The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Universal Orlando Resort)

The castle houses of Hogwarts, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter ( " the magical world of Harry Potter " for English ) is the name of a theme in the two theme parks at the Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando (Florida, USA). The topic to the Islands of Adventure was opened after two years of construction on June 18, 2010. In December 2011, an extension of the theme for Universal Studios Florida has been announced, which is expected to open in 2014.

2.1 Dragon Challenge
2.2 Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
2.3 Flight of the Hippogriff

3.1 Hogsmeade
3.2 Diagon Alley

History

Prior to the announcement

Since the late 1990s there was an attempt by Universal to build an attraction about Harry Potter in one of the film company 's leisure parks. At this point the rights for Harry Potter were, however, the competitor Time Warner. This was opened in 2001 in the Warner Bros. Movie World in Australia run business called " Harry Potter Movie Magic Experience", which was pulled down after only two years of operation.

Rumors and announcement

In January, the website reported About.com that she had learned from a " credible source ", the topic Lost Continent at Islands of Adventure will umthematisiert on the " stories and characters of the most popular brands for children." Other media reported on it in the following days, under the code name " Project Strong Arm " would be in reference to the coming to the use Kuka Robocoasters, a topic about Harry Potter in planning. On May 31, 2007 Universal announced in cooperation with Warner Bros. the eight -acre theme officially, which should include, among other things, a replica of the castle of Hogwarts, the Forbidden Forest and Hogsmeade and expected to open in 2009.

Islands of Adventure

Seven months after the official announcement of the construction of the subject area began in the Islands of Adventure. In July, the Flying Unicorn roller coaster and the restaurant Enchanted Oak Tavern was closed. In the course of restructuring the roller coaster Flying Unicorn was umthematisiert about Flight of the Hippogriff. The Enchanted Oak Tavern was later demolished. To restrict the farm operation as little as possible during construction, a bridge was built, the topics The Lost Continent and Jurassic Park joined together so that the visitors did not have to traverse the site. In September 2008, the access to the waiting area of the Dueling Dragons roller coaster was moved to the topic Jurassic Park, so as to make way for the construction of Hogsmeade. A month later, the old entrance was demolished. In September 2009, the roof of the castle of Hogwarts has been completed. In the spring, Universal widened the marketing campaign for the subject area and turned advertisements in newspapers, had run commercials on television and hung posters on. Prior to the transformation of Dueling Dragons to Dragon Challenge, the web was closed for some time for maintenance purposes. The topic was finally completed on 1 June 2010.

On 28 and 29 May 2010, a soft opening for media representatives and invited guests was performed. On 16 and 18 June, respectively, an opening ceremony was held. The first was reserved for the actor and the participants in the Harry Potter films, Potter creator JK Rowling, officials of the Universal Orlando resorts as well as media representatives. Organised by Universal Orlando Events Production in cooperation with the Thinkwell Group event included fireworks and a concert of Orlandoer Philharmonic under the baton of John Williams. With the second opening ceremony on June 18, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter officially opened to the public. Here, numerous actors from the films were present, including Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint. The NBC carried in her Today program live from the park.

Universal Studios Florida

After the opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter visitor numbers increased in the Islands of Adventure in the previous year by 36%. According to Jason Garcia, editor of the Orlando Sentinel, deliberate the chairman of Universal Orlando Resort, as they are likely to broaden the topic and at the same time keep balanced the number of visitors to both parks. In April 2011, speculated Brady MacDonald of the Los Angeles Times that the expansion of the Wizarding World with a Diagon Alley and a themed on the magic Gringotts Bank Darkride could replace the topic Lost Continent at Islands of Adventure.

On December 6, 2011 Universal announced an annoying " significant " expansion of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. More details about the expansion were not at that time called. Four days earlier, the Universal Studios Florida had announced that the Jaws attraction would be closed on January 2, 2012. On 25 January 2012, the Los Angeles Times reported that the expansion of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will take the former site of Jaws to complete. On the site of a replica of the Hogwarts Express will built, that shall transport visitors between the two parks back and forth.

Shortly after the closing of the Jaws attraction was demolished together with the belonging to this topic. After the leveling of the site was started with the construction of the first buildings. On May 8, 2013 Universal released more details about the expansion of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The expansion will take place primarily in the neighboring Universal Studios Florida and will include a replica of Diagon Alley and London. The connection between the two parks on the Hogwarts Express was also officially confirmed. Expected to enlargement will open in 2014.

Rides

Currently, in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter three rides in operation, which are all located in the Islands of Adventure. Two other rides are expected to open at Universal Studios Florida in 2014.

