Sunday, April 22, 2012

WWOHP in Japan?

So rumor has it (from Screamscape) in addition to the Hollywood version, a Japanese version of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter could be coming soon to USJ:

???? - Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Rumor - (4/19/12) A mysterious pecking sound at my window tonight revealed an interesting new development. According to a brief message, delivered by Owl-Mail… I’ve been told that before the year is over we may see the announcement of yet another Wizarding World of Harry Potter project. This time for Universal Studios Japan. This begs the question, what attraction(s) will Universal Japan have to remove to make room for the new Wizarding World?


If this is true, I have this feeling it will go up somewhere in the northwest corner of the park in one of two scenarios:

1) Storage lot next to WaterWorld, taking out WaterWorld itself
2) Taking out WaterWorld and JAWS

I think scenario #1 (my preferred) seems the most likely. However, scenario #2 seems possible as well, since both attractions have versions (JAWS in Orlando and WaterWorld in Hollywood) that are being (or are rumored to be) taken out for Potter related attractions (JAWS for a Potter expansion at Orlando, and WaterWorld being taken out for the Hollywood version of the WWOHP). Screamscape reported this tidbit a few days ago about the WaterWorld in Hollywood:

2015 - Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Confirmed - (4/16/12) While no one seems sure of the exact timetable here, if you visit the park this year to see Transformers (and you should!) also make sure to get your butt planted for a viewing of Waterworld before you leave. It seems a fairly sure thing now that Waterworld will be removed sooner than later to make way for the start of construction Wizarding World of Harry Potter.


That's actually my scenario for Potter in Hollywood (taking out WaterWorld and the rumored to be demolished Gibson)!

So to give you a general idea of the area, I've created a map of both scenarios:



























It should be interesting to see which attractions will be taken out. However, I think it is safe to say that all these scenarios involves the end WaterWorld.

We shall see.