The Yak Shack Forum

Wow!  Universal Studios has announced that it will open a Harry Potter theme park at the Florida location in late 2009 or early 2010.  I can't wait! :D

http://www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/

http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/?articleID=9918

I can't believe its taken them this long!

This has been rumored for years.  For a while, Disney tried to get the license, but I guess their offer of a ride in the UK section of EPCOT couldn't complete with Universal's offer of an entire, themed park.  I've never been to Universal in Florida, but I will definitely go when the Potter park is up and running.  I'll bet Kelly and family visit not long after it opens! :D

WOW!
I can't wait until this happens.

Looks like I'm going back to florida again then  >:D

Has anyone been to Island of Adventure?
I just wonder if they will be elliminating one of the themed areas already there. Seussland, Jurassic Park, Toonville, Marvel Comic Area, and whatever the theme land where dueling dragons is are the five themed parks within Islands of Adventure right now...the way Islands is set up, it is a giant circle. So I wonder if they change the structure of the park and build an all new area, or if they simply tear down and redo an area that has been lacking recently.

Either way, this sounds so cool. I can't wait to hear more about it. They made this anouncement the same time as they made the Simpsons Ride announcement that will replace Back to the Future in the original Universal.

The FAQ on the website states that, "A portion of what is currently the Lost Continent will be devoted to the new environment, as well as an undeveloped area that is currently not in use."

If you go to the site and click on Gallery, there are some artist renderings. :)

YES!!!!  Only 2 hours away from me!!! *happy dance* *more happy dance*
I've only been to islands of adventure once a long time ago, so I don't remember what it looked like really.  This is going to be so cool!  ;D

ah ha. thanks kbmum...Lost Continent is where Dueling Dragons is and I could not think of the areas name for the life of me. I had a feeling that is where it might have been going. Other than Dueling Dragons and a Kiddy area, there really is not much there. Can't wait to see this stuff. Hopefully being an anual passholder for 4 years now I will get a sneak preview as it is completed.

Wow I am now totally excited this is great news I go to Florida every Easter we are already planning ahead and thinking of going Christmas 2009. I cant wait I have now read all the books and think this will be awesome. I prefer Universal to Disney now so I cant wait.

I CANNOT HANDLE THIS MUCH EXCITEMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I SERIOUSLY CANNOT WAIT TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   ;D

There's a lot of info here.  Please note, though, that sometimes this blogger is incorrect, but he does seem to have a lot of interesting tidbits about what Universal is planning to do with an HP theme park.  There's also a section about POTC.

http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2007/06/01/why-for-today.aspx

Interesting.

I'm not sure about the competition between a Pirates theme attraction and a Harry Potter park. For me, I would see Harry being the bigger draw, not just because of the fan base, books, and movies, but based on the plans for the park itself. What Universal has planned will essentially put us in the films, in the books...it will truly be like walking through JK Rowling's world.  I love the idea of being able to visit Hogwarts and Hogsmeade and really feel like I'm there.

I keep getting excited when I see it in the news, but I don't think I'll ever make it to the US so not a lot of help to me. I reckon they should do something over here it is the land of Potter after all.

I thought I read somewhere that the UK studios used for filming might be turned into some sort of walk-through exhibit.

I haven't heard about that, it would be cool.

Will you be moving in? Bet they didn't think of making a few flats and apartments in the castle for die hard Yaks

Construction has begun!

http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2007/12/03/construction-s-officially-underway-on-universal-s-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter.aspx

YEAH!
Can't wait for it now :D

WOW! So exciting! This is going to be awesome!  8)

God it's like a dream come true

Construction has begun on Hogwarts Castle. :) This site, which is usually pretty accurate with details about Disney and Universal, has some pictures and info.

http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2008/02/11/steal-a-glimpse-and-or-glimpse-some-steel-at-the-harry-potter-construction-site.aspx

Universal Orlando announced today that The Three Broomsticks will be added to the park.  It'll be a restaurant (don't know yet whether it will be counter service or table service) and it will serve "authentic food and drink from the World of Harry Potter."

Early concept artwork can be viewed here. 
http://www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/?__source=emailharry4

The site is also conducting a new poll to determine whether people want to order butterbeer or pumpkin juice at The Three Broomsticks.  Butterbeer for me, thanks! :D

What about the Firewhisky? Can I vote for that? ;)

Unfortunately, that doesn't appear to be an option.  It sure would be fun to try it, though! ;)

A webcast video just went up this morning

http://www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/first_look_uo2.html

***Sorry about the edit.  I hit the wrong button and accidentally erased Bryan's post. ::)

Looks good!  I didn't realize there will be two rides.  There were rumors that it would open in December 2009, with some, but not all, of the buildings and rides.  Maybe Universal decided to delay the opening until everything is ready.  I do like the idea of having a butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks!  Anyone planning to go next year?  We're going to be at Disney next summer, but a trip to Universal might not fit into our plans.  :'(

Me and my sister are planning a week-long Orlando vacation next year and Universal is on the list so I will be going :D I'm super excited. I can't wait to go to Honeydukes and Dervish and Banges. I'm going to be blowing quite a few months salary on this trip ;D

I am only an hour away, so I will be making the trip for sure.

