Universal's Harry Potter Problem
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- Опубликовано: 20 окт 2023
- The Wizarding World, located throughout various Universal parks but most famously in Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, are certainly spectacular lands with great attractions. You have Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure and Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts as your main e-ticket rides. Yet for the high level of design in the attractions and the details and interactivity of the lands, one area where they really fall short is the entertainment and shows. Recently, I went to Halloween Horror Nights in both Hollywood and Orlando and the roaming dark witches and wizards really made me re-evaluate the standing of entertainment in these lands and made me realize that there really need to be some changes.
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To give a little insight to the HP licensing agreement, I worked at Forbidden Journey for 3 years and it took all 3 of those years to get a fan installed at the Greeter location due to the many rings that such things has to be approved through. It took 4 years just to get an Express sign at the attraction as well. It goes from Park Operations to Universal Creative to Warner Brothers to JK Rowling and then the approval/disapproval has to make its way back. If not approved then a new idea is submitted and the process starts all over again. With HP everything has to fit within the theme and time frame of wherever it goes. This is the reason why they put up metal stanchions and chains during the nighttime castle shows instead of using masking tape like Disney does for parades. It’s not as easy as thinking of something and just doing it. There are HUGE leaps and bounds that must take place.
I've heard about the process to some degree, but did gather that it was hard to make changes. Now with a ton of new merch, Death Eaters in Diagon and even new beer options in Hogsmeade, I figured that Warner Brothers specifically fell in its standards.
Yep. Opening team of the Hog's Head pub here. After the first winter we wanted to serve coffee and hot chocolate from the bar. Nope. We submitted many different ways to do this and all were rejected. It was horrible because when the 2nd winter came around we had nothing warm to serve from the bar and the lines just to get coffee at 3brooms were crazy. Anyway....
I just recently worked at Hagrid’s, and it is very much the same to this day. That is why I feel like there will never be any big changes to the lands no matter how much Universal wants to, because WB has the final say.
I work at the Universal Japan (for NDA reasons I’ll say no more 😅) but I can confirm that progress can be SLOW
@@jamesriviera2001Why would WB have a say? JK Rowling owns the IP.
The worst thing about the entertainment in Hogmeade is the stage location. It always causes issues with traffic of people trying to get in and out of Forbidden Journey.
It makes a lot more sense with the larger versions of Hogsmeade in Hollywood and Osaka, but the placement in Islands is terrible.
The stage location is the absolute worst at IoA, pretty sure I get caught up in a congested crowd there every time I go to ride forbidden journey
I’ve always wanted them to place it in the stroller parking area for Forbidden Journey using the castle as the backdrop.
Why don't they create a magic stage show with actual stage magic, projection mapping, Pyro, stunts, etc.
Hopefully the epic universe has that
Essentially that’s what the Cursed Child stage show is. Story is kinda meh but they stage illusions are incredible
Go the fievel route…condense the movies greatest hits into a 30 minute show? Or maybe years 4 through 7 since that coincides with the rides setting and easier to cast adults as teens vs kids lol
This is definitely something I thought about often, the lands primary draw is just simply 'harry potter' with as you said a few good rides. I have a hunch Rowling might be partly to blame. I know it is said one of the things she was VERY adamant about not being done when Disney was at negotiation with her was NO roaming named characters or meet and greets. She did NOT like the idea of Harry Potter, Ron, Hermione, etc just walking around or meeting with guests. Wouldn't be surprised that her initial deals with universal limited potential entertainment options.
Yeah, Rowling is a notorious control freak on the property (reportedly in large part due to having acquiesced on "Sorcerers Stone" for the US and never gotten over it) so I can imagine that anything interesting that in any way deviated with what she'd written would be immediately scrapped.
I'd actually agree with her on this point. Harry, Ron, and Hermione weren't running around Hogsmead pulling in random strangers off the street to solve mysteries and defeat Voldemort. And if we're not getting the movie's kid-year-old actors then Fake Harry isn't the same thing (and no Galaxy's Edge doesn't need Fake Luke either). Not everyone NEEDS to be a Main Character to get immersed in the world.
(And yeah - I know that's not consistent with other experiences. I've been impressed with Fake Marry Poppins and especially one Fake Snow White - the "friends" of those characters were especially gifted at their portrayal. But then... the backdrop for those characters are set pieces rather than the world immersion presented by Hogsmead and Diagon Alley.)
@@arandomnamegoeshere oh yes of course, let me clarify I DO agree with her not wanting characters walking around and making demands regarding it. However it does impact possible entertainment options and that IS a fact despite me agreeing with no harry walking around. And further more, we don't know what else she demanded, or how she made her demands.
Perhaps she demanded "characters from movies may ONLY appear in the rides", for example with a ban on even more traditional stage entertainment involving them. That would definitely cause some issues.
And perhaps she was more strict on the usual sorts of entertainment and atmosphere a theme park land might have and eased up on it over the years. We don't really know the full extent which is why I say she may be 'partially to blame'.
I mean, if there were a stage show set after the stories where an adult Harry discusses the importance of being a wizard policeman, and certain characters showed up, you could do a lot worse.
@@arandomnamegoeshereI would like to see side characters at least.
They aren’t break dancing. It’s classical Russian acrobatic dancing. It’s kind of what they’re known for
lol was hoping someone beat me to this. Still think that scene is cringe though
Durmstrang is canonically located in the north of either Sweden or Norway. They're just fully portrayed as Slavs in the movie for basically no reason.
I wish you’d spoken more about Universal Japan! They have the smaller magical creatures (baby dragon, niffler and pigmypuff) which are essentially mini pop up shows which all interact with guests. They’ve also in the past had the Wand Studies show which is literally students doing spells and messing around when they’re not supposed to and it was on the main stage. Pyro wands, mini apple “bombs”, floating stuff, it was pretty cool I won’t lie. I really do miss that show 🙏🏼 Japan also used to have a Christmas show that I know a little less about. For some reason Japan debuts a lot more stuff than the other parks it seems.
why does japan have a better version of every single theme park. its not fair 😭
@@virginiad.1911 because Japan knows how to balance short-term gains with long-term appeal
@@virginiad.1911 FR LIKE- They get so much cooler things and all of it first! Like Nintendo Land and the Donkey Kong roller coaster 😭
@@lxhi_jaoh9406 since when did they get a donkey kong roller coaster???? they didn't when i was there, dammit lol
One surprising thing is that the Wizarding World doesn't take more advantage of the Halloween season. I get why they would want to be distanced from Halloween Horror Nights, until recently, but the fact they don't put up any special decoration or have seasonal shows like they do for Christmas is a missed opportunity. Halloween was just as important in the Harry Potter world as Christmas was.