Dragon Challenge

Dragon Challenge roller coasters are two type inverted coaster people who interact with each other routes. The train was in 1999 under the name " Dueling Dragons " in the operating before 2010 in accordance with the Triwizard Tournament from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire renaming and theming in "Dragon Challenge" took place. The two routes were named as two of the dragon from the book: " Hungarian Horntail " and "Chinese Firbeall ". By 2011, Dragon Challenge was a Dueling Coaster, that is, both trains are worn at the same time out of the station, and raised in some parts of the track seems to collide. Due to an incident involving personal injury, the trains now time lag.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a newly built for the subject area attraction that is located inside the replica of Hogwarts. The visitors first go through the walls of the school of magic and even encounter among other characters from the books and films before they take on a " magical bench " space on which they are conveyed past large-format projection screens and real scenes. For passengers, unnoticed is the "magic bank" while moving on the arm of a Kuka Robocoaster, a repurposed industrial robot, through a large hall.

Flight of the Hippogriff

Flight of the Hippogriff is a steel roller coaster for families, which was opened under the name "Flying Unicorn " in 2000. Just like Dragon Challenge, the web was umthematisiert during the construction of the new theme. In the history of the attraction of the passengers gamekeeper Hagrid taught to fly on a hippo frost. These trains are designed in the form of the mythical creature.

Other Attractions

In addition to the rides are located in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter souvenir shops, restaurants and other attractions. Many of these attractions are replicas of places from the Harry Potter books, others have been developed specifically for the park. A replica of Hogsmeade can visit in the Islands of Adventure, visitors, one of Diagon Alley is currently being built at Universal Studios Florida.

Although the wand shop Ollivander is in the books in Diagon Alley, a replica of the business in the Islands of Adventure in Hogsmeade is located. Unlike other shops in the subject area, visitors are left in groups of 20 people in the store, to experience how " the wand chooses the wizard ." It is selected a visitor who tried long wands until he found the right one. Many effects such as the drying up of flowers or the outbreak of a storm can be triggered in the store. Subsequently, the wands can be purchased as souvenirs.

Hogsmeade

At the entrance of Hogsmeade there is a replica of the Hogwarts Express. As in the books comes from the locomotive steam and a characteristic whistle. In the owl post, visitors can submit postcards and letters, which are then provided with a Hogsmeade stamp will be forwarded to the recipient. It offered to post owls for sale also stationery, stationery and souvenirs.

The tavern The Three Broomsticks, special meals and drinks are served from the Harry Potter books next to traditional British food, including butterbeer, pumpkin juice and strawberry peanut butter ice cream. The butter beer can be purchased in a souvenir cup and is alcohol free. The local Hog 's Head with a distinctive boar's head can also be visited by the guests. In the candy store Honeydukes Chocolate Frogs, Acid Pops, exploding bonbons, boiler cake, sweets syrup, hissing Wissbies, pepper goblins and Bertie Botts beans can be bought each flavor.

In Hogsmeade there are three different gift shops. In Dervish and the anxious magical items such as Quidditch supplies and school clothes from Hogwarts are sold. Zonko 's is a joke shop. In the third business is sold by props from the movies and other souvenirs to Filch 's Emporium of Confiscated Goods, in the clothing replicas. The shop is located at the output of Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, where ride photos can be purchased from the simulation ride.

Diagon Alley

Diagon Alley is currently under construction and is expected to open at Universal Studios Florida in 2014. The expansion will include a restaurant and a variety of " distinctive shops " as Leaky Cauldron, Ollivander wall shop, Weasleys ' Wizard Wheezes, Borgin and Burkes and Madam Malkin 's Robes for All Occasions.

Reception

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was well received by both fans and ignorant of visitors. Matt Blum of technology magazine Wired wrote, " every detail has been meticulously made by hand to enhance the experience." A journalist in the Orlando Sentinel said, " Muggles will love their Harry Potter adventure ". Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a unique attraction that is indescribable. However, Universal had the " Express Pass ", with the waiting time can be shortened keep affordable for the masses. Wrote Lisa Mint by the British newspaper The Sun, after a quick glance she could say it is the most true to original reproduction of JK Rowling's books and movies that the world had ever seen. The fans will feel like in heaven. Leight Caldwell from the travel magazine Traveling Mamas thinks that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is not suitable for children under three years, although the topic is ideal for the whole family. There is no doubt that fans of the Harry Potter books and movies will enjoy visiting the Wizarding World. John Frost from the Disney Blog congratulated Universal for all aspects of the subject area of the rides on the shops and the entertainment to the food. The conservative British politician Boris Johnson criticized the fact that the park was built in Orlando held in London. It was " crazy " that it had been left to the Americans to "make money with a great British invention ".

Orlando (Florida) NBCUniversal Wired (magazine) The Sun (United Kingdom)

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