Universal has announced that is building a new theme park in Orlando, Florida, on a seven and a half acre property several miles from their current site featuring The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The new park will include several new features, the most interesting to Potter-philes being a Fantastic Beasts section. The ground has been graded and prepared already so the owners hope to break ground later this year and open the new park in 2023. Read all about the plans, schedule, and property at OrlandoParkStop.com.
I admit to being surprised at this move but this only speaks to my naivete. If I had given it any thought (and of course I haven’t), I would have realized the success or failure of a film franchise is not the only factor in consideration for their adaptation as a theme park, perhaps it is not even a major or critical factor. For evidence of that, review the movies and television programs featured at various Universal Studios. Fantastic Beasts may not be a blockbuster franchise a la Harry Potter but it is doing well enough to be recognizable as a title and the precedent of Wizarding World success makes it a natural.
I doubt, though, that it will ever achieve the kind of pilgrimage status that Wizarding World’s Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley have. The Beast movies lack the imaginative experience in depth that the Potter books inspired. As excited as any fan may be about Newt Scamander’s adventures and the revelations of Credence’s history against the back-drop of the Dumbledore-Grindelwald blood pact, it just isn’t in the same league of engagement and wonder as Harry’s battles with the Dark Lord.
Your thoughts?
Thanks to Kelly for sharing the news about this new park.
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