I would love if they could expand Hogwarts more than Hogsmeade. As you said, most fans of the series want to see *Hogwarts*. Outside, there could be a Weasley’s car crashing into the Whomping Willow ride, a walk through of the magical greenhouses, maybe a stunt show centered around Quidditch or flying lessons? If they could do more indoor spaces, there’s no end to the ideas inside a Hogwarts castle extension itself - classes, common rooms, the Chamber of Secrets. The ride itself is fine, but it would be nice to have walk through options with more atmosphere and entertainment! (Not having a family-style Great Hall restaurant with students, teachers strolling around, owl effects and even howlers being delivered was such a missed opportunity.)
Basically all of those things are already represented in the rides currently in Hogsmeade. They wouldn’t use those scenes more than once in the parks because then it wouldn’t make sense. But there are lots of hidden details and in HP that guests are still discovering.
Unfortunately, Hogsmeade and the castle are boxed in. Ironically, there's an actual high school ride behind it, right across the road.
@@PoseidonEntertainment The football field floodlights can be seen from certain angles and on game nights they light up the castle. 😂
@@Shag471yeah..ppl have to realize we've had like 40 years to talk about and find Disney stuff..meanwhile, this has all been happening more or less "live" or at the same time
Yea I don’t see much opportunity for that. Though I agree it’s what the fans want. Having went recently, the Islands of Adventure section definitely shows its age. I was fairly disappointed in the forbidden journey ride. The queue was more interesting than the ride itself. But I don’t see any way they could possibly scale the castle. Space just doesn’t permit. They’d have to shut that whole section down and rebuild. And that part of the park is a major money maker.
The stage that had the simbad show has been abandoned. I hope they build the great hall restaurant there one day.
I think we have enough food there. We need a wizarding show
I personally really like the Lost Continent so I’m probably in the minority on this, but I think that they should try and revitalize the lost continent with a new show there and possibly a ride where Poseidon’s fury is based around like Greek mythology, but unfortunately I know how unrealistic this is as it wouldn’t be nearly as profitable as a new franchise or Harry Potter expansion.
@@coltonsupergame While I doubt they'd do it, I do suppose that the history of magic in the HP universe does go back to ancient times. It would be interesting to see an ancient interpretation.
@@coltonsupergamemy 12 year old would LOVE an Ancient Greek world to roam around in. Was fortunate to get him to see Poseidon’s Fury before it closed.
I'm still all in on the Zelda retheming, it just makes way too much sense. I'm honestly tired of all this Harry Potter.
I agree that the land could use more entertainment, just imagine if they had a full-blown game of Quidditch or a part of the Triwizard Tournament as show!
I don't think those are feasible, but I see where you're going.
@@PoseidonEntertainment Agreed - so many people are like - "I wish we could go to Harry's house !!!111!!!!" And do what? How long are you there? How many are allowed in at once? What does crowd control look like? To the opposite - "I wish we could see the Tri Wizard Tournament as a show !!!1111!!!" My answer: "Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark."
I’m sure they could do something given the proper stage and budget, just take a look at the Bourne Stuntacular or Water
World show at Hollywood.@@PoseidonEntertainment
@@PoseidonEntertainmentquidditch is an actual sport that a few teams play across the us. Harry Potter land running a few games would be fun. Or at least a little
how to play” run down
@@cactoyoteme when the flying broom game is real
I must agree that 1) the inconsistencies in the movies can be very disconcerting, and 2) these 'shows' seem so very boring. I kept thinking that the 'split' rock used as a backdrop on the stage would burst open and something magical and exciting would emerge. What a wasted opportunity. btw, your ideas for new shows are amazing - I'd trademark them right away. Another fine video essay as usual !!
I remember watching Prisoner of Azkaban in theaters and being put off by how visually different it was than the first two.
@@global2829 That's exactly what happened with me. I was still pretty young when the first two films came out and they're what got me into reading the books. I was really excited for Prisoner of Azkaban as a film, but once it came out I was immediately turned off. Chris Columbus' films weren't the strongest, but they were the most faithful to the tone and feel of the books.
I had the same thought!! I kept thinking;
"Ooooh! I can't wait to see what happens [with the rock]!" I was expecting a giant Puppet of a creature or DeathEater to pop up and unite the schools.
Nope.
Just a rock with a crack in it.
A butt rock, if you will...
@@PoseidonEntertainmentNow that I’m an adult Prisoner of Azkaban is my favourite. It’s the best-directed film out of all of them.
Perhaps the licensing is getting more options for future attractions at Universal Orlando. I visited the “Forbidden Forest” outdoor experience in NY last fall and it was amazing! The nighttime ambiance in the state forest made the magic come to life! A permanent walk through attraction like that would be a great addition to Hogsmeade in IOA.
Excellent idea! I visited the A Forbidden Forest Experience outside of Brussels. It was amazing! I also visited the Studio Tour in Leavesden, North of London. Their Forbidden Forest section is brilliant and definitely would work as a starting point for an indoor walkthrough experience expansion.
I wish they had also built Harry’s house and the Weasley! How fun would that be!
the weasleys would be cool but harry's house is literally just a normal british house lol. not much to see
@@greedybat6123but they could build the closet he lived in so we could see inside
@@hacyeons ...You do realize the Number 4 Privet Drive set still exists at the studio tour in London, right? The Burrow set is there also. You can very much go there and see them yourself.
Keep in mind that the Burrow is a structurally-unstable, nearly-condemned house that barely fits 9 people. It's too small for a restaurant (besides, who wants thick bacon sandwiches in the FL heat and humidity??). It wouldn't have much capacity as a walk-through experience, either. Focusing on Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley was much better for a theme park experience.
Forbidden Forrest dark ride. That is what is needed.
@@DrHDoofenshmirtzphd Hagrid's Motorbike Adventure exists, too, you know...
