Harry Potter Theme Park Headed To Orlando

[Kor37 9]

Harry Potter Theme Park Headed to Orlando

Hogwarts Will Be Only a Turnstile Away for Magic Fans

By JIM ELLIS, AP

LONDON (June 1) - Universal Orlando Resort is opening a Harry Potter theme park that will let fans visit many of the iconic locations in the books and movies that endeared the boy magician to millions.

 

"The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" is set to open at Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park in late 2009, complete with the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Forbidden Forest and Hogsmeade village.

 

"The plans I've seen look incredibly exciting, and I don't think fans of the books or films will be disappointed," said author J.K. Rowling, who has been working with a creative team to make sure the park resembles the books and films.

 

More than a dozen artists lead by Stuart Craig, the production designer of the movies, have set up house in the studio where the movies are being filmed to make sure every detail is considered, said Scott Trowbridge of Universal.

 

"We're really going to the people who know this world best to ensure that level of authenticity," he said.

 

The park will let visitors view the famed locations in Rowling's magical world, like Dumbledore's office in Hogwarts and the shops in Hogsmeade. Some locations may be in upcoming books, Trowbridge said.

 

Many tourists outside the theme park said the experience would boost its appeal to a younger audience.

 

"I'd go to Universal before I would Disney World to go on a Harry Potter ride," said 15-year-old Alex Moran, who was visiting Orlando from Pleasant Hill, Mo.

 

Brandon Wilson, another 15 year old from Pleasant Hill, said he can't get enough of Harry Potter. He has read every book and watched every movie.

 

"I hope we get to simulate flying like Harry Potter," Wilson said.

 

Trowbridge said while there would not be any character lookalikes at the park, fans wanting to see Harry Potter and his magical friends wouldn't leave disappointed.

 

"This is Harry's world," said Trowbridge. "Most every fan wants to have an encounter with the star of the show."

 

The Harry Potter book series has been translated into 65 languages with more than 325 million copies sold in over 200 territories around the world.

 

The fifth film in the series, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," will be released in theaters July 13 by Warner Bros. The seventh and final book of the series will be released July 21.

 

 

Sheesh!...It already takes at least 10 days to do all the parks in Florida!

[Gummy 0]

I'll pass on it.

[Theunicornhunter 2]

Given how much these them parks charge for a one day entrance - nobody can afford to visit them all.

 

PS - that photo in my sig is a genuine Florida photo.

[Kor37 9]

PS - that photo in my sig is a genuine Florida photo

 

They should put that pic on the cover of their Florida tourist guides......

[Vulcan_lover 1]

They're making an entire Harry Potter park?! Why? I could see just adding one or maybe two ride to Universal Studios that are Harry Potter themed, but an entire park is way too much.

[Mitsuko 0]

OMG... this is so stupid. Harry Potter was *alright* when it was just books. But it's so commercialized now, and even the books have gotten bad. The whole thing's just a cash cow now. And really, a theme park? How are they supposed to fill an entire park with rides about Harry Potter??? There is a very limited number of things in the books that could be made into rides at all; the only one I can think of is flying on a broomstick...

[A l t e r E g o 9]

Stupid Orlando, they get all the neat stuff.

[Wishfire 2]

Why do they feel the need to group theme parks all together? There's a bunch in and around Orlando, another cluster in SoCal, and everywhere else you're lucky to have (a good) one within a day's driving distance.

[Kor37 9]

Actually, Disney has announced plans to build mini-Disney amusement parks throughout the nation.