The Wizarding World of HP Theme Park UPDATES

Opening Date: Spring 2010
Official site: UniversalOrlando.com/harrypotter: contains FAQs about the park, concept art and a place to register for alerts.

Pictures: Concept art and more here in Leaky’s galleries.

Attractions:

• Hogwarts, with a ride contained inside the castle


• Three Broomsticks, likely to be made out of the old “Enchanted Oaks”


• Flying Ford Anglia ride (unconfirmed): May be a big-ticket attraction in which guests soar over the trees of the Forbidden Forest and above the grounds of Hogwarts inside the Anglia, all in the safety of a theater (possibly the currently-closed theater that used to house the “Eigthth Voyage of Sindbad.”)
  
• Hagrid’s Cottage: Confirmed recently with photos of completed construction
  
• Shrieking Shack, complete with death eaters and perhaps Voldemort scaring people (unconfirmed, probably for Halloween)
  
• Gringotts cart ride: (unconfirmed, however is possible to be part of ride inside Hogwarts castle)
  
• Stage show featuring the showdown with Voldemort at the end of book four (unconfirmed: the report said that there will be at least seven different actors rotating the part of Harry to perform this role)
  
• Dueling wizards traveling through the park (unconfirmed: the report to TLC containing this rumor said that casting was underway for all the main characters in the books, as well as a wand instructor for kids and other dueling wizards. The wizards would duel at certain areas of the park, so that the scenery can react – explosions, etc. – and stunts can be performed to simulate the effects of a magic duel).
  
• Dragon battle (unconfirmed: reportedly a current racing-coaster ride will be re-imagined as part of the Tri-Wizard tournament. There may also be a real Goblet of Fire sitting on an ‘ornate pedestal with magical blue flames licking out of the top’)


• Flying Hippogriff (unconfirmed: supposedly an old Flying Unicorn ride re-imagined; line will go through the garden of Hagrid’s Hut)

Events:
Opening gala event (confirmed)

Actor Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) is first Harry Potter cast member to officially visit park under construction. Photos here from visit on January 4, 2009.

News:

1) Emma Watson confirms Trio have recorded a piece of film that will be shown to fans as part of an interactive ride at the Theme park.

2) Producer David Heyman confirms three rides to be included at Theme park including ride through the Hogwarts castle.

3) Names registered by Universal Orlando match the many names rumored, including the Three Broomsticks (concept models here in galleries) Hogsmeade Village, and Flight of the Hippogriff

Rumors:

There are plans for special Halloween and winter holiday festivities at the park.
Status: Unconfirmed.
In November 2007, Jim Hill media reported that there may be plans for a yearly “Holidays at Hogwarts” event, with carolers in the streets and an English Christmas feast prepared nightly at the Great Hall in Hogwarts Castle. There also may be plans for a Halloween party that will counteract Disney’s “Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party” at DisneyWorld,” called “Halloween at Hogwarts.” Traditionally the adults go to Universal’s “Halloween Horror Nights” while the kids do Disney’s scream-free version: the Hogwarts incarnatio would be a “deliberately scare-free environment,” according to JimHillMedia.

The Wizarding World of HP Theme Park UPDATES