The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hollywood

[Chris]

Found a new satellite image, taken from about 2 weeks ago, so VERY recent. 

Crazy seeing how close Shrek is to Hogsmeade, hopefully Shrek's theme will get some major Potter-love.

Please share where you found this photo!  This is extremely recent.

 

[k_peek_2000]

I use http://www.terraserver.com/, it usually updates every month or so. 

 

[JaySalahi]

Looking at that photo I can't help but think, I don't know if I see the Studio Tour staying for too long after Potter where it is. Its just down right awkward. Plus you could fit a E ticket in that area too probably. 

 

[Alexshow.]

I doubt Studio tour is leaving..i do think it will be moved in the future.

 

[William]

It'd be a lot smarter to move it down to the Lower Lot with a grander entrance plaza. Come 2016, its entrance will essentially just be an arch wedged in between Springfield and Hogsmeade.

 

[Allen The Actor]

Yeah, Chris has been saying that it'd be smart to move it down to the Lower Lot for quite some time now. And I agree. The old arch and entrance was grand and made a statement. I loved the old entrance so much. And the current one definitely feels like an afterthought, especially since it'll be wedged in between two different expansions as William said. I'd be all for moving the entrance back to the lower lot like in its past, and maybe use the current studio tour garage, entrance, etc as further park expansion.

 

[William]

Replacing the current Studio Tour entrance and loading area with an attraction would require some serious leveling work, though --that is, unless, they plan on keeping escalators on that hill or using some other form of transportation.

 

[Allen The Actor]

I don't see why they can't use the one escalator system and build a new attraction in the tram garage location. Anything is possible at this point.

The land that the tram garage sits on is a pretty hefty piece of land! Combine that with the current large queue for the tour, and you have yourself room for another HUGE ride the size of Forbidden Journey for the future! If they can figure out how to move the tour to the lower lot and to build a new tram garage down there, that'd be a great idea for the future.

 

[Ryan]

Seeing as the F&F is being touted as a finale to the tour, I guarantee you it's not in the plans anytime soon. 

But maybe further down the line...

 

[Allen The Actor]

Very true. And of course I was thinking more waaaay down the line, like in 10 or more years. There's more than enough other available spaces for expansion in the meantime.

 

[Freak]

Hopefully I'm not straying to far off-topic here but I'll say this:

I'm taking this with a grain of salt, but I heard a rumor that the location of stage 28 is going to be the location of the new tram station. That might be their way of getting people to the lower lot when Potter opens. I guess we'll find out within the next year.

 

[...]

In the movies, Hogsmeade station doesn't have you going through the entire village to get to Hogwarts...

Just a thought.

 

[Alexshow.]

this would actauly make sense. lets just move this to the stage 28 topic.

 

[Chris]

My prediction....  Bring this up in about 5 more years...2019+

1. Evolution Plan already has made the possibility of moving the tram garage to Curious George Parking Lot.  How will this work?  Curious George will get an extension (outlined in purple on the map) and the two lower floors of the add on will be the new tram garage and the above floors will be additional parking for the theme park and Citywalk.

2.  If USH wanted to expand the area, why not build onto the side of the hill very much like Frankenstein Parking, Back to the Future/Simpsons, and Forbidden Journey?  Wipe out Prop Plaza and level the ground using a large concrete structure to add space for....should I say it.... Diagon Alley!

There.  I said it.

This way, I agree, Studio Tour would move to Stage 28 by 2016 or 2017.

Disclaimer:  This post can be edited at any time.  

I use http://www.terraserver.com/, it usually updates every month or so. 

Awesome!  I have been looking for something like this for a long time.  I knew this site community would be awesome!

 

[Alexshow.]

small little tidbit...Grass is starting to appear on the Hillside.

 

[William]

Looks like that hill will be there for good. I wonder why they decided to plant grass there so early on.

 

[Alexshow.]

maybe its that you will see the exteriors mostly done by February of 2016 with the castle a little more by march of 2016. I am thinking a April opening with the speed they have gone but FJ is the question here.

 

[Chris]

I have a very different timeline.  I believe that castle will be going up very shortly and we will get to stare at the castle and all the guests will be taking photos from the Studio Tour bridge.  I feel Hogsmead exterior will be completed near Summer 2015.  Hippogriff is going to begin initial construction early 2015 and be done within 2015.

I would not be surprised if Hogsmead and Hippogriff have a soft opening well before FJ.  I can see FJ being the big headache - much like Diagon Alley.

 

[Alexshow.]

i do agree that FJ might be the headache if what HTF says is true and that we're getting what wasn't in Orlandos.

 

[Freak]

I reply to Chris' second-to-previous post about the expansion, I foresee that as a big possibility. I think when Disney finally gets off of their lazy rear and starts working on Star Wars land, I think it will be a matter of when Diagon Alley opens. The abandoned tram spot/hillside and even King Kong 360 included is what I could see as a potential expansion for Diagon. I could especially see KK 360 leave (Good thing there isn't another K in that name) if Florida's new Kong ride does well and they will want to clone it over here for the tour.