With less than two week to go before the Grand Opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park at Univesal Orlando, the Mayor of London is wondering why the park wasn't built in London - a little closer to where the books were originally set. He wrote a lengthy piece in The Telegraph explaining his reasoning:
Because the fact is that Harry Potter is not American. He is British. Where is Diagon Alley, where they buy wands and stuff? It is in London, and if you want to get into the Ministry of Magic you disappear down a London telephone box. The train for Hogwarts goes from King's Cross, not Grand Central Station, and what is Harry Potter all about? It is about the ritual and intrigue and dorm-feast excitement of a British boarding school of a kind that you just don't find in America. Hogwarts is a place where children occasionally get cross with each other – not "mad" – and where the situation is usually saved by a good old British sense of HUMOUR. WITH A U. RIGHT? NOT HUMOR. GOTTIT?
I know that Thierry and everyone at Warner Bros and Universal will do a magnificent job of making it look and feel authentic and faithful to the stories. But I know somewhere that's even better than Orlando at looking like London – and that is London. I want to know why this Kingdom of Potter is not being built in the UK, and I won't be fobbed off with any nonsense about the weather. They built Eurodisney in the Valley of the Marne, where it is at least as cold and drizzly as it is in London – and it has been a triumphant success.
Hey Boris - we certainly wouldn't complain about a SECOND Harry Potter theme park in London as well!
By the way... we don't think Boris was too serious about the 'more likely to be shot in Orlando' comment. We think he was joking a bit.
Posted by
06-08-2010
at 08:00 AM
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Fan Comments |
Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 09:57:30
*snorts* what's this guy's problem? Relax! There is plenty of Harry Potter stuff in Britain!And, where did you get that pic? Goggle Images! *laughs* Harry Potter is AWESOME!!!!!!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 09:59:23
Realization: THAT MAYOR LOOKS LIKE MALFOY!!! the eyes and everything! RUN!!!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:01:02
i am slightly bothered, it sounds as if he thinks it's wrong for the park the be in the USA! just think how little my hope would be of going there if it were in London! i've never been out of North America! how selfish!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:01:48
I would love to visit a park in London. If London wanted the park first, they should have made moves for it.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:05:31
That man is so bitter! What a slap in the face for all American HP fans! As for me, I'm ticked of, and "cross".
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:06:03
London, well I think it's in or around London, is going to have the studio tour. This man needs to calm it down, there will be plenty of tourism brought in by Potter after the movies are done.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:06:16
@Ella Malfoy
Why? More people live outside of North America than IN north America, if you ask me its a bit selfish of you to have the park. I mean looking at the pictures and videos we've had recently, the buildings and everything looked great but there was something in the sky which was a bit odd.. the sun... Scotland has never seen the sun like that before. Bring the park to Britain and have an authentic experience... i.e. rain :)
Oh and @Rebecca... thats not nice... what if I said Barack Obama looked like Dobby (cos he so does)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:06:39
I'm certainly not against having another Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but I think the Mayor needs to get his facts straightened out. We do have boarding schools in the US. I went to one. And really, why is he so angry at Universal over this? If someone had the desire and resources to build WWoHP in the UK,it would have been done.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:06:59
And teehee @ Rebecca! He does sorta look like Malfoy! :)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:08:40
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:09:46
i'm REALLY mad! @Stella Goly, i feel exactly the same way!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:10:31
I do see his point, but there ARE a lot of HP things in London and around it. Leavesden Studios will be open with the sets in two years. But he really shouldn't be quite selfish with that.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:10:33
LMFAO I love Boris!
Aw hale, I would have loved a Harry Potter theme park in London as well! It's way closer for me than the one in Orlando LOL. But I'm happy for the American folks.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:11:10
@ Shaun, we can't just MOVE the entire park to Great Britain. You can make one yourself, too. All Harry Potter fans have a right to HP-related fun! What the heck, just build another in Mexico, too.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:11:57
He should worry more about running his city than taking shots at the U.S. If not for us he would be speaking German right now.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:13:23
I think he's jealous because Orlando will be getting the tourism from the park and London will not.
I agree that he needs to calm down. Have more Harry Potter events and attractions in London, certainly, but don't get upset because other people want to do the same thing. No one is denying that Harry Potter is British; we're just saying the story has qualities that we can all enjoy, regardless of which country we are from.
Really, he should be proud that so much British literature (including more current novels as well as so many great classics) have become famous all over the world.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:13:25
That is funny how he looks like Malfoy, or like one at the least. I would definitely love a theme park in London though. It would increase the fandom entirely, but they'd have to put more piles of money into that. Then again, it would be big.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:13:34
Why does it say "GOT TIT" instead of "GOT IT" hahaha?
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:14:32
If Hogwarts should be anywhere in the UK it should be here in Scotland, considering it's Hogsmeade not Diagon Alley anyway :P But I can't wait to go to the Orlando one in July. To be honest the park would be immense anywhere they built it.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:14:32
@ Shaun hey, i'm sorry, i would think it great if there was another one in Europe, i was ticked that the guy pretty much said that it was BAD for the park to be in the US instead of London.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:14:56
Jo should be okay with it. It makes HP and the fandom more international doesn't it? That's always a good thing.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:15:16
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:15:55
hollllyyy!! This guys got issues!!
It's nice to finally have something Harry Potter on this side of the pond... something Americans AND Canadians can finally go to!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:16:27
@Zack you obviously dont know the English... theres no way that we'd have learnt to speak German in 60 years...
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:18:25
Does he feel insulted? :P
Haha, it makes me feel insulted reading the article!
I think his mention of this is a bit late....
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:18:38
See, I wasn't going to comment on this- seeing as how I am Canadian, and thus decidedly neutral about where the park was located.
But then some idiot named Zack Thiel had to come in and make the most overused and blatantly false claim in American History: If it wasn't for the USA joining the fight in WWII, we'd have all lost the war to Germany.
Are you kidding me? America's involvement in WWII was limited AT BEST, and the majority of the combat was against the JAPANESE, not the GERMANS.
Please get your facts straight before making ridiculous claims.
As for the rest of you: Guys, I don't think you're meant to take this too seriously. Look at the way he's talking in the article. He's the MAYOR OF LONDON. Obviously his vocabulary is a bit more dignified than that, so it's supposed to be modestly satirical, with just a hint of seriousness, because, come on, I'm sure they'd love to have a park there too.
Just don't get all wound up about it. He's not trying to insult American Harry Potter fans.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:19:34
@Shaun, and about Obama looking like Dobby, i know some of us couldn't care less, i don't care what on earth the guy looks like, actually, i agree with you! shhhhh, don't tell! :)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:21:15
The movies are a Hollywood (and thus, American) adaptation of the British books. No doubt HP would be every bit a famous without the movies (no one will contest that the books are infinitely more superior), but come on. It was the Americans who brought the visual aspect of HP to life, and it's the Americans fronting the money to build the park--of course they're going to build it in America. Does anyone think an American company would be unselfish enough to pay for a park to be built in the UK? No. The UK can quit their whining and build their own park if they're so bothered. Besides, there are a greater number of US citizens than British citizens, which means more money (I'm sure that's all they care about).
Besides, speaking as an American expat currently in Scotland, who wants to visit dreary, grey UK when you can go on vacation to sunny Florida? :P
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:22:13
Please ignore everything Boris Johnson says. He's a moron. I hang my head in shame that my fellow Londoners voted him in. The reason my friends gave? "For a laugh". That sums him up.
That said I'd love HP World to be on my doorstep.
@Zack: Get a life and check your facts.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:22:29
@Pam s oh because you didn't have the Harry Potter exhibition in the us first? Oh wait you did...
I'm not being angry or bitter... yeah maybe they should build another one in Britian (but not London... not enough space)
I have no problem with the fact that the theme park is in the us. My main problem is that when you go there it's going to be so unauthentic... it's going to be sunny for one, everyone is going to be talking in fake English accents and the Brits you will find there will be too americanised to tell apart from the real Americans. So many British things are being taken over by foreign companies and its not suprising Boris wants to keep British things in Brtiain.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:22:37
That makes perfect sense. It's a little bit absurd that they put it in Orlando isn't it? Nothing about the books or the movies (minus the first two) is remotely American.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:23:03
Lol. Honestly, i don't really care where Harry potter park should be built. In my opinion, I'm happy that Harry potter magical things can spread everywhere not only in UK because all the world love harry potter. ;)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:23:08
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:23:41
i hate this kind of conversation, people from different countries fighting each other about stupid unimportant things, maybe they will put a Harry Potter theme park somewhere in Europe, who knows!!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:25:05
I read the entire thing. He is jealous as he says he is.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:25:13
@Nichole Yettaw Thats exactly the point I'm making!!! Because it is rainy and dreary it IS the perfect place to go. Hogwarts is set in Scotland. People in Scotland don't know what hot weather is.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:26:10
This is actually a really funny article. I'm pretty sure the mayor of London wrote this intending to be tongue-in-cheek. I certainly wouldn't mind if they built another theme park in London-go right ahead! (Do they even have big theme parks in England? Forgive my American ignorance) The thing is, I feel like Americans do "deserve" it, because we are not set in London or anywhere where the books take place, and we would like the opportunity to live the magic a little. HP fans in London probably get that excited feeling at King's Cross or Charing Cross Road, seeing that they were mentioned in HP, that Americans don't get.
And Brad Ausrotas- I completely agree with you.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:27:51
Howdy Pards,
This may be something awfully hard to understand but the tales of Harry Potter are popular throughout the known world...not just in London or in Scotland. Orlando, Florida is
a World Wide theme park mecca...and Universal
put this magnificent attraction where they did
because they are in direct competition with a
little thing called Walt Disney World. The number of folks who come to Florida from Great
Britain is legendary. In fact, the Florida parks attract folks from countries throughout the world.
Now, if I was the Mayor of London and as rabid a Harry Potter fan as the real mayor is,
I would be doing the exact same thing. I would be encouraging a London theme park based on Harry Potter! Expand those studios where all the film magic happened! Bring us tourists! In short I fully understand his feelings that Harry belongs to London!
Ah...but the truth of the matter is that Harry belongs to the entire world! Come to
Florida, my dear Mayor, and let us discuss your concerns over of mug of delicious ButterBeer...and let us dream a little about what could be done with those studios of yours.
What a delightful problem we have here...
Adios for now. Talk to ya on down the trail. Wild Ol' Dan
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:27:56
@Zack, stop talking such a load of rubbish. How in anyway does this conversation have anything to do with the war. I personally agree with Boris though. It would be nice to have something harry potter related in UK. I have no problem with there been one in America either, just be nice to have something nearer to home and where Harry potter originates from. And you really shouldnt take what he says as a stab at every American. I mean really!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:28:31
Oh, i forgot to add, it would be nice too if there's another park build in UK.. I really want to go there, both Orlando and London! :D
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:28:56
Please guys, peeps are entitled to there opinions! Like Ella Malfoy, I hate this conversation! Don't fight!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:29:12
@Nichole
How are the movies American? They are funded by WB, yes. But they are all filmed in the UK. J.K Rowling has said she only wanted British actors/actresses in the film.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:29:41
I agree with Brad Ausrotas,I think this guy was just making a joke... but, then again, I don't really know him, so I guess I can't be sure. I think it would be a great idea to put another park in the UK! I've never been there, but it would be so legit =]
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:29:50
That's just typical Boris Johnson, aiming to please a specific set of people to improve votes. I think it would be nice to have a park in London, but with it being in American, it means I get to travel there which I have always wanted to do!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:29:57
@Shaun As a person from Scotland I do know what hot weather is, I love Scotland because of the huge variations in seasons, and the theme park could be built anywhere in the world and it would still be amazing.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:33:55
@Harriet I meant it tongue in cheek and not just in Scotland but all over Britain (lets be honest, our weather isn't perfect).
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:35:02
Regardless of where the park is this guy seems like hes more worried about bragging rights and the all mighty dollar. Who cares where it was built first, Im sure there will be many more to come because of the popularity. I mean look at disney ,lol, they are EVERYWHERE in the world....so is McDonalds...LMAO. This guy needs to have a coke and a smile and relax. geesh! (talk about international magical cooperation)(and also you think he would be more concerned about making ready for the dam olympics coming up! But then again maybe he's grumpy abt those too because they were in china last....how dare they. everyone knows the olympics belong to london!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:35:34
Today is the perfect example of our not so perfect weather :)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:36:03
@Shaun haha no it's not, but who wants 50 degree sunshine all year round? Personally I loved our 6 month winter.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:39:55
@Harriet exactly and its just what Harry&co experience every day
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:44:41
@Brad
Not to be rude, but as a Canadian, you're not well versed in American history. Zack was wrong to say that British people would be speaking German if it wasn't for America, but it wasn't just America's military that was involved in the war effort . The US was an instrumental help in Britain's defense against the Germans. The National Rifle Association here in the US raised over 7,000 firearms to send to Britain so they could defend themselves against Germany (since Britain enacted gun laws between WWI and WWII that left them virtually defenseless when it came to weaponry.)
Anywho as an American I'm happy and proud that Harry Potter World is in Orlando, but I would think that it would be great anywhere! I still have to buy a plane ticket and get a hotel in order to visit Orlando! London should build one of their own, I would love to visit it! There are countless Harry Potter fans around the world and there should be more than one HP World to accomodate everyone! :)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:45:15
I live in the US, so I'm happy it's here. But I can realize why the mayor sounds so upset in this. Imagine living in London, near the place where the books came to be, and have to travel halfway across the world to go to a major attraction about it!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:49:04
First off, as a mayor of a world class city, that was poorly written, and it sounds as if he is whining. I'm sure that Warner Bros put a lot of thought into making a park, and they come to the conclusion that most of their fan base is in the U.S, and the park would probably do better there.
Okay, so the entire series takes place in England, and the only mention of the U.S. is in HBP, but it had to do with making a smart business move on the part of Warner Bros. Is just comes down to jealousy. I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't see a park at least 5-10 years down the road.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:56:02
I am sure the UK would have just as many HP fans if it had anywhere near the population the US did. At the end of the day it is been built by an American company, therefore it is been built in America! Unfortunately nothing we can do about it. But come on guys don't take what Boris says as a stab at American Potter fans. He says things like that all the time. Don't take it seriously. :)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:56:24
i think this guy needs to calm down. He probably only wants it in London because it would bring is millions of dollars. Harry Potter isn't just for Britain, people around the world love Harry. Britain has all of the Harry Potter locations such as Kings Cross and the many places they shot the interior of the castle in. And plus i don't think the mayor of a first-rate city should be bashing a themepark, it seems a little juvenile for a mayor.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 10:59:43
Seems to me like the purpose of this article was to upset Americans who will take it too seriously. Yeah, it ticked me off a bit the way he said that we've got no clue what the atmosphere is like, but I think that's part of it--the park will give people who DON'T have access to that lifestyle a glimpse of it. And like many others have said, I seriously doubt that this will be the only theme park devoted to Harry Potter. And as an American, I, too, think Obama is funny-looking.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 11:06:43
WELL DONE BORIS. This makes me happy. Personally, I think he has a very good point, because I watched a video of some Americans who got to go into the theme park, and they didn't have a good reaction and also, no offence, but the American accents annoyed me to when it came down to them playing characters. Also, even Americans shouldn't deny the fact that it is unfair how WB sometimes does things, like releasing it in cinemas in America before the UK :|.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 11:09:46
I have to admit the guy playing ollivander did sound very irritating.lol But he could be British for all I know. :P
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 11:23:30
Guys, seriously? Calm down! This is just Boris writing a little article using typically sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek British humour. That is it. He uses the phrase "and stuff", if he was being serious, he'd use far more eloquent language. It is just a joke, nobody is trying to claim British fans are better than Americans, nobody is trying to claim Americans don't deserve the park. Maybe you think he's writing it with the purpose of upsetting Americans, but I'm sure that didn't even cross his mind. It. Was. Simply. A. Joke.
Lets not start WW3 over it.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 11:24:16
i know he's probably joking but...
1) while you may be "more likely to be shot or robbed" in Orlando, London has been host to more terrorist attacks in the last year than any other country in the western world. probably not the most ideal happening while picking out your wand at ollivander's...
2) he says that harry potter is about the "ritual and intrigue and dorm-feast excitement of a British boarding school of a kind that you just don't find in America" but i'm sorry, i wasn't aware that Hogwarts ACTUALLY existed in London? because if it does, i'm getting myself over there at once. however, until then, sorry, no good arguement there.
3) weather still is an issue because you certainly don't want to be shutting down rollercoasters 340 days out of the year because of rain. no matter which way you argue it orlando weather > london weather.
4) orlando is already filled with so many other theme parks that it's fiscally smart to put the wizarding world of harry potter there as guests can not only attend it, but also the other universal lands as well as disney world.
in conclusion... sorry boris, you lose.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 11:27:38
Sounds like someone is jealous.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 11:29:33
LOL! however, one is more likely to be stabbed in london than orlando.
america commercializes everything, we HAD to have one here. and they should totally build one in london, for the european children!!
and why does london get to have such a funny mayor? the mayor of my city is boring and most certainly does not write humorous editorials in the paper.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 11:33:41
Howdy Pards,
Ah, my dear Mayor, while I agree totally with you that London needs it's own celebration of Harry Potter, I wonder...
Has it occurred to you that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Florida may well be one of the greatest advertisements for British tourism yet created? The remarkable attention to detail right down to the proper menu at The Three Broomsticks...tried and tested by real British folks and determined without question to be "just like home." Indeed the whole world is celebrating the magic of your home grown lady...J.K. Rowling. Believe me we here in America think of Great Britain almost as if it was our own mother... oh...wait a minute...gosh...turns out...Great Britain is our mother country. Imagine that...
For those perfectionists who believe the weather is not proper in Florida...let me assure you that it does rain and it does get cold in the Sunshine State. Given the choice,
most folks really don't mind a little sunshine
and warmth. I'll use this year's attendance figures at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter as evidence of that... I think more than a few folks are plannin' to show up. Harry Potter is one of Great Britain's greatest exports...and one of it's greatest tourist magnets at the same time. Have you ever counted the number of people who pause at Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross Station? You have a Harry Potter attraction already in the works right there in the studios where the actual movie magic was created...
