The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
In May 2007, Warner Brothers and Universal Studios released an announcement that they were in the process of designing a Harry Potter theme park. The park will give Muggle visitors the chance to experience Harry's world, including various notable places like Hogwarts, dine in wizarding restaurants and enjoy the various other attractions on offer.Quick Facts:
Official Name: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Announcement Date: May 30th 2007
Opening Date: Between December 15th, 2009 and June 30th, 2010.
Cost: Between US$235 and US$265 million.
Companies Involved: Warner Brothers and Universal Studios
Location: Universal's Island of Adventure Theme Park in Orlando,
Florida, USA.
Official Website:
http://www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/
More Info:
* According to Universal, the theme park will be ‘comparable in size to other islands within Universal's Islands of Adventure'.
* The theme park will be based on not a singular book or movie, but will draw from all the characters and visual landscapes in each film and book.
* The area will include attractions, shops and restaurants.
* Production Designer for the Potter films, Stuart Craig, is collaborating with the Universal team for the design process.
* As of May 2007, the project had been in the works for at least a year and a half.
* The theme park will use some space of the Lost Continent attraction area at Universal Orlando, as well as an area that is not in use.
Projected Ideas:
Plans and designs have been drawn for several recognizable buildings and places in the Harry Potter universe. These include:
* Hogsmeade
* Hogwarts
* Three Broomsticks
* Forbidden Forest
* Possibly the Hogwarts Express
* Possibly a flying car attraction
* According to Jo, they are ‘planning one ride that's for younger kids'.
* A sporting goods shop called ‘Spintwitches'.
* One restaurant with particular wizarding food.
Jo's Thoughts:
* Her involvement: I would have to say a lot of it is going to have the Jo Touch, because I've been very very very involved, which has been amazing. ... However, Warner Brothers asked me, did I want it to happen? And I think they have been amazing in that respect, you know, as the underlying creator, as it's known in legal terms-- as the underlying creator of the series, they came to me and they asked me what I felt about it and we-- there were few things that I really wanted to happen if it went ahead.
* Production Designer Stuart Craig: And the key thing for me was if there was to be a theme park that Stuart Craig, who was the production designer on the films, would be involved, I mean, more than involved. That he would pretty much design it. Because I love the look of the films, they really mirror what's been in my imagination for all these years. And I just think he's done an incredible job.
* General Comments: I truly think that walking into the theme park will be as close as you will ever get to walking onto the film set, or to walking into Hogsmeade. Better, of course, because it's 3D and you can walk around the corner and look at the back and, you know-- it's gonna be quite incredible. I really believe that. Personally, I think it will be the best thing in the world of its type, having seen what I've seen. It's extraordinary, you know-
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