Potter Phase 2 Rumor/News Recap: What We Know
Nickname: Project 722
Rumored Opening Date: Late 2014/Early-Summer 2015
Rumored Attractions:
Gringotts Bank roller coaster – Intamin coaster. Strong rumors include drop track, dual-load station (E-Ticket)
Hogwarts Express – Transferring guests from IoA to Universal Studios. It is currently unknown how they will deal with the ticketing situation. It will be run similar to monorails used at airports. (E-Ticket)
Diagon Alley
Rough Timeline:
09/25/10 – Rumors on a Potter Expansion begin to pick up
10/03/10 – Universal releases a survey asking about a Potter Expansion
01/02/12 – Jaws closes & walls go up around Amity the next day
05/30/12 – A permit labeled Project 7542 is filed. Strongly rumored to be Gringotts fire.
06/01/12 - 3 New permits filed for what is most likely Hogwarts Express: Project 7717, 3641, and 4691.
06/13/12 – Permits filed for the staging ground of the expansion (dubbed Project 722).
07/04/12 – Walls begin going up surrounding Dragon Challenge on the West side of Sinbad
07/08/12 – Landscaping begins to be removed behind the walls next to Sinbad
07/09/12 – Set pieces are spotted and photographed at Nassal Co.
07/12/12 – First section of sea wall is poured; sea wall is set to look like Victoria Embankment
07/13/12 – Nassal is possibly prepping molds for the giant statue that’s part of the Weasley Wizard Wheezes’ façade
07/16/12- Reports of digging behind Mummy for Hogwarts Express
07/18/12 – Large trees taken out behind Mummy overnight; confirm reports of work going on behind Mummy
07/18/12 – Permit filed for show building
07/19/12 – A source describes “environmental effects, 3-D sets and next generation projection effects.” for Gringotts attraction
07/20/12 – Permit is filled with a description of a glass canopy which seems to hint at King’s Cross
07/22/12 – First crane appears on site
07/26/12 – Hatetofly hints at Gringotts being an Intamin coaster
07/27/12 – Crane appears behind Mummy
08/04/12 – Underground markers spotted throughout the main backstage road
08/08/12 – Backlot road behind Mummy is closed “until further notice”
08/09/12 – Theming begins on sea wall/Victoria Embankment
08/11/12 – First OU Aerial photo update of Phase 2
08/16/12 - Notice of Commencement was filed on Friday with BlueScope Construction for a Metal Building; company is known for large warehouses
08/18/12 – Construction walls go up around Lost Continent games
08/22/12 – Construction for Gringotts goes vertical
08/24/12 – Balloon height markers are spotted
08/29/12 – Group of creative members and contractors are spotted in the WWoHP with construction vests on
08/30/12 – Spirit from WDWMagic hints at a big change mentioning a visit to WDW by Uni execs
08/31/12 – Scaffolding on the sea wall/Victoria Embankment begins to go down
09/05/12 – Permits filed for Hogsmeade Station (Building 235), 9 3/4 (Building 64 E) and the building between Gringotts and Platform 9 3/4 (Building 64D)
09/07/12 – Lost Continent palm reading is moved to make way for Hogwarts Express
09/10/12 – Tower crane arrives on site and the remaining scaffolding at Victoria Embankment is removed
09/12/12 – Portion of the Gringotts roof frame goes up
09/13/12 – Water returns to the area in front of Victoria Embankment
09/14/12 – “Ticketing building” mentioned again in a Hogsmeade Station permit
09/14/12 – Frozen Treats building in Lost Continent is demolished
09/16/12 – Dam in front of the Victoria Embankment is being removed
09/17/12 – New information involving Hogsmeade Station, pedestrian tunnels & walkways, and a “steeple connection to a roof” is found in permits
09/17/12 – Plants added to the Embankment area; opening appears to be soon
09/19/12 – Brief aerial footage from Click Orlando
09/23/12 – Work is being done on the old Amity restrooms; appears they are staying
09/25/12 – Victoria Embankment opens to the public
09/26/12 – Building permits filed for 66B and 66C
10/08/12 – Roof installation begins at Gringotts
10/11/12 – Work begins on the front side of Gringotts
10/15/12 – New aerial photos courtesy of WESH
10/17/12 – Second tower crane goes up
10/23/12 – A tower crane is added to the Lost Continent construction site; there are also 2 boom cranes located in Amity and by Dragon Challenge
10/25/12 – Another permit is filed for Gringotts, this time for the roof
10/25/12 – Source “WhyLightbulb” posts about Hogwarts Express features such as steam, scenery, and effects
10/26/12 – Permits reveal that building 66B in the bottom right corner of Gringotts will be a shop
10/27/12 – Backlot construction work for Hogwarts Express is visible in the line for a Halloween Horror Nights house
10/30/12 – Building permit filed for Building 65 (possibly Ollivanders)
11/02/12 – Disneyhead reveals that Hogwarts Express will be made by Doppelmayr and semi-generic teaser signs have gone up on the IoA construction walls
11/04/12 – Gringotts is beginning to get enclosed
11/13/12 – A lot of construction pieces are spotted in the Lost Continent construction area
11/15/12 – King’s Cross goes vertical
11/15/12 – First piece of Gringotts track is installed
11/16/12 – New notice of commencement for Coastal Steel for steel installation
11/20/12 – New permit mentioning “actor stairs” seems to back Ollivanders being in Building 65
11/22/12 – More track spotted for Gringotts
11/25/12 – Disneyhead reveals rumor that Weasley Wizard Wheezes will feature AAs, special effects, easter eggs, and possibly a little pyro. Also mentions the inclusion of Borgin and Burkes in the project.
11/30/12 – Several permits filed for Hogsmeade Station, Platform 9 ¾, and Building 64D (Borgin & Burkes?)
12/01/12 – Second OU Aerial Photo Update of Phase 2
12/03/12 – Hatetofly mentions steam being used as a station effect for the Hogwarts Express
Building Numbers with their rumored attractions:
- 64A - Shop
- 64B – Shop
- 64C - Shop
- 64D – Borgin & Burkes
- 64E – Platform 9 ¾
- 64F – Leaky Cauldron
- 64G – King’s Cross
- 65 – Ollivanders (or similar wand shop)
- 65A - Weasley Wizard Wheezes
- 66 – Gringotts Ride
- 66A – Gringotts queue
- 66B – Gringotts shop
- 235 – Hogsmeade Station
Helpful Pictures:
Layout w/ size measurements (from Teebin):
3D Rendering (from Teebin):
Layout of the area:
Gringotts ride layout (from Lee at WDWMagic):
Layout w/ building numbers (from ReelJustice):
), but Screamscape has pointed us in the direction of TRACK!
