Universal Orlando Resort and Warner Brothers have revised their time-table for the opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. When originally announced (see this article), the expected opening date was late 2009. Now, according to Universal Orlando’s WWHP web site, the park will open in Spring 2010. It will be a 20-acre park within Universal’s “Islands of Adventure” park (comparable in size to the other “islands”).
Newly released details of the park include the layout, expected attractions and shops, and a promise that the look and feel will be true to the films and to J.K. Rowling’s books. “The Harry Potter films’ production designer, Stuart Craig, and art director, Alan Gilmore, in cooperation with a corps of artisans from Universal Creative are working daily to construct the most authentic Harry Potter experience possible. Guests will be able to sip Butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks, buy Extendable Ears at Zonko’s, and experience a state-of-the-art attraction that brings the stories of Harry Potter to life in a way never before imagined.”
Universal Parks and Resorts CEO Tom Williams proclaimed “All of the action and adventures of Harry Potter’s world will come to life here at Universal Orlando Resort. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be unlike any other experience on earth and we can’t wait to see the looks on our guests’ faces as they enter this rich environment.”
The Harry Potter experience will open “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. Ollivander’s 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, Sepctrespecs, 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.”
The web site has a video introduced by Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson (Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the movies), which features a discussion among Mark Woodbury (President of Universal Creative), Alan Gilmore (Art Director for the HP films and the theme park), and Paul Daurio (Producer of the theme park), animations of what they expect the park will look like, and then a discussion with Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy in the movies). There’s also a gallery of artists’ conceptions of the various attractions. And, for the truly dedicated, a link to apply for jobs at Universal Orlando.
Related articles previously published on SFScope:
Harry Potter: The Theme Park. Coming in 2009. (31 May 2007)