There are three rides, however only one of them is new. The Hypogriff (spelling?) ride is the old kids dragon roller coaster just re-skinned, and the Potter Dragon coaster is just the Dueling Dragons roller coaster re-skinned as well. The "state of the art" ride inside Hogwarts castle however is new, and whatever it is Universal is doing an amazing job keeping it a secret. I have not heard a SINGLE thing about it, I am just as excited to hear just WHAT it is as I am to ride it when it opens.

I can not wait! It will be the first trip my baby gets to go on. He will only be a year old by then, but we all know that we will be going for me and my husband more than anything else.

Here is the first of three Mugglenet articles with great info about the new HP area.  It's scheduled to open June 18, 2010.  One of the attractions, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, will take an hour from pre-show through the end of the ride!

http://www.mugglenet.com/erichpfjreview.shtml

Check out this 14+ minute video of the queue for the Forbidden Journey ride.  It looks fantastic!  Is anyone planning to go this summer?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCvxmI6sIA8

I will be heading there sometime at the end of june or early july. I live an hour away. My cousin works there (well at regular Universal) and she was able to attend the special opening just for employees and she said the place is great, and the new ride is a lot of fun.

Now that the Park has finally opened, what do you all think, and how many of you have plans to go soon??

I can't believe the wait time to get on the HP part of the island was nine hours on Friday!  There were tons of people who bought tickets and couldn't get anywhere near the HP area, so they were given refunds at customer service -- after waiting in line there for two and a half hours.  As much as I want to go, I think I'll give it a year or two for the hype to die down.

Just watched your youtube link and OMG AMERICANS IN HOGWARTS :rofl:
What`s that all about? ;D

I'll be going during the last week in March.   ;D

Im going in September whe I vist the US; really looking forward to it.

I can't wait to hear reports from both of you and see some pictures. :)  Kelly, thank you for the butterbeer recipe!  I didn't even realize you'd sent it to me until I noticed it in my Facebook e-mails last night.

My family & I went in December. It was very cool. Here are some of my pics:

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=harry+potter+wizarding+world&w=9496161%40N07&z=t

Great pictures. Thanks for sharing. :)

fantastic! I cant wait to get there myself...just 5 months to go  ;D

I've been there!  Twice actually. Once with some friends in March and once with my 12 year old in May.  The first time was a whirlwind of OMG AWESOME, so we didn't really know what to do first and we didn't have any cool tips or tricks to follow.  After going a second time, I have some tips you all can use if you get a chance to visit.

1. Instead of waiting in line for up to an hour to tour the castle and go on the Forbidden Journey ride, do it this way- Take the castle walking tour.  This is the one where you walk through the castle, but don't ride the ride.  Just tell one of the "students" you want to walk through and they'll point you to the right entrance.  It's a better way to see everything because you have a seperate walkway in which you can stand for as long as you like to see the moving portraits, Dumbledore, Harry, etc without an attendent hurrying you along.  After that, go back to the "student" and tell them you want to do the single rider line.  They'll point you up a flight of stairs where you'll be ushered right up to the front of the ride.  The ride sits 4 across, so when they have a party of 3, you get seated right away with that party.  All in all, it took me about 2 minutes to get on the ride, and I rode it 4 times!  You don't get to sit with friends, but who cares?  You won't be able to see them during the ride anyway there are dividers between people and the most you see are your ride mates shoes.

2. There are Hogwarts and Triwizard cup shows every 3o minutes at the stone monolith.  Get there early and have a seat on the outside of the circle.  Both shows are totally worth it.

3. Even if you don't want to ride the Dragon Challenge roller coaster, walk through anyway.  There is SO MUCH to see in there.  Same with the Hippogriff Ride.  If you don't stand in line for that one, you'll miss Hagrids Hut and Buckbeak.  They'll let you pass over at the end if you don't want to ride.

4. Get in line for Ollivanders right away!  The line gets crazy later on in the afternoon.  Jordan wore her Gryffindor scarf and was picked buy Ollivander to have a wand choose her!  It was awesome. :D

5. Visit the bathroom even if you don't need to go.  You never know what you might hear.

I think that it!

http://photo2.walgreens.com/walgreens/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=12646029006/a=31511162_31511162/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=walgreens/ (http://photo2.walgreens.com/walgreens/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=12646029006/a=31511162_31511162/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=walgreens/)

I hope the link works.  I have two of everything because I put borders around the photo's I printed out.  There are a few Jurassic park photos in the mix.  Yes, I know I spelled borders wrong on the album. ;)

Thanks for the tips! Ill have to write those down for when I go  ;D

Wow, Kelly! Thanks SOOOO Much for the tip about the castle ride. Ryan and I want to go with Dane, but were worried about waiting in that line with him. If we do the walk thru tour, we can move at our own pace, which would be better for him. And since we can't ride the ride together since Dane is too young, the single rider thing is PERFECT for us! You rock!

Thanks, Kelly!  The tips are great.  We're thinking about taking a longer Disney trip next year so we'll have some extra days to do things like Universal and Kennedy Space Center.  It looks like the HP area will have an expansion, supposedly to open in late spring 2012 in what is now the Lost Continent section of the park.

While looking for info, I found a site that said Forbidden Journey alone cost just under $90 million and the whole HP area cost somewhere in the range of $220-$240 million.