I totally agree! The reason 'Prof Flitwick' in Azkaban looked different and was directing the frog choir was bc that was Warwick Davis playing a different character. BUT one of the directors liked that look better, so in a foliowing film had Warwick look the same for Flitwick... The different directors butchered the HP series.
And Voldemort isnt terrifying at all. The epic battle at the end of Phoenix, between Dumbledore and Voldy was lame.
When watching the HP films, I generally only watch 1-4.
They really do have the best environment for roaming characters (specifically ones they can create) and I’m shocked they don’t take advantage of that. So many possibilities!
Someone else wrote earlier the lack of roaming characters is because JK rowling didn't want a disney-esque vibe.
I think they hesitate since the characters are so connected to the actors, also Islands of Adventure doesn't really do that other than the Marvel land.
Something I forgot but should have mentioned is that Ollivanders has people roaming the land, teaching others how to do the interactive magic. They're not "characters", but I guess they are "witches and wizards" that fit into the theming.
When you visit the HP areas in the parks, you are visiting during the time those characters existed but you don’t actually meet them except for in the attractions. Face characters are very hard to replicate perfectly. When you see Cinderella at Magic Kingdom one day she may have a completely different face the next day. JK Rowling didn’t want that so she just nixed the M&G idea for the most part.
@@Shag471yeah, but you could make NPC style characters to make the world feel more populated and alive. For example, they could have a wizard struggling with a crate that rumbles and bumps around and makes odd noises, implying a supernatural creature inside. Said wizard acts shady and trys to pawn the unseen beast in the box off to park-goers, offering to mail it to in exchange for 79 galleons. Then have local shopkeep character scold crate guy by name and send him scampering off.
Having just come back from Universal Orlando my biggest issue was the repetitive nature of the rides. I think there's an over use of 3D screens and glasses. In comparison to E.T. for example where the ride relies more on practical effects it feels like the ride is more immersive where the 3D screens and glasses feel like they're trying to cover up for the rides short falls. This view of course extends to the Harry Potter rides, but I think it's a problem that extends across Universal over all.
That's a problem for sure, but it's one that Universal is moving away from. I do think I see it less because I always skip Race Through New York, Despicable Me, Fast and Furious and The Simpsons. When I go to the park with other people who haven't been though, I do realize how quickly over-saturated it is with experiences like that. Unfortunately, I don't think the park is getting any major investment for quite a long time, but it does really need change. Rumors are that the contract with The Simpsons expires in 2028 and they must be making a lot of money off of merch, but that area of the park really needs to go.
Funny you should say this because Universal is getting away from those concepts while Disney is building more of them.
@@Shag471 I’ve come to the conclusion that Disney has chosen to destroy itself. If things continue as they are I don’t think Disney will exist in ten years. If it does it’ll be a rotten husk of its former self.
I've been to both parks, wdw and Universal and am actually going back to wdw next week. I had more fun at wdw. By day 3 of 5 at Universal, I was bored. 6 of the rides had the same underpinning (the Simpsons, despicable me, Spiderman, the fast the furious, transformers, and ?). I did like hp but.... just me
@@HelenLyons79 I agree with the repetitive nature of the rides. I know what you mean about being bored both parks are small in comparison with Disney. If I weren't so tired I could probably have done both Parks in one day.
I do a lot of “magic shows” that are just visually engaging chemistry demonstrations for community events and I’ve always been surprised they don’t do anything using safely accessible chemistry demos as a “potions club” show! You don’t need expertise to do them safely and with theming and good performers they could really create a great show. You could even include volunteers! Or add in special effects and pyrotechnics to really make it flashy!
Maybe I’m biased because potions was always my favorite part of the HP universe but if I can pull of a wizard’s potion show with a cheap university volunteer budget Universal could go sooooo far. If you need a chemist Universal I know a gal… 👀
Real quick, I just want to appreciate how great your editing is and how professional your videos feel. You really deserve more subscribers and views.
Literally one of the best writers in this genre to boot. So much so I've emailed Poseidon giving him praise, which I never do..
Agreed.
I visited once, in October 2018, and loved the complete immersion of Diagon Alley. I cannot do thrill rides thanks to neck surgery, but i enjoyed going into Gringott’s bank up to the point of boarding. I did not see any shows, so am glad to see in your video what they are like. My favorite part of the whole experience was the queue in Hogwarts Castle for the ride i cannot ride. I’m not planning on returning, but your ideas for sit-down shows in air conditioning, with more creative use of the magic theme, are spot-on. There absolutely needs to be more entertainment for those of us who can’t ride and don’t want to shop!
Not to mention to help absorb/reduce traffic that comes into the land.
We did ride and you didn't miss anything. My wife and I both came out thinking that we would have much better enjoyed a darkride through Hogwarts than some mechanical arm swinging you around from screen to screen.
Just an FYI for people who can't ride but want to see the theme. Speak to a cast member and they will give you a tour of the queues for Hogwarts, Gringotts, and MIB.
@Owlet101 Thank you. Didn't know this. I am "motion sickness" cursed and usually join friends & family in queue, ducking out the exit right before loading.
@@MonsterKidCoryI thought it was great. Wonderfully immersive. I wasn’t looking for the mechanics and just enjoyed the ride.
Yeah for how grand the land overall is, the current shows are very "high school variety show" in quality, which sucks when you know they have the bandwidth to do more.
The last time I was there it was so crowded you couldn’t even get inside the gift shops. There needs to be more rides or shows that will help absorb some people.
Well, I think Epic will draw people away for sure. Hogsmeade is a completely different experience in Hollywood though. It's larger and there are a lot fewer people there, especially since Hagrid's doesn't exist.
They should do a Wizarding World hotel where you get "sorted" to a house during check in. Make each floor of the hotel themed to a different house.
this is a great idea! Or you could pick your house/theme of room.
I think the problem is that the harry Potter areas of the park are too successful. That's where everyone is when you go to the parks. My wife and i went there last winter and the waits for everything were insane. We waited over 2 hours to do the Hagrid coaster, 1.5 hours for escape from gringotts, and an hour for harry potter and the forbidden journey. Hell i had to wait half an hour to get a butter beer one time. Epic Universe can't come soon enough, the crowd levels at the existing parks just get insane
I think you might have gone at an exceptionally busy time. Granted, I avoid times when there are high crowds and I'm able to do so because I live in Orlando, but a normal wait for Hagrid's is 90, Forbidden Journey 30 and Gringotts 45. This summer was dead through May, June and the first two weeks of July though. I might suggest next summer for lesser crowds if it holds the same.
