Theme_Park_Insider
09-15-2009, 04:10 PM
By Robert Niles: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal's Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida will open in "Spring 2010," Harry Potter co-star Tom Felton announced today in a live press webcast.
Felton, who plays Draco Malfoy in the popular movie series based on J.K. Rowling's best-selling books, was welcomed on to the webcast set by Universal Creative president Mark Woodbury, who hosted the webcast.
"I'm not usually welcomed in the Gryffindor common room," Felton cracked as he entered the crimson-and-gold set.
http://www.themeparkinsider.com/art/news/wwohp-felton.jpg
Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) in Universal's Gryffindor Common Room
Woodbury described some highlights of the new land during the half-hour webcast. He began by introducing the official map of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, created by the same team that devised the Marauders' Map for the "Prisoner of Azkaban" film.
http://www.themeparkinsider.com/art/news/wwohp-map.jpg
Map of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Visitors will enter the land through the village gates of Hogsmeade, where they will see Hogsmeade Station and the Hogwarts Express to their right. On the left will be Zonko's joke shop and Honeydukes candy store, which both will be themed merchandise locations, selling items from the books and movies, as well as park-specific Potter-themed items.
Down the street on the left, visitors will find The Three Broomsticks (http://www.themeparkinsider.com/reviews/universal's_islands_of_adventure/the_three_broomsticks/) restaurant and Hog's Head Pub, which will be restaurants, serving Harry Potter-themed fare, including Butterbeer and Pumpkin Juice.
Across the street stands the Owlery and Owl Post, which will be a working post office, offering Hogsmeade post marks on sent items. Next to that will be Ollivander's, another merchandise location where "the wand chooses you," in an undescribed "interactive experience." There'll be a Dervish and Banges merchadise shop, as well.
That leaves the attractions. Woodbury confirmed that there would be three: Dragon Challenge (http://www.themeparkinsider.com/reviews/universal's_islands_of_adventure/dragon_challenge/) (a rethemed Dueling Dragons), Flight of the Hippogriff (http://www.themeparkinsider.com/reviews/universal's_islands_of_adventure/flight_of_the_hippogriff/), a family coaster set amid a Care of Magical Creatures class led by Hagrid (this is rumored to be the Flying Unicorn coaster, rethemed) and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (http://www.themeparkinsider.com/reviews/universal's_islands_of_adventure/harry_potter_and_the_forbidden_journey/), the centerpiece new attraction located within Hogwarts Castle.
http://www.themeparkinsider.com/photos/images/Hogwarts%20Exterior_LR.jpg
Concept art from Universal of the Forbidden Journey entrance
Woodbury did not provide details on Forbidden Journey, except to confirm that it is not a roller coaster. However, it's been widely leaked that the ride will be a indoor track ride, where visitors will travel via "Floo Network" on Kuka robot arms, mounted on an elevated track, through iconic scenes from the Harry Potter stories. It was confirmed that visitors will walk through the Gryffindor common room on their way into the ride, and the ride's blueprints show the queue area proceeding through the Great Hall, as well.
Will Wizarding World of Harry Potter meet its opening date? Which scenes will make the cut for the Forbidden Journey ride? What's on the menu at the Three Broomsticks? And will the Ollivander wands trigger any interactive experiences outside the shop? Questions remain as fans anticipate the land's opening next year.
Update: Here is the video fly-over of the new land that Universal played during the webcast. It's an overview of the map, with close-ups of Hogsmeade, followed by Dragon Challenge, Flight of the Hippogriff and then Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.
More... (http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/200909/1397/)
Felton, who plays Draco Malfoy in the popular movie series based on J.K. Rowling's best-selling books, was welcomed on to the webcast set by Universal Creative president Mark Woodbury, who hosted the webcast.
"I'm not usually welcomed in the Gryffindor common room," Felton cracked as he entered the crimson-and-gold set.
http://www.themeparkinsider.com/art/news/wwohp-felton.jpg
Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) in Universal's Gryffindor Common Room
Woodbury described some highlights of the new land during the half-hour webcast. He began by introducing the official map of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, created by the same team that devised the Marauders' Map for the "Prisoner of Azkaban" film.
http://www.themeparkinsider.com/art/news/wwohp-map.jpg
Map of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Visitors will enter the land through the village gates of Hogsmeade, where they will see Hogsmeade Station and the Hogwarts Express to their right. On the left will be Zonko's joke shop and Honeydukes candy store, which both will be themed merchandise locations, selling items from the books and movies, as well as park-specific Potter-themed items.
Down the street on the left, visitors will find The Three Broomsticks (http://www.themeparkinsider.com/reviews/universal's_islands_of_adventure/the_three_broomsticks/) restaurant and Hog's Head Pub, which will be restaurants, serving Harry Potter-themed fare, including Butterbeer and Pumpkin Juice.
Across the street stands the Owlery and Owl Post, which will be a working post office, offering Hogsmeade post marks on sent items. Next to that will be Ollivander's, another merchandise location where "the wand chooses you," in an undescribed "interactive experience." There'll be a Dervish and Banges merchadise shop, as well.
That leaves the attractions. Woodbury confirmed that there would be three: Dragon Challenge (http://www.themeparkinsider.com/reviews/universal's_islands_of_adventure/dragon_challenge/) (a rethemed Dueling Dragons), Flight of the Hippogriff (http://www.themeparkinsider.com/reviews/universal's_islands_of_adventure/flight_of_the_hippogriff/), a family coaster set amid a Care of Magical Creatures class led by Hagrid (this is rumored to be the Flying Unicorn coaster, rethemed) and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (http://www.themeparkinsider.com/reviews/universal's_islands_of_adventure/harry_potter_and_the_forbidden_journey/), the centerpiece new attraction located within Hogwarts Castle.
http://www.themeparkinsider.com/photos/images/Hogwarts%20Exterior_LR.jpg
Concept art from Universal of the Forbidden Journey entrance
Woodbury did not provide details on Forbidden Journey, except to confirm that it is not a roller coaster. However, it's been widely leaked that the ride will be a indoor track ride, where visitors will travel via "Floo Network" on Kuka robot arms, mounted on an elevated track, through iconic scenes from the Harry Potter stories. It was confirmed that visitors will walk through the Gryffindor common room on their way into the ride, and the ride's blueprints show the queue area proceeding through the Great Hall, as well.
Will Wizarding World of Harry Potter meet its opening date? Which scenes will make the cut for the Forbidden Journey ride? What's on the menu at the Three Broomsticks? And will the Ollivander wands trigger any interactive experiences outside the shop? Questions remain as fans anticipate the land's opening next year.
Update: Here is the video fly-over of the new land that Universal played during the webcast. It's an overview of the map, with close-ups of Hogsmeade, followed by Dragon Challenge, Flight of the Hippogriff and then Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.
More... (http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/200909/1397/)