The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

When will the Harry Potter theme park open? The big wigs at Universal Studios are keeping their mouths tight shut on this issue, but a new marketing push by the theme park has announced the Harry Potter open date as.... sometime in spring. OK, so details don't seem too important to the powers that be, but we have been guaranteed that it will definitely be before June 31, 2010. For those of you planning your vacation for sooner than that, make sure that you have alternative plans if Hogsmeade is not open for business.

Update: Universal Orlando has released a special vacation package just for Harry Potter fans. The package is available starting May 28, 2010. This may or may not be the official opening date, but it seems to me that they're planning to open somewhere in that time frame. See below for more about this special offer.

Update: Universal Orlando announced today (March, 25, 2010) that the official grand opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be June 18, 2010. The special Harry Potter vacation package dates have been changed to reflect this, and the special Harry Potter park package will no longer be available until that date.

However, there is an unconfirmed rumor on Screamscape that there will be a soft opening for the new Harry Potter land, starting May 15th. No word on whether this is expected to be a soft opening every day until the grand opening, or a sporadic thing, nor whether the new Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey or other rides would be included in the soft opening. You can purchase Harry Potter park tickets here.

It was only a matter of time before the first Harry Potter Theme Park vacation package was announced. Universal Orlando has two packages listed on its website specifically for Potter fans.

Harry Potter Vacation Package #1: Stay at a Universal Partner Hotel (not owned by Universal) and pay as low as $285 per adult. Package includes:

* Early Park Admission to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
* Breakfast at the Three Broomsticks - one per person
* Commemorative GRAND OPENING ticket - one per person
* 3-Day Base Ticket to both Universal Orlando theme parks - one theme park, per day
* Access to live entertainment at Universal CityWalk
* FREE scheduled transportation between hotel and Universal Orlando
* Discounts~ on merchandise, food & non-alcoholic beverages at select theme park & CityWalk locations
And, of course, the room. All of this is subject to... well, a lot of stuff. You'll have to check UniversalOrlando.com for more info.

Harry Potter Theme Park Vacation Package #2: Stay at one of Universal Orlando's 3 hotels for as low as $645 per adult. Package includes:

* Early Park Admission to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
* Breakfast at the Three Broomsticks - one per person
* Commemorative GRAND OPENING ticket - one per person
* 3-Day Base Ticket to both Universal Orlando theme parks - one theme park, per day
* Access to live entertainment at Universal CityWalk
* Skip the regular lines in both Universal Orlando theme parks at participating rides and attractions
And, of course, rooms at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, or Loews Royal Pacific Resort.

These two packages are good for stays between 6/18 - 12/31/2010.

Currently, there are supposed to be three rides at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter park in Orlando, FL. Two of these are thrill rides, one is a kiddie coaster, and two of those rides are being re-themed from the areas that WW of HP is taking over. The rides are:

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey: Not much is yet known about the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride. The strongest rumors and small info drops seem to indicate that it will be a ride using Kuka technology, and be similar to the popular Spiderman ride. However, Kuka uses several different ride vehicles. One is a trackless ride vehicle, one is a robotic arm that can swing you in any direction and can be fitted with individual simulator helmets, and another is an actual rollercoaster that ALSO uses the robotic arm as the actual ride vehicle.

Update: More information on the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride has been released. The ride does, indeed, use Robocoaster technology, and the theme is that you go on an adventure with Harry, Ron, and Hermione traveling through and participating in soaring over Hogwarts, escaping a dragon attack, barely escaping the Whomping Willow, get pulled into a Quidditch match, and feel the chilling effect of a Dementor, as well as other adventures. Apparently Hogwarts Castle really is the queue area for the ride/attraction. The write up on Universal's website mentions a 360 degree adventure- but doesn't specify if any of those degrees involves going upside down, settling instead for the vague description of "thrilling".

