:13 PM ***

250 million pounds. That's only $50 million USD.

I think your math is bad.

250 000 000 British pounds = 500.82500 million U.S. dollars according to Google Calculator.

The Pound is worth more than the dollar.

^I stand corrected. It is definately a new land!

I also *suckered* on the re-theme idea. Clearly, that does NOT appear to be the case, according to this: "Universal Studios are set to add a Potterland to their Islands of Adventure park after two years of negotiations."

thrillerman1....seemed like a pretty natural fit to me in terms of the ride experience. Obviously capacity issues would need to be considered. I used the word "should" just to lend credibility to my guess, not for any *legitimate* reason... ;)

Booster Bike coaster was the first thing that popped into my mind as well, Gator...it just fits.

If you take a look at the park, there is not much room for expansion at all. the park is pretty locked in by roads. There are a few plots of land that can be used for expansion, but none look large enough to build a whole new "Island" The plots of land are at the back of the Jurrasic Park area and between Jurrasic Park and Toon Lagoon. Everything else looks to be pretty much taken up.

I think the planners of IOA were thinking that the park would not need much expansion due to the high concentration of thrill rides that no other park in Orlando really provides. The competition really can't doesn't have that many thrill rides all in one park, except Busch Gardens and that is an hour drive away. Therefor, the park will continue to draw visitors without having to add new attractions year after year

When I was down in Orlando staying with my sister looking at moving there, I applied for a computer repair job there, but there was all this commotion around there about how they wanted to buy a couple of subdivisions around the park for expansion and of course some people wanted to sell and others did not, but universal would only buy if everyone sold. I would imagine Universal either got their way or found other land to expand to. I think at that cost it has to be a new land.

Also I think the booster-bike you are thinking of is in the Jurrasic Park area also. I think it would be much better to build another area as the lost continent area is the best themed area in the park. there is also a lot of potential to make the potter area good. Life size hogwarts or the other comments already made.

If planers didn't leave room for expansion, obviously that would be a big mistake SK610. Sounds like you found an arial view of the park. Looked for it but didn't find it. Does somebody have that link?