Harry Potter Park Bringing More Magic to Orlando
Universal hopes muggles will line up for new Florida attraction
By BRIAN HAMACHER
Updated 1:39 PM EDT, Tue, Sep 15, 2009
Move over Disney World, Potter World is coming to Orlando.
The new Harry Potter theme park is slated to open at the Universal Islands of Adventure resort in Spring 2010, and the park is beginning to reveal what rides are in store for all the little wizard wannabes.
The crown jewel of the new multi-million dollar addition to the park may be the "Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey" ride, a high-tech trip through everything Potter including a ride on the Hogwarts Express train through recreated scenes from the movies and a remake of Hogwart's Castle.
The ride was named by Potter creator J.K. Rowling, who has consulted on the project from her native London.
Other rides will include the "Dragon Challenge" and "Flight of the Hippogriff" roller coasters, based on different elements of the popular series, and all the shops and food stops will carry a Potter theme.
"Along those journeys they're going to be swept up into the greatest parts of the movies and the books. We've pushed every technology available to us to give guests a theme park experience unlike any they've had before," said Paul Daurio, producer of the Potter area.
Universal hopes the magical world of Potter will help them cut into the Mickey Mouse cash cow across town.
"It couldn't have come at a better time," said Danielle Saba Courtenay, spokeswoman for the Orlando Convention and Visitors Bureau. "It's such a huge worldwide brand, and the only place in the world you're going to be able to experience it is in Orlando."
Copyright Associated Press / NBC Miami
First Published: Sep 15, 2009 12:25 PM EDT
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