@@PoseidonEntertainmentreally? I'm surprised, because the weekend we were there it was actually exceptionally cold. Like in the 40s and windy during the day, and down into the 30s at night. That's good to know though. Still, even 90 minutes seems way too long to wait for a single ride. It'd be nice if they could replace or refurbish some of the areas that nobody bothers stopping at, like the old cartoon area at Islands of Adventure. The park feels kind of unbalanced right now, with the Harry Potter areas being so popular, then kind of everything else being a big drop-off in popularity
10:04 even without sound, the Celestina show looks 100x more enjoyable than the frog choir. The singer has great stage presence and confidence, and like you said is well choreographed. The guys twirling the sticks give off cheesy cosplay LARPer vibes, crossed with a high school color guard team.
The Death eaters would be a great addition to diagon alley especially in Knockturn Alley since that little area fits their theme perfectly. But it is a little dark and cramped if there was an actor in there, also too many people use it as a place to cool off from the heat. But it would be nice to see if they did something more with that little corner of the land.
I get your point but there’s a counterpoint some people would argue about the oddity of seeing what are essentially wizard Nazis all over the place. Yes, I know that the Galactic Empire are a necessary presence at a Star Wars park but their discrimination is rarely emphasized whereas, while fictional, the Death Eaters’ bigotry is a key theme in Harry Potter. It’d be like having Quaritch and the other bad guys patrol Avatar: World of Pandora or something.
They were all over diagon ally at Halloween horror this year, so we already have some progress towards that!
@@legometaworld2728Lmfao, what?
They should have a Chamber of Secrets show where Poseidons Fury was. Big basilisk puppet, Phoenix puppet etc. Or even a show about Tom Riddle opening the Chamber when he was a teenager. Make it scary-ish.
Current rumor seems to be Legend of Zelda. With how well done SNW is, I think they could do something spectacular there.
Regarding your complaint about the series having messy worldbuilding and tonal inconsistency, the simple explanation is that J.K. Rowling is a mediocre writer who had tons of interesting ideas for her fictional universe but little to no foresight or interest in making them come together into a coherent narrative, hence why the universe and characters are more fondly remembered and marketable than the books/movies themselves
Sometimes a fandom outweighs its franchise, although "interesting" goes both ways.
Interesting in a positive way, just popularizing the wizard school gimmick.
Interesting in a negative way, most of the worldbuilding, species-wise or about anything that alludes to real-life culture (or stereotypes).
Tbf a lot of her ideas were straight up lifted from other stories and books. Esp of the magical academy kind
There's inconsistencies in the novels for sure, but it's specifically the film embellishments that bother me because of how ridiculous they can be. The Burrow attack in THBP is so unnecessary and dumb.
Tell me you didn’t read the books without telling me you didn’t read the books. 🤣
The books are great and the design of the world on the movies is really amazing a lot of thought was put on that and it truly shows because it is still relevant and keeps standing out from the bunch, bringing new shows to Universal would be great but they do have a solid base to work out of the world is actually wonderful
They should have a DINNER SHOW in the Great Hall
Your commentary on the live shows in both parks is spot on.
Spontaneity is greatly desired and the closest we get are the helpers for the wands that occasionally roam.
One thing they could add would be a quidditch match. Just imagine attending a show where you watch the Chuddly Cannons competing with the Holyhead Harpies.
I'm glad you brought up the show in Universal Studios Japan because I happened to catch it earlier this year and thought it was pretty well done. The characters alternate between English and Japanese dialog and always make it clear by context what the other person just said, which I thought was a nice touch.
I also personally wish that there was a lane running beside the main line in the castle. I don't believe it's very practical for people just wanting to tour the castle to have to move at the same speed as the main line. There might be pics ppl want to take or there's just a lot to take in, period, and it's very difficult to go at your pace while people are in line to ride the ride and trying to move as fast as possible.
I think it would be really fun if they added a show along the lines of product testing for Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes. The show could have fun magic tricks and pyrotechnics. They could even switch up what products are being tested to keep the show fresh. 🤩✨
I visited USJapan and they had a fun wizarding creatures stage show with a huge hippogriff that the students (performers) had to learn to interact with by bowing. It was super impressive! EDIT: Of course you mentioned it! I will say, it was super impressive and a good proof of concept for more creatures.
Also The "Tales of Beedle the Bard" show doen't always do The Tale of the Three Brothers, I remember I once saw them do "The Fountain of Fair Fortune", but I don't know if they do the other two tales
I remember being 16 and getting chosen for the wand thing. My grandma and I were so immursed and i wish it hapoened in more spots in the park
Seems like a raptor show featuring owls would be an obvious choice. Plus then you can squeeze in actual education about owls.
I think projections or a show similar to getting your wand (but instead it being your patronus) would be cool to see, their interactive forest walk through could be an inspiration for that.
I'm a big Harry Potter fan, but I haven't had the opportunity to go to the park since HP opened up. I can see these things may be more annoying with repeated exposure but I think I'd just appreciate the immersion aspect of everything as a first timer.
I also think the choir isn't so much of a leap. Lots of schools have choirs. It's not unheard of for me that there would be one, and it is a nod to the movie. Some shows may be better than others, but they are probably something I'd observe in passing anyway.
I do like some of the ideas you had for other shows and mentioning the need for a sit-down to get out of the heat!
So i had an amazing experience with a cast member in Diagon Alley when I went to the Orlando Informer event in Christmas 2023. Because it wasn’t crowded, she took me around and told me the stories of a bunch of the shops and shopkeepers. Pointed out storefronts and some art on the second story of the building facades that i wouldn’t have noticed otherwise.
I wish they had something like that year round during the regular park hours. It was just awesome and immersive.
I’ve re-told the stories to at least 4 different groups of friends I’ve gone to WWoHP with since.
Love your thoughts on the films, absolutely agree. I wish the lands had more shows & activities to do and watch within. It's mostly just shops, which have amazing details within but its just place to buy stuff and leave its so overcrowded.
