Universal Studios Hollywood to announce Wizarding World

[1pizza14Don't let this donkey melt you with its laser eyes!]

I am for.

I went to USH 2 years ago during the summer and felt like I had seen everything in about 5-6 hours. I do agree some of the upper lot attractions where a tad dated and the lower lot had the 3 best rides in the park. I somehow feel that this will be a "Shafted" WWOHP. Considering how small this park actually is I will be surprised if they make it as full size as IOA. I really think they will have to make the WWOHP very small. Unless they somehow expand the park into the backlot if possible. I really am curious to see where exactly this will be placed.. and if or which attractions will be the same from IOA

[figment1986I Guess Donkeys Are Okay]

I'm against it, only cause I'm against direct clones. Now if they take the idea and replicate the shops but offer different experiences in terms of the attractions... that and I don't want to see too many tourists leave FLA, they help pay for things we don't wanna pay for ourselves! (like fixing I4)

[Coasterguy123I Guess Donkeys Are Okay]

I personally dont think it is a good idea. If they add a similar version to USH then the one in Florida wouldn't be unique anymore. If they keep adding the expansion to the other parks in the world then the hype would die down and eventually not be special anymore.

[PALDonkeys are my way of life!]

The difference between IOA and USH is that USH sort of sucks and feels pretty dated and mish mashed, ESPECIALLY the upper lot attractions. Gutting a lot of that crappy stuff and putting in something relevant is fine by me.

^This! USH is no IOA. As long as they leave the backlot alone, bring on reinvestment.

[MeteornotesKeeper Of The Carnivorous Bees!]

What if they rethemed the entire park to Harry Potter?

TRANSFORMERS WITH WANDS

Water all over the monitor. You get a cookie for that.

dt

[larrygatorObsessive Overlord of the TPR Park Index]

Awesome idea. I know a lot of people hate Potter, but there is no denying Potterville is a gold mine. Milk it for all it's worth, because that enables the potential for other upgrades down the road.

[Jew"It's not small, but it is very 'average.'"]

I know nothing about Harry Potter, but I would imagine there are many other parts of the "potter verse" that can be used to create a unique area that is not a clone of Florida's.

There's two logical areas: either the back half of the upper lot (keep the path with shrek, curious george, studio tour, simpsons, possibly castle theatre) and convert the rest of the upper lot into WWoHP or WaterWorld/Gibson area (which would mean they are going through with the plans to relocate the amphitheater further back in Citywalk by iFly).

I'm all for keeping the local theme park market competitive!

[Hilltopper39Don't make me kick you in the donkey!]

I wonder if they do decide to install a version of the forbidden Journey ride if they would basically clone the exact ride or try to improve the original a little bit.

Any new addition is ultimately better than no new addition at all i guess.

[gforce532Don't let this donkey melt you with its laser eyes!]

Plus I don't think USH gets the numbers to put that kind of money into it.

Last year they got 5 million, which is still a good amount of people passing through its gates. The park is a very popular spot for non-theme park tourist of Hollywood and Los Angeles to visit thanks to the backlot tour. They also make a fortune off their $129 front of the line passes that seems like 1 out of 5 guest will buy. Harry Potter I feel will make the park much more popular among the locals to visit more often rather than just going to big brother down south.

[Jew"It's not small, but it is very 'average.'"]

^And I imagine that number will only go up in 2012 with Transformers on the way!

USH is always in the top 25 for worldwide attendance. Harry Potter seems like a perfect way to keep the momentum going. I just hope there will be some new stuff in the park before this project opens, or it will be very boring from 2012-2015 at USH!