Art for Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure

There are plenty of reasons why Universal Orlando Resort's Diagon Alley is one of the best single Intellectual Property themed land in any park, Universal, Disney, Warner Brothers or anywhere else. The mix of great design detail, unique shopping and dining and those thrilling attractions make it an area a guest can spend hours in. Still it is not the most popular Harry Potter themed attraction to be found.

Perhaps the most popular one is this little coaster named Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. (And you thought Disney was the only one who had claim to ridiculously long attraction names.) In order to get to Hagrid's, you have to leave the Studios park for Islands of Adventure, but it is worth it! Besides, Diagon Alley aside, the Studios park is not nearly as richly themed as the resort's second theme park. 

The concept art from Universal Creative captures the spirit of fun and discovery. It'd be foolish to think that those of you reading this have not been on the ride. But multiple launches, engaging show scenes with real animated characters, an unexpected surprise along the way and multiple ways to ride make this an adventure that is worth repeating. Disney wishes they could pull off something this terrific! 

Universal keeps upping its game with Epic Universe being the next shot at taking up more of those vacation days. What ultra creative, groundbreaking Potter attraction comes next? We'll have to wait and see. 

(Art copyright Universal Creative.)

Wizarding World of Harry Potter Concept Art

There's a reason for the rabid fan base for Universal Orlando Resort's incredible Harry Potter themed worlds, and Epic Universe is about to add to it in an incredible way! First we had Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, then it was Diagon Alley's thrilling Escape from Gringotts. Then, Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure took the crown and rightfully so. Perhaps my favorite ride in the resort. What's next? The upcoming Battle for the Ministry at Epic Universe. The great thing about Universal I'm discovering is that the actual construction and attractions are far better than the concept art. I can't always so that's true of their biggest competitor. Can't wait for more Potter- or anything else Universal Creative chooses to dish up!

(Art copyright Universal Creative.)

A Trip Down Harry Potter's Knockturn Alley

A taste of the dark side. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Diagon Alley is an incredible space. It's "hidden attraction", Knockturn Alley is filled with creepy spaces, eerie noises, and surprises at every turn. It's not for everyone. In fact, parents should think about the potential impact on their littlest ones. It can be nightmare inducing. And evil is real, just as good is- so who knows what is going on "behind the scenes". But from a design detail standpoint, Knockturn Alley is an excellent example of how Universal Creative is beating Disney at their own game. Ot at least, tying the game. More on that later.

Two Gilly Waters and a Butterbeer Please!

In the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort, the creative men and women have given guests multiple opportunities to gently separate them from their hard earned dollars. 

Gilly Water and Butterbeer are just the right refreshers on a hot, humid, Florida day while you sit in for a break between Escape from Gringotts or Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. All at a very reasonable price, no less.

A frozen Butterbeer still reigns supreme, and I can't wait for my next one, but there's a good bit of fun to making your own Gilly Water concoction. Kudos to Universal Creative for giving guests what they expect from a Potter experience without gauging them.

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Can Epic Universe Top This?

So thrilled to find this piece of concept art for Universal Studios' incredible Diagon Alley.  It may be the best single intellectual property land in all of Florida! In fact, I know it is. I've seen Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. I walked through the jungles of Pandora (and the landscapes of California Adventure's Cars Land). Each of them are wonderful in their own ways, be they found at Walt Disney World or Universal. 

Hogsmeade has a great and varied line up of attractions, but there's something spectacular and different about Harry Potter's second themed Wizarding World, even if there's only one attraction at this point in time. Escape from Gringott's is not perfect, but it is very, very, close and a whole lot of fun. And, yes, I found it better than the Forbidden Journey at Islands of Adventure. Regardless, the land of Diagon Alley rocks. The design, food, the shops, the entertainment, the butter beer. Can't wait to see what's next for it.

Can Epic Universe pull off a trifecta of Harry Potter goodness? We shall see. Even without Harry,  4 coasters coming on opening day, a series of dark rides, including a first of its kind Donkey Kong Cart Ride, I know this will be a place fans worldwide will want to be! 

Universal Orlando Resort is poised to get three full days of a Florida vacation. What will Disney do in response? Build another vacation club?

(Art copyright Universal Creative.)

Checking Out the On Line Universal Orlando Community

As I found out first hand recently, Disney is not the only game in Orlando anymore! Walt Disney World and its classic theme parks have some competition. Universal Orlando Resort is getting better and better- and with Epic Universe on the way, you can be sure I'll be visiting again.