As someone with loose connections to the world of theatrical effects and props, honestly I think your ideas would be great.
The whole thing of a gag show where the shopkeepers come out and each do maybe a little 5-10 minute pitch as why you should buy their products, filled with gags and stage effects, would be awesome.
The only potential problem I see with the illicit dueling show you proposed is that those effects could quickly get expensive. Still, I could imagine you use bigger versions of pop-it's to create little explosions at a person's feet, or at the high end maybe even some kind of tesla coil to produce lightning from one wand to the other (though that would be REALLY hard to do safely).
Pop-it's?! Now that I like. That's brilliant. Are those Chinese cracker smoking bomb things still around? Haven't seen those since the 80s
I don’t mind them doing more Potter in Epic, and Diagon could use a second ride, but I do not want to see any more of the Lost Continent converted into Harry Potter. There are so many other things that could go there that would be better…and different.
The prevailing rumor is still Legend of Zelda replacing Poseidon's Fury. I was concerned to hear that Sinbad's Bazaar was not part of that though, which is why I think it should be absorbed by Hogsmeade. I'd rather have that than just an abandoned land sitting around.
@@PoseidonEntertainment Sindbad should be included in Zelda….that takes up hardly any space if they leave that theater behind. I truly hope they doesn’t go to more Potter.
Honestly you have a point there. The potter film series ended over 10 years ago and I feel like just Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade is enough it’s not necessary to close down classic areas to Harry Potter nonsense and I did hear that epic universe is getting a ministry of magic attraction
Haven't seen the video yet but I wanna let u know after some thinking and consideration, you're just my favorite RUclipsr man. You make content unlike others about theme parks I've always wanted to see. Thank you
Perfect timing if you exit Hagrid's Motorbike coaster when the Tri-Wizard show is ending, the performers exit backstage the same path you exit the ride, it's a small chance but awesome to interact while passing them in character and no huge crowd or choreography.
this might just be me, and the lack of desire for hyper-immersive HP experience, but last summer, I visited Universal Orlando with my mom and my brother and we went to the Hogsmeade Three Broomsticks restaurant. It was boiling out and thankfully the restaurant’s line was not too long, but before we made it to the end of the line, the host/waiter (i’m not totally sure the position this person was employed as) but they immediately told us to search the menu online with the QR code listed on the table. Which seems to be the new serving method for most restaurants in adventure island and universal studios. maybe i’m just biased but I don’t totally see the point of the lines in the restaurant then… We could’ve had the food outside instead of waiting to be told we could’ve ordered this whole time of waiting for a seat. there was no other information outside the building either to tell us we could order online either.
It feels a bit like a spit in the face for those who dont want to wait in the boiling orlando heat for food.
Anyways when we got to our table, me and my mom encountered a really odd, but i guess immersive factor to the restaurant: The chairs vary in height and size.
I get it, harry potter, everything’s unusual they have dwarfs and elves in this universe. But it seemed a bit inconvenient considering me and my mom had to sit in toddler sized seats, eating our fish and chips, with no other open seats for us to trade with, since the restaurant was full.
Conveniently (and kind of ironically) as we were walking to the jurassic park section of the park, there were three employees with tablets asking me, my mom, and my brother about our experience at the three broomsticks and if there were any changes the staff could make to the experience at that restaurant. I was sure to make the chair situation and the mobile ordering situation clear to them, but who knows, maybe mobile ordering and hyper-immersion is the way into universal rider’s hearts.
Im genuinely love to watch you make a realistic park in plant coaster
Always great insight. I cannot support J.K. or line her pockets by supporting anything she created due to her anti-semitic comments so right there she has isolated a consumer. I can’t set aside morals for entertainment although I can appreciate the creativity that Universal put in to these lands even though I will not support it financially.
This video was really good insight!
I was once one of the guys randomly picked by Celestina Warbeck to dance. It was a blast. But it was pretty much her and the Banshees shoving me around, and me trying my best to impromptu a choreography with them and not mess up the performance.
Although it was kind of an exciting blur for me, it made a great vacation video.
Also, an older man tried to position himself in front of the crowd so cause he really wanted to get picked. But she got me instead. The man congratulated me afterwards.
How bad the accessibility of these lands were quite surprising - hogsmeade especially is so narrow, with so many bottlenecks that even in the low season I was struggling just to get down the main path in the wheelchair, and with the 'themeatic' nature of the narrow shop doorways etc. I could not actually navigate them independently. The lift situation for the hogwarts express is so bad I'm honestly surprised it got through planning...
Yes WW is a game changer regarding immersion. Daunting to see you critique. You’ve landed on their Achilles heel however. Pointed and highly entertaining live performances would be next level and welcomed. As much I enjoy WW, my Achilles heel is coasters and screen rides. My equilibrium can not tolerated it. I just enjoy the scenery aspect of the land itself and kinder motion attractions. Greater immersive entertainment is an strong solution. Much appreciate one of life’s
productive method and courtesy. Don’t offer a critique unless you provide a solution. You’ve done so is Spades ♠️ 😀. TY!
As much of an icon as the Wizarding World is at Universal Studios, I fear it might one day become a dated Albatross around the neck. Harry Potter might be an internationally recognised cultural property to this day, but the fact it’s been well over a decade since the last film was made, the average at best reception to the Fantastic Beasts trilogy - to say nothing of the absolute trainwreck of the final & conclusive film - and the author’s descent into bigoted madness could all one day combine to make the WW a dated experience in future.
100%. Unless they cash in on its international appeal or whatever.
@@chickenlittle2206 I wouldn't say universal really got the timing wrong. I think the wizarding world has been around since 2010. That was before JKR started pissing people off too much. I say too much because she was annoying fans back then, just not the general public. Who could have predicted where we would be in 10 years though.
The author did say nothing wrong
@@Spiritwonder420yeah, she’s a bigot. People don’t like that.
@@mindyschocolate well the letter soup community dos not like her but they are toxic shits anyway
I think that the frog and tri wizard thing might be better if they had 5x the people doing them, the stage looks like it should be a lot fuller than it is.
So I I just came from, right before this, your video talking about the way that the enshittification of Disney IP and like quality guarantees under current management is greatly reducing the experience and value of the parks there... And this video following that, has absolutely got me on the same page with you.
