The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened in June 2010. Located in Universal Orlando Florida, the Harry Potter park is steps from The Lost Continent section of Islands of Adventure.
Fans of Harry Potter films, books and characters see them come to life at the 20-acre (eight-hectare) theme park. The partnership of Universal Orlando Resort and Warner Bros. Consumer Products immerses you in scenes from J.K. Rowling books and Harry Potter movies.
Muggles (non-magical humans) and characters, like Dumbledore, Hagrid, Harry, Hermione and Ron Weasley, interact with visitors in replica Harry Potter film locations, including Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and Hogsmeade village.
Hogwarts Express
Whistles and puffing steam announce the arrival of the Hogwarts Express train at Hogsmeade Station. After you reach the archway entrance to Hogsmeade, you can't see other attractions in Universal Orlando Resort. Just like in the Harry Potter movies, Hogsmeade village has cobblestone streets and buildings with crooked chimneys on snow-covered roofs.
All-inclusive interactive rides and attractions highlight The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Theme park visitors enter the Forbidden Forest and the hallways and classrooms in Hogwarts Castle.
You view the Gryffindor House common room. You can even fly (virtually) on Harry Potter's broomstick over Hogwarts Castle.
Forbidden Journey ride
Inside Hogwarts Castle, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride uses 360-degree filming techniques. The latest technology brings Harry Potter film settings, such as the Room of Requirement, to life. In scenes filmed specifically for the Forbidden Journey, you feel like you are flying with Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson.
In the line-up to get into Dumbledore's office, you walk by a Griffin statue, through Hogwarts Castle dungeon and into the greenhouse, which has potted mandrakes. A hall leads to a painting gallery where Hogwart characters converse and move from picture to picture.
Hogwarts Castle
You enter the office of Albus Dumbledore in Hogwarts Castle. A realistic film image of the headmaster welcomes muggles.
In the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, Harry, Ron and Hermione invite you to skip a lecture and join them on the Forbidden Journey ride. Traveling by floo powder, you meet the Whomping Willow, experience a dragon attack, have a chilling encounter with a Dementor and participate in a quidditch match.
How long is the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride? With the line-up experiences, it lasts one hour, but expect it to take much longer, if waiting times are long.
Back in Hogsmeade, you can ride a double high-speed rollercoaster from the Triwizard Tournament, called Dragon Challenge. Flight of the Hippogriff brings families on a Hippogriff training flight over Hogwarts Castle and its surroundings.
Harry Potter memorabilia
J.K. Rowling approved all window displays in Hogsmeade shops. Filch's Emporium of Confiscated Goods sells Ministry of Magic items, like omnioculars and remote-control golden snitches.
You can shop for sneakoscopes, boxing telescopes and extendable ears at Zonko's joke shop. Harry Potter theme park visitors can also buy chocolate frogs and Bertie Bott's every flavor beans from Honeydukes candy shop.
At Ollivanders wand shop, magic wands choose their wizards, rather than the other way around. Dervish and Banges magic store sells quidditch equipment, triwizard clothing, spectrespecs and remembralls.
Harry Potter stamps
Three Broomsticks Inn and Hog's Head Pub serve butter beer and pumpkin juice, with British food. In the Owlery across from the Three Broomsticks, owls roost, while waiting for their next delivery.
If you mail a letter at the Owl Post, it is stamped with a Hogsmeade postmark. You can also buy Wizarding World of Harry Potter stamps.
JK Rowling Harry Potter books
The bestselling books by J.K. Rowling have been translated into more than 66 dialects and languages, including Latin. More than 400 million copies of Harry Potter books have sold in more than 200 countries around the world.
Produced by Warner Bros. Pictures, each of the five Harry Potter movies has made the list of all-time top-20 money-making films around the world.
J.K. Rowling likes what visitors see in the Harry Potter theme park: "It's incredibly exciting. I don't think fans of the books or films will be disappointed."
There are some differences between the Harry Potter books and theme park. J.K. Rowling approved moving Ollivander's wand shop, located in Dragon Alley in Harry Potter books, to Hogsmeade.
Wizard world
Stuart Craig, the Academy Award-winning production and set designer, brought Harry Potter films to life. Craig led the creative design team and ensured that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter retained the authentic look and feel of the Harry Potter books and movies. The team included set designer, Alan Gilmore, who worked on three Harry Potter movies.
There is no additional cost or admission fee to visit the Harry Potter theme park.
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Harry Potter Theme Park: www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter
Visit Florida: www.visitflorida.com
More things to see and do in Florida