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I still say ugh to such crass commercialism. But the studio tells me that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort kicked off its grand opening celebration last night with help from Harry Potter film franchise stars Daniel Radcliffe, Tom Felton, Michael Gambon, Bonnie Wright, Oliver Phelps, Matthew Lewis, Warwick Davis, Rupert Grint and James Phelps. Hundreds of people gathered in front of Hogwarts Castle for a spectacular display of fireworks choreographed to a special performance of music from the Harry Potter films conducted live by composer John Williams. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will officially grand open to the public this Friday.
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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love it! it’s so grand! i will visit that park 1 day & feel the magic of Harry Potter!
Hope their money was well spent building a multi-million dollar theme park area for a movie franchise that will be over and done in a couple years when the movies end, and probably long after all the kids have moved on to the new Thundercats franchise or whatever.
Keep The Wizarding World of Harry Potter around, though, could drum up some new interest in 2030 when VH1 launches their “I Love the 2010′s” miniseries.
Even though the movies are soon to be over as far as theatrical releases, they will continue to be available on DVD, and the books will continue to be in print. I’m sure the people backing the park are expecting future generations to be as excited by the stories as the current fans are.
The Potter series has always been commercial. The author herself said in an interview that she wrote the first book to make money.
As for their longevity, the books may be in print still, but sales are declining and the publisher, Scholastic, is struggling financially. They need a new cash-cow, stat.
to Shap: by your logic, all movies franchises will be over in a few years, so why ever build a theme park based on any movie? Have you heard of Disney World?
Crass commercialism? Sorry, but isn’t that what the Universal Studios theme park is all about? How is this any more commercial than the King Kong ride, or the Back to the Future ride? Or the Terminator 3-D show? I don’t see your reasoning here.
At least HP not as bad as Star War$… yet.
I’m chuckling about your “ugh” to crass commercialism. We’re not talking Hemingway here. It’s not “Big Will’s Shakespearance.” It’s Harry Potter–fun books, fun movies, now fun rides. Thanks for the morning smile.
Give me a break. We’re talking about a series of books that have already had their film rights sold for untold millions by the author herself, not to mention the thousands of toys, video games, pajamas and whatever the heck else a kid could possibly buy.
In terms of being true to the source material and helping kids become even more fascinated with the films and books, this theme park is probably one of the more creatively pure ventures Rowling and Warner Bros. have been a part of to date.
How is promoting a successful movie franchise crass commercialism? We’re not talking free glasses at McDonald’s, it’s an entire recreated world from Harry Potter which has millions of fans around the world. If it’s crass commercialism, then I guess crazy Walt had no idea what he was doing when he decided to convert some orange groves into the happiest place on earth. That crass commercialism has kept the Disney studio afloat during some of its tough times.
I’m not a Harry Potter fan, but the ones that are seem to be fanatical and there are lot’s of adults that are as well. I don’t think that they will forget Harry Potter anytime soon. Kids still want to see Mickey Mouse at Disneyland and Mickey is over 75 years old.
Ugh? This is what Disney/Universal do. They take silly kiddy franchises and create giant looks-good-on-the-outside lame-on-the-inside attractions out of them. Indiana Jones, The Mummy, Jurassic Park, etc. Of course its commercialism, but … you blog about the movie business, right?
They usually do that but this harry potter ride is the greatest thing that ever happened to any theme park it will open the doors to much more amazing rides
Seriously? You are still calling it a “theme park?”
It is NOT a theme park. It is a section (“land”) of the Islands of Adventure theme park in Orlando.
The “mouse” has been around for 50+years , who is to say this fantasy world can’t continue to evolve? I’m sure Walt would have been a big fan!
Details: A mini-theme park inside the larger Islands of Adventure park. No extra admission fee. Three rides, one a flight simulation over Potter landscapes, the other two older roller coasters outfitted to Potter themes. Shops and eateries, and some kind of giggling entity in the restrooms. Fake snow on the roofs of the village, so expect it to be festively adorned during the Chri$tma$ $eason. Alas, it’s a three-hour drive from me one way. Maybe someday.
A HP theme park NOT in the UK is just not right
my children love the Harry Potter books and the movies and it will live on threw their children and their children and so on, “Harry Potter” will always be here to stay! besides it’s time Harry got married and Harry JR took over the next set of books, isn’t that what Indiana Jones is going to be doing now that the son he never new is here!
I have many friends in the theme park biz who have already seen it and are giving it raves. the ever fussy blog miceage.com just gave it a slam dunk rave, saying the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride is the best new ride since Indiana Jones at Disneyland 20 years ago. You can check it out the pictures at: http://miceage.micechat.com/kevinyee/ky060810a.htm
To suggest it’s timing is too late is akin to saying why should Disneyland build Star Tours in 1986 4 years after Episode 3? Its a silly statement since the Harry Potter franchise is going to around in many forms for years to come.
I can’t wait to see it.