Every year, I go to my local Renaissance festival. Many years, I go more than once, and I would totally end up getting season passes if it was slightly closer to my city and justifiable to do every weekend for the almost three months now that it runs.
There are very few rides in a Renaissance festival, and very few like automated expensive prop areas... A Renaissance festival, at least the kind that run down here, I'm in the southwest US, it's mostly shops by small artisans, and food vendors, and performances. Comedic performances, acrobatic performances, musical performances, all kinds of performances. And of course, an actual core cast to run the festival, most of whom are doing bits the whole time. From accents and costumes on food vendors to the cast member who's hired specifically to draw in the mud after rain I'm pretty sure...
And I've had more fun consistently at the Renaissance festival then I often have had at these big expensive parks...
I can fill a whole day easily at the Renaissance festival and not see even half of what I would be willing to see... And that's just going stage to stage watching different performances, Not even counting that one could spend most of the day going booth to stall to booth looking at all the different little shops. Admittedly, I think we have one of the best Renaissance festivals in the country, but still.
I Just recently went to Disneyland for the first time since Galaxy's edge has been added there, and that is 100% the experience I wanted to have in Galaxy's edge. I wanted it to feel like a Renaissance festival. I wanted it to feel like each little nook was a different vendor selling a different class of item. I wanted the employees selling these things to be distinct characters who are going to interact with you distinctively as if you are a traveler through this spaceport on the edge of the known galaxy.
But as you pointed out in that video, it mostly feels like an empty mall, despite how pretty it is, and how great all of the little set pieces and details are
Whereas the first time I went to universal in California... I could have sat in the three broomsticks for easily hours and just enjoyed the atmosphere. I desperately wanted to go into every shop because of how gorgeous they all are, and wanted to notice every little thing that was moving "on its own". Even as small as hogsmead is in California universal, Still if only I personally didn't get motion sick, even with just the bitty little stupid coaster that is the Hagrid ride there, and of course the journey through hogwarts one... That easily is or could have been one of the best experiences I've ever had in a theme park in my life
I think you're right on about the performances. Especially in Florida, where, like here in Arizona, the weather can be absolutely not conducive to being outside... Indoor sit down shows are delightful. They absolutely I think enhance the value of a ticket to a place like this, a place with IPs and theming... And absolutely I think that's the move, rather than chasing like a Knott's Berry or a six flag experience, where you're never going to meet the amount of thrills that those places have... Because that's all those places do. Those places are only about the bigger better faster roller coaster...
But if I want to ride great coasters, I'm going to go to a coaster park. If I want an experience that feels like another world or storytelling or whatever else, that's where I'm going to think of Disney, or I once was, or I'm going to think of that first day the first time that I sat in the three broomsticks and walked down the streets of hogsmeade and watched the little things happening in the windows.
When I was visiting, I went into the Madame Malkins / Quidditch Sporting store, and one of the workers there was definitely one of the most lively cast members I've ever seen, really wonderful, and she basically alluded to the saddest thing to me:
They aren't really allowed to have their own "wizarding" backstories, and none of the members that work there- aside from the specific *actors*, get to be magical!
Like, they can't have gone to Hogwarts at all! They have to do the whole Disney thing and say that their friend, or their sibling went to Hogwarts instead 😢
I was brokenhearted about this, seeing as I'm sure the people that are really into working in the wizarding world specifically are probably massive fans of the franchise and I'm sure they would love to explore original characters and backstories.
Not only that, but can you imagine the LARPing possibilities that WW has?
Literally I've never seen a park so suited for such a thing. And they treat their guests like they are all magical and what not. (I have colored hair and they called me a metamorphmagus) so why not let the cast members play too? I mean I'm not saying that it has to be all detailed and meticulously thawed out to make it complicated for single time guests or boring for repeat guests. But imagine what a little imagination could do for it.
But someone in the comments section already pointed out the fact that they have so many hoops to jump through especially with JK tied to this, she doesn't like people messing with her world, she wants things her way and she's very very controlling of her IP. So I can't really see how any change is really possible. That being said, if they maintained as they are, the park will I'm sad to say inevitably become irrelevant and stale.
If you got this far thank you for reading my rant 😅
I’m so glad you commented!! I had no idea it was a rule and was kind of disappointed that the staff didn’t necessarily seem “in the world.” I agree it’s such a big missed opportunity!! My favorite part was the Ollivanders show and the Hogwarts Express conductor being so in character, I wish that was just the norm for all the staff!
It is definitely the perfect place for world building like Galaxy’s Edge, where all the cast members there get to be a part of that storytelling and immersion with their backstories and personal “character” to play in the world. So sad they don’t have the opportunity to do that in WW!
The theatre troupe shtick at the start of the beedle the bard show, is is a reference to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. I do not know why but some of the dialogue and jokes are taken straight from it.
About to visit Universal Studios Japan this weekend.
I’ll see if they have the same type of entertainment
Can confirm that most people do in fact buy the wands after they are picked, as that is how I ended up with 2/3 wands that I own. A very good marketing strategy for sure, and very entertaining and memorable experience. He also does a great job at picking out a wand that the person picked wants! That, and it's hard to pick out the wand that 'chose' you after an experience like that.
I've gotten picked for the Olivander's show twice; one time before the interactive wands existed, and another time a few years after they were fully implemented into the park. First time I got a regular wand but second time they switched to all interactive wands for the show (which makes sense, as most people want an interactive one to use around the parks, but it also is more expensive!). The wands used in the show are all generic non-character wands and I'm not sure how often they rotate the types you can potentially get. It seems the non-character wand options were slightly changed stylistically when they were converted to interactive, as my original wand doesn't exist in an interactive form (similar mold, different colors, etc). I think I'm too old to get picked now, but I have seen non-kids get picked before if the crowd for the show/experience is smaller and there aren't any kids towards the front.
Edit: for anyone curious, my non-interactive chosen wand is very similar to the interactive birch wand, and my interactive chosen wand was the ivy wand from what I can tell from the website.
To your point at 11:09. The placement of the stage in Hogsmeade makes me wonder... What if they don't want an interesting show going on there? Have something OK enough to pull a small crowd but don't go further. Otherwise you risk blocking the walkway or you'd have to rope off the area to create a walkway. I agree with you that there should be something more interesting going on there.
