The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Heads to Universal Orlando in 2010
Universal Orlando broke ground on a new 20-acre themed area called "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" at Universal's Islands of Adventure during the summer of 2008 with a grand opening scheduled for the spring of 2010. Envisioned as a "theme park within a theme park," "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" is a unique partnership between Universal Orlando Resort and Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. that will create the world's first fully immersive Harry Potter themed environment based on the bestselling books of J.K. Rowling and blockbuster films from Warner Bros.
Amazing, Imaginative World
The fully immersive, themed land of "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" will include a replica of Hogwarts castle, as well as new Harry Potter-themed rides, attractions, specialty shops and restaurants. "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" will also feature backdrops from such well-known locales from the Harry Potter books as Hogsmeade Village and the mysterious Forbidden Forest. Totally Immersive Environment Expected to open in 2010, the new environment will feature immersive rides and interactive attractions, as well as experiential shops and restaurants that will enable guests to sample fare from the wizarding world’s best known establishments. Also debuting will be a state-of-the-art attraction that will bring the magic, characters and stories of Harry Potter to life in an exciting way that guests have never before experienced.
Bringing Harry Potter's World to Life
The Academy Award-winning production designer Stuart Craig, who has worked to bring the world of Harry Potter to life in all of the feature films to date, leads the creative design for the area to ensure it remains faithful to the look and feel of the films.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Features
: • At the entrance of Hogsmeade, billowing steam and an iconic whistle signal the arrival of the Hogwarts Express into Hogsmeade station.
• Across the way is Zonko’s, a joke shop with a collection of tricks and jokes, including Extendable Ears, Boxing Telescopes and Sneakoscopes.
• Honeydukes is next door and full of treats like Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavour Beans.
• The Three Broomsticks and adjacent Hog’s Head pub will feature traditional British fare and drinks, including Butterbeer and pumpkin juice.
• Across from the Three Broomsticks is The Owlery, where owls roost and await their next delivery.
• The Owl Post sends letters with a certified Hogsmeade postmark and sells official stamps from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
• Ollivanders wand shop is an incredible interactive experience where the wand chooses the wizard.
• Completing Hogsmeade is Dervish and Banges, the magical instruments and equipment shop featuring Quidditch equipment, Triwizard apparel, Spectrespecs and Remembralls.
• The first attraction, Dragon Challenge, features a twin high-speed roller coaster with many iconic elements from the Triwizard Tournament.
• Next is Flight of the Hippogriff, a family coaster simulating a Hippogriff training flight over the grounds of Hogwarts castle.
• Located in Hogwarts castle, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a thrilling new state-of-the-art attraction that uses entirely new technology to bring the magic, characters and stories of Harry Potter to life in ways never before experienced.
• Before exiting back into Hogsmeade, Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods is full of Ministry of Magic and magical creatures merchandise, Omnioculars and even remote control Golden Snitches.
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New Year’s Eve at Walt Disney World Resort
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