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Harry Potter Park Opens This Spring

Visiting Muggles can buy wands, meet hippogriffs, drink butterbeer

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 15, 2009 2:12 PM CDT

(Newser) – Get your wands ready: the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens next spring, Universal Orlando announced. Muggles will enter through the village of Hogsmeade, where they’ll visit Hogsmeade station, Zonko’s joke shop, and the Three Broomsticks pub to sample some butterbeer. But the main event, called Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, will be within the walls of Hogwarts Castle, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

The Journey “couldn't be farther from a roller coaster,” says a producer of the attraction. But park reps did show two roller coasters offering encounters with dragons and hippogriffs. Other attractions include Ollivanders, where fans can get their own wands; the Owlpost, where letters will be postmarked “Hogsmeade”; and Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods. The 20-acre new park will be an add-on to Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure, the New York Times notes.

An artist illustration provided by Universal Studios.
An artist illustration provided by Universal Studios.   (AP Photo/Universal Studios)
British author JK Rowling signs autographs as she arrives for the World Premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince at a cinema in Leicester Square, central London, Tuesday, July 7 2009.
British author JK Rowling signs autographs as she arrives for the World Premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince at a cinema in Leicester Square, central London, Tuesday, July 7 2009.   (AP Photo/Joel Ryan)
In this artist illustration provided by Universal Studios, Hogwarts Castle is seen as part of the The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
In this artist illustration provided by Universal Studios, Hogwarts Castle is seen as part of the "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter."   (AP Photo/Universal Studios)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
Snarfeh
Sep 16, 2009 7:35 AM CDT
"Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods" - Hope that includes many of the magic pranks created by Fred and George...
riffran
Sep 16, 2009 12:52 AM CDT
I want staff that Mad Eye mooney had...lol
yummines
Sep 15, 2009 11:26 PM CDT
it could be good and successful if they have everything that is mentioned in the books and pull it off right. with that, it could be like another Disneyland, except for people who like Harry Potter

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