Orlando Sentinel looks at marketing the Wizarding World

As we recently reported, Univeral Studios Orlando began running television commercials on NBC stations for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park, which is scheduled to open this Spring.

The Orlando Sentinel now has a report up concerning Univeral's marketing plans like the TV ads. Although theme park reps won't comment on details just yet, the Sentinel has interesting details of two possible marketing campaigns we haven't yet reported here on MuggleNet:

NBC Universal, which co-owns Universal Orlando with the Blackstone Group, may also be planning to pull other promotional levers. There is talk that the company has filmed an episode of its reality show The Celebrity Apprentice that will feature the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and will air early next year.

Separately last month, Universal Orlando signed a sponsorship deal with Virgin Holidays, the U.K.-based tour operator affiliated with Virgin Atlantic, which ferries more overseas tourists to and from Orlando than any other airline.

The Virgin Holiday packages do not allow bookings earlier than May 28th, 2010. As we reported the other day, Univeral's Gradbash 2010 page promotes entrance into the theme park as early as April.