A visit to Hogsmeade

[innerSpaceman]

Yeah, see, that's where I think they totally failed. Hogsmeade is cool - but do kids grow up wanting to explore Hogsmeade or Hogwarts? What part of a zillion-dollar budget to capitalize on the world's biggest pop-culture property since The Beatles does not allow you to built a full-scale replica of the Castle?

Might have pulled some people away from the line at the wand shop, if nothing else.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Yeah, see, that's where I think they totally failed. Hogsmeade is cool - but do kids grow up wanting to explore Hogsmeade or Hogwarts? What part of a zillion-dollar budget to capitalize on the world's biggest pop-culture property since The Beatles does not allow you to built a full-scale replica of the Castle?

Might have pulled some people away from the line at the wand shop, if nothing else.

Hogsmeade is in essence a strip mall. The Castle is a school. I think I can see how that one went down with the Universal executives when it came time to decide which to built out.

Also you do get to "Explore Hogwarts" as part of the new attraction. You work your way through several rooms as part of the queue. Although calling it a queue (at that point anyway) is a disservice. The paintings, and rooms are all quite spectacular and would easily stand on their own as a walk-through attraction.