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Universal Studios to open Harry Potter theme park!
Digg this story | Share on Facebook | Press ReleaseOfficial Concept Art:
Hogwarts | Hogsmeade | Owl's View of Park | Logo
Latest Developments (10 AM EST):
- Official park website now open; visitors can sign up for e-mail updates.
- JK Rowling: "The plans I’ve seen look incredibly exciting, and I don’t think fans of the books or films will be disappointed."
Universal Studios and Warner Brothers made a joint announcement this evening from Leavesden Studios on the set of Dumbledore's Office to reveal that a Harry Potter theme park is currently in development. The image to the left is the first piece of concept art for the park: Hogsmeade Village.
Here's what we learned from Potter set designer Stuart Craig and a representative from Universal Studios (both of them hosted the big reveal):
- "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort"
- Announcement was made live via internet at 12:01 AM EST today to select media, including MuggleNet.
- Areas of park to include Hogsmeade, Hogwarts Castle, and the Forbidden Forest.
- 20 engineers working on project.
- Universal came to WB looking for authenticity.
- Potter park to be built in "Islands of Adventure" area of Universal.
- Stuart wants to "take his grandchildren" to the park.
- Opening early 2010.
- Universal's Potter website to be available at this link.
- JK Rowling has been involved "since the very beginning" of the project. Also "supportive and encouraging."
- Stuart thinks that the park will be better off in the United States.
- Have been in design "for at least a year and a half."
- "Important that the theme park represents the entire saga from Book 1 to Book 7"
In a rather cute way to end the announcement, the Universal representative asks Stuart Craig, "Now where's Dumbledore?" Stuart paused for a moment, looked around the office, and replied, "He was just here."
We'll be discussing these developments on this week's episode of MuggleCast (due out over the weekend). This post will be updated frequently as we learn more!
Posted by Andrew on May 30th |
513 Comments
Visitor Comments
whoa!! i wanna go :D
FIRST COMMENT? Woo! I'll be there opening day! Sarah
Holy crap! HAHA! I am sooooooo gonna visit that!
cool but it seems a little odd...
OH MY GOSH I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!!! i never thought i'd see the day when they'd have a harry potter theme park!!! i'm soo there!!!!!
I'M SOOOOOOOOOO GOING!!!!!!!!!!
Woot, must go when it is fini!!!! x.X
I SOOOO am gunna go there!!!!!!!1
wow amazing. I wanna go. I wonder what the rides are going to be?
WOW. That is AMAZING! I can't wait! w00t!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! so psyched... i hope they have a big rollercoaster!
omg i am sooooo going to that that is totally awsome!! whew ya!!
thats so cool!!!!!! (:
dude that is so awesome! its weird too all at the same time. i mean this is the closet thing we have to hogwarts. its the life we wish that is real. and they are making it a theme park. i so cant wait.
I've been praying for this!! I told my girlfriend (while in Disneyland), that a HP theme park would rock the world!!! I can't way to fly on a broomstick. Alisa
that is so exciting!! i hope they create a whole hogwarts, and have stuff from all the books and movies. I hope its not just like a couple roller coasters called the phenonix or something like that. I'm lucky i live very close too Orlando (:
I'm glad it also won't be focused on only book 1, because it's really my least favorite. I hope they have a wax museum so I can get my picture with Sirius Black ;) Alisa
i'm so excited! finally something in orlando!
This could be a good and bad thing. On one hand they could make a walkthrough Hogsmeade or Diagon alley, that would be pretty cool. On the ther hand they could build roller coasters, and the walkthrough with people hired who have almost no clue about Harry Potter. I just hope that they don't make it cheesy.
YAYAYAYAYYA!!!! cant wait to go!!!!
woah.
OMGOMGOMG!!!! Yay!!!
OMG three hours from my house!!!!!
Its like a dream come true!
OMG!!!!!!!!!! NO WAY!!! I HAVE 2 GO!!! THIS IS SO AWASOME!!!!
I'm wondering what Universal Studios has to do with Harry Potter, but okay... I mean, at least put the park in Disney World/ Disneyland or something if you HAVE to do it... At least Disney plays the movies on its channels.
OMG!!! this is so amazing!!!! i can't believe it! wow... 1 hour from my house! i can't wait!!!
how cool... hopefully i'll be able to visit the park after it opens!
I might just want to live in the Hogwarts castle.
Snap -Universal is involved in the hp movies through Warner Brothers.
AHH! I am so happy...like beyond belief! orlando florida here i come for sophmore year college spring break!
I was totally expecting them to do this... although it didn't make finding out about it any less exciting. I'm totally there opening day!!!!!!!!
*THUD*
ITS SO REALLLLLLL I CANT WAITTTTTTTTTT AHHHHHHHHH I WANT IT NOWWWWWWWWWWW
Cant wait......I will start saving up money now.....
Well, looks like I'll have to head on down to Universal Studios in 2010. This looks like it's going to be absolutely amazing. I can't wait until the next Mugglecast to hear what you guys think!
that is indeed way cool! It will be very fun to visit!
that is gonna be awsome!!
this is going to be so cool!! if i go i'm not going to be able to leave
O_O So. Psyched.
OMG!!!! Early 2010! Thats my graduating year! ahhhhhhhhhhh so cool!
I'M GOING CRAZY RIGHT NOW! wow! I am sooooo freakin going! I love Universal Studios and i AGREE 100% this "HARRY POTTER THEME PARK" is better off in the US! :P HORRRRAHHHHH at least harry potter is not going to wane ... WE HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO after BOOK 7!
OMG YAY!!! Thank you god for letting me live in Florida!!! *does Florida resident discount dance* squee!!! I love you Universal!!
ARE YOU KIDDING ME! THIS IS FREAKING AWESOME AND IT SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE BUILT IN THE U.S...WHERE ELSE WOULD IT BE BUILT?! THEY NEED TO HAVE THE SHREAKING SHACK AND HOGWARTS CASTLE COMPLETE WITH REPLICA DESIGNS FROM THE SET! IF THE ARE GOING TO DO THIS...THEY BETTER GO ALL OUT BECAUSE HP IS A LEGEND THAT SHOULD NEVER DIE AND IS ABSOFREAGINLUTELY WORTH IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Words Fail me. Unive rsal Studios, did you read my mind?
cool, cool, cool! so excited! :)
anvilsized: me too!!
Oh my gosh, what a dream come true! This is authentic... I certainly hope. How incredible.
Right now I am doing the snoopy dance. Yahoooooooooo!
That's. So. Cool.
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