Searching the internet, I discovered a whole new world. Orlando Park Stop is a great site worth exploring. If you want to discuss Universal and all they're doing, you've got to check out the Inside Universal Boards. These boards are the Universal fan equivalent of the excellent WDWMagic Boards with insider news and passionate and intelligent conversation. 

The iconic Magic Kingdom, the once excellent Epcot, the newly revisioned Disney's Hollywood Studios and the gorgeous but under built Disney's Animal Kingdom better come up with some splendid announcements at this year's D23. Competition is here, and it's a great time to be a theme park fan!

Disney Better Take Epic Universe Seriously!

Last trip Universal Orlando successfully snagged three days of our trip to Walt Disney World. It was a wise decision. I was thrilled with what I experienced. As I wrote at the end of last year Every Disney Imagineering Fan Needs to Visit Diagon Alley at Universal, and I mean all I wrote. Now, with Universal's Epic Universe set for Summer of 2025, Disney's main competition will now lose one more day from my next trip! I say this as a hard core Imagineering fan. 

The one-two combo punch of Nintendo and the sure to be wonderful next phase of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter means Disney has to lose somewhere. I will visit the Studios to see Diagon Alley again, and I have to go to Islands of Adventure as well. A new Universal park with all the bells and whistles (and lesson learned in the last decade) will make Epic Universe, well, epic. With the Royal Pacific our probable next resort destination, well, anything is possible.

Who will lose? Disney for sure. We'll probably combine parks and do Hollywood Studios with the construction zone known as Epcot in one day, and Magic Kingdom with Animal Kingdom on the other. Disney Springs will probably be its own day. Unless there's something amazing (and ready) announced at D23, this could be the first trip where we spend more time at Universal than Disney. And maybe not the last.

(Art copyright Universal Creative.)

Hogwart's Castle in All It's Glory

Insights and Sounds blog is filled with great and rare pieces of Disney concept art from the resorts worldwide. Be it the beauty of Disneyland Paris, the amazing Tokyo DisneySea or the dismal Walt Disney Studios Paris, you can find plenty of art here that will delight you- or in the case of what could be or what was never built- frustrate you. As a relative newbie to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and both Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley at the Studios park next door, there's just not too many pieces to be found from Universal Creative. But here's one in my growing collection.

Hogwarts Castle is beautifully done! It is at once imposing and alluring- done at a scale that impresses, this does not feel like it belongs in a theme park. Yet, in an odd way, it fits in so well between Jurassic Park and The Lost Continent. If you arrive from riding the Hogswart Express, you disembark and find the streets twist and turn until the big reveal. The Forbidden Journey is a magnet attraction, but it is intense. No worries if you can't ride. Instead walk through until you come upon the last minute exit. The tour inside is as well done as any attraction in Florida. Don't miss it. 

Up until I saw how the young wizard impacted the Orlando Resort, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure were both a very nice and very good one-and-done type theme park. No longer. The concept art doesn't do the execution of it justice. Read my detailed reports here, where I cover both parks and City Walk after visiting Disney. Day Five here, and Day Six here. 

If you'd like to read more, a day by day trip report that also includes Walt Disney World, here they are, beginning with our night at Disney Springs before hitting the parks and resorts:

Walt Disney World vs. Universal Orlando Resort: Disney Springs

Does Rise of the Resistance Match the Hype- and the Rest of Disney's Hollywood Studios

An Epcot Lover's Awakening

Disney's Animal Kingdom Adventures- and a Return to Epcot

A Private Tour of Rise of the Resistance and Off to Universal

(Art copyright Universal Creative.)

When the Wizarding World Met the Jurassic World

Clash of the worlds! The Wizarding World of Harry Potter meets the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park. In this case, it's Hogsmeade meets Velocicoaster at Universal Orlando's excellent Islands of Adventure theme park. I rather like this simple photograph that shows where titans collide. 

I'm busy writing the last installment of our very surprising trip, one where we directly evaluated Universal Orlando and its offerings against those at Walt Disney World. The results might be shocking. But enjoy the photos and read about the challenges I discovered comparing the two.

The Walt Disney World vs. Universal Orlando Trip Report:

- Disney Springs 

- Was Rise of the Resistance Worth All This?

