Pictures and videos of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Orlando Resort theme park that will be opening in spring 2010. The highly anticipated theme park originally scheduled to open this year, includes faithful re-creations of the film’s memorable haunts like Hogsmeade, Hogwart’s Castle and more, according to new details revealed this week on Universal Studio's website. The $200-million 20-acre "world" will replicate aspects of Hogsmeade village, including Ollivander's wand shop, where the wand chooses you. But how that works is anyone's guess! Check out the artist impression pictures and videos here....
“It’s fantastic that people get to realize everything they have seen on screen,” Daniel Radcliffe, who plays Potter in the film series, explains in the promo video above. They’re going to be “walking into the films,” agrees Rupert Grint, who plays Potter’s pal Ron. Attractions for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter are weighted nicely between shops and rides. Zonko’s joke store sells Potter-themed tricks and gadgets, while Honeyduke’s hawks treats and sweets, and so on. On the coaster front, Dragon Challenge offers a high-speed approximation of the Triwizard Tournament, while the more family-friendly Flight of the Hippogriff gives fans small and large a ticket to ride.
There’s more, but probably not enough for Potter loyalists, whose captured imaginations have made author J.K. Rowling’s repurposed myths a brand worth $15 billion and counting. Are you one of them? Let us know if you’re itching to visit Florida next year, or if you’re holding out for the Lord of the Rings theme park yet to come!
Here is what the new Harry Potter Theme Park will feature....
Hogwarts Castle
The towers of Hogwarts Castle rise above Florida in this new photograph, released Monday by Universal Orlando. Although Universal says the castle is still “very much a work in progress,” the grand centerpiece of its Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park already looks amazing. When the park opens this spring, Hogwarts Castle will contain an attraction called Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and will overlook the town of Hogsmeade, in which you and a million other fans will be jostling for your chance to drink Butterbeer and buy Chocolate Frogs.
This is how Hogwarts Castle looks today....
Photo: Kevin Kolczynski/Universal Orlando Resort
The centerpiece is Hogwarts castle, rising more than 150 feet and visible from beyond park boundaries. It houses Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, a "dark ride" that uses robotic arms to move passengers in various ways as they pass through scenes from the movies, says Robert Niles of industry tracker ThemeParkInsider.com. Two other rides, Dragon Challenge, a twin high-speed roller coaster, and Flight of the Hippogriff, a tamer coaster, use the core of existing attractions that have been re-themed.
Dragon Challenge
The Dragon Challenge is based on a component of the Triwizard Tournament, an event depicted in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. The two sides of the Dueling Dragons attraction will be renamed as Hungarian Horntail and Chinese Fireball.
Flight of the Hippogriff
The Flight of the Hippogriff (a retheming of Flying Unicorn) is an upcoming roller coaster at the Islands of Adventure theme park. The ride will be located in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter section, and is a mild alternative to the land's more extreme rides. In fact, it is located adjacent to the very extreme Dragon Challenge roller coasters.
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is an upcoming attraction to be added to Islands of Adventure. The attraction will be a signature ride of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter area of the theme park, and will take riders through scenes and environments inspired by the various books and films of the Harry Potter series.
Hagrid's Hut
Hagrid's Hut is an upcoming attraction at Islands of Adventure. The attraction will be located in the new The Wizarding World of Harry Potter section of the park upon its opening in 2010. The attraction will be located next to the Flight of the Hippogriff roller coaster, and will be used for storage. It will be a recreation of Rubeus Hagrid's hut.
Hogwarts Express
The "Hogwarts Express" attraction seen at the far right of Hogsmeade Village. Hogwarts Express is an upcoming attraction at Islands of Adventure, to be located in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter area of the theme park. The attraction is a recreation of the Hogwarts Express from the popular Harry Potter series, and it will be located at the entrance to Hogsmeade Village. It is planned to debut with the new section of the park in 2010. The only information which Universal Parks & Resorts has provided on the attraction states is "At the entrance of Hogsmeade, billowing steam and an iconic whistle signal the arrival of the Hogwarts Express into Hogsmeade station".
Ollivander's
Ollivander's is the given name for an upcoming attraction at Islands of Adventure, part of the park's new The Wizarding World of Harry Potter section. The attraction will be a recreation of Ollivander's from the Harry Potter series, and will be an interactive experience attraction using the fictional premise of "the wand chooses the wizard". Also located in the building of the attraction will be a gift shop of the same name selling recreations of wands from the Harry Potter series. It is scheduled to open in 2010. A costumed "wandkeeper," with the aid of some questions and special effects, will help shoppers find which of the 10,000 wands in stock is destined for them.
Shopping
This is a listing of gift shops to open in 2010 within the new area. Expect Harry Potter merchandise to be around every corner from Quidditch equipment to Spectrespecs.
Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods (pictured below)
A toy store themed to an emporium owned by the Potter character Argus Filch. It will be located in Hogsmeade Village.
Dervish and Banges (pictured below)
A toy store located in the recreation of Hogsmeade Village.
Ollivander's (pictured above)
A shop selling recreations of wands from the series, located in the building for Ollivander's Interactive Experience.
Honeydukes (pictured below)
A candy store which will sell recreated candies found at Honeydukes from the Potter series.
Zonko’s (pictured below)
A joke store, also to be located in a recreation of Hogsmeade Village.
Dining
This is a listing of restaurants which will be located in the new area. Like the Harry Potter merchandise, there will be distinctive Harry Potter inspired food and drink. The fare at the Three Broomsticks and the Hog's Head pub will include the first J.K. Rowling-approved recipe for Butterbeer.
Other attractions
Hogsmeade Village
A recreation of Hogsmeade from the Potter series. It will house such attractions as Hogwarts Express and Ollivander's Interactive Experience, as well as various stores and restaurants.
The Owlery (pictured below)
A sitting area themed to the Potter location The Owlery, in which Owls deliver mail.
Hogwarts Grounds
A recreation of the Hogwarts Castle Grounds, from the Potter series. It will house such attractions as Flight of the Hippogriff, Dragon Challenge and Hagrid's Hut.
Hogwarts Castle
A recreation of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from the Harry Potter series. The attraction Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey will encompass most of the castle, however, a small area in the building will still allow park guests to walk around while viewing the recreation.
