Potential New Universal UK Park

[Benjsh]

Interesting to see what the new Harry Potter land at Warner Bros Abu Dhabi is going to be like which is due to open in 2026. If it's anything like the rest of the park then you can guarantee it will be outstanding.

I can definitely see HP appearing somewhere at this new park though but maybe not on the same scale.

 

[The_bup]

On the “Harry Potter Studio Tour would be different enough from a Universal area” I think that’s not going to be at the forefront of most consumers thoughts. Of course we can say this because we’re in the know, but considering how many people call the Studio Tour “Harry Potter World”, it’s going to absolutely cannibalise the tour. Okay, genuine sets are cool, but who would care when you can go to a pretty close replica and see all the other Universal stuff too.

Not to mention that a lot of guests to the Studio Tour are from outside the UK, so they’d rather just go to Universal.

Also people like rides. Studio Tour has no rides. Although, I could be wrong, I don’t see how many guests are going to bother to find the difference or go to both.

 

[Blackrock]

On the “Harry Potter Studio Tour would be different enough from a Universal area” I think that’s not going to be at the forefront of most consumers thoughts. Of course we can say this because we’re in the know, but considering how many people call the Studio Tour “Harry Potter World”, it’s going to absolutely cannibalise the tour. Okay, genuine sets are cool, but who would care when you can go to a pretty close replica and see all the other Universal stuff too.

Not to mention that a lot of guests to the Studio Tour are from outside the UK, so they’d rather just go to Universal.

Also people like rides. Studio Tour has no rides. Although, I could be wrong, I don’t see how many guests are going to bother to find the difference or go to both.

That’s what I reckon WB think which is why the rights are a no go.

The studio tour even after all these years is always fully booked and prints money for them.

If I was them I wouldn’t take the risk.

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

Sorry I don’t agree that part of the reason they wouldn’t have HP because HP Watford would need exclusivity to survive.

The proximity between the two attractions is minimal, to the point where it's negligible.

There are roughly 30 miles, or or take, between Warner Bros. Studio Tour and the proposed Universal UK site.

If you look at Studio Ghibli in Japan they have a museum and a separate theme park in another part of Japan.

There are 316 miles, give or take, between Universal Studio Japan and their version of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour.

Watford is more like a museum and there isn’t even a dark ride the same as Madam Tussaud’s.

This is exactly the point. Who would want to go and look at sets and props when they could experience and be immersed in the world itself, and it's literally up the road?

 

[flyingguitar]

This is exactly the point. Who would want to go and look at sets and props when they could experience and be immersed in the world itself, and it's literally up the road?

as a side point although it could increase their visitors, if you have tourists (even those from the UK but not close to London such as up from Manchester) a lot won't make the travel for studio tours, but if they were thinking about a trip to universal with a small stay (3+ hours traveling to and then after a theme park is a long time) and then what else is there to do close by, the studio tour is quite close and if you like harry potter a good choice, similar to how sea world, fun spot and more at Orlando attracts tourists.

edit: Busch gardens Tampa and a few other attractions have bus services going to universal Orlando a similar deal could work with WB studios

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

as a side point although it could increase their visitors, if you have tourists (even those from the UK but not close to London such as up from Manchester) a lot won't make the travel for studio tours, but if they were thinking about a trip to universal with a small stay (3+ hours traveling to and then after a theme park is a long time) and then what else is there to do close by, the studio tour is quite close and if you like harry potter a good choice, similar to how sea world, fun spot and more at Orlando attracts tourists.

edit: Busch gardens Tampa and a few other attractions have bus services going to universal Orlando a similar deal could work with WB studios

Warner Bros. Studio Tour is the only official Harry Potter attraction in the UK, any additional Harry Potter attraction takes away from their market share.

Bush Gardens Tampa isn't the only theme park in Orlando, they need the additional potential visitors.

Individual theme parks are different enough that they can enjoy the benefits of a shared audience.

Do you want to visit the facade of Diagon Alley, or do you want to visit Diagon Alley?

Do you want to see the entrance hall to Gringotts, or do you want to experience the ride through the vaults?

If you have a passing interest in the Wizarding World, at the moment your only choice is Warner Bros Studio Tour London. Split that choice and only the die hards will bother with the Studio Tour.

 

[tayspru]

Do we need to change this thread title to Harry Potter discussion?

The literal person who found out the project was even happening is confident that HP won’t feature. Everything else is fluff

 

[Benjsh]

Do we need to change this thread title to Harry Potter discussion?

The literal person who found out the project was even happening is confident that HP won’t feature. Everything else is fluff

I propose the world's first land dedicated to Lord of the Rings if we are changing it..

The person who found is a youtuber and has no inside information. Heck I bet Universal hadn't even decided on lands when that article leaked and they probably still haven't got it nailed down.

Artwork means absolutely nothing. Given the popularity of the franchise, the merch opportunities and the fact guests will be expecting it .......they will 100% have some sort of HP attraction when it opens in my opinion.

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

Do we need to change this thread title to Harry Potter discussion?

Slightly over 24 hours ago you posted this:

The flip side of this is that WB in general are short on money, and could potentially have Universal pay over the odds to use the brand.

You may have said all you've wanted to say about the prospect of a hypothetical Wizarding World area at a hypothetical Universal development, but others have not and this is an extremely speculative thread.

At points it could be argued that this thread could have been retitled to "Wicked and Oz" discussion., the leading charge helmed by your good self.

The literal person who found out the project was even happening is confident that HP won’t feature.

Whilst I share the sentiments of whomever it is you're referencing, I don't place any additional faith in their additional predictions based on one successful report. In the same vein, I don't hold stock in predictions made by vloggers because they once worked at a park, or perhaps pointed out that a ride looked tatty and tired and could do with a refresh.

