Three years ago on this very day, I lost a ride that was and is still very near and dear to my heart: The Jaws Ride. It was replaced by a new Harry Potter attraction based around Gringotts bank and two new lands themed to Potter's London and Diagon Alley. Since last year I finally got to visit my old friend's replacement, I figured now would be a good time to compare both lands and rides, and see which comes out on top. You ready? Good, because these two titans of theme parks are about to go to toe to toe! LET'S DO THIS!!!!
ROUND ONE: THEMING AND THINGS TO DO
AMITY ISLAND: The Amity area had some of the best theming on Universal property. From the moment you stepped under the 4th of July banner it really felt like you had stepped into the actual Amity Island. The land itself had it's own cool little backstory, and the numerous pay-to-play games and food stands actually fit into the theme of the land. The music that played was also of a nice, festive, retro variety (I liked the tunes in this area so much that I actually downloaded quite a few to my Itouch for further listening). At first glance the theming of the area seemed pretty simple, but upon closer examination you realize it's actually subtly complex (especially in the Captain Jake's queue). In terms of things to do, there wasn't a whole lot. There were the above stated pay-to-play games, some food stands (like Nathan's), the Bruce photo op, and of course The Jaws Ride. That said, I would literally spend hours in the area just resting, people watching, and soaking up the atmosphere. Amity was my favorite area in the park, and I loved getting to spend some quality time there. While it may be just a fragment of memory, the Amity Island area of USF will always be remembered as having some of the best theming in theme park history.
DIAGON ALLEY AND POTTER'S LONDON: Oh boy, where do I start? The theming in both the London and Diagon Alley areas is complex, in-your-face, and elaborate. In London we have a nice waterfront, the Picadilly Circus fountain, the Knights Bus (complete with conductor and talking head), and we also have Kings Cross which at times has a street musician (complete in regular clothes) playing a sax outside, we also have the ability to catch the Hogwarts Express from Kings Cross to Hogsmeade (and yes, you get to walk thru a wall and into Platform 9 3/4 to get there). The London area is gorgeous, and realistic. Having been to London just last year, I can say they got the little details right. It does indeed feel like you are in London, which is cool. The hidden Diagon Alley area is quite large and spacious, filled with tiny, cool details. To get there you have to pass though one of the London facades, and then walk through a large brick wall that has a large hole blown into it (from Death Eaters?). Once inside you can explore a variety of shops, eat at The Leaky Cauldron, set up an account at Gringotts Bank, trade in your muggle money for wizard money, explore Knockturn Alley, catch a small show, and eat/drink at some small vendors. There is A LOT to do here (to the point where I would say you could spend a full day at both areas and still not see everything). Universal did a real superb job with the space left from Amity, and crafted two top notch lands that are worth visiting and re-visiting. Points goes to Diagon Alley/Potter's London.
ROUND 1 WINNER
THEMING: DIAGON ALLEY/POTTER'S LONDON
THINGS TO DO: DIAGON ALLEY/POTTER'S LONDON
ROUND 2: THE RIDES
AMITY ISLAND: There was just one ride in Amity, but boy was it a doozy. It was called The Jaws Ride, and literally had everything a ride needs. Superb theming, thrills, excitement, a cool story, great effects, and guest/skipper interaction. The queue for the ride was filled to the brim with top notch theming including numerous nautical or Jaws themed items, and a nifty pre-show video disguised as a local tv station that kept guests updated on Island events/news while quietly spoon-feeding the backstory of the ride and the island to them. The ride itself lasted for a good 5 minutes, and didn't waste a single second. It was fun, it was silly, and it was thrilling. I've talked so much about this ride in pervious posts, I don't know what else I could really add here. All you really need to know is that The Jaws Ride was one of the greats, and it's a shame there will be generations to come that will never know of its greatness except through stories and tales.
DIAGON ALLEY/POTTER'S LONDON: There are two rides, one for each land. In Potter's London we get The Hogwarts Express, and in Diagon Alley we get Harry Potter and The Escape From Gringotts. Since Gringotts is the centerpiece of the whole area, let's talk about that first. Escape From Gringotts was highly touted as having some of the most advanced technology in a theme park ride. Unfortunately, about 90% of the ride is 3D screens. The few physical environments that are in the ride are impressive, as are the highly touted effects within....however I prefer a ride that has more of a mix (like Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey, which is the superior ride in my opinion). The actual ride of Gringotts is also surprisingly tame (Revenge of The Mummy is more of a roller coaster than Gringotts is). The queue for Gringotts is quite possibly the best part of the whole experience, as it is highly themed (though there is a portion that is kind of bare), and comes complete with it's own Gringotts Elevator mini-ride. I'd say that Gringotts is overall a great, fun experience but one that I always find a bit lacking. Easily the best ride in the new land is The Hogwarts Express, which is a short train ride to Hogsmeade Village in Islands of Adventure (and from Hogsmeade back to Potter's London), but the train itself is highly detailed, the ride itself is short, sweet and fun, and you can't beat the feeling you get riding on that train. Overall, while there may be more rides in the plot of land than there used to be, I'm going to say The Jaws Ride offered a more satisfying, complete experience. Point goes to The Jaws Ride!
ROUND 2 WINNER
THE RIDES: THE JAWS RIDE
So, tallying up the votes The overall land of Potter's London/Diagon Alley comes out on top, while individually The Jaws Ride towers over Gringotts and Hogwarts Express. Overall, the Potter Expansion wins the contest. It's clear that no matter which way you cut it, Universal managed to replace a bonafide classic with an experience that is quite satisfactory, fun, and worth re-visiting. I'll always have a special place in my heart for Amity and Jaws, but there is no use dwelling on the past. While I will always miss The Jaws Ride, I know that I'll still have a great time every time I visit it's replacement lands and rides...and in the end, I'd say that's a fair compromise.
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