Dragon Challenge: Formerly known as Dueling Dragons, this intense inverted coaster has been re-themed to fit into the Harry Potter park section. So, what kind of dragons will be used in the Harry Potter Dragon Challenge roller coaster? Well, instead of the Ice Dragon and the Fire Dragon, riders will choose between the Chinese Fireball and the Hungarian Horntail. Aside from theming, this ride appears to be the same as it was before the park renovation with riders twisting and turning their way through the air. According to Universal's website "there are three times that guests will come within 18 inches of their opponent. Each dragon's 2-minute and 25-second flight includes several inversions, including a zero-g roll, a Cobra roll, two corkscrews, and two vertical loops." yet the website maintains that each dragon is a separate coaster with a different ride experience from the other.

Flight of the Hippogriff: This coaster was known as the Flying Unicorn. It's what's considered a baby coaster or family coaster, topping out at 42' high, with a top speed of 28.5 mph. It is assumed that the coaster or track will remain the same, and merely have the theming redone. The ride vehicles will be themed to look like hippogriffs that are made of wicker and leaves.

Always dreamt of walking along the snowy streets of Hogsmeade with Harry, Ron, and Hermione? Longed to try Fizzing Whizzbees, Cauldron Cakes, or exploding bonbons? Want your own wand, or clothing in house colors? You can get it all in Hogsmeade.

Dervish & Banges: Here you can buy all manner of wizard paraphernalia- from gadgets such as sneakoscopes, spectrespecs, and omnioculars to Quidditch gear such as quaffles, golden snitches and broomsticks (Nimbus Two Thousand and the Firebolt). Hogwarts uniforms and clothing, stationary, journals, the Monster Book of Monsters, and more are all available here.

Zonko's: Here the Weasley twins have apparently made a bit of a deal with Zonko's, because in addition to Fanged Flyers, Screaming Yo-Yos and such, you can also purchase Extendable Ears, Fever Fudge, and number of other mischief making items. Zonko's t-shirts and other souvenirs are also available.

Filch's Emporium of Confiscated Goods: Apparently Filch has become a bit of a capitalist. I suppose it fits his love of capital punishment. He has now opened up a shop selling the large number of items that he's confiscated from students. Something tells me that, though confiscated, the many toys, House clothing items, movie props, Death Eater masks and such will not be costing any less than in any of the other Hogsmeade shops. In fact, given the very nature of some of the goods- they'll probably cost a good deal more.

Ollivanders Makers of Fine Wands Since 382 BC: Here there are a number of Wandkeepers who can help a wand choose you. There are character wand replicas, collectible wand sets, and more. In fact, rumor has it that JK Rowling herself has written up something of a "wand Bible" for the Wandkeepers to study- full of information on all the various types of wands, their properties, and their specialties. I don't know about you, but I think I'd rather have a copy of this than a wand itself! Though, since the wands are rumored to be interactive through out the park (and some even outside the park), I think I want one of those too. Supposedly wands will range in cost from $25 to $150.

Honeydukes: Here you can buy your fill of Acid Pops, Exploding Bonbons, Fizzing Whizzbees, treacle fudge, Chocolate Frogs, and Cauldron Cakes as well as Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, as well as muggle-ish sweets such as chocolate and fudge.

Owl Post: Hogsmeade has its own United States Postal Service location at the Owl Post. While the Post does sell stationary and writing implements, its twin charms lie in the dozing owls in the rafters above, and the ability to send postcards and letters home that will bear the authentic Hogsmeade postmark.

A word of warning- another rumor states that the shops in Hogsmeade may be as small as the movies and books make them sound. If this is the case, be prepared to wait in line before being able to even spy out the merchandise that you want.

Hungry? There's only one restaurant in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and that's the Three Broomsticks! Wondered what real butterbeer tastes like? Or pumpkin juice? Both will be served here. Meals include The Great Feast Platter, fish and chips, shepherd's pie, Cornish pasty, turkey legs, and veggies. There is also a kids menu, and desserts on the menu are apple pie, strawberry and peanut butter ice cream, and chocolate trifle.

Want something a little stronger than butterbeer? The Hogshead nearby will open for the over 21 crowd. No word yet on whether or not they've received a shipment of Fire Whiskey or Madame Rosmerta's famous mead.