Let's all celebrate the magic Ma...I mean
Mum. Adios for now. Talk to ya on down the trail. Wild Ol' Dan
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 11:34:14
One thing which I found weird when watching the video of the theme park was in the queue for the main ride at Hogwarts, when the sorting hat says something like "remember to switch off your cell phones". It sounds so unnatural for a British accent to say "cell phone"
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 11:35:19
I'm sure he'll have his own park one day....chill bro
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 11:41:29
I think it's stupid that we're fighting over this. Some points to consider:
1. WB is an American studio
2. Londoners have the real thing.
3. 1/3 of total box office sales for Harry Potter Movies are from America alone.
Geesh, we can't act in the movies, we can't host the world premieres, let us have SOMETHING!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 11:43:19
FYI, this is a UNIVERSAL theme park, not WB. The Universal parks have the theme park rights to certain movie franchises that are not necesarily Universal studios. Examples: Harry Potter (WB), Shrek (Dreamworks), The Simpsons (Fox) etc. I'm pretty sure Universal will not be giving up those rights to HP any time soon. Until they decide to compete with Disneyland Paris, or find a location with decent year-round weather in Europe, don't count on seeing an HP park there in the near future. Allegedly JK's original idea for a park which Disney turned up their nose at, was to have visitors enter through the Leaky Cauldron into Diagon Alley, then to King's Cross and the Hogwarts Express which would then thake them to Hogsmeade and Hogwarts itself. Hopefully one day maybe they'll expand the rather small footprint Wizarding World occupies and add Diagon Alley (with a Gringott's mine train) and other locations.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 11:43:58
calm down buddy. Europe already has everything else Harry Potter related. Harry Potter is created by Universal and their theme Parks are in the States, deal with it. They could maybe make another one in Britain (i wouldn't be surprised) but for now it gives people who don't like in London the chance to experience the world unlike Brits who already get King's Cross and London (basically the entire setting for the books).Thw Wizarding World gives us non-brits a chance to get in on the action.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 11:45:07
And where exactly in London does he plan on building this expansive park? London is packed like a can of sardines! Even the suburbs of London are packed tight! You'd have to go into rural England in order to build a theme park, which I believe would actually be interesting to see. Imagine one of the tube stops being 'Harry Potter Theme Park'. 'This is a District line to Harry Potter Theme Park.' lol
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 11:46:27
Well, being English myself, I think he has a point. But, like some other people have said, he IS joking. I love "HUMOUR. WITH A U. RIGHT? NOT HUMOR. GOTTIT?" lmfao.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 11:56:51
If I want to go to London, I'll go to London. If I want to go to a place that's made up to look like London, but is 5 times as packed and hot and loud, I'll go to Orlando. I think a "We'd like one too." would have been more appropriate than a "Why'd you get one?". Needless to say, I'd much rather go to London anyway. You have all the actual filming locations and the soon-to-be-tourable studio for crying out loud! Let us have our stinky, packed, expensive, noisy facsimile!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 11:57:25
Haha.. this was entertaining =]
..but the mayor might want to watch his back. America has bombed people for saying less lol.
BTW I've already been into the WWOHP ('cause I'm a passholder that lives in Orlando). The park is epic.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 11:58:20
I reallly agree, why would you put an english theme park in America, its just wacky. America gets many things that England should get, which isn't fair. At all. I have no chance of getting to America because it is far to expensive, but London I can get to. Even better put it in Manchester!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 11:58:28
@Zoeyy, I completely agree; Boris isn't being bitter as such, he is joking and that is just the way he is. I watched the episode of Have I Got News For You that he hosted the other day on Youtube and joking really is a part of his personality. I recommend that you all watch it and then you might have a better understanding of the article. I found the article really amusing.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 11:58:30
Really it is simple economics-if you want to build a theme park attraction you have it built in the theme park capital of the world. Orlando is one of the top vacation destinations for the WORLD not just the US. Yes, it is HOT here in Florida and we do get some rain and a very short winter but that is why people come here and that is why theme park companies want to be here. When it does rain here it usually stops within an hour or so and it hardly ever rains all day so ride don't have to close down (unless there is lighting.) I understand the point about the Americans doing a poor English accent but then again English actors do poor American accents all the time and get paid alot more for it then these theme park employees. We all don't talk like were from California :) Now if Disney had done the park they would have brought people over from the UK to work like they do in Epcot but this is Universal not Disney.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 12:06:12
Wow, this is a bit of a slap in the face to American HP fans and I'm American. I'm all for the British authenticity of HP from the locations and influences and right down to the actors themselves. But not all of us can affordto experience HP IN London and if I could I would, but can't. So I'm thankful for having a park here. But at the same time, I'm all for London having a park TOO, not ONLY. It doesn't hurt to share. In the words of Hermione: HONESTLY?!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 12:08:40
Get back to your mayoral duties and stop being such a cry baby!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 12:09:04
I first want to point that because of Orlando's reputation a theme park and amusement park mecca, that it is an international city. And especially the British visit Orlando. Second, it does rain a lot in Orlando. I'm not saying it's anything like the UK, but it does rain. Third, who wants to walk around a park, in the rain? It's really not good for theme parks. Attendance drops in inclement weather down there. Third, Disneyland Paris was a bomb for the Disney company... It's not very successful and the weather is an attributed factor to its poor attendance. Lastly, I want London to have a theme park, but I bet the rights to it will be tricky to get now. And everyone, stop taking the article so seriously. He isn't bashing America, just appealing to Londoners.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 12:10:31
I would not see a problem with another Harry Potter theme park in London. The Harry Potter series and movies are so awesome! If you lived in London, you probably couldn't help wanting a theme park there, too. You do have to wonder, why is an English theme park in America? What if an American theme park was in London? (If there is, I'm just not aware of it.) That might seem odd to Americans. However, the mayor must be quite a HP fan if he is so upset about this. Oh well, the problem will get solved eventually! :(
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 12:10:35
I would be so happy if they made another HPpark in London :D. I can never go to Orlando, its just to far :(
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 12:11:11
I think it would be great if they built another theme park but I admit, I'm really glad they built it in the US first. All the kids in London know what those things are like. They know about Kings Cross etc. To us Americans, Harry Potter's world is even more magical because we know nothing of it. Making it in FL was great because even though its not the original train, and the original station, in a way, we can experience Harry's world and a bit of London at the same time. Maybe he should be flattered that we would enjoy things like that lol.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 12:11:19
Oh well what can i say? Both places are hard for me to go, but america is a much easier and cheaper travel for me (either way, i still cant afford it, but hope i can soon to go visit the park). It'd be great if there's another one in london, should i happen to be there because of business or anything. But i just dont see that coming.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 12:14:35
Oh please. Who cares about the rain anyway. It really doesn't rain that often here. And Alton Towers manages perfectly well with the weather. It really doesn't make any difference. And considering everyone thinks Boris is insulting the American Fans (which he is not) you want to watch what some of you are saying back. Your been just as bad. This is not a who is better than who competition.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 12:15:49
... Am I wrong in understanding that America (specifically Florida) has the funds, resources, and ability to create massive, immersive, and successful theme parks? I would love to go to England but the thing is, I don't think they could do it justice in England.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 12:17:50
Joking or not, as a politician he should know not to make a joke which could so easily be misread as serious and inflame people. It was just a stupid thing to say. As for the park, he should have jumped on that before Orlando did. What was stopping the city of London approaching JK or the producers and creating a theme park to drum up tourism? Nothing. It's called lost opportunity. He could still do as others have suggested and put Harry Potter themed items around London. He could do something, besides complaining.
As for the person that complained the movies are released in the US before the UK, that is not entirely correct. For all the films, they were premiered in the UK before the US. Also, all but two films (Prisoner and Order), were released in the UK and the US on the same day. (Both Deathly Hallows films are scheduled to be released the same day as well) Order was released in the US one day before the UK, and Prisoner was released in the UK 5 days before the US. This is highly unusual because it is an American company producing the films.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 12:21:02
plus this dudes acting childish. If the state I live in alone is bigger than England, don't you think that one in Florida would make more money?
urg I love Enlgand, almost everything I enjoy comes from England (Imogen Heap, Harry Potter, Doctor Who, TEA), but this dude's so irritating. I mean, you're the mayor! Stop acting like a selfish infant!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 12:21:47
I laughed so hard when I was reading this. All I could think of is that this guy must really want to get inside Honeydukes or something, because I just don't understand why he should be so upset. And why is he just coming out with this now? I mean, the park's already built. So he's a little late on the protest thing. And his main argument is that the "weather" isn't British enough. Seriously? I can just imagine the guys at Universal saying "We decided not to build the park because the "American" weather would just destroy the overall experience." I mean , come on. I live near Orlando and have been to Universal several times. I have complete trust in the people that put the park together, because Universal does an amazing job with everything. (They may be a little too proud of their prices, in my opinion, but that's a theme park for you). Anyway , just thought I'd comment on the humorous article. Excuse me, humoUrous article. How silly of me.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 12:22:07
I agree CB. Ahhh yeah he is just so jealous. I am a Floridian and very excited to have the park in Orlando. Florida is an awesome state and a great place for a theme park.Its THeme park captial of the world!!!! I wish he wasn't so harsh about the U.S getting to have the park. I think before he judges he should visit Orlando first. I am not opposed to the opening of another park in LOndon or wherever. Lets just open this one to see how it does. Shesh this stir is just ridiculous and for a mayor to get all worked up about a theme park. I hope he loses his next election.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 12:22:10
@caleb I dont think they could do it justice in England!!! These comments just get better and better.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 12:23:12
@Ashley not everyone can afford to go to America either...
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 12:28:10
London. kick your marketing/tourism team in the ass. next time an opportunity like this comes up jump on it BEFORE other people do. #1 rule of marketing...innovate and stay ahead of the curve
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 12:31:32
You know, the only Brit that I know hasn't read the series. I swear I stood there open-mouthed for a good 5 seconds when he told me. Isn't that like an abomination!?
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 12:32:36
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 12:34:13
I think Luke Payne summed this up quite well, not to mention calmly. As many others have mentioned, this is meant to be a comical piece. For starters, Boris Johnson is very busy upholding his position of Bumbling Bafoon, successfully hiding what his education suggests is actually quite substantial intelligence.
@Lucas Dixon, I presume it's to emphasise the 't' sound in the British pronunciation, as opposed to a 'd' sound.
Brad Ausrotas and Caressa McCarthy are correct to criticise Zack Thiel's comment; regardless of the precise facts surrounding this period of history (which, for starters, involved a lot more factors and, as Caressa points out, areas of involvement than such an overgeneralised statement can provide), it's totally irrelevant to feedback on a comical ranting article posted on MN.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 12:35:50
It could be cool if there were two HP themed parks in the world! I mean, I know it could be hard for people on other continents to get to the US, so a London park isn't a bad idea! But I mean, Orlando is a huge tourist destination, so... that's probably why they put it there. Plus, J.K. Rowling had no objection to it.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 12:37:10
Well... it's a bit of an offensive joke, especially coming from the mayor =\.
But yeah, definitely, build another one in London.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 12:40:05
In all fairness to Boris,It would be nice to have a theme park of sorts in england. I live in Ireland and Orlando is simply to far away and too expensive for me to ever get a chance to visit the park. And thats not to say that Americans can afford to travel to England either..So something on both sides of the pond would be rather nice.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 12:41:38
Yes, please! Then maybe it would be realistic for me to hope I could go to a HP themepark someday...
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 12:43:26
Oh c'mon guys. This is ridiculous. I'm pretty sure he was joking. At least a little bit. And those of you complaining about it being in Orlando, think about it from WB's perspective. Orlando is the theme park capitol of the world and they bring in boatloads of tourists from all over the place. Including Britain. Financially speaking, building a theme park as an extension to an already existing theme park is much cheaper, as is building it in an area already known for its theme parks because it will be in an area already known for tourism. The bottom line is, this park will make more money in Orlando than it would in London. Also to those people saying that the UK needs Harry Potter stuff... you already do!! You have the real King's Cross Station, the ACTUAL STUDIOS, which will be open to tour in a couple of years, you have the World Premieres of all of the movies, filming locations all over the place, and many more chances to meet the actors at various events. I would much rather have all of that than a theme park, especially since it's only slightly easier for me to get to Orlando than London. It's still a plane flight and a hotel for me, no matter where it is. But really, if everyone put all of their silly country biases aside, people would see that economically, putting this park in Orlando was an obvious choice, and the best choice. And people would also see that London and the rest of Britain is filled with locations that Harry Potter fans would LOVE to visit.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 12:47:09
Anyone in UK needing a fix of harry potter should go here http://www.alnwickcastle.com/ It is what they call the 'real life' Hogwarts. And looking at photos you really can see the resemblance. I haven't been, but would love to go. :D
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 13:04:31
IF J.K ROWLING DOESN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE PARK BEING IN ORLANDO,I DON'T SEE WHY ANYONE ELSE SHOULD.AFTER ALL SHE CREATED IT.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 13:05:56
So Harry Potter is British and not American; cool we all know that! Now Mr. Mayor if you want a Harry Potter theme park in London why don't you get the funds to build it? The fact is, dumb-ass, that the company that invested in building the Harry Potter theme park did so for the sole purpose of making money, NOT entertaining a nationalist like you! And as it so happens Americans are more willing to shed some hard earned money on Harry Potter than the people of London. Plus the weather is better in Florida! Enough said, end of story, goodbye!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 13:06:33
This article is clearly written somewhat in jest, it is Boris after all so you can't take it too seriously, but he has a point, one that has been growing increasingly irritating to me for quite a while. He is right, Harry Potter is fundamentally British but British fans have to travel halfway around the world to go to this attraction, something I have no hope of affording. We get less merchandise in general, we haven't had a whiff of those new super-duper editions of the movies that are readily available pretty much everywhere else. I'm not saying that America should get less stuff, just that we should get more, at least the same as everyone else gets. Give us a theme park too, not in London though Boris dear, it clearly wouldn't fit.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 13:06:57
Ha!!!!! Suck it up!
And who cares, there may end up being one in London anyway...The US has more people and WB is an American company so it would make sense either way in London OR America. Besides, he who has the money, makes the decisions.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 13:14:15
THAT WOULD BE SOOOOO AWESOME!! THEN I COULD VISIT IT MUCH EARLIER!! I ABSOLUTLY AGREE WITH THE MAYOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 13:16:45
Britain isn't as ideally suited for theme parks. THe weather in Orlando is more suitable for theme parks.
Also, so? It's not like America just stepped out and took the theme park idea for Britain. If Britan wanted one so badly, maybe they should have tried a bit harder to get one. JKR chose Orlando, and that should be good enough for all us fans.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 13:19:02
Universal payed for it to be built in orlando, universal gets it. End of story. if it was a joke, then what a joker (sarcasm). If he wants one in london, then get the money and do it yourself. As for me, its easier to get to orlando from mexico than to england, and way cheaper. So its ok, and we should ALL be thankful theyre doing this with so much detail (who cares about the sun and the american accents: look at the castle and the shops). This isnt a competition. HP is loved throught the world, and no one is better than the other.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 13:19:39
I can't tell you how much fun I had reading these comments lol But yeah im English and sure I would love to have one over here but I love the fact that I get to go to America next year to see it. I've been to America once before (NYC) and loved it! I can't wait! I love that it will be warm weather and I don't know about anybody else but I couldn't go to a theme park while it's chucking it down. It would just annoy me lol And besides it looks like Universal have done an awesome job and they have the space for something so big. They really did it justice :) So come on, this guy is NOT worth fighting over :)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 13:23:02
Wow...dude's just pissed because Rowling chose Universal. Advice...grow up dude. I don't think I have ever hear a Brit whine as much as you.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 13:25:03
Hah, good old Boris, he's always good value. :D
I'd love it if there was another park in London too (my chances of ever getting to the one in the US are minimal) but I think maybe some people are talking his comments a tad too seriously. I get the feeling this was more just wishful thinking rather than a geniune complaint! Maybe some of our American cousins aren't so familiar with the Mayor's...ah...eccentricities?
Either way, I really wish I had the money to visit the park, it looks awesome!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 13:27:12
woooooow.. you think he wouldve said something idk.. when the hp world was being planned? and who cares if it starts here there can always be a second third and even fourth park if he wants it that bad
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 13:35:03
I'm sure one in London would be nice...but let's be realistic--as much as it'll be wonderful for fans to be immersed (hasn't this word been done to death when talking about WWoHP?) in Harry's world, it's all about the green. And Orlando is the tourist capital of the world.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 13:35:59
Let me be one of the many to say that that is ridiculous. Before I read this article I was all for a theme park in London. But now, based on the mayor's comments, I am slightly against it. He represents London as a whole and I don't think it would be fair to give something to someone so rude. Besides blatantly bashing America's reputation he is acting out of line and foolishly. As a politician he should act with class and dignity, and he displayed none of that here. Besides, the Harry Potter series is about the people of the world coming together; why would he make the world seem more divided than it actually is. It goes against the morals the book teaches us.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 13:36:10
Ergh... now he suggests it when they already built the darn theme park! :/ I agree with Boris though that the theme park should have been built in the UK tho (saves me heaps of money from travelling!) It does really bother me that I can't even purchase Harry Potter merchandise in the UK! Harry Potter is originally British afterall...
