Preview 2010's Wizarding World of Harry Potter Theme Park!
Filed under: Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fandom, Family Films, Movie Marketing, Harry Potter, Images
If you thought dirt-flavored jellybeans were a fun way to indulge your Harry Potter fandom, you're in for a treat. Mark your calendars for spring 2010, when muggles and aspiring wizards alike will have the chance to visit a veritable Harry Potter mecca: the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! The fully-immersive theme park, part of Universal Studios Orlando in Florida, will recreate many of the most familiar scenes and settings of the Harry Potter franchise, from the Hogwarts Express train rollercoaster to the actual castle that is home to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Upon arriving in Hogsmeade Village, fans will get the chance to be "chosen" by a wizarding wand at Ollivander's wand shop, visit the Owlery, drink butterbeer at The Three Broomsticks, and buy candies like chocolate frogs and Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans at Honeydukes Sweetshop. (You know what this means: bring plenty of Wizard Money when you go.)
(Preview concept art for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter after the jump!)
The Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey attraction, while having a sort of terrible name, will use "entirely new technology to bring the magic, characters and stories of Harry Potter to life in ways never before experienced." For more traditional thrills, there will be rides based on the Hippogriff training flight and the Tri-Wizards Tournament. Adding a stamp of authenticity, Universal Studios has enlisted the films' production designer, Stuart Craig, and art director, Alan Gilmore, to help design the place.
The truth is, while any large-scale endeavors like this seem like bald-faced money-grabs, there are plenty of Harry Potter fans out there who will probably ditch their Disneyland season passes in favor of making an annual trip to Harry Potter World. So what do you think, Potterites? Can you resist the siren call of a real, live pilgrimage to Hogwarts, or haven't you already booked your 2010 trip?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-15-2009 @ 7:01PM
Nailbunny said...
I'm sorry, but this sounds like a hellovalot o' fun. Even I could ignore the blatant commercializing and merchendising if the stuff is genuinely cool. The opportunity for whimsical street characters is endless, you can go down diagon ally for the scary rides and shops.
I think I could get into this if the production value is high enough.
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9-15-2009 @ 7:08PM
Nicholas said...
Seems like it's 90% shops...
Oh well, lord knows I'll make the ridiculous pilgrimage at some point.
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9-15-2009 @ 7:17PM
plinstrot said...
I can't wait. Apparently when you go to olivanders and get a wand, the wand acts like a remote and causes hidden things to happen all over the park when you point at things.
Also, I just read the entire cast from the movies shot scenes for it approved by JKR after they filmed the 6th movie.
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9-15-2009 @ 7:30PM
Troy said...
I'm way too old to be looking forward to this as much as I am.
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9-16-2009 @ 3:07AM
Garrett said...
I know it's just a complete money grab, but when I go to Disney World in June, I now have to stay an extra day to see this.
It sounds like a ton of fun.
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9-16-2009 @ 11:37AM
B said...
You're really going to have to stretch your imagination to make Hogsmeade feel real with that snow in Orlando. I admit though, I will definitely be going, even if it looks like mostly shops. They should have the Potter Puppet Pals walk around as mascots!
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9-16-2009 @ 7:10PM
Brian said...
I just got on the Harry Potter bandwagon in the last 3 weeks, during which time I've read all the books, and watched the first 6 movies, some multiple times. I was hoping someone would do this; this looks totally fun and I can't wait to go. Muggles be darned!
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9-17-2009 @ 1:26PM
Danielle said...
i live about 2 hours from Orlando and have a season pass to Universal which i go quite often!! i have seen this whole project coming together, although im not the worlds biggest harry potter fan, i do like harry potter and cant wait to see the project in its finished state. just another note, J.K.Rawlings is not the most public person, especially in the US but she will be at the grand openening for this!! im excited the castle is starting to look amazing!
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9-17-2009 @ 9:48AM
Marlene said...
Oh I will definately make the trip. Can not wait to try the rides, have a butterbeer. Harry Potter is not an obsession, it is a way/fact of life......Time to pull out the wizard robe and tie and head to Ollivander's for a new wand.
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