Yeah, I did think that they probably anticipated crowd flow issues. I think the main issue is the location of Flight of the Hippogriff and if it would be worth getting rid of to create a larger stage area. I don't think they would because Islands offers very little for really young children, so there's really no good option. That's part of why I think a stage show replacing Sinbad's Bazaar would be really fitting though. It's a pretty dead area of the park anyways, might as well have Hogsmeade absorb it.
@@PoseidonEntertainment Seeing Hogsmeade expanded into the lost continent makes the most sense but I don't like it 😭. Im sure that area will look very different in the next 5 years.
Your commentary about the movies were funny I never noticed the breakdancing it reminded me of the re-deads dancing with garo/gibdo masks from zelda. Fitting with the dancing being similarly related to Russian history in similar visual regard.
I think the movies soundtracks and surprising talent of child casting often mask over the more cringe or spontaneous/ erroneous elements added or evoked/emancipated from the source materials context or cadence.
I agree in that it doesn't feel like the HP world/land doesn't have much to offer. It's got the same issue as Disney with Batu. It's mostly shops. The stage performances are ok, but I agree the triwizard performance no longer works, specially given how the coaster it was themed for is no longer there. So the stage show makes no sense to really have the show going. I think Japan's use of stage show is better and feels more "magical". Something that both US parks are missing. I think what the land also needs is another ride, but maybe less coaster and something that can also integrate the wands in the park. Like how Super Nintendo World you can use your bands on Mario Kart to contribute points, maybe the wands could be used like a laser blast ride. That or a flying broomstick ride would be the next best thing. It'd most likely be screen based, but its something. Otherwise you have one projection ride and two coasters that take up the area with not much else other than shops and food.
My family was just there, holy crap the amount of people crammed into one area was just insane,, at 11am on a Wednesday in November it was PACKED with people, , we ate at 3 brooms and waited over an hour for food, , the Butterbeer was delicious though.
Ive been to wizarding world universal once, in june of 2012, when the park was fairly new. I got chosen for the Olivanders demonstration, it was amazing! I felt so special 😊 And yes, I bought the wand!
BUT, I remember thinking that the frog choir seemed like filler entertainment for a new park. I thought it was delightful, but the kind of thing you throw together a month before opening when you realize you need anoher act but don't have time to come up with anything too elaborate or even write a script.
I cant believe the frog choir is still there!
I had the opportunity to watch the show at Universal Studios Japan and I can confirm that it need to come to the US
Although it might be prohibitively expensive, I am suprised they didnt start of by basing the theme of the area around the castle itself. Obviously you cant make a near one-to-one recreation but they layout with courtyards and large buildings can help sell the illusion. Things like the great hall for dining and the four common rooms can be interesting to explore. Moreover, id imagine it would be easy to make rides around the chamber of secrets, quidditch, and the forbidden forest. Another feature would be having sir cadogan and peeves help sell the playful atmosphere, although since they are abscent from the films I doubt it would get approved.
The Triwizard thing doesn’t make sense with Dueling Dragons long gone so something from an earlier or later time (possibly between Harry and co’s time and that of their kids). Maybe Frog Choir could use an update with original tracks
I’m not sure I’m sold on the Marketplace Show idea, but it would be really cool if they could do a quidditch game! Maybe have guests be “portkeyed” to the event, which could still be indoors but with amazing tech and special effects to make it feel like you’re outside at the match. Would definitely be a unique and fun experience!
Have the a capella group perform inside the 3 Broomsticks periodically throughout the day. Always people in there and they’re sitting and eating and drinking, makes it feel like a real pub with some live music, adds that atmosphere and uses those performers, but in a more effective way in a more fitting setting.
I know how it felt to be on stage when I went to see this section of the park when it opened. I was chosen to go up on stage. I had no clue that they did that. 😅
6:06 The choir director in POA was literally a different character, one of Warwick Davis's many cameos, so Flitwick technically NEVER appeared in that movie. Flitwick was supposed to make an appearance in film 4, but Mike Newell, the director of the film, apparently liked the choir director better, so he just said, "Lol, this is Flitwick now". (Still somehow not the most ridiculous/idiotic thing he did with that film)
I think most of the problems you mentioned originate or center around GOF. Mike Newell wasn't a great choice, and he refused to read the books, which explains the weird ridiculous discrepancies
Hogsmead at USH has some pretty serious construction going on, it looks like they're building a new stage and some other things.
Wish we also got that awesome Hagrid's bike ride here in Japan too
No let's talk about the real problem: Why on Earth is there no Hogwarts themed hotel? It would print money. Guests get sorted upon arrival into 4 themed wings based on the 4 houses. (Collect all 4, is basically ensuring repeat customers). Themed lobbies, dining in the great hall, lake swimming pool...the list goes on and on.
The deathly hallows puppet show should be in a theater. Also, I agree. They do need to do some cool magic show where they're dueling with wands with pyrotechnics.
If theyre going to take away one of the few really practical but cheesey/campy show like Posidens Fury they can at least replace it with a Harry Potter verison of it. Like the Chamber of Secrets, you fight the giant snake with all the effects and water tunnel included.
Interesting, though it's not the rumor I've heard. Apparently there are plans for a Legend of Zelda attraction, although I was concerned to hear that Sinbad's Bazaar might remain untouched. That's why I thought that extending Hogsmeade would make a lot of sense.
I think you have great ideas on how to expand the harry potter world I think you was right with diamond alley. There should be more interactive with shop owners on the streets of the alkey like in the movies. Also the new need shows that reflex the story of Harry.
6:55 The fact these military-inspired uniforms are unchanged in the park.. I'm surprised that was allowed. The worldbuilding in general has questionable elements from what I have heard, so it's extra surprising that even after the books, even after the films, they did not consider overhauling any of this.
It's interesting seeing this from your perspective. I never read/watched them myself, lingering in the Pop Culture Osmosis zone as most things go.
Thing is, with the affiliation with the author, I'm not confident about the brand, regardless of its success. Even if the concept of more sitdown experiences in any case would be nice.