But then again, Warner Bros. is American, right? :S
I don't think they should complicate it with building two theme parks.. too much competition! What's done is done :(
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 13:42:14
Last time I saw a face like that, it had a hook in it.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 13:44:20
I think another park would be great! I probably wouldn't ever be able to visit it, but it would give us more Harry Potter news. It'd also be cool if it had different rides and places from Harry's world.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 13:47:21
A second theme park is actually a good idea, imo. However, since the mayor is whining like a little kid, and is blatantly bashing America, I have little, if any, sympathy for the situation. If you want a HP theme park, take the necessary actions to do so, just don't take the fact that the first one was built in America so personally.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 13:48:46
Quite a few people just don't know what Boris is like, and if they did... well, you'd take him about as seriously as Big Brother. It's much more reasonable money-wise for those here in the UK to travel to the US than the other way round, even though in my experience those in the US are still more willing to travel for some reason. But wherever it was built, people were always going to complain. Considering the size of the respective places, it's prolly a good thing the complaints are coming from the UK ;). Personally, it just pushed up my planned road trip round the States to 2011 *thumbs up*.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 13:53:00
Guys, please don't be too emotional over Boris Johnson. That blond is a (joke of a) politician. He's writing about a freaking theme park - not a world-changing policy. He's just filling in his time with a little nationalistic piece on Harry Potter since he can't seem to find anything else wrong with the world order and his country to discourse on (huh). A British park would have been cooler, but let's see the numbers: Orlando being theme park capital of the world + Warner Brother being American = the Harry Potter park will only be in Florida. Plus, I would never be able to go to WWHP if it was in Britain. :D
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 13:55:06
@Shaun Wills: You should know that Florida is actually one of the wettest places in the US. So if you really have a hankering to go to a theme park on a rainy day, you have a pretty good chance. No, it may not be a COLD rainy day, but I think the chance of getting sick while walking around all day isn't too appealing to most people anyway. :)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 14:02:25
I see one solution to this problem. Build another park in the UK. An American company made the movies from British books. That doesn't mean the fandom belongs to any one country. I'm happy because a nine hour drive to Orlando is shorter and cheaper than an elevn hour flight to London. But if you want a park in the UK, build one. It's nothing to get in an international argument over... geesh calm down people.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 14:04:41
and while they're at it, they should build another park in california!
please please please!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 14:06:57
Some confused people on this thread...
You shouldn't be insulted by it, this is typical Boris:
He has a serious core message (in this case that the theme park being in London would be good for the local economy), but surrounds it with tongue-in-cheek humour and says it in a semi-serious way.
And I find it quite funny that people on this thread have accused Boris of being selfish, but at the same time have been adament that the park should be in their country - partly because they are closer to it.
One last thing... the weather would have negligible impact on a park in/around London.
We have several theme parks (most notably Alton Towers) that cope well enough.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 14:08:30
I think they just want the money that this park is generating. They are just jealous that they didn't think of it first.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 14:09:40
Lol... you can tell from some of the posters on this thread that they don't like Boris's politics so are just using this issue to bash him.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 14:11:03
@Vicki Baker: Very true! I live about 45 minutes outside of Orlando and before I moved here I never saw such rain. During the summer especially. You get rain everyday, usually for at least 30 minutes, rarely lasting as much as two hours during the summer. More often than not, it is brief, but mighty. If you really really want to be rained on when experiencing the park, you'll have no problem. But the fact is that people flock to Florida because 90% of the day is sunny and warm. Orlando is a mecca for tourism...it was only natural.
Like some people said above: If J.K. Rowling is down, I'm down.
And also, someone said it was too expensive to come to the U.S....You know what? It's pretty expensive to go ANYWHERE if you don't live there. I'd be hard-pressed to visit London if they built it there. I consider myself extremely lucky that my parents decided to move to Florida rather than some other place four years ago!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 14:11:15
What I don't understand is why is he complaining about it NOW?
If the mayor really wants the WWoHP to be in London, maybe he should have asked 5 years ago when they began planning and not 2 weeks before it opens.
This statement is really quite ridiculous and rude. Fans should be happy we even got a theme park in the first place!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 14:13:01
I personally wish the Wizarding World could be everywhere, all the time. I've already got my wand :D
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 14:22:24
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 14:27:28
i am from the uk and i see what old boris is on about but having said that nobody makes a theme park aswell as the americans so its is in the right place but if boris is so annoyed by this like every one else has said he should have done something about it before bit to late now. i however do not thinks the statement is rude or ridiculous i mean come on she wrote the books and set them here so i see his point but hes to late. oh and for any americans who are not to sure what he is like watch this 30 second clip and u will see what a waste of space this guy is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H3ytL0lh0U&feature=related :)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 14:29:16
I like how he's bringing it up now... After the fact. I mean, does he want them to pick it up and fly it across the Atlantic? A little late to be complaining... Just sayin.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 14:29:55
He sounds like a dick. Sorry that's your mayor, London.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 14:31:28
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOivzoRc0I8&feature=related yep he is a dick but he is the funniest mayor ever watch this it his wiping out a german in a game of football
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 14:33:08
THANK YOU MR LONDON! I've been asking myself the same question ever since I found out about the park. I mean, I am DYING to go, but I can't help but thinking that orlando's heat will make it less Potterish. It is TOO late to do something about it, I guess... But if the decision had been mine to make, I definitely would have put it in the UK.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 14:33:15
I dont believe that JK Rowling said we will make a theme park in Orlando. She just approved the one universal agreed to make. im sure she would have agreed it wherever it was as long as it was authentic. :) I agree with John D. Your taking it all too seriously and then insulting the UK saying we shouldn't have it either. you would blatantly be complaining if it was the other way round. so why are you all so bothered. I look forward to visiting it in America. And as @Vicki said I wish it could be everywhere for us all to enjoy :D
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 14:33:28
I'm sorry, but why would anyone even stop and think of putting it in London. It is NOT a full theme park. It is a section of a theme park (albeit, a big one). The WWoHP is not enough to stand on its own as a park. Orlando has Disney, Universal, and SeaWorld, some of the biggest and most popular parks in the world. The bottom line is that putting the WWoHP in the theme park city that is Orlando, will enable it to remain popular for many, many years after it opens.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 14:36:59
Anything to do with Harry potter, big or small will remain popular for many years without the help of anything else. Its just that popular. :)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 14:39:23
I agree - it's pointless to put it in London. It would be so overpopulated. It only has three freaking rides! It's much more suited to be part of a theme park than a theme park in & of itself. Plus, London is quite a cluttered city anyway. How much room would they have for expansion, really? Now, if they were going to re-create the Hogwarts castle - which I think is a marvelous idea - then I would support that being in London fully. But yeah, I just don't think it's practical.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 14:40:31
This guy makes an amazing point and i think there should be a park in london. I would love the visit London someday and that would make the trip there all the better. I hope he gets what he is asking for: another park in London.
Got to love the Brits
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 14:42:52
You guys DO realise that he's not being entirely serious? All of you who got all huffed up and offended need to sit back and learn what sardonic British humour is. ;-)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 14:52:47
He needs to stop acting like a child. There are much more adult ways to express your feelings. You don't have to write in your diary and then release the entry for the entire world to read. And if you wanted the Wizarding World built in London so badly you should've said something before the week before it opened. And don't comment on the weather? Excuse me if I do. Where would parents rather take their kids? Cloudy, wet London or FLORIDA? And American adult might prefer London because it is more glamorous and exciting but a child doesn't care about that. They want fun in the sun. Not tears in the rain.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 15:04:27
I'm sorry but the USA has EVERYTHING Harry Potter related despite it being English! The conventions, the prop tour, wizard rock... even the special edition dvds are only availiable there! And now the park is going to be there too. It's just so infuriating! But for the most part I'm just happy the park is getting built at all and so the rest of you ought to be! I only left such an angry comment in response to some on the ones i've read!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 15:04:38
wow, bitter much? He's already got the train, the studio, and the actors, and the props!! if he wants the park there so badly, he should have one built...besides, more people can probably get to the one in the US.... i don't see why it matters, it was built for fun, not location.
either way, i think he's got harry potter all wrong if he thinks that all it's about "he ritual and intrigue and dorm-feast excitement of a British boarding school of a kind that you just don't find in America. Hogwarts is a place where children occasionally get cross with each other – not "mad" " really.... people dont get mad in harry potter?.......really?... someone didnt read the books
i think the picture you've got of him with the articles makes it even more funny, haha ^_^
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 15:10:47
Not trying to sound too provocative, but to all the people who don't live in England/London and do not entirely understand BoJo's character, he is sort of crazy. He makes comments that sound a little odd, and has lots of moments where many just cringe. He is, however, an absolute legend. And although he may have expressed his views in a strange way, he does have a very valid point. I know that Universal has theme park rights etc. etc. but he is just expressing a viewpoint... and I agree on a level that we should have one here in Britain, where HP is set, and where the magic began. And to everyone who says that England is too wet and rainy, will someone please remind them for a second what the weather is like in Harry Potter? It's British weather. And doesn't it rain a lot in Florida anyway? Well, I think we should all just take BoJo's comments in jest, move on, and start a petition to build a Wizarding World in London. :)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 15:12:03
OK, somebody needs to chill. Who does he think he is? He's being completely selfish. He's forgotten about the AMERICAN FANS!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 15:17:03
i suppose he probably is joking, i didn't think so before because he looks kinda angry in his picture
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 15:18:30
if he looked happy in his picture, it would have made a better impression
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 15:19:13
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 15:23:41
I get that he's not being completely serious, but I agree with whoever above said that his point would be better made if it was "we want one too," rather than "why do you get it?" I remember being surprised when I found out the park would be in Florida, and I do think it would be awesome to have one in England, but that's just how things worked out. And besides, maybe he should focus more on what they already have. I spent a year in London through school, and went to King's Cross, saw them film on-location twice for the movies, found the MoM entrance... There's a ton of things for HP fans to experience in London that they can't get anywhere else.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 15:23:48
While we're discussing where the park should be...how about MY town?? =) Anyways...there are a LOT of American fans. But hey, a park in London would be cool too. The more HP the better!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 15:32:37
If anyone wants to get a slightly clearer understanding of Boris's humour and eccentricity, even when he's trying to make serious points, look at these two clips on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsFRgIb8mAQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QplCetQYYKw&feature=related
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 15:33:31
Honestly, I completely agree with him. The books are the base of everything, and they are British books. I said this when it first came about; it is British, therefore put it in Britain! America gets everything - just because there are more people, therefore more money; everyone is driven by making money these days, it's sad, really. And if it's in America, they are going to be using 'Sorcorer's Stone' instead of 'Philosopher's Stone', which is ridiculous. JK Rowling herself said that she regretted letting them change Scholastic change it. Frankly, if it's in America, it's going to be different to how it should be; just little things like the title change. It should be in Britain, end of story.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 15:38:58
First, I think people have this idea in their heads that WB built an entire park for Harry Potter. Wrong. Universal Islands of Adventure is an well established park in Orlando Fl. The HP park is a small section of the park. That right there is why its in Orlando. It would have cost too much to build a WHOLE new amusement park in the UK. Where in Orlando all they did was Add on, a much more simpler and faster way. Also, as a tourist state, Florida is much more accommodating for the influx of people that want to visit the park. If he wanted the park in London he should have made an initiative to get it. Also,@Harriet our summers average at 90 not 50.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 15:39:50
i believe he's over-reacting! i am only twelve! if i want to visit the park, i don't want to have to go all the way to britian!!! if it was in britian, my friends and i would never be able to see the park! but i do think that once this park is finished, they should make one in britian. that's what i think!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 15:43:51
I would have preferred it in London, personally. I'm not a fan of Florida so I'm not particularly looking forward to traveling there this summer. I'd much rather splurge and go to London! Plus, if it was in London, you could also make one huge HP trip out of it and visit Platform 9 3/4 and other HP related sites. Also, I think it'll be too hot in Florida to wear my robes... :(
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 15:43:52
Hogwarts/Hogsmeade isn't even in London. They're in Scotland.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 15:45:47
@ laura defensive much? I told my self I wouldn't post anymore, but frankly, I couldn't resist! Yes, Harry Potter is a British-based book, but are Americans not allowed to try to enjoy it too? It's like, an African popstar can only have African fans, because they themselves are African? "America gets everything" well, I doubt that. We don't have a brilliant author named J.K. Rowling. Do I complain to her, insisting that she move to America? No.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 15:48:08
Someone has a right case of the nasties!!!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 15:49:59
It's funny reading all these little pre-teen comments from the Americans and the Brits either being insulted or standing up for "what is there's"... but the point of the matter is that Harry Potter belongs to everyone - the entire world I mean. And while it's true that over the past 10 years various countries have had different opportunities, we can not hate each other for it. It's a freaking theme park for god's sake. I live in the US, but that doesn't mean I can just get in my car and go to Universal Studios, just like I can't hop in my car and head over to London to see the real deal. All in all everyone needs to STFU and be civil because without all of us, Harry Potter wouldn't be the phenomenon it is today.
Also just to point out - Australia never gets anything. So us Americans and British need to shut up and feel grateful for what we have got.
As for the weather, I'm smart enough to know that London weather is not unbearable and could fully host a theme park if it had the room. So I hope in the future it can, but for now the argument over the authenticity of the Florida weather is completely ridiculous. If they had built it in northern Canada I would still plan to go, because it's HARRY freaking POTTER.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 15:53:38
The way this article was written/quoted reminds me of one of MuggleNet's April Fools stories. I seriously thought that this was a joke and that it was some sort of made-up story.... but I guess he's for real! LOL
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 16:03:09
I just don't think many people going to the park are going to be concerned whether or not the weather is accurate. People are going to see all of the shops and the things they see in the movie come to life. I think expecting weather to be accurate and realistic as well with all the building is slightly going overboard. But I do agree that having a second theme park in London would be awesome!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 16:04:11
I couldn't help but see a distinct English/American rift going on here in the fandom over this. Come on! Just chill out and read the books - that always makes me feel better. It's already made, and what's done is done. Yelling at each other over it won't change anything.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 16:04:44
I think someone needs to get over himself. Everything else HP related is in England and Scotland. I can understand his reasoning, but the article is just rude. And Hogwarts is in Scotland, not London.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 16:07:37
if he wants the park in the UK so much, why hasnt he said anything about this before???? i mean he cant think that London is the ONLY city that would want a harry potter theme park!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 16:24:39
Haha, good old Boris, this made me laugh. But i do see his point. I have nothing against the theme park being in orlando, but i do think that a similar theme park should be brought to London. I mean, after all, it is a British based story and should remain that way too.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 16:34:42
I can understand why Boris would want a HP theme park in the UK, and I would love to visit one in the UK if I ever get a chance to go there, but I also understand why it is in Orlando. Firstly, I assume Universal was the first company to get the rights to build one, so if a UK company wanted to build one, they probably should have tried years ago. Secondly, Orlando is located in Florida, where the weather is usually warm or warm-ish all year, so people could visit all year long, which means more money for the park. I doubt the same could be said about the UK. Also, Orlando, and Florida in general, is a popular vacation spot, especially for families, which I assume is their main audience, because of Universal and Disney. The people who come to Orlando are American, yes, but also a lot of forgeiners. I don't think as many Americans take their families to the UK for a vacation. As for tha authenticity, I agree that it would be more accurate in the UK, but you have to remember that although Universal is trying to make the park accurate, they are probably more concerned with appealing to the general public, rather than the hard core HP fans, who probably wouldn't notice if some things weren't quite right. You have to remember that the main reason that this park is being built is to make money, and so it is logical that they would put it in an already established and internationally known location.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 16:51:38
England has enough tourism for Harry Potter, if there is going to be another theme park it should be in Canada.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 16:59:21
*sigh* this was a poorly written article made to look like Boris meant all this in seriousness. Maybe it should have be written by someone who knows who Boris is and his sense of humour. Yet another fail for mugglenet.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 17:04:17
Please people don't take any offence. He is a joker, he is very crazy and a bit eccentric to say the least, hes a nice guy!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 17:10:53
Haha, that man in JEAL-OUS.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 17:12:49
I'm guessing a lot of people from America won't quite get the concept of "The Boris" .
He is very, very eccentric, as well as being funny (albeit usually accidentaly).
Although i dont think he was joking about the movie being shot in Orlando, that guy can be clueless a lot of times for a mayor.
Still, I love Boris!
And yes, we need a park here!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 17:14:14
As some other comments read, I agree that the picture doesn't help. He looks grumpy in the picture. This makes it look like he is more upset than he might be. Mugglenet could at least have used a somewhat happy picture of him.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 17:18:54
I think it would be great if London had one too. Hell, California should have one! But, London has everything that is Harry Potter. Kings Cross station (Platform 9 3/4), Leavesden Studios, and not too far away in Scotland the actual castles in which the movies were filmed! How much better could it get?! London (and England as a whole) holds everything that is Potter. Finally someone else gets some, and it isn't even the real deal, just mimicked. Needless to say, I still think it would be awesome for there to be a Wizarding World of HP in every country, but that just isn't possible. And as someone else said, Orlando is the theme park capitol of the world.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 17:30:18
If JK Rowling is ok with it he should be fine with it too! Warner Brothers is American, hence the American theme park!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 17:37:38
Wooow, chill dude!! But I wouldn't prtest another!!!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 17:44:47
I think someone's a LITTLE jealous of the USA! And why start complaining now?
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 17:45:25
What is wrong with this guy? Lol.
Just be thankful that there is at least one WWoHP!
Although, it would be good if there was one in London too.
It doesn't affect me anyways because i can't go to either. :(
Build one in Australia!!! Lol.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 17:48:43
Thats not entirely true we dont get much here in the Uk. You say the props and all are here in the uk aren't they on that Exhibition tour in the US anyway yeah the films might be filmed here but thats no good to me is it I can't just pop in to Leavesden can I. Once you have seen Kings Cross station isn't really anything special. There is also that WB/HP Museum in LA. Plus were not getting these silly extented dvds not here in the uk which is totally unfair.