The original licencing agreement between Universal and Warner Bros. Discovery is a literal matter of public record and anyone can read it.

 

[BSwiss]

Assuming the projected 2031 opening, here’s what we can reasonably presume:

Now-2030:
Harry Potter IP on launch rumours/speculation

Some time in 2030:
a) Harry Potter IP confirmed
b) Harry Potter IP not confirmed

2030-ad infinitum:
If a): Harry Potter IP expansion rumours/speculation
If b): Harry Potter IP in 2nd/3rd/4th gate rumours/speculation

Strap in friends, it’s gonna get repetitive.

 

[tayspru]

To be entirely fair I brought Oz up initially when the movie came up and the property was added to USO, again when it became a box office sensation, and then the last time because there was a statement direct from Universals CEO regarding the property. New information each time and not the same points repeated ad infinitum

I’ll get a shoe prepared in any case

 

[flyingguitar]

Warner Bros. Studio Tour is the only official Harry Potter attraction in the UK, any additional Harry Potter attraction takes away from their market share.

Bush Gardens Tampa isn't the only theme park in Orlando, they need the additional potential visitors.

Individual theme parks are different enough that they can enjoy the benefits of a shared audience.

Do you want to visit the facade of Diagon Alley, or do you want to visit Diagon Alley?

Do you want to see the entrance hall to Gringotts, or do you want to experience the ride through the vaults?

If you have a passing interest in the Wizarding World, at the moment your only choice is Warner Bros Studio Tour London. Split that choice and only the die hards will bother with the Studio Tour.

there will be a decrease from the people going to universal, but there may be an increase as people who have travelled from further look for other things to do relatively close by as they may have to stay the night.

Your point about why see Diagon ally or a facade, well studios tour also has kings cross, the hogwarts express, the hogwarts food and many more places in the movies, they are studio sets, but there is much more places that universal can put in one park.

also it was mentioned that universal pays an insane amount of money for the HP IP at Orlando, if WB tours makes less that that it makes sense to go with that option, as even if it reduces your income from the studio you are making more overall.

 

[The_bup]

I propose the world's first land dedicated to Lord of the Rings if we are

You’ve got Merlin listening in now…


That’s almost word for word Merlin speak

 

[BooMT]

Sorry to add more to the HP conversation... I see-saw between thinking we can't NOT have Wizarding World in some capacity in the UK and... we won't be seeing it because of the tour plus other points listed above (Alicia is a very reliable and credible source - but I always take anyone with a pinch!). Would Fantastic Beasts be the 'solution'? As a family, FB sits below HP in terms of appeal, however, we'd definitely visit both the tour and the land should they take it in that direction as the offering would be different enough. Also, someone mentioned the idea of a HP hotel which would be pretty cool and possibly not take too much from the tour, would it be a bit odd without the actual land though? I'd stay there!

On board with Oz as a possibility.... especially with Wicked being filmed here; we still have the second installment to go and there's so much about the sets that would translate well to a land! I'm aware there have been a few 'Oz' areas at parks around the World that haven't been successful... perhaps UK is the right place right time? Maybe there are plans to remake the Wizard of Oz off of the back of Wicked that could extend the modern interest in this World? Who knows. For a Dark Universe style area... as referenced in the thread, Hammer Horror would be a good fit... could Tim Burton be a possibility? The exhibitions have been popular and there's a solid fan base here in the UK.

Personally I'm still hoping for Pokemon and Zelda in regards to any Nintendo offering ‍♀

 

[Quantum]

I think Zelda be kept for Islands of adventure. Universal GB will only have aone or two fantasy themed areas.

 

[Rob]

You could argue that Harry Potter is a big enough IP to justify 2 attractions in close proximity to each other. Also, Universal would be a full day out whereas the studio tour is (or at least was when I last went) more of a part/half day sort of thing.

Either way, my gut feeling is that Universal will not bring Harry Potter to their UK park. And if Alicia Stella appears to have heard this also, then that is as good a source as you're going to get without Universal coming out and saying it themselves. Ultimately time will tell.

Whatever does end up at the park, assuming it happens as seemingly planned, I hope we get some unique attractions. I'd hate for another Hogsmeade, Hogwarts and Forbidden Journey (complete with very exposed show building) to crop up again!

 

[benpicko]

If we got a proper Oz land and a Lord of the Rings land I’d be far more excited about both of them than yet another Harry Potter land honestly

 

[Skyscraper]

You could argue that Harry Potter is a big enough IP to justify 2 attractions in close proximity to each other. Also, Universal would be a full day out whereas the studio tour is (or at least was when I last went) more of a part/half day sort of thing.

Either way, my gut feeling is that Universal will not bring Harry Potter to their UK park. And if Alicia Stella appears to have heard this also, then that is as good a source as you're going to get without Universal coming out and saying it themselves. Ultimately time will tell.

Whatever does end up at the park, assuming it happens as seemingly planned, I hope we get some unique attractions. I'd hate for another Hogsmeade, Hogwarts and Forbidden Journey (complete with very exposed show building) to crop up again!

They did say quite early on that none of the attractions at the UK park would be copies of those from Orlando so as not to alienate UK visitors to UO, so I don't think we'll be seeing Forbidden Journey or any other UIOA/USF attractions.

 

[Quantum]

An OZ land looks good on paper but what rides are you getting in that area? It certainly doesn't lend itself to exciting rides.

If there is anything Wicked/ OZ related I can see it being more of a live stage show or indoor ride rather than a whole area. James Bond has a similar issue, works great as a stunt show concept but not as a themed area.

 

[tayspru]

Judging by her trajectory since 2019, there’s also a non - zero chance that JKR could literally end up in prison in the next 10 years, at least the authors of other properties like Oz and Bond are long gone