Universal Orlando shares new concept art, video for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Jim Hill

15 years ago

If you did a quick tour of the Disney blogosphere this week,
the big news coming out of Jay Rasulo’s presentation at the D23 EXPO this past
Saturday would seem to be the Fantasy Forest project.

Where Guests would have the chance to visit Briar Rose as
well as Flora, Fauna & Merryweather at their cottage in the woods.

Not to mention dining with Belle in the grand ballroom at
the Beast’s Castle.

Mind you, one aspect of this Disney Princess-based expansion
of the Magic Kingdom that Jay Rasulo didn’t touch on was why the Mouse felt
compelled to greenlight this project in the first place. Could there be a
particular reason that Mickey was – in effect – doubling the size of
Fantasyland in 2012 & 2013?

You don’t suppose that Disney World managers are doing this
in response to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which begins its roll-out
next Spring at Universal’s Islands of Adventure?

This past Tuesday, Universal Orlando officials held a
webcast where they shared lots of imagery related to this eagerly anticipated
project. Including pieces of concept art that revealed what Dueling Dragons
would look like after it had been turned into the Wizarding World’s Dragon
Challenge coaster.

There were also some images of the rethemed Flying Unicorn
kiddie coaster. Which – once work is complete – will be renamed Flight of the
Hippogriff.

But as the Wizarding World’s brand-new premiere attraction, “Harry
Potter and the Forbidden Journey” … All that the Universal Orlando reps would
do was show what the entrance of this ride looked like …

… as well as revealing how the post-show gift shop would be
laid out.

Beyond that, Universal Orlando officials were pretty tight-lipped
about this state-of-the-art ride which will reportedly use “ … entirely new
technology to bring the magic, characters and stories of Harry Potter to life
in ways never before experienced.”

If you’d like to get the lay of this new land at Universal ‘s
Islands of Adventure, might I suggest that you check on this virtual
fly-through of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Looks pretty interesting, don’t you think?

So – come 2013 (when construction is supposed to finally be complete
on ALL of the Fantasy Forest) – which do you think is going to be the bigger
draw: The Magic Kingdom’s new Disney Princess-themed expansion or the Wizarding
World of Harry Potter?

Your thoughts?