As for the theme park im not that bothered Florida and California are made of theme parks and Boris often talks rubbish.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 17:57:48
Please don't judge Boris as an ambassador for the whole of the UK, I personally think he should be doing something better with his time rather than complaining about theme parks, maybe, I don't know, running the city? The thought of a London theme park never even occurred to me, Orlando seems like the natural place to do such an extravagant idea justice; and maybe in a few years time I can afford to go myself. I think I'll go walk around King's Cross station a few times to amuse myself in the meantime, though it is hardly the same thing :)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 18:06:30
I don't know but right now I kinda feel insulted by him. Saying all this stuff about America and Universal. I really think he should do something better with his time rather than talk about why the theme park in london would be SO MUCH BETTER than it being in America. I'm not saying they shouldn't built one. They have like 5 million disneyworld's in the world. It's the way he said that came across insulting to me as an American and I don't like that at all.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 18:12:36
Errr this dude needs to CHILL!!!!! I mean the all caps HUMOUR is a little much! I don't blame him for wanting more potter stuff in london but ya know universal is in florida which is why UNIVERSAL'S harry potter is where the UNIVERSAL THEME PARK IS!!! but you know...whatevs
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 18:19:24
Oh, US'ers stop complaining, it's not like it's going to be moved. And please no one complain they don't have anything or it's too far. There are people from Aus and NZ who have to travel far and expensively for everything.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 18:28:01
"I think someone's a LITTLE jealous of the USA!" - Please try to keep your patriotic fervour to yourself - it's already unbearable, the continuous declaration that your country is so great, wonderful and God-inspired. Your country IS wonderful and beautiful and has done so much good for the world, but please, in this instance, recognize that Britain would be more appropriate for the WWoHP. I am Australian with no British heritage, so I think I'm fairly neutral in this area. Please don't be offended by this mayor; I think it's fairly obvious he is doing some easy vote-grabbing by appealing to national pride in a pathetic British newspaper.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 18:28:25
I am not against Orlando or anything, its great the part has been built but I wanted to clear up a few things (Also Boris is an idiot and is rude and says silly thinghs all the time)
but.. someone stated that it wouldnt be fair for the park to be in the uk and not America as they couldn't visit it, what about the people of the UK that have no chance ever to afford thousands of pounds to travel to Florida. My family for one would NEVER afford it, I'm only going to be able to go as I have recently graduated and I am saving. It would be great if they could do something here, also the UK does have big themeparks like Alton Towers and Thorpe Park. Also I havn't really seen much in the way of Potter attractions, the Harry Potter exibition: America, all these conventions and stuff are in America, same for the theme park, its always seemed to me that all the Harry Potter fun is happening there not here! So we can visit Kings Cross, but its just a train station.. even better merch is sold in the USA, like Warner Brothers online store, which costs a fortune to send stuff to UK and then theres the import charges on it and stuff..
ALthough its great that you have all that and I do not want to take them away, I just wish I had these oportunities too!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 18:43:22
Just gonna put this out there - all those US people saying 'but then i'd need to fly to london, and its SO expensive, etc'..maybe think of the other people in the world who STILL need to fly to another country to visit the theme park!! Not all of you are being ignorant, but that wort of comment is extremely ignorant of all the people that live in other countries that still need to fork out that amount of money to visit, so stop complaining about something that ISNT HAPPENING just because you don't like what he said. Besides, it was obviously a joke. Next time be a little more considerate of people NOT in the US.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 18:44:44
well, the largest hp fan-base is in the US... so it makes sense the hp theme park would be in the US.... and at least they didn't put it on the west coast.. then the Brits would not only have to cross the Atlantic ocean, but the entirety of the US... Aussies are SOL no matter where it is....
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 18:46:28
It's a shame that he raises the topic when we're so close to the Grand Opening ... but essentially, he is correct. It really SHOULD be somewhere in the UK, and not in Orlando.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 18:48:21
Also, I'm in Melbourne, Australia, so wherever it is built, I have to fly there haha. Although America definitely has the largest fanbase, Harry Potter REMAINS British and should therefore be built in Britain.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 18:58:25
Wow... Is he a crybaby or what? Jeez...
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 19:11:46
What rock has this guy been under for the past two plus years? He waits unit two weeks before "our" Harry Potter theme park opens to make a story out of it. All of a sudden he is concerned that they don't have one in London.
The old saying in the great U-S-of-A is you snooze you loose. Better luck next time.
Bee
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 19:26:01
Orlando is one of the largest tourist spots in the whole U.S., it has Disney, Islands of Adventure, Sea World, etc. That is why the Harry potter theme park is in Florida, and not London, you know, London where it rains all the damn time and is cold. Not to mention the terrible exchange rate for Americans and everyone not using pounds. There is way more potential for visitors to Orlando than London...this mayor is eating sour grapes.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 19:42:48
It is really sad that something such as this has the ability to cause so much tension in the Harry Potter fandom.
I think EVERYONE should just be thankful that a Harry Potter theme park even exists in the world, no matter what country gets to call it their own.
Think about it like this: It's what Dumbledore would want :)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 19:53:12
I want to know what took him so long to speak up about the park? Hey, If they want a HP theme park in london, ask Universal to build one there. We have more than one Disney land. we can have more than one HP theme park.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 20:34:55
Why would he just start talking about this now? The park will open soon, so it's a little too late. It wouldn't hurt to have another park, of course we all love HP! He could have spoken a little earlier, though.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 20:49:37
I think he brings up a valid point, however, dude, it's a little late to be complaining! He seriously just needs to chillax. He's probably filthy rich, so I'm sure he'll be able to pay a visit.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 21:02:23
When I read this, I had to express my feelings. Mr. LondonMayor, please calm down. Hell has not froze over yet. I have waited 2 years for this park to open in Orlando, & thank god I live only 4 hours away. This park WOULD be more pleasent in London since it is where it was originated. But please think of the facts here. I agree on one thing, the fact that Florida is the hottest state, the sun & the blue sky does ruin the illusion of the HP park, & it would look so much nicer in London. But, isn't it ENOUGH that the cast of HP has been filming in London for the past years?! I would SO MUCH rather be satisfied with THAT then some made park based on the fantastic books & movies. Please, do not fuss. & also, do not disrespect America, because I believe there are more American fans than London fans put together. Therefore, IF you want the HP park to be made in London so much. Email the people who came up with it, & tell them when & where they can build it & how much of your money they are going to take to built it & why. Im sure they'll be happy too with a decent amount of extra $$$ in their worthy pockets. If you do as follows, problem solved. Good luck.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 21:10:32
First of all: For the WW2 thing, Germany is the country that started the whole war and Italy and Japan teamed up with the Germans. And the war was getting really really bad and it was so bad that Japan blew up Pearl Harbor for no reason which got the Americans mad so the Americans joined and they turned the war upside down! So most likely, if the US would have never joined the war then Adolf Hitler would have won.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 21:15:36
Next, I would like to say that the Mayor of London is totally WRONG! People in the UK already have Leavsden Studios where they shot the movie so they shouldn't really be complaining. and they also have Kings' Cross which was mentioned in the books and most americans, with our economy, won't be visiting London too soon so we would never get that feeling that people in London would when they'd visit Kings' Cross. also, America was never mentioned once in the book so Americans deserve the theme park because we should be able to feel like we're part of the book. where as people in the UK do because HP was set in the UK.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 21:24:36
And last, but not least, I would like to say that nobody really knows if Hogwarts is set in Scotland or not. Because in the books it never says where Hogwarts is. i would also like to add that in the half blood prince movie, on the train it looks like they're crossing some sort of DESERT with lots of SUNSHINE! and you know another place that has LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF SUNSHINE?!? FLORIDA! the SUNSHINE state.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 21:26:02
Where the FUCK has this guy been all along? If he actually cared, he would've written this ages ago. And Harry Potter isn't a story about jolly old England. It's about FRIENDSHIP and BRAVERY.
Dickwad.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 21:28:09
I think that's a really cool idea! It would make total sense, I would love to go to a theme park in London (assuming I ever got the chance to go to the UK), and I don't see what's wrong with two! I do think it's a bit weird for him to speak up now, like he just thought of it or something... hmmm but a good idea nevertheless!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 21:30:56
This complaint is six years too late... use a timeturner, I'm sure they sell them in Britain. I kid, I kid! :P
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 21:32:13
I'd like you all to reread the mayor of London's comments, and think for a minute. Do you think that he's seriously angry? Or does it sound like he's just being a goofball. It sounds like he's just joking around to me.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 22:05:39
Why even argue about this? Isn't it a little late to have this complaint now anyway? I don't think anyone has the right to be angry about where it is located anyway. Universal pitched the idea to Rowling and she agreed. Isn't it her decision since it's her world we're talking about? Maybe we should trust that she knows more about the circumstances than we do. Either way, I think it's amazing that someone/anyone decided to make the park!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 23:05:50
This is just a way to stir the Enlish football fans for the U.S.A vs England world cup match on Saturday lol.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 23:07:48
@Derek Harkins: I tend to agree with you. The guy sounds like he's just trying to make a joke. Kind of a lame one, yes, but still nothing to get overly insulted about.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 23:39:39
I am so "cross"-not mad- and i cant find 'humor" in anything only "humour" in stuff@ Zack Thiel: haha speaking german now! seriously this guy needs to chill they could build a HPworld in London.hes being really selfish also @Shaun Wills if he looks like malfoy haha and also are you blind because obama does NOT look like dobby "(cos he doesn't)" please Mayor with all due respects sir stop being a butt
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 23:44:01
SOUR GRAPES!!!a little late too. what didn't it start like 2-3 yrs. ago???
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 23:47:04
@ Ana Rosal technically we (americans)were mentioned in GOF when trio were getting water and talking about nationalities and stuff but true we have no HP suff whatsoever so we need it
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-08 23:50:04
i wouldn't mind another park @ universal studios california lol :)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 00:01:18
I think it would be cool if there was a park in London too, but maybe a little different. LIke have Diagon Alley, and all the shops in it, and maybe some other places so that it would be cool but also different.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 00:22:26
I'm in America, but I have to say that I completely agree with him. And when I first heard of the park being opened in Orlando, I wondered why the hell it wasn't somewhere in Britain. Don't hate me! D:
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 00:39:33
HAHAAH this was CRACKUP! I had an American substitute teacher who spelt humour without the U! It was quite funny. I had to point it out to her. also SMOULDER. and FOOTball is played with FEET xD.
And not being from England OR America, I really couldn't care less where it is built...cause I know it will NEVER be built in New Zealand :/
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 00:40:42
but it woudl be more authentic in Britain
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 01:56:14
America=$$$ - That's the cold hard truth. I wish it was in the UK. Then I could go.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 02:45:48
I love Boris... 'Homour, not Humor'...and I love how any conversation about America vs England immediately summons the War (although any mention of Germany here where I work in London is followed by the chant of TWO WORLD WARS AND ONE WORLD CUP)...
seriously though, i didn't think twice about the park being built in America, everything is built in America first...and Boris is kind of right on the whole 'atmosphere' part, having been to Eurodisney millions of times i can safely say the atmosphere of Main St USA is ruined when it is pouring with rain, but who wants to go to a theme park when its raining? Which it always is here! So yeah, It should be in Orlando not London, even though I'll probably never go.
Also, there is nothing exciting about visiting a train station, regardless of the book it was mentioned in, Tea comes from India not England, and the Allied forces would have lost the war if it weren't for Russia. Who literally set fire to their own country to stop the Nazis.
That is all.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 03:07:03
I just read the whole article and the comments and found a couple that sums up why it can not be built here perfectly:
'Oh come on, Boris. You know it would take 10 years to find a site; apply for Planning Permission; fight the objectors; go to Appeal; win Planning Permission in the face of local opposition; sort out public transport and the road network so people can actually get to the Park; and then build it.'
'And the entrance would be constantly picketed by the PC brigade because the principle characters are all white.'
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 03:34:57
I think he's a bit exaggerating. But I do agree there should be a 2nd park in London. All Potter fans in Europe would want that. Going to America is too expansive for Europeans.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 03:56:44
If it wanted to be closer to home would it not be in Edinburgh. As that is the city Jo wrote the stories in.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 04:05:28
ok to many comments to go through and read them all so sorry if this has already been said, but what about all the people in australia and other countries no where near where the theme park is being built....how can we get to the theme park with out forking out thousands of dollars, gesh some people are just selfish. it dosnt matter where the movies are filmed or where the books began harry potter is loved by everyone all over the world and it is not just aimed at one counrty
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 04:27:33
Can't believe I'm saying this, but for once I agree with Boris. I was disappointed when I heard the park was going to be set in the US. It SHOULD be in London, or even Scotland- it makes sense. And he's right about the atmosphere, too. It wont be Hogwarts with all the sun and stuff. I mean, come on! You Americans get everything. The films were already taken over by an American company, right? So lets just build another park in London; it will do much better than that stupid Olympic park- that put everyone in debt (lol). (*cough*Kenformayor*cough*)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 05:25:49
As a brit (who cannot realistically make it to orlando anytime in the next 5 years or so) I would love one in this country, not necessarily in london, but somewhere, we tend to stick our theme parks in the middle of nowhere.
Also: I find myself very amused by the americans taking Boris so seriously. Our Mayor of London is something of a joke, few people in this country take him very seriously, he is generally considered a bit of a posh twat.
I don't get involved in London politics. I live in the north *thanks god for yorkshire*
Oh and i read further up that america had higher box office results then britain when the films came out, whoever said that can they look at a map at the US and the UK, and ask themself which country can you fit more cinemas in? Geographically we're tiny...
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 05:36:02
Psht. Forget the USA and UK, why can't we get ANYTHING here in South Africa? There are sooooooooo many HP fans here, and there's nothing for us to enjoy...
Well, I'm neutral... I wouldn't be able to go to either the USA or the UK for any Wizarding World of Harry Potter. *sigh*
But I do have something non-Potter related to look forward to that's happening in our country. The 2010 Soccer World Cup is around the corner!!!! YAY!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 05:36:55
@TheElfThatLied, I agree with Boris too, who know he had such sense? Harry Potter is one of the greatest gems of Britain. There is a petition rallying support for a British theme park here; your input would be greatly appreciated.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/bring-harry-potter-back-home
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 05:43:18
I never thought I would hear myself say this, but as someone who lives in London, I agree with him entirely. I do agree with some of the comments that he could have mentioned this BEFORE they started building it in America, but yes, all in all, the theme park should be in London. Harry Potter is British, the author is British, it is set in Britain, all the actors who play the roles in the films are British. America already managed to take the films from us, why should they have the theme park too? It could at least be in Scotland! Some people are taking this article too seriously - relax a bit!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 07:55:03
If you want it in Britain, then get one of your companies to pony up a lot of dough to your billionaire author to buy the rights off her and her billionaire movie studio partner.
Universal did this.
They started building the park 2 or 3 years ago. Nice time to bring this up now.
Seems bitter and moronic to me, as do some of these comments.
WHY ISN'T IT HERE, WAAA WAAA I'M A BABY!
Because J.K. Rowling and WB wanted to be even richer and sold the rights to Universal to build the park, while she sues places in India and other places that make replicas of Hogwarts and cries infringement.
THAT'S WHY IT'S IN ORLANDO, BECAUSE UNIVERSAL WANTED IT THERE!
Plus this is not a Harry Potter theme park! It is a large attraction at a theme park, but hardly the majority of the park itself. Disney didn't buy the rights, so blame them for not building it in your EuroDisney. And it's too late now, because Universal is surely not going to let them sell the rights to anyone else for quite a while to build something similar.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 08:00:25
Then put one in London!!!!! It's fine he wants one there, but I want one near me, too. Everyones taking this way to seriously. I would be mad if he was saying to ,like, take down the park and move it over there, but he isn't.
P.S. Who cares if it's sunnier in Orlando then in England? That's like saying they shouldn't build it because the wands won't work whenever you say spell.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 08:03:42
@Zahra
It's in America because there are more fans here to make money for Universal by visiting there parks... How did we take the films from you? Only one has came out a day earlier in America than it did for you, the others came out on the same day or a few days earlier for Britain. You know, Britain doesn't own Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling, the author, does. And guess what? She approved EVERYTHING in the park, and she approved the location as well. I'm sorry, maybe they will build one in England if this is still popular a few years from now? I personally think we should be grateful we have a park at all. How boring would it be if we had everything in our theme parks only from America? WE want to enjoy the atmosphere of a different country. Britian has the locations, and they have Kings Cross, etc. Not only that, but America doesn't have anything themed for Harry Potter like this. Let's all stop arguing, and be grateful that they even built this Harry Potter section.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 08:19:10
@Zahra it seems like you need to relax a bit. Brit doesn't own harry potter J.k rowling does. Rowling decided that the park should be built at universal studios. And the people that run Universal Studios in FLORIDA were able to sit down with her and talk with her, and she J.K. Rowling was ok with building it in FLORIDA. You need to understand that J.K rowling makes the decisions for all things harry potter related not britain not america but J.K. Rowling. It is her world. So dont go thinking that just because the story is set in england that the country can get all the props for it. Its not far. We have fans in america to and all over the world. So you shouldn't be so freakin selfish about it.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 08:20:18
*I meant it's not fair, not far. (for the comment above) ^^^
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 08:27:28
It's all very simple really, and it's amazing that one news item can create such a spark between US and UK fans! As many people have said above, the park was obviously built in the US due to the 'money aspect', and even if it had been built in, say, London (which is definitely central to our beloved Harry Potter and also probably the biggest money turner city in the UK), it still wouldn't boast as many visitors as a park in Orlando FL would. Therefore, a park in this part of the US would have higher revenue. ---- I really wish it was in the UK, though. I remember when the first ever news item regarding the theme park was posted by MuggleNet (a long time ago), and there was outrage over the fact that it would be US based. I have to agree with the UK fans. Harry Potter is British and should therefore be built somewhere in the UK... because that is Harry's home. The weather factor is in my opinion not a factor. It’s always raining at Hogwarts... anyway. We hear of the US only once in the whole series, and that's when a few American witches are talking at the World Cup. Maybe it’s also mentioned a more few times in Quidditch Through the Ages and Fantastic Beasts, but that’s about all. This really is killing the goose that lays the golden egg. Although WB makes the series, every actor is British and every aspect is British. Harry Potter is British. It should be in Britain. But Boris, BOO YOU WHORE. I know you have a tendency to 'joke whine', but this is annoying me. It is 2 weeks until the grand opening, and you complain NOW?
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 08:35:03
I agree with Boris Johnson :) It's not that I'm being possessive about Harry Potter being British: I'm pleased that it's popular world-wide! It's just that they're talking about trying to make it as authentically British as possible - it makes sense to have it in Britain. I live in England and I don't know when I'll be able to get all that way for this one park, so for me another one in Britain would actually be the best thing to EVER happen!! I'm not being scathing about it being in America at all, but you've got to agree, two theme parks would be AWESOME! :) xx
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 08:35:47
Just gonna say... I'd like one in Australia :D There's no way I'm getting to go here be it in England or the US.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 08:38:59
How about one in mexico lol?? just kidding. I actually believe that travelling abroad for this is a much better experience, not only for the hard work you had to make to get there, but you always feel great in a foreign country. At least i believe that, and i hope i can go to orlando anytime soon!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 08:54:53
Dude... if he's so jealous then he's the damn mayor, just build one there, too! His comments were very rude towards americans.