- Epcot on the Downhill Slide

- Does Animal Kingdom Rock?

- Magic in this Kingdom

- Wrapping Up Disney World and Hello Universal!

- Why Every Disney Imagineering Fan Should See Diagon Alley

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

A Universal Glimpse of Things to Come

Can Universal Creative compare with Walt Disney Imagineering? This old school Imagineering fan finally got to see for himself. The results of their work with Harry Potter is impressive, no doubt. Truthfully, I was surprised by what I found, partially delighted and partially very dismayed. Walt Disney World has always held a special place in my heart. But now...

Stay tuned. I've been delayed by a lot of work and an untimely death in our circles of friends, but I'm planning to get to this as soon as I can.

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Hogwart's At Night Poster

Take a look at this very creative attraction poster for Islands of Adventure's terrific Harry Potter blockbuster- a visit to Hogwarts for a Forbidden Journey. I must say, I think my youngest son has me about talked into a trip to the Wizarding World with him to see it. Not in California, where the experience seems to be a truncated one, but a visit to Universal Orlando Resort with both Hogwarts and Diagon Alley are waiting to be explored.

(Artist unknown.)

Harry Potter Tales to Come

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter changed the face of theme parks forever. Universal's Islands of Adventure finally had a hit on its hands- and the lovely little park deserved to be noticed. With Harry Potter attractions also at the Studios park, Universal Orlando is giving Disney a run for its money.

My friend and great photographer Len Yokoyama stopped in for a lenghty visit over the Christmas holidays and returned with some wonderful photos and stories. More coming- stay tuned.

(Photograph copyright Len Yokoyama.)

Universal Rocks the Theme Park World While Thrilling Investors

Call it a strategy Disney should adopt...

This article on Universal's success should be ringing a bell in the ears of Robert Iger and company. Disney once thought this way regarding their parks but no longer...

"Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley drove a 33.7 percent year-over-year increase in first-quarter theme-park revenue, which was $651 million. Operating cash flow increased 54.6 percent to $263 million for the division.

At the biggest highlight of all may have been at the theme parks,” Comcast Chief Executive Officer Brian Roberts told analysts Monday morning.

Nearly 80 percent of Orlando visitors chose two-park tickets –the only way guests can ride the Hogwarts Express train between Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure next door. Season pass sales, meanwhile, were at an all time high.

Over half of the capital expenditures at Comcast’s NBC Universal division will be directed at theme parks this year. The parks have become an increasingly important part of Comcast’s business – making up 20 to 25 percent of the company’s operating cash flow. The parks are expected to generate more than $1.3 billion in operating cash flow this year.

The company expects to open one new attraction a year at each of the major theme park locations. Comcast also owns Universal Studios in Hollywood."

Wouldn't Disney be smart to think a bit like them?

Yesterland Introduces Tomorrow at Universal Orlando

One of my favorite sites to visit is Werner Weiss' terrific Yesterland.  On today's post, Werner introduces at look at Disneyland's House of the Future by starting off with a look at Universal Orlando's new and not-quite-open yet Cabana Bay Beach Resort. The styles certainly tie together, with a cool mid-century retro vibe that appeals to me and probably thousands of other folks, too. Here I was thinking my next visit to Orlando would mean a stay at Universal's beautiful Royal Pacific Resort. I just have to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the new Diagon Alley expansion. Hmm, this is making me rethink things a bit... including spending a bit more time at Universal than I thought. No matter, go to Yesterland now. Really.

(Photograph copyright Werner Weiss.)

Harry's Wizarding World Expands in 2014

Gotta hand it to the folks at Universal Creative. They have come up with an innovative plan as they continue to expand the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. First step: Bring the boy wizard to Islands of Adventure. Immediate acclaim for a state of the art attraction The Forbidden Journey. But now here is where it gets very interesting for me. Step Two: Add Harry to Universal Studios park, and connect both locations by a train- a combination transportation device and attraction. Creating two parks that are now a must see for any Harry fan traveling to Florida. And finish it off with a trip down Diagon Alley and a roller coaster journey themed to Gringott's Bank. Add in shops, restaurants. Instant classic- and for me, one less day at Walt Disney World.

(Artwork copyright Universal Creative.)