I do think that despite the author, the books and films have permeated pop culture to the point where most have decided to just separate the two. I think that regardless of the quality of the story telling, the world building in the books themselves is quite enchanting and endlessly intriguing and having captured the imagination of so many people, it's uncomfortable to now be confronted with an author who is going out of her way to be a bad person. Is it okay to separate the art from the artist in this case? I'm not really sure, but that's what I've chosen to do, especially since the Wizarding World in the Universal parks will be around for decades.
Specifically regarding the Durmstrang uniforms, that's an embellishment specifically from the film to make the students look "tough" and is just downright stupid. In the books, it's implied that the academy is located somewhere in one of the Nordic countries but seems to have a population heavily made up of eastern Europeans. Even so, they wear heavy fur coats, not weird uniforms like this.
Heavy fur coats would not be appropriate costumes for a park set in a warm climate. Florida and Southern California both have very warm climates.
@@melissawickersham9912I would think same applies to the military-adjacent uniforms. They could have used a different school's uniforms at least. Maybe even a custom.
You make a lot of sense, you should be the boss of these parks you talk of. If only, I'd go back then! 😂
Has it always been a feature that the light button gloves win the person in the video mentions it
I’d love them to do shows about each of the houses like one for gryffindor, one for ravenclaw, one for Hufflepuff and one for slytherin
I'm a consistent believer that the problem is bigger than the specific entertainment offerings ... it's the over reliance on outside intellectual property that stiffles creativity and forces any and all shows to adhere to world building within a franchise that wasn't written with a live theme park in mind.
The reason Halloween Horror Nights (well, before it became an interactive advertisement for Netflix and Peacock) and shows like Nightmare Fuel dominate is because the theme was dreamed up with a live show in mind.
I don't agree at all. I think that the Wizarding World has done a lot to build on the franchise. I'm not sure how you think creativity is stifled when it realizes far more interesting spaces than what Disney has attempted to do.
@@PoseidonEntertainment fair point, maybe I'm just not over them first re-theming and then dismantling the Dueling Dragons to Harry Potter. It's probably an unpopular, and therefore less profitable opinion, but seeing familiar popular culture in theme parks takes out some of the novelty and adventure for me on top of making me feel like I'm paying to take part in an advertisement.
I feel like it can still work with dated 'classic' IPs like mythology and Universal Monsters, so I'm holding high hopes for EPIC. I say this as a fan of Harry Potter, but I don't want it to be everything if that makes sense.
@@PatrickFloto I'm not sure why I disagreed with you last night, but I was drinking a bit and I think I misread what you had said. I actually do agree that tying everything to an IP does suck a lot of creativity out of things. I do think Universal handles IP in a more interesting way, but I'm getting tired of everything needing to be based off of a movie. That's a big reason why European theme parks are becoming so attractive to me.
As far as entertainment I remember back in 2019 there was an absolutely amazing nighttime show that put anything Disney has made to shame using drones to do patronus art. . I hope they continue to add things like that.
Love your thoughtful and in depth commentary and the high quality production values in your vids.
Man your take on the HP movies really took this video down a notch
8:07 Hold on. Wasn't that a minigame in one of the EA Unreal Engine games? If so, that would be a really deepcut reference that I'd appreciate.
With the Flitwick changes + the new show coming, I think/hope Rowling/WB will let Universal have meet and greet characters like Hagrid or Dumbledoor. Also they should have actors saying they are in Dumbledoors army looking for/small shows of fighting the death eaters. And the wizard duel show idea is awesome, hope to see it one day !
So you hate Harry Potter and it's a Universal issue how?
While I love the WW at Orlando but I do really wish they had more castle you could walk through and do stuff in. Also I agree with almost everything you said about GoF. The book is so much better and less cringey.
Really thought there was some kind of concrete evidence or industry insider confirmation. Rather than rumors and speculation.
you didnt have to make me watch the tri wizard show again bro lmaoo its so painful
Imagine if they could figure out something like a Quidditch stunt show. The merch they could sell and crowds they could draw.
The three brothers story is also told and expanded like this in the newest game too!
Ah, I didn't know that. I hadn't anticipated it would be relevant, but that's interesting to know.
Harry Potter does have issues with continuity, but it's still one big story, as opposed to a lot of other franchises.
I first went wow over a decade ago now and my experience was rushed and my mom got sick, so I was always dreaming of the day I could go back and enjoy it. Finally my time came 2 years ago and I had free reign to do everything. I have to say I was pretty severely underwhelmed... It didn't help to have to listen to the regulars chant the lines along with every single ride. Hagrids was great, and I'd ride that ride again. But if I go back, and that may be soon because I've been checking out Disney, I'd definitely skip this part of the park.
I absolutely adore Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, I think they did a fantastic job building such an accurate world, one thing I would change would be less screen rides although thats a park wide thing but they did change it up with Hagrids so I'm happy, I also love the light show on Hogwarts and consider it better than the light show on the castle at Magic Kingdom although that might be an unpopular opinion.
(The films are not great compared to the books though I agree)
Maybe I should have talked about the shows on the castle but I've never actually stopped to experience them. I've heard generally positive things though.
J.K. is still very protective of what the theme parks do with her characters and themeing. She specifically said she didn't want the Wizarding World to participate in Halloween Horror Nights or have a scare zone. The Deatheaters are Universal's way around this because they are actual characters that are allowed to be used, however, they are not officially part of HHN or advertised as an experience for HHN. They just "happen" to be out and about during HHN. That's how Universal gets around their agreement with J.K.R..
Makes sense why they're also out a bit before the park closes for HHN too. I was surprised to see them out around 4:30 but I figured there was some loophole there.
It's wild to me that there isn't a live magic show. Any half decent magician with some low grade special effects would leave people speechless
Once on my 9th birthday I got a wand and I still have it to this day
Have you done Villian Con since your initial video shortly after soft open? It seems that a lot of the gameplay issues you had might have been addressed, although there may be some new ones created in the process since then.
I haven't bothered. I walked by the other day as I was leaving the park and it was a 15 minute wait, but I was so put off to it that I didn't bother. I'll make an effort to try again in the future though.
you just articulated all the thoughts i didn't even know i had about this place! amazing video, i can't wait for the next one!
also your suggestions are always unbelievably creative and genuinely good! how do you do that, they are of such quality i feel like it would take forever