He also needs to calm down since JK, the CREATOR of Harry Potter, agreed for it to be in Florida.
I really don't like the mayor.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 08:57:53
@Zahra, shut up. you're just pissing everyone off. If you wanna go to the park so bad, get a passport and buy tickets.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 09:16:25
To all of you people saying that Orlando rains all the time: I've been there about 6 times, and it's rained once or twice. So get off your high hippogriff (thanks for that one Sirius!) and calm down. It is what it is, and Orlando's HP park is not moving anywhere. However, I would like to say that even if the mayor of London WAS kidding, he should know better than to put down the Americans, who are some of Great Britain's best allies. I've heard from a lot of you guys that Boris is a real...ummm...kidder, but he needs to grow up, a little bit.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 09:17:14
AND NO BAD WORDS IN THE COMMENTS!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 09:20:07
Im glad they built the WWoHP here in the US. But, I think they should build something similar in the UK because it all started there. The only reason they built it in the US is because the climate in Florida is more suitable to visit year round while it gets colder in the UK.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 09:22:02
yes i agree with him he has a point London or UK would be a better place to build a Harry Potter theme park rather than Orlando because it depicts
more the books !!!!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 09:28:28
I agree and disagree. I think that having a harry potter theme park is a bit extreme. I mean, our generation love the series, but the future generations arent going to care about harry potter. It is a bit of a waste. although i could always be proved wrong.
I think that it should have been built in the UK, for authenticity, but it probably would have been built in the middle of nowhere and I am glad we arent going to be the ones to deal with hundreds of foreign tourists.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 09:34:40
I'm a Londoner and let me just apologise for this idiot of a mayor we have. PLEASE don't take him as the voice of the British public, he's a right tool and I can't wait for him to be voted out soon!!!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 09:35:52
Um guys, I think he was making a joke and just didn't carry it out very well. :) I don't think he's actually badmouthing America, so to everyone who's stressing out about what a jerk this guy must be...chill. :P He's not serious.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 09:52:48
Lets stop fighting about this (im mexican, so even though orlando in nearer, im neutral in this). But the park will be there because universal bought it. Period. And we should be grateful, because it looks pretty awesome. Frankly, ill be looking more at the castle and the shops than at the weather, and orlando (moneywise) is obviously the best place to put it, for the reasons many have said. It'd be cool to have more parks in the future (i heard jo wanted one to which you had to arrive by the hogwarts express, wow) but for now lets be happy this one is built, and start saving. And to the one who said america took the movies away from britain, thats not true. Even though WB is american (and thank god, because maybe if it was british (JUST MAYBE) it would have been more low budget, and im sure the films wouldnt be as amazing as they are now). But, thanks to jo herself, everything in the movie is brittish: cast, crew, locations, and much more. We should really be happy and thankful with what we have, because we are ALL fans of hp. Not just britain, not just the U.S, but all the world. So lets just enjoy, ok?
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 09:55:37
You know I have no problem with the park been in the US. What I have a problem with is how you are all saying Boris is insulting the Americans and then slagging of England in return. You know i would like to point out that once you have been to Kings cross once its really not that special. Two, you all seem to be under the impression it rains all the time here. It really doesn't. JK rowling I am sure would be happy wherever it was built. We do not have everything here. We dont see the actors walking around all the time, You have the props in the US. You have the special edition DVD's, you own the films. So dont act like you have less than we do. And as we will visit the park you can come see the sites if you are that bothered. Everyone should stop attacking each others countries and chill. Your all just been damn right rude to each other. Your as bad as he is. And Boris is as eccentric as they come. So he has an excuse. lol
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 10:03:48
I think since more people live here in america, it makes more marketing sence for it to be built here!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 10:12:34
I think the sorting hat buts this best...
hem hem:
"the founders of our noble school (mugglent)
Thought never to be parted:
United by a common goal,
They had the selfsame yearning,
To make the world's best magic school (or theme park!)
And pass along their learning....
And so we must unite inside her
Or we'll crumble from within"
You see? Come on lets all be friends again :)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 10:34:03
@Stella Goly - Well, you can see how annoyed British people get when such a British franchise is suddenly transported all the way to America. I'm not against American fans - it's brilliant that Harry Potter has so many American fans - but it will be completely wrong. I live in the very North of England, so I wouldn't be able to get to a London one easily either. But when you live in a tiny little town on the borders of Scotland, where no one interesting ever comes, it really DOES seem as if America gets everything. The Harry Potter Exhibition is there first, now the theme park. But I think it's pretty obvious why we get defensive.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 10:48:06
Go Boris! :D People, dont take it too seriously. He's not being bitter, he's just joking. I guess a few people failed to recognise the british sense of humour. I wish it was in London, then it'd be closer to home and maybe I'd have a chance of visiting it in the forsee-able future. Obviously though, I am aware that WB made the theme park in America because frankly, thats where all the money will come from and despite what Boris says, the weather is also another reason to make the park in the sunshine state rather than London. If they do make a park here in the UK, there's no space in London, they'll have to make somewhere in the countryside. I hope they do make one soon. That would be amazing.
I also agree with Laura. (Although I don't live quite far as north)And I agree with Emmamarie as well.
Although I'm not saying that a park should be exclusively for England (that would be wrong for financial reasons from WB's point of view) I'm saying that we desereve one as well.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 11:16:29
I'm not sure who said it but it was one of the first comments they said something about living in north america and if the park was in London it would be hard for him to get there. Well guess what for those with not a lot if money here in the uk it's hard for us to get to the one in America. Other people have been saying that there's a lot if hp stuff here in the uk well there isn't yes there's the studios but aside from that there's not much else. And boris is right we deserve a park over here bugger and better than the one in orlando because this is the home of harry potter and no he doesn't look like malfoy. And he didn't say there wasn't boarding schools in america he said they weren't like the ones in the uk. Now i'm sure he didn't want to offend any americans but he had a point.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 11:30:15
In the end, not everyone will be happy wherever anything HP-related is placed. If it was in London it'd still be v. expensive for me to get to (albeit much less than trying to get to America!). We all think the Americans have too much, and they probably think we have it good as well, so no-one really wins. Like Laura, I too live too far up North where nothing ever happens and am envious of people in the US or even in London, and I really hope I can get to Orlando next year to the theme park! Everyone just needs to chill...
p.s. LMFAO @Ian saying "bugger" instead of "bigger"
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 11:36:58
Look, Mugglenet announced a while back that the studio which filmed the series in Britain would be turning it into a tourist area. Now USA gets a theme park and the Brits want to complain.
Read this article.
http://www.deadline.com/2010/06/warner-bros-snubbed-london-over-harry-potter-theme-park/
Looks like Warner Bros actually tried to originally contract a them park in Britain but they didn't jump on it. Now when it is moving somewhere else, they want to jump up and down that they don't have it. You snooze, you lose.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 11:46:48
Boris, calm down mate!! You've already got Leavesden as an HP attraction in the UK, as well as the coffee shop that JK wrote the books in. Good advertising is in putting up attractions where the product isn't as popular. Not that HP isn't popular in the States, but as it's set and was wrote in the UK, it makes sense that the park would be in the US. Plus, I live in Florida and it's a 2 hour drive to the park. So I love it! HAHAHAHAHAHA
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 12:03:46
If they got one in London too..then I could actually visit the place:D
GET ONE!!!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 12:32:18
It WOULD make sense if it was was set in London, however, Universal is a huge company and it makes sense as america is a huge country. Universal studios will gain business with this, so where is there to put harry potter world? Make it an entire new theme park? I mean, yeah it would be great but it’s not exactly down to us, go ask warner bros for yourself. It’s not like you can move the park now. By all means, make a new one, it would make it a lot easier for me and many other brits but as it stands, just get on with it to be honest. Don’t think London could handle the popularity. It’s already well known for big ben, houses of parliament, Buckingham palace, London eye, and I don’t know what else. Also, I agree below, it is poorly written for such a man that’s high in the hierarchy. And per-lease, florida gets tonnes of thunderstorm and a lot of rain too, even though it is hot. Also, it’s known all across the world, again, america is a big country, we’d be getting a lot of tourism but the crowd would be big. Londoners would probably get annoyed of it, and to be honest, where universal is situated, can deal with the massive amount of tourism because it’s not just plonked in the middle of somewhere like London. If he thinks he can build a better park, then he can go right ahead, I really wouldn’t care, but they’ve worked hard on it, so he needs to shut up tbf. Moreover, there are american versions, so suck it up, boy. Orlando has a lot of parks too, so it’s quite obvious they can handle it.
x
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 12:59:14
Ha ha ha ha.
Okay, You guys obviously don't know Boris Johnson at all. For one thing @Zack - he's part German, part Russian, part English. He's incredibly intelligent and won't be hushed by political correct claptrap. He's an 'English' eccentric, a character and we do them VERY well in this country (Dumbledore, anyone?). He has a point about HP theme park not being built in UK. The fact is, WB own the rights and there's no way in Hogwarts they'd let the theme park out of USA. I don't care. I'll come and visit whereever it is.
OOH, Zack (again). Uh second world war, Check your facts, mate. Yeah, you helped us big time, but then again rather a lot of Brits gave their lives fighting the Japanese who'd bombed Pearl Harbour. Blinkered Nationalism should not have a part in this world.
Boris as Malfoy - ha ha - good call, but he's rather tubby. A Lucius gone to seed, or Abraxus maybe. Personally he's far more like Xenophilius Lovegood. Another English eccentric.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 13:22:13
as much as I LOVE England and HATE Florida, I have to agree on the FLORIDA location. This is on a business standpoint and not on an emotional one:
1) Disneyworld is the most visited park in the world. Universal studios is right next to it. Harry Potter will be in Universal. they will more likely attract more people.
2) Yeah, they have eurodisney... but again, Disneyworld is still the most visited park in the world because of the WEATHER. Go to a place that's almost always drizzly and cold or go to a place that's guaranteed to be warm and sunny?
3) The recession. Harry otter is just as popular in the US as it is in the UK. There are only 60 million people in the UK. There are over 300 million in the USA. People in the US are looking to go on vacations but can not afford to do them over seas any time soon. One of the top vacation spots in the US is Florida. So, it makes more sense... those 300 million people (plus Canadians, Central Americans, Puerto Ricans) will decide to go to Florida for their vacation and use the new wizarding world park as a destination, versus only the 60 million (plus other Europeans) who would be going in the UK... that alone makes complete sense on a business stand point.
(and let's not ignore the fact that Warner Brothers is in control of this and is what created the films and warner brothers is a US company.. in a universal STUDIOS park makes sense. )
4) Where would the HP theme park go in England?? It's not an entire park. It's a SECTION of a park. It's actually quit small. It doesn't sand alone as a park. It fits in Universal Studios because the movies were made by a movie production company........ it fits with the theme of universal studios and year round people will visit it because of the climate and location to disneyworld.
Makes sense to me...
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 13:35:44
The only reason I agree with Boris (and people here in the UK don't normally agree with him) is that with the park in the US and my family not being 'rich' I will probably never get to go to the one in Orlando. I am 14 and will have to wait at least 4 years before I can get a good paying job, the part of the wage I get each month can then be saved and hopefully I will be able to go within the next 10/20 years. My friend being 'richer' than me has said to me that if he ever gets to go in the near future then I can go with him. And yes most Brits on here are moaning about the US getting everything and in reply the Americans are saying we've got Leavesden Studios, Kings Cross and the castle where they film the external scenes. But, we don't get to just walk into Leavesden for a cup of tea and a chat and Kings Cross is just a train station there's nothing special about it the only things that make it related to HP are the fact there's a sign that says Platform 9 and 3/4 (which by the way doesn't really exist) and half a luggage trolley sticking out of the wall. We don't get to see them filming all the time. Now lets see what the Americans have: WWoHP (1), Ultimate Edition DVD's (2), the HP tour started in America and is still there (3), HP conventions (4). I could mention more but I don't want to this comment is already longer than I anticipated. Oh and don't any Americans say you've got JKR and the café in Edinburgh where she came up with the idea, yes we do but the café isn't that special and we can't just visit JKR whenever we feel like it.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 13:45:20
This argument is getting really lame now. Its in florida, thats where it is. The end. We would love there to be one in London too. Is there anything wrong with that. If you don't like the weather in uk dont come if they build one. And at the end of the day of course we all want it to be near where we live. so don't hate us in the UK for that. And stop bragging because you have it over there! And Ian you are so right :) You can say till your blue in the face you have nothing over there, but you certainly have more things that are accessibly to you than we do. Get a grip!!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 14:06:37
Uh, this guy realizes that it's Universal studios who came up with the idea for a Harry Potter theme park, right? So, if Universal is making the theme park, then its naturally going to be at the Universal Park, which is in AMERICA. Universal isn't going to make a theme park and then stick it somewhere else. They are going to put it right where they put all of their other ones. Florida. I just don't see how he could fail to miss that point.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 14:20:40
I agree with Zack. Not to go all Revolutionary War on Britain or anything, but if not for the U.S. Harry Potter would not be the phenom that it is. It sounds to me thought, that the man in jealous.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 14:21:50
The guy has no right to speak. I mean he said wands and stuff when he said Diagon alley. Clearly he's just jealous that Orlando got the tourists and he didn't. It would be nice to have another park in London, but I think it should be opened in a couple years. They are shoving too many releases together at once.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 14:23:26
Oh...and hey, let's not forget, Americans were forbidden to be cast in the movies whatsoever. So, I don't feel so awful-bad about the U.S. having the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Now, let's just be the friends that we are and enjoy what we ALL have, okay?
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 14:34:07
Well, the park was obviously put in Orlando because there are ALREADY PARKS THERE. There is already tons of traffic in Orlando, and they know how to create revenue for this sort of thing. Europe has plenty of Harry Potter spots, such as EVERYWHERE it was filmed. Not that it deserves to only be in the US, but honestly? It makes more sense for it to be in a spot where there is already theme park-esque things. Perhaps they will build a theme park elsewhere, but it is doubtful. from what i have heard, isn't leavesden going to be making some sort of HP museum? you bet that'll remain in England. soo, this argument is pretty pointless. both countries have advantages over the others and disadvantages. either way, we all love harry potter. that's all.
ps, although authentic, i would not love to visit diagon alley in the rain, let alone ride rollercoasters there.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 14:50:19
It's a good thing it's In the U.S. since well, we are aloud to experience the park and get the chance to be a wizard too! Even if the story is British! Who cares if the story is British or Americain or whatever! They can have one in Briton too. Like that everyone could experience that!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 16:08:02
man, I love a good fight! gotta love mugglenetters. maybe america does get more harry potter attractions, but the exhibition is going to britain and there ARE conventions there, plus the film sites as well as leavesden. harry potter is originally british, and it would be great to have a theme park there, but please don't become too angry at the americans for having the park. we all want it. don't be bitter.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 16:08:45
I definatley think they should put a park in London. It's a great opportunity for the British to experience the Wizarding world at home instead of flying overseas where some can not afford it. Although if they make a park in London as well, then they really have to try to be fair with making it, because it would be unfair if they added all this extravagant stuff to the London one and not to the U.S. one. So I think its great, just don't add too much or leave out too much, too.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 16:35:41
@GinMo, yeah i totally agree.
it would be easier for me, but then again, not my decision, i dont care going all the way over there for it, im up for it mate.
London cant cope with that much tourism for sure, doesnt he realize theres millions of hp fans?
x
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 17:02:48
I know that the Mayor probably didn't mean to offend us Americans, maybe he was joking, but it definitly hurt us American HP fans. And everybody is saying that just because HP is British, us Americans don't deserve it because we have everything. Yeah, we have Wet n' Wild, Empire State Building, nice beaches in Florida and California, but you must know that half the people in America don't get the chance to visit all the states! If the UK wanted a HP attraction sooo badly then they can build one themselves! Heck, build one next to the Great Wall of China for all I care! Just stop being so jealous of us! And I get to actually visit the park in 3 weeks because I live an hour away from Orlando! MWA HA HA HA HA! ;-D
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 18:03:37
THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE GUYS. Personally as a Brit I don't see where you Americans are coming from when you say we have it all over here. Over here we do have some of the film locations (which are not easy to find or get to and can be slightly underwelming). Yes we will have the Leavesden attraction when it eventually opens (this will be a relatively small thing though). But you my American friends have the Exhibition and now the Theme park, not to mention all the money from the movies. So yes we have some nice HP related things scattered around Britain, which i understood you are jealous of. But the theme park will be on a completely different scale! And i personally would love it to be close to home here in Britain. I do however understand the reasons they've built it in Orlando, and it is great that HP will be shared with the world there.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 18:08:01
Oh, and don't spend too much time listening to Boris Johnson. He's a big bumbling buffoon!!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 19:04:33
By very similar logic, you could say that it should be in Loch Ness, Surrey, or Devon. Any how if you want a park, build one.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 19:32:26
BECAUSE YOU HAD A BAD DAY! YOU'RE TAKING ONE DOWN! YOU GET IN A HUFF JUST TO TURN IT AROUND! AMERICA IS GREAT. HARRY POTTER ROCKS. ACCEPT THE FACT THAT ORLANDO IS JUST TOO GREAT!
(Sing to the melody of "Bad Day" :))
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 19:52:09
@Laura: lol! Everybody is just jealous of our coolness and because we got the attraction! :P Build your own HP attraction in your own backyard!!!!!!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 20:33:41
I honestly felt insulted while reading that excerpt. While I can see the mayor's points, I find them explicitly rude towards any Harry Potter fan from America. Well, of course the series took place there. No one is pretending otherwise. Where a theme park is located, should not make fans lose focus of where the real story lies. I'm sorry that the location of a spin-off of the books has upset you so greatly, sir. Good day.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 20:35:26
Eat any sour grapes lately? And who cares how humor, neighborhood, gray, color or anything else is spelled. Also, Disney and Universal studios bank billions each year in Orlando, Euro Disney cannot compare, plus the world knows how stupid we Americans get with our money. What an ass. He has a point, but he has no tact.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 20:37:02
Plus WB is an American company.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 20:55:59
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 21:11:59
WAAAAAA. Somebody call him the Waaaambulance!!!
