"Is there any doubt that the passion of Potter fans will suffice to repay Universal's investment, whatever it may be?" To answer this question, which concludes the article, I have to say, "There is considerable doubt." If Disney never got any closer than an admittance cost in the hundreds of dollars, they were smart to walk away. No way would a park charging that much ever succeed--particularly in Orlando, where there are so many other first-rate attractions that cost far less. I suspect the finished park will charge about the same as Disney and Universal, at which price-point it will probably do okay. However, another reason to be cautious: There aren't any other major theme parks out there devoted to a single story. Harry Potter is huge, but whether it can endure enough to still support a park a decade from now, when the books and movies are long since gone, is debatable. Disney and Universal stay relevant by mixing in brand new attractions with the old favorites. That's something the Potter park will struggle to do. In that regard, it would probably have made more business sense to make it a part of Universal's Islands of Adventure, as opposed to being a stand-alone park.

The plan is to have a "theme park within a theme park" that is part of Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park. It does not appear that it will have a separate admission price.

The cost in the article appears to be operating cost per visitor, not the admission price.

You are correct about it now being a part of Islands of Adventure. I had not heard that, as originally it was going to be its own park. However, the article clearly states: "Admission to the attraction envisioned by Rowling would have run north of $800 per person." And that number isn't impossible if Rowling was at the time demanding the sort of limited admittance that the Diagon Alley idea would entail. Admission prices at the major parks are pushing $100 now, and that's with simple turnstile entrances that allow thousands access all at once.