The Wizarding World of Harry Potter expansion plans latest news!

January 2, 2012 by

New plans for the Harry Potter land expansion

Oh boy have I got big news for all you Harry Potter fans! A few days ago I made an article about how Universal Studios announced that they would be expanding the current Wizarding world of Harry Potter.

BUT, they gave out no details of what would be in it or where the expansion would be. Well,,,,, it seems that Robert Niles, an author over at theme park insider, got to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter expansion plans for the new expansion by a source. A link to his article is at the end of mine.

Now, he makes it very clear that the plans are labeled “Concept,” and dated November 2011. He says the plans are very detailed but far from final. So they may very well change, both the area of what he saw and the layout.
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Special Harry Potter fans event at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

August 9, 2011 by

Special Harry Potter event at the wizarding world of harry potter

For all you Harry Potter fans I wanted to let you know of a special event that will be going on at Universal Studios The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, November 11 to 13 2011.

As you all know the very last Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows part 2, has now been shown, wrapping up the incredible Harry Potter saga.

I went and saw it a few weeks ago, it was fantastic! Anyways, now that all the Harry Potter movies have been shown Universal Studios decided to make a special event for this fall to celebrate all the great Harry Potter movies.
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Hogswart’s Castle Picture Slideshow From Harry Potter Theme Park

July 19, 2010 by

Hogswart's castle at Harry Potter land

I’ve been going to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter a lot, so I thought it was about time to show you some Harry Potter pictures! This is a slide show of Hogswart’s castle from different angles outside, as well as pictures inside.

All the pictures you see from the inside of the castle is what you see when your in the queue line. There are many props from the Harry Potter movies, as well as fantastic replicas of professor Dumbeldore’s office and more.

If you go in the single rider line you don’t get to see all this great stuff. So if you go on the forbidden journey ride by yourself you might want to go at least once on the normal queue line to see all this.
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What does butterbeer taste like at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter park?

July 9, 2010 by

Butterbeer cart at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

One of the most often asked questions about the new Harry Potter theme park is, what does butterbeer taste like? How is butterbeer made, and what is the recipe for butterbeer?

As every Harry Potter fan knows, butterbeer is the drink that Harry Potter and friends often drank when they went to Hogsmeade village. They never really said if it’s alcoholic or not, but since it’s called butterBEER, I always assumed it was.

When Universal Studios started planning the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter park, they knew they wanted to have butterbeer for their guest. After all what Potter fan could pass up a drink right from the Harry Potter movies!
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Hogsmeade village youtube video from the wizarding world of Harry Potter

July 6, 2010 by

Well the summer is really going to be busy over at the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park at Universal Studios. Here’s another youtube video I took. This one shows all the things and snow covered houses in Hogsmeade village.

As you can see it’s very packed with fans! You can see the big butterbeer cart in the middle of the street. Plus all the other famous shops from the Harry Potter movies.

I think I’m going to make a slide show video of Hogsmeade village too. Sometimes a clear picture is better than a moving video camera. Anyway enjoy this youtube video of Hogsmeade village at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

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Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle youtube video

July 3, 2010 by

Here’s a new youtube video I took at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park at Universal Studios. It’s a very detailed video of hogwarts castle from different angles. I used a 70X zoom lens to really get all the details and show what many can’t see.

As you can see it’s much more than just the main hall part of hogwarts school of magic. You can see other towers and sections of the castle plus the walkway bridge.

Universal Studios really put a lot of effort into getting all the details right and you can see them all in this video. The whole hogwarts castle is just a shell that houses the Harry Potter and the forbidden Journey ride.
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Going to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter tomorrow!

June 27, 2010 by

Harry Potter theme park

Well if your a Harry Potter fan you know that the grand opening for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios was on the 18th. No I did not go; there was NOOOOO way I was going to wait for 6 hours just to get in!

I can go there anytime, so why would I go on the most crowded day? It was a madhouse, with people fainting from heat stroke and not enough water stations around.

However, now that the crowds have returned to normal levels; which is still a lot since it’s summer, I’m going to go tomorrow! I have a nifty camcorder with a 70X zoom lens on it. So I’m going to get some very exclusive and very detailed videos of the park and of Hogwarts castle.
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Butterbeer, magic wands sell great at Harry Potter park

June 18, 2010 by

Harry Potter ride inside Hogswarts Castle

With guest being let into the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park at Universal Studios for the soft opening, one thing is clear. Everyone wants to buy Harry Potter merchandise!