By the way, HP fans out in California probably aren't too happy that it was built in Orlando either. So it's not just this London mayor guy that has reasons to be bitter.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 21:15:59
Well, as much as it would be pretty cool to have a Wizarding World in London, everyone has to think that it's all about business and the money. Having the park in Orlando will be a huge success because not only will tourists will have Universal but they also have the other attractions, too. Again, it's all about the money, and believe me, the Wizarding World is making a HUGE amount of the dollar sign! Also, both companies, Warner Bros. and Universal Studios, are American production companies, so they have the right to choose where their funding is going. I'm also sure that JK Rowling was thinking the same thing when the proposal was presented to her. The Wizarding World is a wonderful place, and they definitely did an amazing job!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 21:17:55
ps, plus I suppose this means if there's ever a Star Trek theme park built, it should be built on the moon, right?
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 21:37:33
No matter how many times I read his quote about being more likely to be shot in Orlando...it's still SO funny to me. I live quite close to Florida and it's the perfect place to have a theme park if you want it to be successful. It's always sunny and believe it or not it DOES get cold and cloudy there. It's not sunny and hot all year round, but it's also not raining 24/7 like in England. We Potter fans LOVE Harry Potter and can't wait to go to the theme park, but I thoroughly doubt we would be willing to stand in the rain and experience the park while we're soaked. It just wouldn't be the same and families with small kids definitely wouldn't want that to happen. It would be AMAZING if there was one in London too, because it's the home of Harry Potter, but I just don't think it would be logical. Plus, the Leavesden museum attraction is going to be in London, so they have that.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 23:41:28
The bottom line is; Harry Potter is British. It is not in any way an American idea and so British people are understandably feeling very annoyed that America is benefitting from a British invention.
For the record, Boris Johnson is hilarious and a good Mayor, he wishes the American theme park well but is angry that all British fans will have to go to America to see it. Also to all those making slights on his appearance? Boris is a bit ridiculous looking I'll admit, but here in the UK we elect our Mayors for their policies not how perfectly quaffed their hair is or unnaturally white their teeth are.
And for those Americans saying we ought to shutup and just buy plane tickets? Did you know only about 10-15% of the US even own a passport? We shouldnt have to pay a fuckton of money to see something that by rights should be in our own country.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-09 23:49:15
I think its fine as long as he says please. I just have this problem for people that so negatively criticize about one thing being in the wrong place. Since he's a man in a place of power, he can say that he wants it, not rant upon what's already here.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-10 01:54:33
This is a Harry Potter fansite people, please don't begin a boring 'my country is better than yours' debate - ugh! australia NEEDS a HP theme park...its always raining and cloudy where i live (we don't all live in the bush, guys) just imagine how much i shall have to pay for a plane ticket!! :*(
we have billywigs in australia!! haha read fantastic beasts and you'll understand ;)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-10 02:02:40
Yes, we Australians are increasing our Harry Potter fan numbers :) And although the original fans... that is to, us, who have been here from the beginning, will grow older than the newer fans (I'm almost 16 WOOT) we will always REMAIN fans, just like any other. If you don't see where I'm going, well, I'm talking about us having basically nothing lol. So we will visit the US for the themepark and first and foremost revisit the UK for the sets, but we still have NOTHING so please don't bicker, because you have to under how we feel :) And Australia is mentioned more times than America in the Harry Potter series, haha
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-10 03:09:08
HPFANTimothy, you should build a Hermione's parents house attraction. I would visit that next time i'm in Aus. It's a shame that you have to travel so far to see anything. And @Ginny&Crookshanks i know you dont all live in the bush, lol, but where exactly in Australia does it rain all the time? Btw i love Australia you have a great country guys, hope you get some HP stuff to go with it.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-10 08:01:18
I do understand his point about HP being British and it should be in Britain. Maybe WB will decide to team up with Euro Disney and do another park.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-10 08:27:54
Whoa, didn't know how odd that guy was. Let's just say I'm proud to be an American (music plays). No JK, I have nothing against British people.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-10 09:02:27
I think this guy's half joking, half being serious at the same time. It still would be awesome to have more theme parks built around the world!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-10 09:31:55
I take this quote from Iwantorlando05's post: "but it's also not raining 24/7 like in England." I wish the Americans that have never left their house would understand that it's not always raining in England. I will admit it does rain more than there being sun but it doesn't rain 24/7 like that ignorant person said it does. The least you could do before making a comment is to get your facts right. And when there is sun shine and I mean proper sun shine it is really hot, we have been hotter than the Mediterranean on numerous occasions.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-10 10:20:15
@ Sebastian: I think you just calmly summed up the entire point of this conversation in 2 sentences. In a positive,neutral, way. This is not a battle of the British vs. Americans. This is about the mayor of London who said a few words that maybe he shouldn't of. I guess what I'm trying to say is......HP ROCKS AND WE ALL DESERVE TO VISIT THE THEME PARK IF WE WANT TO AND IF WE HAVE TO BUILD ONE IN LONDON, ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES AND LETS DO IT!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-10 11:57:33
Well really. I'm actually laughing at the bickering. I'm British and wouldn't say no to a London Hp World. I find it funny how good 'ol Boris is making such a fuss. Personally, I think the actual Park should have been built in the UK but I have no problems with it America. After all, the movies were funded by WB. I think it is a bit selfish how someone up top of the comments list was saying how she hadn't been out of north america etc etc. But I havent been out of Britain all the same?
Also, about Leavesden, I don't think that is exactly as good as the theme park but it's worth a wait.
I just think that it would be a bit pointless building a second but why not?
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-10 12:35:57
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/bring-harry-potter-back-home
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/pages/A-Harry-Potter-world-should-be-built-in-Britain-too/133076193375652?ref=ts
If you support this idea!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-10 12:38:19
I agree the park should have been build in Britian since it is a british. written by a british authour set in BRITIAN!!!!
I think if they wanted one in america they should have waited and built it in britian. America gets everything they had that hp exhibiton in Chicago, from what i see you can only buy the costumes and wands etc in America.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-10 12:40:42
Plus i saw clips of it on youtube and i cant stand the actors they have employed with them fake posh british accents, we don't all speak like that!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-10 13:43:42
Would be easier for me to get to London, but I don't really care about the destination. BTW: A bit late to complain ? :P
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-10 14:38:58
I strongly disagree with the people saying that since Harry Potter is British is should be placed in Britain. Seriously? McDonalds was made by an AMERICAN company which was founded by AMERICAN people in AMERICA! And we share those delicious cheeseburgers with the rest of the world don't we? Anywhere you go, you'll see a McDonalds(except for Pandora, of course). Same with Burger King and Lady GaGa! So be quiet and repay us genorous AMERICANS with that HP attraction! PLEASE AND THANK YOU!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-10 14:47:42
Well, Lady GaGa wasn't made by an American company.....but she is from AMERICA which makes her AMERICAN!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-10 14:53:48
OH MY FREAKING JESUS GUYS! STOP FREAKIN ARGUING ABOUT WHO OWNS HARRY POTTER!!! YOU WANNA KNOW WHO OWNS HARRY POTTER??? J.K. ROWLING OWNS HARRY POTTER!!! DONT GET MAD AT AMERICA BECAUSE WE JUMPED ON THE BANDWAGON FIRST. ALL OF US H.P FANS SHOULD BE GREAT FULL THAT WE HAVE HARRY POTTER IN OUR LIVES, AND WE CAN PASS IT ON TO OUR CHILDREN. I AGREE THEY SHOULD BUILD ONE IN LONDON, BUT AMERICA HAS H.P FANS TOO AND WE SHOW IT BY BUILDING A THEME PARK AND AN EXHIBITION. THIS MAYOR OF LONDON HAS STIRRED UP ALL THIS UNNECESSARY COMMOTION BETWEEN US FANS. CAN WE GET BACK TO BEING HAPPY AGAIN PLEASE?????
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-10 14:54:35
I'd just like to point out (sorry if it's already mentioned) that not everyone in Britain lives in London. Sorry, it's been annoying me for a while. Just, everyone in America seems to think London is the same as England, when it's not. Someone refered to us as Londoners earlier and I just wanted to say that not everyone in England is a Londoner. It seems to be common misconception. Anyway, that rant is over. Now, those of you in America have said that we have everything here. I'd just like to say that actually, it seems that you do. Yes, we have the actors and JKR, but we don't exactly meet up with them any time we want. And you have the exibition and the theme park and the conventions that I will probably never be able to attend even though I actually live relatively close to the main setting of the books, which seems slightly unfair. It's not like we can actually visit all the locations and things, and even if we can, some of them are quite boring when you actually get there. And those people who have said that if it was in England they wouldn't be able to afford a ticket, that's exactly how I, and a lot of people from Britain and other areas, are feeling. I'm not saying America shouldn't have a theme park, merely that maybe we should have one, considering the series originated here and, no offence to any Americans, but you do seem to have a lot of Potter attractions, especially since most things seem to be American and I quite like the idea of having something here that I could actually visit, rather than all the big attractions being over seas. Also, the fake accents are very annoying. We definitely do not speak like that. Anyway, no offence to anyone meant in that. Just my opinion.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-10 15:06:30
Personally, we all just need to stop fighting over this. If the park was in London, I would have no chance of visiting it, but as an American i will hopefully be going next year. I am assuming some of the British wont be able to visit the park because it is in America, so why not build one in England too. For that matter, Harry Potter is a worldwide fanaminon, so why not have a park everywhere? Plus I think the mayor was really only joking, and wasnt trying to offend non-British fans, his main point was to state that he wanted a park in his hometown. Dont we all? Perhaps he could have been a bit more sensible when saying that England contolled hp because the stories were set there, but we should all just calm down about it
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-10 15:12:56
okay, first, i know people who can REALLY good british accents. and i know what a real british accent sounds like since I watch HP movies a lot! and since there are lots of british people commenting on here, I have 2 questions! please answer them! I know this is wayyyyyyyy of subject but, do they have a show called Spongebob Squarepants in the UK? and the second question is: Do british people ever sit around talking in American accents? PLEASE ANSWER these questions! I've always wondered that!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-10 16:11:36
Well, he's right about one thing. You are more likely to get shot in Orlando. It's my hometown, and there are some really ghetto places not too far from I-Drive (the main touristy area, near Universal).
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-10 18:15:27
@ Ana Rosal. Are you actually serious? No you do not know what a 'real' British accent sounds like. The people in Harry Potter speak in stereotypical posh BBC English, there are hundreds of different dialects and accents in Britain. Im guessing your friends do some pansy Hugh Grant type impression of a British accent? Wrong. I dont actually know anyone who speaks like that in real life.
Yes, unfortunately we do have Spongebob Square pants over here. Why is beyond me.
And no you moron British people dont sit around talking in American accents, why on earth would we?
Please remove your head from your anus before commenting in future.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-10 18:26:17
@Emma first get off your high horse and take the stick out your ass! Second like you said Harry Potter speak is stereotypical posh BBC English. So I'm guessing people at the theme park will be speaking that way also. Yeah they hired american people so who gives a freakin crap besides you! Like I said before America jumped on the band wagon and got there first. Don't get pissed off at us because we thought of it first before you did. Harry Potter is a WORLD WIDE phenomenon, and just because it's made in London doesn't mean you guys own it. You need to quit being so selfish and learn to deal with it. We have 8 freakin days left til it opens. Just stfu!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-10 18:36:31
@Kristina THANK YOU! :-D @Emma If you're going to be straight up rude like that then just forget that I asked. You're just mad that we have the attraction and you don't! If you really cared that much about a HP attraction then you'd build one yourself. wtf is your problem?!?
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-10 19:36:24
Um, where was Mr. Mayor when the HP movies started getting produced? Because those are produced by an American company as well. Warner Bros. produces and distributes these movies. Where was Mr. Mayor 4 years ago when Universal agreed to create the park? And do I really need to point out that EuroDisney is, UM, DISNEY????? Not Universal Studios?!!! Production rights to the movies are owned by Warner Brothers, which owns, guess what, UNIVERSAL STUDIOS! If England wants a park, someone needs to get on the horn over there and give Universal a little ringy dingy. I'm all for London having a HP attraction as well. The more the merrier. J.K. created a fantastic work of fiction, that deserves to be shared worldwide. If the mayor wants to be angry about the fact that London doesn't have one, take it up with people in England. American's don't keep the lock and key on HP. The only people that are stopping the English from having an attraction like this, are the English themselves. He doesn't need to place blame on anyone else. Maybe he should have took to his witty letter writing 4 years ago. And I have to agree, he does resemble Malfoy. Whomever claimed that Obama resembled Doby, seriously needs to have an eye exam. There are a lot of fictional characters Obama resembles, but Doby is not one of them. The long stringy blonde hair and pinched face that Malfoy is described as having, fits perfectly to the picture that was posted. This may be a poor picture of the man, but going off the that was posted with this article, he looks like Malfoy is described in the books. hehe Sorry, but he does.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-10 20:58:04
In regards to the comments by the London mayor, and also to UK fans here, who have said that Harry Potter is British therefore the theme park should be in Britain...Harry Potter's world may exist in the UK area, but Harry Potter belongs to us Americans too now. Why? When our American book publishing company, Scholastic, bought the publishing rights to bring Harry Potter over to America, that's when Harry Potter also became a part of American culture, because once it was brought over here it impacted so many American children and our culture (HP has been mentioned in a lot of our TV shows, for an example). Now, if we were just getting imported Bloomsbury editions, then the London mayor and several fans here would be fair to say that Harry Potter belongs to UK fans. However, because of Scholastic, HP also belongs to us Americans. The same can be said to other countries who have their own editions and covers, etc. Just thought I'd mention that...
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-10 22:19:38
many of us seem to merely be having a "I LOVE HARRY POTTER MORE" fight. i think we can all agree that we all love harry potter, and leave it at that, can we not?
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-10 22:41:19
@bhart seriously im tired of yelling at ppl over this. can we be happy again.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-11 00:02:10
They should make a HOGWARTS that is more realistic and a place you can stay in like a hotel. That would be flipping sweet, and give me a SERIOUS reason to get a passport and hop a plane to London.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-11 04:19:09
@PureBloodPrincess17 What was that?! Americans are generous because they share McDonalds?! Wow, thank you! "Generosity" based on payment is not really that unselfish. And not everyone loves America's special gift! Personally I wouldn't mind that company to take their burgers and clear away...
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-11 08:36:13
I understand where this guy is coming from, but London is going to have the Leavesden Studios attraction, as well as every actual muggle place that appears in the books. And the majority of Harry Potter fans live in the U.S. anyway, simply because the U.S. has a larger population. If they want a theme park in London, they can build a theme park in London. I don't think anyone is stopping them, so he shouldn't complain. It's not like America called dibs on the Harry Potter theme park.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-11 08:50:06
Let me preface what I am about to say with the fact that my heritage is from the UK, I love the people there, I love London and Manchester and cities all over, and I would gladly become a citizen were I ever invited to do so. However, if there is ever a reason for Americans to think that the British are arrogant, rude, and controlling, the remarks from London's Mayor certainly is it. It would be nice if his comments were even remotely accurate. First of all, he needs to decide if he's complaining about a city or a country, because he can't seem to decide in his rant. And the comparisons he makes all fall short because he isn't very accurate. "Where you buy wands and stuff"? Sounds like he is very versed in the world of Harry Potter and the beautiful literature produced by your very own J.K Rowling. King's Cross Station is in London; Grand Central Station is in New York City, not Orlando. So I find his reference rather useless. Also, why on earth would you presume that only the UK has boarding schools and "dorm-feast excitement", whatever that may be. He obviously hasn't spent much time researching his topics before speaking about time. Tradition in fine boarding school establishments exist all over the US, but the ones most similar to those in the UK you will find in the North-East region of New England, dating back to the 1700's. We may not have the amount of history in America that all of Europe has because we are the New Country, but we have history, and tradition, and rituals, so how dare he insult are history and educational and caste systems. The UK is not the only country to have the Upper Class and elite schools. You want us to take the Mayor seriously? Then maybe he could at least get the name of the park he is referencing correct. It is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, not "Kingdom of Potter". And the fact that he would insinuate that all Americans are "mad", that is complete insanity in itself. I don't know how he could even pretend to think that the people from the UK only get "cross" as he put it, and not "mad". Completely ignorant and insulting. As a matter of fact, I think the press would love to hear more from this moron. Maybe someone should be editing his remarks so that he won't make London and the UK look so bad. He shouldn't speak on behalf of a country or city when his facts are so poorly fictionalized. Even though London is actually my favorite city in the entire world, this Mayor sure makes me think twice before coming back to support his economy.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-11 10:01:30
@Orlando Friend, I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU! :-D
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-11 10:19:51
Blimey, what a big fat git
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-11 10:55:38
Tbh, this park will be how the films shown the Harry Potter world and not how I imagined the Harry Potter world. It'd be fun agreed, but for me the books and films are completely different entities. I agree with Boris though, this is a UK based film series, as much as Warner is American. Warner will obviously make more money in America, so I respect their decision, though I would like to see a UK based theme park one day.
