Jaws is Dead and Phase II Plans

On January 2nd, 2012, JAWS sprang from the water, terrorizing riders, one last time, before closing for good. Right after the last attack, walls were being put up. By the next day, the games, shark photo-op, and Amity buildings were walled off (the restroom is still open though), and any evidence of JAWS and Amity have been removed from the park maps (downloadable and paper). The ride has even been removed from the interactive map.

On the 5th, the shark photo-op was unfenced, and became available for guests once again to pose with (in the mouth, as they're about to get "om nomed"... ;)).

The latest update from Orlando United now shows that a majority of the decorations have been taken down:

http://orlandounited.com/2012/01/15/amity-update/

Also, from hatetofly in the Orlando United forum:

...from what I overheard they are wasting no time taking out the ride system and show elements.

I wonder how long it will be until all those carnival buildings get to have a date with a wrecking ball, and the water gets drained (assuming some of the pictures above (some of the last ones) are of the ride in its current state). I can already hear the bulldozers.

Meanwhile, on the rumor side of things, on New Years Eve, Theme Park Insider posted details on what seems to be the plans for the replacement, which is indeed Phase II of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter:

http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201112/2824/

From the plans seen, it looks like it will take over the JAWS/Amity plot, and will include the secret entrance into Diagon Alley (yes, it will also have the Leaky Cauldron). The two major attractions will be the Gringotts coaster, and another one on the southeast plot of the land (possibly King's Cross station with Platform 9 3/4, and maybe the Hogwarts Express will go over the walkway into the new section (from San Francisco) and would travel behind Mummy and other soundstages to the WWoHP in IOA).

Speaking of the Hogwarts Express, it looks like Sinbad is getting the axe too:

On the southeastern portion of the plot, a second attraction is designated. I can't tell from the plans what this attraction will be, but its position is consistent with the rumor of a Hogwarts Express ride connecting the two Harry Potter land, as this attraction points into the back-of-house access road that runs straight into the rear of Sindbad theater where the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is expanding into in Islands of Adventure.

Bye Sinbad! You were an OK show!

They even posted pictures of the Gringotts coaster trains:
































And here's a quote about the ride system, which looks a lot like the ride system reported earlier:

After the load platform, the two load channels merge to the south, then bearing to the left and entering Scene 1: "Turntable." In this scene, you'll face a brick wall, with two tunnel entrances, to the left and right. But before you proceed, the track below the first of the twin cars will drop from underneath that car. The track will come to rest at a 40-degree angle. Then, the track under the trailing car will begin to rise, matching the 40-degree angle of the leading car.

At that point, the two cars will drop in tandem into a third tunnel, below the tunnel on the right. Basically, we've just ridden a teeter-totter-like vertical track switch, attaching to the roller coaster track for our initial drop.

The Gringotts ride won't be a traditional roller coaster. It appears to be a hybrid roller coaster and motion-base ride, a la Spider-Man and Transformers. There are 3D projection screens throughout the ride, embedded in the rockwork of the tunnel walls, creating an illusion of open space, within which we'll watch battles taking place.

Sounds good to me! =D

Can't wait to hear more!