For Harry Potter fans, owning something from the Harry Potter movies is one of their top things to do. That is looking like both a blessing and a curse for Universal.

The blessing is of course it’s great they everyone wants to buy Harry Potter merchandise. The crowds all want a sip of the frozen and non frozen butterbeer from the cart that sells it inside.

Another popular item is getting a magic wand from the Ollivander’s store. Buying a chocolate frog at Honeydukes, a candy shop is another popular stop.

In all Universal Studios has created over 600 items to be sold inside The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. They are very happy with the brisk sales of merchandise.

One of the big ticket items I was surprised to find was selling fast is in Dervish and Banges, where they sell replica flying broomsticks, a Nimbus 2001 selling for $250.00 and a Firebolt for $300.00!

The curse of all this is, already they are having problems with long lines inside these shops. Most are small and narrow, making long lines. Just think what it will be like once the normal crowds are let in!

However I’m sure they will add more shops, or add-on to some of them now that they see how popular the merchandise shops will be. Universal Studios is not going to make it hard for guest to buy their merchandise!

However they do seem to have underestimated how popular the Harry Potter merchandise shops are going to be. But, that’s what a soft opening is all about; finding and fixing problems before the grand opening, which is June 18th.

So if you want to buy Harry Potter merchandise when you go into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, go to the shops as soon as you get in, or be prepared for a long wait!

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New pictures of Wizarding world of Harry Potter park at Universal Studios

December 14, 2009 by

Harry Potter World at Universal Studios

A few days ago I was at Universal Studios here in Orlando. So I took a few more pictures of the construction going on at the new Wizarding world of Harry Potter park. A theme park within a theme park at 20 acres in size, it sure looks to me like they have a long way to go. Yet they are still saying it will be open in the spring 2010.

Harry Potter World at Universal Studios

I sure hope so, as many are planning their vacations around the opening of Harry Potter park. I do think it will be amazing, and look very true to the buildings in the Harry Potter movies. As you can see the castle is looking pretty cool, as is the other buildings. You can’t seem them in these pictures but I saw some of those buildings with fake snow on the roof.

Harry Potter World at Universal Studios

You can see the long chimneys too, just like how they were on the town buildings in the Harry Potter movies. So I think your really going to feel like your walking right through town. The last picture shows a good closeup of Hogwarts castle. That’s where the star attraction ride is suppose to be, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.

So, it all looks great so far. I think they will do a good job on making it all look very real and true to the town and buildings in the Harry Potter movies. The question is, can they get it all going by spring! If worst comes to worst I think they will make sure the main part and rides are working, and finish up any other parts of the place if they fall behind on time.

Harry Potter World at Universal Studios

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Sneak peek at Universal Studios The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

September 20, 2009 by

Universal Studios peek at The Wizarding world of Harry Potter park

One of biggest projects going on at Universal Studios Orlando right now is the construction of the new Wizarding world of Harry Potter park. Located where the dueling dragons are now at Islands of Adventure, it will be a theme park within a theme park at 20 acres in size. Harry Potter fans are very eager to see it open, and many will be scheduling their Orlando vacation around the opening date.

Up to now Universal Studios would only say it would open sometime in 2010, quite a big time frame. But now they have announced that The Wizarding world of Harry Potter theme park will open in the spring of 2010! That still leaves 3 months or so of time within to open, but at least it’s better than a whole year.

Universal Studios peek at The Wizarding world of Harry Potter park

As for what rides you can expect, there seems to be at least 3 major Harry Potter themed rides, maybe as many as 5. The biggest and best so far seems to be “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey,” a state-of-the-art attraction located within the recreated Hogwarts Castle. Not a roller coaster, it sounds like a mix between the “Spiderman ride” and “the mummy”.

The other Harry Potter rides will also be good I’m sure. Universal Studios is really banking a lot on this, so they know they have to get it right and get it good! If you need to schedule your Orlando vacation soon and really want to visit The Wizarding world of Harry Potter, I would play it safe and shoot for late spring, around June to make sure it’s open.

Universal Studios peek at The Wizarding world of Harry Potter park

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