Diagon Alley to open in 2014 CONCEPT ART RELEASED!

[KingEric]

S

[SeaWorldMike]

Re: Diagon Alley to open in 2014 CONCEPT ART RELEASED!

That is amazing! How exciting!

[Jafar00]

Re: Diagon Alley to open in 2014 CONCEPT ART RELEASED!

Jim Hill: Exclusive: A Detailed Look at Diagon Alley, the Highly Anticipated Expansion of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort

Link to the article on Huff Post.

[UUOPLee]

Re: Diagon Alley to open in 2014 CONCEPT ART RELEASED!

It's not like we didn't already know, but it's great to finally have it announced, although, it's very interesting why they announced it now just after they announced the opening for Transformers.
Now all we need to know are specifics of what will be part of the area.

[dsmith3373]

Re: Diagon Alley to open in 2014 CONCEPT ART RELEASED!

Great to finally have it official, but what gives, Transformers gets a fancy 'interruption' in Cinematic Spectacular, followed by press conference. Then this, the biggest event in theme park news for years gets... a press release!

[KingEric]

Re: Diagon Alley to open in 2014 CONCEPT ART RELEASED!

Great to finally have it official, but what gives, Transformers gets a fancy 'interruption' in Cinematic Spectacular, followed by press conference. Then this, the biggest event in theme park news for years gets... a press release!

I agree. I was hoping for a fancy fun event, with lots for us to share!

[mratigan]

Re: Diagon Alley to open in 2014 CONCEPT ART RELEASED!

This is so exciting!!!!!!!!!!!
Ya I too was hoping for more. Disney has a huge press event for an overnight party, and one of the biggest theme park projects gets a little announcement.

[cruise]

Re: Diagon Alley to open in 2014 CONCEPT ART RELEASED!

This is nothing new but exciting nonetheless!

Does anyone have any idea on how they might be doing access into Diagon Alley aside from the Leaky Cauldron? I'd assume (and it looks like based on the art and other materials) that there have to be other ways in, both from the front through the London facades and by Knockturn Alley... how do you think they'll explain it?

[JerrodDRagon]

Re: Diagon Alley to open in 2014 CONCEPT ART RELEASED!

Just a great move to add a Potter land to the other park.....something Disney has wanted to do for years I'm sure

[imaginashton]

Re: Diagon Alley to open in 2014 CONCEPT ART RELEASED!

that concept art is beautiful

[Trumpet]

Re: Diagon Alley to open in 2014 CONCEPT ART RELEASED!

That is just fantastic news. We knew it for some time but glad we are getting the conformation. Maybe a large pre event will be good, so that we will be blown away at how detailed this will be.

[Malin]

Re: Diagon Alley to open in 2014 CONCEPT ART RELEASED!

I think this announcement should have been kept for the Transformers Opening while you had the media in town. Although this kind of announcement should be shared with the Fans first and not just the Bloggers and Media who get invites to these events. I'm hoping Disney will do the same at the D23 Expo and announce some cool projects for WDW to the fans first and not the Mommy Bloggers. There is a large online presence that's starting to speak out against some of these online sites/blogs and the privileges afforded to them by Disney. Even MiceChat who are often excluded from attending such events have been out spoken in the past. So credit to Universal for announcing it first to the fans over Facebook and Twitter feeds. It might not be the lavish ceremony some hoped for here but its saved them money and word has gotten out. The same people who would have been invited to such a media event are the same people who have re tweeted and shared the news over there sites. So the impact remains the same without having to offer free bars. Universal should take more advantage of its social media sites in the future. With the success of the Disney Parks Blog it might be time to set up its own version. Especially with the exciting projects on the way.


I am thrilled with the news about Diagon Alley. What's also amazing is that we only have to wait a year to experience it all. No 2-3 years wait!!!

[KingEric]

Re: Diagon Alley to open in 2014 CONCEPT ART RELEASED!

The artwork is simply stunning. The more I look at it the more and more I love it!

[Frozen Phoenix]

Re: Diagon Alley to open in 2014 CONCEPT ART RELEASED!

I love the fact that even in the concept art, they've shown...umm, it's gonna be insanely busy...you will not want to be here if claustrophobic!

[biggsworth]

Re: Diagon Alley to open in 2014 CONCEPT ART RELEASED!

Looks awesome I can't wait to see it!!!!

[KingEric]

Re: Diagon Alley to open in 2014 CONCEPT ART RELEASED!

This is going to again redefine what themed entertainment is!

[Coasterjunkie]

Re: Diagon Alley to open in 2014 CONCEPT ART RELEASED!

I absolutely agree Eric. This will be an incredible addition to the park. I love the concept art as well but I wonder how they're going to do the transition from London to Diagon Alley.

[jcruise86]

Re: Diagon Alley to open in 2014 CONCEPT ART RELEASED!

Another Universal press release I’d like to read, though it's a tad too Disney obsessed:

“Over the past decade, we at Universal Orlando have strived to make our theme parks the finest in the world. We are currently building a major addition to the extremely popular Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Diagon Alley, the latest gift from J.K. Rowling's imagination, which will dwarf the dwarf coaster currently being ( s l o w l y ) built in Disney World’s Fantasyland.

We expect to finish our new area before Disney opens theirs, but for the convenience of the press, we will have our official opening celebration for the media the day after Disney has its official opening of their dwarf coaster. Who are the true heirs of Walt Disney? Judge for yourself! See ya real soon!”

[jcruise86]

Re: Diagon Alley to open in 2014 CONCEPT ART RELEASED!

Jim Hill: Exclusive: A Detailed Look at Diagon Alley, the Highly Anticipated Expansion of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort

Link to the article on Huff Post.

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Thanks for that interesting "article"/press release , Jafar00!

I'm repeating myself, but I believe the world of Harry Potter will be going strong 30 and 50 years from now because the books are so imaginative and entertaining. I expect that another set of movies with more advanced special effects covering all 7 novels will begin filming in about 25 years. Some of my favorite parts of the novels, the funny scenes at the Dursleys, were mostly excluded from the first 8 (Daniel Radcliffe) movies.

[ORD84]

Re: Diagon Alley to open in 2014 CONCEPT ART RELEASED!

This looks pretty awesome...any ideas on what kinda eticket ride we're looking at? At any rate it's probably going to be one of the coolest areas I've been in awhile...