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Harry Potter theme park set for 2010 opening
Finally some news are coming out about the long-awaited Harry Potter theme park. Universal Orlando hopes to open the "Wizarding World of Harry Potter" in spring 2010 at Universal Studios.
Tom Williams, chairman and CEO of Universal Parks and Resorts, said, "All of the action and adventures of Harry Potter's world will come to life here at Universal Orlando Resort. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be unlike any other experience on earth".
The "Forbidden Journey" ride set in the iconic Hogwart's Castle was named by author J.K. Rowling and described on Tuesday by Universal officials in a Web cast revealing details of what the Potter park will look like.
The park will include a Hogwarts Express train, lots of the shops from Hogsmeade, an owlery and Hogwarts.
Alan Gilmore, the project's supervising art director and art director on two Harry Potter films, said, "It is brand new, extremely exciting, never been done, never been seen before. I can't say big enough words. It's going to be absolutely mind-blowing".
Visitors can enter the "Wizarding World of Harry Potter" through a station archway named for Hogsmeade, the magical village near Hogwarts. A plume of steam and a train whistle will indicate the arrival of the Hogwarts Express.
Major attractions include "Dragon Challenge", a high-speed roller coaster, described as "definitely for the brave". It is themed after the "Triwizard Tournament" and the family roller coaster "Flight of the Hippogriff," named for a creature with an eagle's head and a horse's body.
Paul Daurio, show producer for the Wizarding World, said, "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".
The Harry Potter park will be part of Universal's Islands of Adventure.
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