Universal announce "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley" to open in 2014

HTF

Well-Known Member
The Seas with Nemo and Friends uses a KUKA arm for the angler fish.

Yup and Universal uses them for effect and characters in FJ, Hollywood Tram Tour, Space Fantasy in Japan, and soon Gringotts. Several other Universal attractions over the next few years will utilize Kuka's in entirely new ways as Gringotts is doing something entirely new with the tech for an effect.
 

Bairstow

Well-Known Member
There was that sales pitch video for the ride system showing the drop, wasn't there?

I don't remember what exactly I read, or where I read it, but when I first ran across a post somewhere from an "insider" that had the first accurate details of the Diagon Alley expansion it specifically mentioned that the Gringotts coaster was going to come to a complete stop multiple times for show scenes, including a drop element.

The video was from Dynamic Attractions and was posted much more recently, only a week or two ago, and showcased a computer model of a proposed indoor ride system that incorporated multiple elements, including launches, a vertical drop, a teeter-totter style switching mechanism, and even a horizontal sideways slide switching system before showing the ride vehicle headed into a huge spagehetti bowl of fast, tightly banked turns.
I doubt that the video was intended to be a demonstration of what the Gringotts coaster will be like, because the length, scale, and complexity were far beyond the limits of practicality and also it did not conform at all to any of the alleged track layouts I've seen suggested for the ride. However, one of the three proposed switching systems might well be implemented by Dynamic Attractions for the Gringotts coaster, though whether it will be teeter-totter or the drop has not yet been confirmed.

Edit: someone has re-hosted the video that was removed!

 

Disneyhead'71

Well-Known Member
I don't remember what exactly I read, or where I read it, but when I first ran across a post somewhere from an "insider" that had the first accurate details of the Diagon Alley expansion it specifically mentioned that the Gringotts coaster was going to come to a complete stop multiple times for show scenes, including a drop element.

The video was from Dynamic Attractions and was posted much more recently, only a week or two ago, and showcased a computer model of a proposed indoor ride system that incorporated multiple elements, including launches, a vertical drop, a teeter-totter style switching mechanism, and even a horizontal sideways slide switching system before showing the ride vehicle headed into a huge spagehetti bowl of fast, tightly banked turns.
I doubt that the video was intended to be a demonstration of what the Gringotts coaster will be like, because the length, scale, and complexity were far beyond the limits of practicality and also it did not conform at all to any of the alleged track layouts I've seen suggested for the ride. However, one of the three proposed switching systems might well be implemented by Dynamic Attractions for the Gringotts coaster, though whether it will be teeter-totter or the drop has not yet been confirmed.

Edit: someone has re-hosted the video that was removed!


teeter-totter
 

HTF

Well-Known Member
The teeter totter element you will find in Gringoots is even different then what everyone is seeing here. There will not be a drop track, sideways track switch, nor inversions. The ride layout Lee posted is extremely accurate, but what it doesn't breakdown are the scenic elements and scenes themselves. Scene 1A will set the tone of this amazing attraction.
 

TalkingHead

Well-Known Member
Great pics, Disneyhead.

I don't have an issue with the Hogwarts Express being visible in the Studios park. But since the train is always going to be facing IOA that's going to create a strange visual in the park when you see it going backwards toward Kings Cross.

Still super curious to see how/if they handle the expansion's edges/visible show buildings.
 

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
Great pics, Disneyhead.

I don't have an issue with the Hogwarts Express being visible in the Studios park. But since the train is always going to be facing IOA that's going to create a strange visual in the park when you see it going backwards toward Kings Cross.
Steam trains travel backward quite a lot. The smoke will look real and the wheels will spin the right way :)
 

WED99

Well-Known Member
I've been thinking and can't seem to figure out how they plan on making the dragon above Gringotts work.

Are all the cast members in Diagon Alley going to act scared (as you would when a dragon attacks)?

I don't want them to just ignore to. Then it will feel too much like a cheap theme park. "There's a giant dragon there but we won't react to it, it just makes the ride look cool". I know Universal is better than that.

Either way I'm very excited for the expansion.
 

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