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Theme Park Bits: 'Back To The Future,' 'Finding Nemo,' 'Harry Potter,' 'Pirates Of The Caribbean' And 'Warcraft'

Doc Brown Chicken
By Germain Lussier

Super packed edition of Theme Park Bits featuring lots of closings. Below, read about the following:

  • The Back to the Future themed restaurant Doc Brown's Chicken at Universal Hollywood is closing in January.
  • The Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage at Disneyland is closing for refurbishment.
  • Universal Studios Japan gets $250 million investment to build a Harry Potter park.
  • A Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Shanghai Disneyland might use new technology.
  • Check out an image of where Harry Potter land will be in California.
  • Disneyland and Walt Disney World visitors can enjoy some Mary Poppins exclusives starting this week.
  • See photo and video from the new Raving Rabbids, The Time Machine ride at Futuroscope in France.
  • Rumor has it there might be a Warcraft presence at Universal Orlando in the future.
  • Listen to some of the original sounds and music from the Haunted Mansion.

    • Inside Universal is reporting Doc Brown's Chicken, the Back to the Future themed restaurant at Universal Studios Hollywood is closing in early January. The restaurant made more sense years ago when it was outside the Back to the Future ride, but that ride has long since been replaced by The Simpsons Ride. And with The Simpsons getting a whole area at Universal Orlando, a similar situation seems likely.

    Disneyland's popular Pixar themed ride, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, which was once the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride, will close on January 6 and reopen in late 2014. The reason is they'll drain 5 million gallons of water and redo the bottom of the pit. Read more at Disney's site.

    The Japan version of Universal Studios just got a $250 million investment from a private equity firm called PAG, says Variety. The cash will likely be spent bringing a Harry Potter land to the theme park.

    Disney and More found some posts suggesting a new Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Shanghai Disneyland, subtitled Battle for the Sunken Treasure, could use some new technology that moves the boat up and down in the water, in addition to just along the ride. See images at that site and read more about the park here.

    Check out this tweet by @guyselga, who took a photo of the area at Universal Studios Hollywood where Harry Potter land is being built.

    With Saving Mr. Banks now playing on a limited basis, Disney is offering patrons of their two flagship theme parks the first chance to get free posters and the new Mary Poppins Blu-ray. Read more at the Disney Parks Blog.

    A popular French theme park, Futuroscope, just opened a new ride called Raving Rabbids, The Time Machine based on the video game. Disney and More has photos from the opening and this video of the ride.

    Duncan Jones's Warcraft movie is coming in 2016 and Orlando Informer is reporting a rumor has begun that Universal Studios in Orlando might have some kind of presence relating to the movie/game/fantasy world in the near future. If the company is hoping to build a franchise from that film, developing a theme park presence in tandem with the film is a solid idea.

    Thanks to @ezgoo on Twitter for the heads up, but listen to these original recordings from the Haunted Mansion.

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