Also, this is Boris Johnson, he excels at you being able to laugh at him.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-11 11:14:56
Good Old Boris! I think he is a true Harry Potter fan! I'm from London but I imagine a theme park over here wouldn't be half as spectacular as the one in Orlando. Here's to another excuse for a holiday in Florida! For those people in the Uk wanting to go I just read on another forum that Virgin Holidays are offering free park tickets!!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-11 11:33:57
Wow i think this guy went into a rage. Really the movies were picked up by WARNER BROS. its kind of obvious why the theme park is in america. There whole home base is over here. Just because a movie is based elsewhere and filmed elsewhere doesnt mean that the company that owns the right to it has to put a theme park somewhere else. I mean Islands needed to be renovated there was no better way than to put Harry Potter right at the center! I was hoping they would do something over seas. But it makes sense for WB to put it here.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-11 11:46:08
everyone has got very aggressive here. hmm but I point I want to make: Leavesden Studios in NOT in London. It is situated in west Hertfordshire approximately 18 miles (29 km) northwest of central London, which means its not so easily accesible as London is. America are entitled to a themepark and thats great but I really wish they would stop saying we have everything Potter, because we have virtually nothing interesting except J.K herself, who lives in Scotland! The places in the films are just places, they is no Harry Potter related magic there, Kings Cross is a just train station, Tottenham Court Road is just a place, theres no Diagon Alley, or Hogwarts or anything! We have virtually no Harry Potter related fan events, no exibition, no theme park etc. Leavesden museum will be like the first real Potter attraction we have had. :-( be nice if someone could do somethings here, there is money to be made! Maybe the American companies should do it as they are so well practiced.
Also to go to Florida, Ive researched and for 2 people in September, it would be about £1000 self catering, then of course there is a weeks worth of food costs, + park entry etc. so I would need about 1800 pounds? maybe, thats like 2 months wages before tax... Gonna take a long time to save! Be nice though, I think maybe they will do something here, for those from poor families that cannot afford to go abroad (like my family was).
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-11 15:38:01
kinda too late dude...
i 2nd a 2nd park though!!!!!!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-11 17:12:54
I'm sorry but why does every american think everyone in england can just walk into Leavesden Studios and have a chat to all the cast and crew? we can't go to the cafe where the first book was write and talk to JKR herself. plus i only been past there once,all there was a sign on the window saying it was write there so not very impressive!
Everytime i'm on here i see loads of things happening in america, you had that harry potter exhibition in chicago, you can buy all the costumes in america, try looking for that over here. Not going to happen. Also why does everyone think we all live in London!! If there was going to build a hogwarts in america they should have built a british one first before even thinking of building it in a different country. Plus i'm sure it will confuse children into why hogwarts has now moved to america, try explaining that to them!
Also why do people think us british talk in a really posh way??
And to people saying you missed your chance to have it, well if us fans were told about the idea when they first thought it we all would have write and made our feels known that we wanted it in britain. The end.....
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-11 17:13:33
P.s. I on't hate america. I want to move there at somepoint.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-11 19:19:56
The reactions to this piece sort of make me wish that the mayor hadn't even written it. Guys, I'm about 99% sure that he was just kidding! It's just a satirical *joke*. Heck, I'm American (and proud), and I thought it was funny. That having been said, here's the thing: I think that it's better to have the first HP theme park in Orlando. Whether Britian has the right to have it closer to home or not, the fact is that when you look at the big picture, it's better to have it in Orlando. The community of Harry Potter fans stretches worldwide, and Orlando is the worldwide capital of theme parks. And either way, why on Earth are we all shouting at and blaming *one another*??? This decision wasn't made by American fans -- we had no more of a say in where the theme park would be built than the British fans or anyone else. It looks like American fans just got lucky on this one. My point is that it's completely useless to be bitter towards one another or to bicker amongst ourselves about where the theme park will be built and whether it should be in one place or another. The decision has been made by the big-wigs at WB -- no fan had any say in it. Personally, I'd be thrilled if they would build another park in the UK! It would just bring yet another layer of authenticity to the experience. Anyway, I really can't wait to see the park, no matter what country it's in.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-11 21:02:16
For once I actually think Boris isn't totally talking sh!t. I love that JKR insisted that the movies be set in the UK with UK cast. Subsequently I think that the park should have been built in the UK however I do see and understand why it wasn't as it would have probably a wider audience in the US. However, I do hope for perhaps some kind of park in the UK too soon, I think it would be far more magical.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-11 23:22:49
God i can't believe this is still getting comments!! PEOPLE JUST DROP IT. BORIS IS A STRANGE MAN HE SAYS AND DOES WEIRD THINGS DON'T TAKE HIM SERIOUSLY AND DON'T JUDGE BRITAIN FROM HIM. WE ALL HAVE ARGUMENTS AS TO WHY A HP THEME PARK SHOULD BE IN OUR OWN COUNTRY BECAUSE WE ALL LOVE OUR OWN COUNTRIES, WE ALL LOVE HARRY POTTER AND WE ALL KNOW HOW BLOODY COOL IT WOULD BE TO GO TO THIS THEME PARK. STOP THE PATRIOTIC ARGUMENTS THEY DON'T BELONG HERE. BRITAIN AND AMERICA ARE BOTH GREAT PLACES. NOW FORGET WHAT BORIS SAID AND CARRY ON ENJOYING HARRY POTTER!!!!!!!!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-12 01:51:56
BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA This is HILARIOUS. I love how seriously people takes things like this. Like, really? It's CLEARLY a joke. Naturally- of course- the Mayor of London would like a HP theme park in the home of HP... but really- he's kidding around.
But honestly, I think there should be a HP theme park in Australia because that's where Hermione sends her parents in DH. THIS IS VERY SIRIUS BIZZINUSSS GUYZZ!!!!! I IZ ANGRY.
Oh, the lols.
I also love the fact WW2 has been brought up. Really? Joint effort guys... everyone knows that without one of the main countries we would have lost. Whether that be Britian, the US or Australia/NZ or ANY of the other main contributors. Chill. It's just a theme park.
[Although the people at the theme park best have good british accents. If/when I eventually buy a gazillion dollar ticket to get to the US in the first place I want an authentic British accent. K? Cool.]
REMEMBER.
SERIOUS BZNS.
[I'm, sorry. Going on two hours sleep here.]
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-12 08:15:11
Maybe this guy should stop worrying about where the harry potter park is and ask himself why he looks EXACTLY like gary busey. London rains. Florida doesnt. Most of the potter money was made in America. The studio is in America. Case closed
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-12 13:01:18
Also, what everyone forgets is this. Its not a stand alone amusement park. Its a "land" in one of the biggest amusement parks in the world Universal Studios. Its a small portion of a massive park. Plus you cant even ride a rollercoaster in the rain. All it does in England is rain.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-12 18:13:46
Oh get over it! We made it down here because we made it down here. Like Andrew said, make another one in London! I can't think of any reason that people would oppose this idea.
There's a disney world in Florida and a disney land is california. People go to both!
Honestly, he's getting a little too mad about this. Okay so what if Harry Potter is all British? American people aren't allowed to like it? Or create parks for it?
There's no need to be bitter.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-12 20:13:07
The park consists not of Diagon Alley and King's Cross, but Hogsmeade and Hogwarts. So according to his reasoning, the park should be built in the middle of nowhere surrounded by mountains in northern Scotland.
That, and EuroDisney is generally considered to have been a major flop and was not remotely as successful as it should have been.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-13 04:48:07
Oh Boris I do love you, even if you are a Tory. I also love how everyone is taking him very seriously, no one does, not even the Londoners who voted for him take him that seriously, especially about things like this.
Build one near London as well, or add an area to Alton Towers (Not Thorpe Park, cause I prefer Alton Towers kthnx), we can have one either side of the pond. It would be nice to have it here as getting to America, well for me it won't happen soon thats for sure.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-13 08:53:32
Whats his problem. He looks like the kid in Shrek 4 who wants Shrek to "do the roar". lol. Jurassic Park took place on 2 small islands near the carribean so should they move that from Florida too? You have to build parks where the people are and where they go on vacations.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-13 12:33:27
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-13 13:11:49
Bit late to start complaining now.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-13 14:18:08
I want one in Scotland because I can't even afford to go to England :(
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-13 14:25:01
Hahaaa, its funny how everyone is taking boris seriously. It's just a bit of English humour, he doesn't mean it. And yes it would be nice to have the park closer to home, but you've got to take into account that Florida has them all. I personally think one in scotland would be the best, as this is where Hogwarts actually is and there's plenty of space in the highlands! ahaha.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-13 14:25:26
It took me an HOUR to read ALLLLLLLLLLLLL the comments on here! But I did! :) So......I live in Florida so I am OVERJOYED that it's here! And obviously it would be in Orlando since that's where all the other big attractions are! Such as Jurrasic Park, Dr.Suess Land, and that Cartoon Place! So of course the only thing missing is Harry Potter! In England they have rain and cold weather. WHO WOULD WANT TO GO ONTO A ROLLERCOASTER WEARING A THICK SWEATER WHILE IT'S RAINING?!?!? And Obama does look funny looking but trust me, he doesn't look like a house elf! And, who brought up WW2?!?!?
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-13 14:33:16
Its not always rainy and cold in england haah
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-13 16:02:14
Well MOST OF THE TIME it is.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-13 21:35:30
I guess it would be cool to have a park in England, but there's definitely nothing wrong with having it in the USA. My only wish is that it was a little bit further north since I live in NYC (although I suppose I can see why they built it in Orlando with all the other theme parks...). Plus, the location would probably look a bit more accurate than Florida XD
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-13 23:59:46
By the way, having the WWoHP built here in Florida does not begin to make up for the actions here of another British institution, BP. Having a place to get away to immerse ourselves in fantasy for a short time may be a pleasant break from our stark reality of death and destruction along our beaches and throughout the Gulf. While people are complaining about something so completely trivial as the location of a theme park, please remember there are much more important issues going on in the world right now.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-14 00:17:21
For those stating that America gets everything. I won't argue - we often have more than other countries. Know why? We have the people coming up with the ideas and/or capital to make these things happen.
Rather than sit around and complain about what you don't have, why don't you take some initiative to do something yourself? You want a convention? Hold one. You want a theme park? Build one.
I can think of a number of British people who did just that, including J.K. Rowling. She obviously didn't wait around for somebody else to write the Harry Potter saga first, and I doubt she sits around complaining that others get so much when she gets so little.
For those who think it's too expensive to get to Orlando, yes, getting the packages can often be quite spendy. However, there are a number of inexpensive places to stay in the area, and its worth it to save up for the trip.
I don't have much money, but I made it a priority in my life to save to visit Florida every few years, and now I've moved here. Florida has much more to offer than just Harry Potter and theme parks. I hope that everyone gets the opportunity to visit here at least once. Then you'll understand why WB, Universal, and Rowling felt this is the best place to bring the Harry Potter vision to the world, not just the UK.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-14 14:51:16
you know, it seems that some ppl are forgetting that the film complany that is producing Harry Potter is an AMERICAN company. i'm all for there being a theme park in the UK as well, but even if it is a british book/movie, if the ppl who are making it/backing it/producing it, they should be allowed to put a theme park where they want to. it just happened to be that they wanted to put it in America, where they are from
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-14 18:13:19
He's pretty mad isn't he? Anyhow, if the park was to be in a representative place, it should be Scotland! Diagon Alley, yeah... But ever heard about, um, HOGWARTS?? And what about Rowling? That woman who actually wrote the series, you know...
And I'm not even Scottish xD I just don't like it when people say pointless things.
But I'll be ok with the second HP park lol. I live in Spain so it would be much easier to get there! =)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-14 21:22:52
if they want to spend millions building one in foggy London town, be my guest! As for me, I'm just psyched to be going this summer to the American one.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-14 22:05:56
ok the things been in the making for how many years and he waits till a couple of weeks before opening to start moaning. i'm just stoked that theres one at all. dosnt matter to me where it is.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-14 23:13:19
Although I am excited for the fact that this theme park is in the United States, I feel that the Mayor has some good thoughts on it.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-14 23:18:01
There are plenty of things that the U.K. has gotten from the series over the years that the U.S. hasn't. For one thing, they got all the books released to them first! It wasn't always good for everyone because then people would go online and mislabel forums purposely to attract unsuspecting fans into a forum where they actually posted up spoilers and ruined the books (I for one was most displeased when someone leaked that Snape kills Dumbledore and then leaked all the characters that died in the seventh and the pages on which they died!)The U.K. also has tourist attractions such as the filming sites. We don't get those in the U.S. And they have the origin of Harry's scar AND the Hogwarts library right in Oxford University. (The scar is found outside one of the theaters. Apparently J.K.R. was strolling along one day, looked down, and saw a lightning-bolt shaped carving on the ground left there by the architect of that theater. I learned that on a tour of the buildings...)
The U.K. gets the pleasure of seeing those great attractions whenever they please. WE'D have to fly overseas to see any major attraction pertaining to the stories at all!
I think it's fair that we get ONE big attraction here that is based off of the series. U.K. gets the filming sites and the origins AND the author herself. U.S. a theme park.
I say let the Americans have something of the stories that the U.K. doesn't for once! At least until someone in the U.K. comes up with the money and resources to make a Potter park of their own. The point is Orlando got there first and it's all done and paid for so there's no use in complaining about it.
Personally, I'm completely excited that there's one at all. If you can't make it to America now for it you have two options: 1) wait for the U.K. to build one or 2) save up, even if it takes over a year, find a good deal, and fly out here. It's warm in Orlando for most of the year.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-15 11:12:14
I think this is an extremely ignorant man. This is for people who love the Harry Potter world to visit it and be involved. It just so happens that Universal was willing to make this happen. So who cares if we get "mad" and not "cross". We all love this world and it doesnt matter where in the world it is. How about he dishes out the expenses to have it in London. I would love to visit it there as well. :)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-15 13:28:34
Boris Johnson is BRILLIANT!! There should deffinetley be a Wizarding World in London. I am not saying there shouldnt have been one in Orland.
But for people like me who live in London, there is a very small chance that I will have the chance to visit the one in America unless I save up the money on my own.
HE IS NOT AN IGNORANTTT MAN, just loves Harry Potter as much we all do. Having one in America and Britain will spread the love of Harry Potter :)
I have even wrote a letter to him saying what a good idea it is. GO ON BORIS!!! :)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-16 07:12:08
i totally agree with borris johnson on this . harry potter defines britain not america. americans just could never create the definitive view and atmosphere that is needed for harry potter they dont have brittish accents they are fake and smile too much which is totally unbrittish i cant believe im sayin this given im irish and im supposed to hate britain on principle however im with borris on this one
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-16 14:40:11
Great idea! I think that the park in America will be great...for Americans. I know we are all Harry Potter fans but I think we appreciate the series in different ways, we also have different sense of humour, humility, different institutions etc. This would make the UK park quite a different experience. Also, I think that a large number of UK Harry Potter fans would find it very difficult to get to the American park. I know I have looked in to prices and it's just too much money to go over there. A park in the UK would be good news for European fans unable to make the trip.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-16 21:56:49
Everybody can just shut up now because the Grand Opening is this Friday. So no more need to comment on this anymore! I AM GOING TO WWoHP NEXT FRIDAY AND I'M SOOO LUCKY BECAUSE I LIVE RIGHT OUTSIDE OF ORLANDO! MWAHAHAHAHA! :-D
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-17 01:24:54
@HPFANTimothy and @Tomj - thankyou so much for your support and words! go australian HP fans! oh, and it is colder in southern AUS - where it is closer to Antartica. It doesn't rain always - but it is winter here, and god am I feeling it..brrrrr! :)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-17 02:17:05
I think it should be in england. and this is coming from an australian so its not like im being biased. this guy has the right to say those things, because hogwarts is english. i've been watching videos of wizarding world of harry potter and every now and again i can hear a really annoying american accent coming from one of the staff dressed in hogwarts uniforms. this annoyed me so much, couldn't they at least try to put on an accent? the park looks great though and i plan on going there
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-17 03:18:13
@Hayley: Actually, JK Rowling made sure that every single person in the cast was British. So no, you didn't hear a single American accent. Also, it isn't based on what country it's supposed to be in. Universal picked up the tab, not the mayor. They didn't even think of it, so they shouldn't complain.
To all of you that complain about Florida being the wettest state: Yeah, buddy, I live here, and I'm sort of praying for a good cold rain. But it's not coming. We get OCCASIONAL drizzles of humidity water, but that's about it. Most of the rain comes in full-on hurricanes, and during Spring. Summer vacation is probably gonna be relatively dry, and you're going to need loads of sunscreen for 90+ degree weather.
Quite frankly, more people will go to US than UK. Additionally, there are more people in the US than there are in the UK. In all senses, it is more logical monetarily to put the park in the US. Really? Stop complaining. One day when it isn't so bloody expensive to go to London and coffee doesn't cost us 6-8 american dollars, you guys will get better tourists, and you will have your themepark. Until then, suck it up.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-17 03:23:38
Also, no American (or anyone really who isn't British) knows the mayor of a city in England, whether or not it is the biggest city in England. We know your queen, we know your prime minister, we know your princes, etc. We do not know your mayors. Do you know the mayor of NYC? Why not? Isn't NYC the biggest city in the world? Seriously, don't criticise everyone else for not knowing who this Boris character is and that you guys things he's a moron or whatever.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-17 08:17:04
@Ella Malfoy
selfish? I think you're the one who's selfish.
I'm 15 and live in Sweden and i'm already saving up money so that I hopefully will be able to go to the Harry Potter theme park when im 18 or 19 because there's no way my family will be able to afford going there at the moment.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-17 20:12:00
Lol at Americans taking Boris seriously, he's clearly joking people. Might be the picture's fault, a lot of people seem to think appearances are important, here's one that might fit better with the tone of his speech: http://alcopop.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/boris-johnson-bike_667500n.jpg
The Guy's a living legend and if you need proof here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOivzoRc0I8
He received the largest personal mandate of any British politician in history when he became London Major, in other words more British people voted for him than any one else ever in any type of election. I guess I can see how he wouldn't appeal to Americans though, they tend to take things rather too literately. plus he's not very attractive which never helps across the pond.
I realise that Mugglenet isn't exactly the main forum for educated American adults and that I'm doing them a disservice by judging them on the image conscious teenagers who have been the main contributors to this comment section, and for that I am sorry, so just mentally add "teenagers" after the word "American" in this comment as I can't be bothered to go back and change it. :)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-17 20:14:29
Watch this then tell me he's not a legend i dare you :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul-LB10533g&NR=1&feature=fvwp
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-18 02:07:48
I agree with what you are saying pricey, about that he was clearly joking. but people in positions of power do have to be mindful of what they joke about, particularly in public. I agree that people that don't know him shouldn't be making assumptions based on what - sometimes little- information they know. but, pricey, can you please not speak down to teenagers and not put a brand that all american teenagers feel the same way?