No Big Thrill

Pending all the funding coming into place, it seems like Orlando will finally get the Six Flags styled park some coaster enthusiasts have wanted for years. Will Orlando Thrill Park give the other theme parks in the area some serious competition? My guess is a resounding "no" and here's why.

From Circus World to Splendid China, theme parks in the theme park capital of the world have come and gone over the years. Raw steel roller coasters are just another theme, another gimmick- and the park would appeal to a limited market.

Parents bringing children to Orlando most likely will pass by a park they can find close to home. Those with teens in tow will find their thrills at Universal Orlando or even at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Most adults traveling without younger ones will choose Islands of Adventure, Epcot, or even the Magic Kingdom.

Take a quick lesson from South Carolina's Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach- the concept is dead. Orlando's local tourism market is not like that of Anaheim and Disneyland. Only a handful of places will survive as time goes on, Cedar Point being one of them. But that park is an institution that has survived decades of economic ups and downs.

What's a park developer to do? If they truly want to capture a thrill market, folks like Disney could add a bundle to the bottom line by spreading out the wealth with new thrill attractions with terrific stories, appealing to more folks than a bare steel ride ever will. Think Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Expedition Everest, or even the much less themed Rock N Rollercoaster. If you are Universal, a few more attractions on par with the Wizarding World of Harry Potter will do the trick.

Most likely, the Orlando Thrill Park will open and close within a season or two. Disney will sit back, content with Fantasyland Forest, and Universal will again take the lead by adding more to Harry's World. As the song goes, the times they are a changing, and the real thrills will come from watching the transformation of the parks take place- or not.

Of Mermaids, Beasts, and Harry Potter

Lots of talk about Walt Disney World's Fantasy Forest, its impact on the Magic Kingdom and whether or not it is going to be a successful attempt at drawing some attention and guests away from Universal's Harry Potter and his Wizarding World.

As a long time park visitor, it is about time the suits and Imagineers give Florida's Fantasyland a redo. It's pretty ugly, especially compared to the parks that came after it- and maybe even Shanghai Disneyland's version to come. While I love the idea of Little Mermaid and the Beauty and the Beast restaurant, it is entirely true that the focus is too girl-centric in this remake. But let's look backward at Walt's original Kingdom...

Although Disneyland's Fantasyland is more stunning than what is found in Florida, it would be very understandable to think that Disneyland's Fantasyland was perfect from the beginning. The theme seems timeless, and yet this part of the park has seen its own fair share of ongoing change and revsioning. Look at this 1957 park map.

Attractions have been enhanced, added or replaced. (And what will happen now to Alice in Wonderland?) In the early 1980's, colorful but simple tournament tent-like show building facades painstakingly transformed into elegant and stylized versions of European locales. A mountain is built from scratch, while a slice of a beloved Neverland disappears, only to resurface at Disneyland Paris a decade later. (Could Neverland be a part of Imagineering's new thought for Florida's Magic Kingdom? Wouldn't that be great!)

Change is always part of the Kingdoms. Walt said it would be this way. Love it, hate it, or have mixed feelings about it, California Adventure's unprecedented transformation is the biggest proof yet of this truism, as that dismal little park becomes something amazing from its main gate forward.

Lastly, change in plans is also part of the kingdoms. After all, just think of how many attractions have been announced that have never materialized. Fantasy Forest is just beginning to take shape. The company may yet come up with something that will appeal to all ages, not just mermaid loving humans.
(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Harry Potter's Wizarding World? Count This Muggle In!

How can I say this? Neither California Adventure's Little Mermaid or Walt Disney World's Fantasyland expansion will stop me from making a trip to Universal Orlando! The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and his Forbidden Journey will be my first stop. The on line videos show an attraction Disney has yet to match- with a fully immersive land surrounding it not seen since... hmm... probably ever in the States. Time to up the game, Disney. Not only has Harry arrived- Universal is now clearly on the world's map!

Harry Hits Back Hard

WOW!

Not even being a fan of the Harry Potter book or movie series can stop me from being excited about what Universal Orlando has planned for their Islands of Adventure theme park. The depth of theming and detail is stunning!

Check out the latest plan of attack from Universal here. It smartly comes right on the heels of Disney's D23 Expo. I have to say, I think the New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom is great but it won't be enough to detour Orlando visitors from heading out to the Islands for a long, long time- and I have just reconsidered the plans I had for my next trip to Florida.

Thanks to The Disney Blog for pointing out all the new details...