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-18 10:21:45
My hubby and I just came back from the Grand Opening of WWoHP. Be grateful you didn't waste your time or money. We were in line over an hour before the park was supposed to open. After waiting for hours in line just to get into Islands of Adventure (the park had been open an hour by the time we finally made it through the gates), we were then told to get into 1 of 2 lines to enter WWoHP and that it would take approximately 9 hours to get in to the area. I had my hubby double-check at the front of the line. Sure enough, they had the gates to WWoHP shut, so people couldn't even look inside without waiting an additional 9 hours!
Keep in mind, the park would only be open for a couple of hours more once we would have gotten in, and the lines to do any rides would have been longer still. Unfortunately, this meant only the initial few hundred allowed in the area got to see any stars of the movies or witness the grand opening ceremony. Universal really handled this opening poorly.
We asked employees outside the gates to warn people of the long wait inside before they wasted their tickets entering the park, explaining that upset guests were yelling at employees once they got inside and found out the wait time. They refused and were upset when we warned people of the wait.
I've been to Disney parks on full days, and they are extremely careful to warn people when they're nearing capacity and make sure guests don't waste their money on parking or waste a day pass if the park is too full to enjoy. This was a disgrace. Maybe you folks in the UK can learn from this and build something that will serve the needs of fans better. As for me, I'll wait a few weeks before trying to get in again, and I have no plans to renew my annual pass with Universal next year.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-18 11:56:37
I agree, what's wrong with a second Harry Potter park? Fans definitly wouldn't mind, so what's the promblem? I think he's just jealous it wasn't decided to be in London in the first place. But according to me, if J.K. Rowling agreed to have it built in Orlando, then he should be fine with it. It's her series after all!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-18 12:06:06
So if the mayor wants a park for his hometown, he can come up with the money to pay for it since it's such a big deal to him. But then again, the U.K. already has enough Harry Potter attractions, I think the U.S. should get one all to itself. Even though I can't make up my mind, I'm just glad there's a park at all, and I can't wait to see it!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-18 16:45:17
I completely agree with him... I think it should be in the UK... as an aspiring theme park designer and a lover of the Harry Potter series, I planned an enormous and elaborate resort/theme park based on the series when a Harry Potter theme park was still just a rumor and people still thought Disney might build it... it's my hope that this "LAND" (because I refuse to call it a whole park) does amazingly well and they decide to build a whole PARK in the UK... especially because in two years I'll be done with school and ready to help them build it... I've got plans... (literally... lol) BIG PLANS! ;-)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-19 02:22:26
Beth - good luck with your plans ;)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-19 07:31:42
They should have one in Orlando and UK, the more the better! : D
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-19 10:33:07
"My Pet Peeves", I have one word for you: DUH! Did you honestly think that it was going to be a happy, rosy, day? It's the GRAND opening! I could have told you that it wasn't going to be any fun on opening day. That's why I didn't go, and I live right outside of Orlando. You've got to think these things through. I have absolutely NO sympathy for anyone who complains about how horrible their day was on opening day. It's your own fault for going so early. You should have known better. And don't blame the employees. It's not ther fault that so many people decided to show up. You have no one to blame but yourself.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-19 13:28:56
He really needs to relax, but I do think a Harry Potter park in london would be much more genuine, plus I'd FINALLY get to visit my favourite country, England!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-20 00:43:13
Hey Mayor I dont want to sound too blunt but you sound like the loser of a battle between two three year olds fighting over the last piece of candy. Oh suck it up. Why should we put another park in London? If you want to use this one here your more than welcome to but most people dodnt enjot whiney cry babies. If you notice even J.K. Rowling agreed to putting it here. And this stuff about getting shot!! Man your crazy! like there is no crime in London. Who carries a gun in a theme park?! Your the one who is, what was it?, "MAD"!!!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-20 05:44:16
I understand that this was not the purpose of this post, and I am certainly not trying to stoke country rivalries or slight the contributons of any nation, but the idea that World War II could have been won without the United States is prposterous. In addition, the notion the US role in the European Theatre was anything less than instrumental is a complete farse. I would never want to deminish the sacrafices of the UK, the former USSR or any other ally but the US led the allies and provided the necessary materials for victory.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-20 12:10:08
I just don't like the obsessions with roller coasters. I think the Harry Potter theme park should have been about the experience, and being able to free roam Hogwarts, maybe engage in some activities, lessons etc, not roller coasters. Basically like Hogsmeade, but throughout the castle as well.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-20 15:21:08
if it goes to london the hp franchise will just be more about money making and commercalizm
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-21 09:23:32
He should have mentioned something over 6 years ago :/
I went on opening day and it was amazing. If it were in London I highly doubt I could have ever went. They have the REAL castle and everything. And they want to charge $2,000 to get in. Universal only charges $80 and you have more to do than just the Wizarding World. And once you got in it felt like you were really at Hogwarts and Hogsmeade.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-21 09:30:26
@ Charles - There are only 2 roller coasters there :/ The Forbidden Journey that you go in Hogwarts for is like a mechanical arm. So yeah 3 rides in total. And when getting in Hogwarts you go all around the castle. You see enough. And they let you stay in there for as long as you want to take pictures and see everything. If they were to do classes and stuff then I would more than likely still be there waiting in line to go in. Also Wizarding World is inside Island of Adventures.......its main thing is roller coasters. And it is surprising they only have 2 in there.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-21 13:32:37
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-21 16:42:59
Wow, this thing's still going on? I'm a little surprised at how serious some of you are being. I mean, come on, guys: it Bojo! Bojo the mayor! He's just a funny guy- there's no need to bring World War Two into it for goodness sakes. Just build another park in the UK and everyone'll be happy. (Hopefully I can go to America soon and visit the park myself. Is it any good?)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-22 03:41:01
I don't know if a lot of you realize this but Universal now owns the rights to Harry Potter when it comes to the theme park world. I'm pretty sure that they don't plan on giving up those rights in quite some time. So the likelihood of another Harry Potter park elsewhere (such as London) is a long shot. If Universal allowed for another one to be built that would mean less money for them. And as we all know, in these days, everything is about the money. No matter who or where you are.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-22 10:22:50
I am determined to have the final word here: Nothing can be done now. If he wants a WWOHP in HIS country, then fine, whatever. But the fact that it *is* in the States right now...And @ TheElfThatDied...two things. We already had World War 2, and is "TheElfThatDied Dobby?
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-22 16:44:29
*Lied*, actually. It's a grammatically-incorrect pun on Elfen Lied. Also, look up, please. You'll see people talking about America's help to England in WW2. That's what I was responding to.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-22 20:41:47
Every time I see this grumpy/sad face on the side of mugglenet I have to suppress a laugh!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-24 07:08:09
Just build 2, the one we have in the US and one in London. That way everyone could experience it =). I mean, the US has 2 Disney parks, why not make 2 Harry Potter theme parks but one of them being in London.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-24 12:46:13
Hello dude , Universal wanted money not to make you happy. Seriosly guy get over yourself. also , I`m going to WWHP this spring break , so excited , yeah!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-24 18:08:53
why didn't this guy come up with that idea waaaaay before Universal Studios conceptualized the idea of a HP park? Jumping onto somebody else's, are we now Mr. Mayor?!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-25 00:03:31
this guy is a snob. He obviously has a problem with us lowly Americans. He should just be grateful there is a HP theme park no matter where it is.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-25 08:55:49
Man, some of you guys wouldn't recognize a joke if it danced naked in front of you wearing Dobby's tea cozy. Lighten up! The park is in the U.S. and it's going to stay there. We all know that. I don't think he was trying to insult anyone. Relax!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-25 09:11:43
Firstly - it's Boris Johnson! Anyone who even has the slightest idea of who this man is and what he's like will know that he has a very easy sense of humour (with a U!) Lighten up!
Secondly - Americans need to stop bringing up WW2 in posts that aren't even related in any way whatsoever. If "you'd all be speaking German if it wasn't for us" is all you can say, you need to go back to school and get an unbiased education. Both Countries have stood on their own and both Countries have helped each other. Deal with it.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-25 11:19:00
@Ella Malfoy, right so its selfish for the Mayor of London, to want a book/film set in england, with english (mainly) characters and a english author, and english films to have its theme park in ENGLAND. Oh how selfish. So we can't have it in england becauses its too hard for YOU to get there, what about me and other english people. We can't get to America, but thats fine is it?
But. Moving aside this, why can't we have one in both. That would be good, like Disney, its in America and Paris. I couldn't go to America, but i could go to Paris.. :)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-26 01:03:23
Ok listen and listen closely. The films ARE NOT ENGLISH. They are American films. WB produces them. WB is an AMERICAN film company. They own the rights to the films. They greenlight the films. They fund the films. Therefore they are American films. I don't care who is in the cast. That doesn't dictate whether it's an English or American film.
And once again, I don't know if a lot of you realize this but Universal now owns the rights to Harry Potter when it comes to the theme park world. I'm pretty sure that they don't plan on giving up those rights any time soon. So the likelihood of another Harry Potter park elsewhere (such as London) is a long shot. If Universal allowed for another one to be built that would mean less money for them. The reason there are Disney parks all around the world is because Disney chooses to be an international theme park experience. Universal Studios, on the other hand, is solely in the USA. As far as I know they don't plan on expanding to other parts of the world.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-26 03:27:02
Okay, I live in the UK. And although it is quite frankly the home of Harry Potter, the park should not be here, it deserves to be in Orlando. I just think that the park would not of been such a big success over here; people would be put down by the weather, dull, grey buildings and populution. I think Orlando is the perfect place for it, because it will be more advertising, attractive, sunnier, and just a more pleasureable place to be. If anyone who lives in the UK disagrees with me, then I'm sorry, but it's quite clear the UK wouldn't suit this.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-26 11:20:54
Hollie Weasley, I completely agree. No body wants to go to a theme park in the rain. It's not fun. And they usually have to shut the rides down.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-26 13:49:23
I was rather bothered by this article that a mayor would issue, especially from a city that I respect and look forward to moving to. For an adult to advertise such "jealousy" when they are in a position like he is in really makes me belittle them.
I really do not understand this article I know that its a fact that not all American BASED films do not film in America but Canada or another country. Seriously the mayor should get over this "nonsense" and be proud of the fact that American fans look so highly into British Children/Adult literature to not only develop movies but an exbihit and finally a theme park. I'd say be happy with what you have its possible that without Amercan encouragement the books would have remains books (not that its a bad thing either)!!
To Shaun Wills: Well of course this park is not going to be authentic because its called a theme park... what you think Walt Disney World is real? Its a placed BASED on existing locations and Harry Potter is BASED on existing literature and existing places.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-27 09:27:19
Oh please, Harry Potter is completely British. Why ruin it by putting it in a tourist run, money-grabbing, hot-dog eating place - when you can have it in Scotland - which is supposedly where Hogwarts is, and use a nice castle and actually make it all look genuine and not some studio. Harry Potter thrives on being British. By placing it in Orlando it basically butchers it! The people who want it in Orlando, clearly don't want an authentic experience because the weather makes the authenticity. Mmmm, hot beerbutter in a pretty snowy (real) hogsmeade, or hot butterbeer in a plastic village with a blazing hot sun? @K, if the American fans who decided on this park looked so highly into Harry Potter they would've done a better job and realised that it's not suited there!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-27 11:23:09
I think the park should be in Britain whether in Scotland where a lot of the films are filmed or in London were parts of the book are based [though not sure where they'd put it in London =S]. I'm not saying that it is unfair that the park is in America, but Harry Potter is British It is a product of a wonderful British writer. It would be nice if we had something similar over here to celebrate something that changed the face of internet fandom AND literature. I don't think he's being over the top, he is exaggerating. And there is so much space in Scotland to make it a truly HUGE project isolated just like Hogwarts is!! It would be amazing! and raining for authenticity. It would just be nice if a British product stayed British as far as possible. And though WB is an American company, the vast majority of more prominant cast members are British. For Authenticity.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-27 12:02:43
@Siona McKay - NO ONE WANTS TO GO TO A THEME PARK IN THE RAIN!!! Please get that through your mind. When it rains, rides close down. Not to mention I don't want to have to walk around a park all day with a poncho on. It was put in Orlando because that is the theme park mecca OF THE WORLD. People from all over the world come to Orlando to experience the many diverse theme park attractions and experiences there. This is why the WWoHP is placed there. JK Rowling obviously agrees that it should be in Orlando or she wouldn't have let them build it there. If she is ok with it, YOU should be also. Stop whining. It's not attractive on ANYONE no matter who you are or where you are from.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-27 17:23:59
*** For any Americans that don't know ***
Boris Johnson is widely considered here in Britain to be a mad B**etc.**rd and is often the focus of political satire newspaper columns and TV shows for being slightly mad, very posh and very dim.
Please Disregard his moron-ish-ness.
*** END ***
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-28 07:17:12
this man annoys me alot. If he likes harry potter and is apart of our fandom, he should be happy how far our fandom has come over the past years.
"Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open." -Albus Dumbledore
Urgh SPRED THE LOVE MAYOR
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-28 09:17:43
Ok I really don't understand some people. Why is everyone seem so pissed about the park being in London? Ok so what its gunna be sunny in the summer over here? If the sun really ruins you're experience then you need to find a different hobby. And what is wrong with American enjoying HP too? Yes the book comes from a british author and it takes place in Britain but so what? You don't think that us Americans can enjoy something just as much if not more than people in Britain. Its just I hate when people make stupid arguments about stuff like this. London just needs to build their own park. Some people really dont understand that the books over in America were JUST AS BIG of a hit here as they were in Britain and all of Europe. Just cause we live across the ocean doesnt mean we are different. We all love HP the same.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-28 09:20:11
In the first sentence I meant "about the park being in Orlando?" sorry. There really needs to be an edit button haha.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-29 03:16:05
Boris was being slightly satirical, as is his humour, but he has a point. 27 degree celsius sunshine, flat land, palm trees just outside the area, and bad English accents (no such thing as a 'British accent') DON'T give you the authentic experience. People say we in Britain 'already get the feeling' at the places mentioned in the books. I can tell you now, nobody I know has ever been down to King's Cross Station or Charing Cross Road, because not everyone can always afford to go to London - it's not exactly in the centre of the country. So imagine what it's like for people looking for the HP experience having to travel across an ocean to do so. If it were built in England, that's what the Americans would have to do - but with good reason. There's no replacement for the weather, atmosphere and natural culture of making it in the UK. You can't claim to have the 'authentic experience' in a place never mentioned in any of the books. Imagine the theme park in winter, with plenty of REAL snow. Wouldn't that be magical? Oh wait, Orlando almost never gets snow. As for Alnwick castle, I've been there twice, it's shown in about 2 scenes and it's honestly got very little 'Harry Potter-ish' about it. Of all things, it sells wooden swords....
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-29 03:34:53
To add, WB is a multi million/billion dollar industry, and all Britain has to fund a HP theme park is J.K. Rowling. Or Bloomsbury, whose sales are falling sharply. London's money has already gone on the $12 billion 2012 Olympics. Believe me, the idea has been there for a LONG time, but as we're not the epicentre of theme park fame or the most powerful country in the world, it's a little harder to fund a theme park on the scale of Harry Potter. If you looked at the 'biggest' parks in Britain like Alton Towers, you'll see how comparatively small they actually are.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-29 06:30:35
What a freaking DIP. Is he actually being serious?? Hey Mayor! People don't care about whether or not Harry is from London! First of all, Orlando is a place that gets a lot of tourism because of it's of theme parks and whatnot. Theme park=money. Besides, not everyone is capable to fly over to London to see a freaking ride!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-29 09:39:57
Firstly Boris Johnson is a bit of a fool.
However, he has a point. If you want an artificial experience then Orlando is perfect. If you want a true, authentic experience then Scotland is far better!
I read on imdb that it's easier and cheaper for Europeans to get to the UK than it is for them to get to America. It seems that having it in America is far more selfish than having it in the UK...
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-29 11:58:14
I’d just like to correct two assumptions which quite a few people seem to be making in their arguments for why the park shouldn’t be in Britain:
First: ‘There aren’t enough tourists to justify it being in Britain’
This is just plain wrong. The UK got 28 million international tourists in 2009. London alone gets almost 15 million. Plus of course there’s the domestic audience. Certainly enough of a visitor pool to sustain a theme park.
Second: ‘The rain would spoil it / would mean you couldn’t have rollercoasters’
This seems a bit of a weak argument to me. There are numerous theme parks in the UK... many with some sort of rollercoaster... often more than one. They seem to manage well enough. Besides, a Harry Potter theme park is about more than just rollercoasters.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-29 13:21:12
Merlin's Pants! OK, don't take Boris Johnson too seriously anyone, most people over here don't. Yes, it would be lovely to have a HP theme park over here too and it would probably be more realistic because of the setting. Fine. It would also be a lot more convenient for people closer to London than Orlando, but seeing as we all love Harry Potter then sooner or later we'll make enough time/money to get over there and have a brilliant time, which is after all what the park was designed for. It's happening in Orlando and it will be great. Now can we please get on with it?
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-29 16:05:26
@John D. Try to understand this. Theme parks. In the rain. Are not fun. I don't care if that makes it authentic. No one wants to go to a theme park on the rain. Plain and simple.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-29 16:12:49
lol I can't believe people are still arguing about this. Isn't the fact that a Harry Potter theme park even exists in the first place enough to celebrate? It just shows how popular it is! Now I don't agree with HP being American; yes, they fund the films and own the rights, but it's set, filmed, and based over here and it's a British book - nothing will ever change that. But America is so much better for the rides! I'm from England and even I can admit that. I've been to Florida 4 times - why? Because of the theme parks! Orlando is famous for it so of course it's going to make more money! Maybe one day there will be a HP ride in Alton Towers or Thorpe Park over here, but Orlando is the home of rollercoasters.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2010-06-29 18:18:41
This is getting funnier and funnier. Every time I come on here and see that more comments are still being added, I just start laughing. You people need to give it a rest. You keep giving the same arguments over and over, and guess what? The park's still at Universal. It's not going anywhere. A lot of you are getting so offended that it is in America, but I don't think you realize that this is what Univeral does. They take p
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