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ORLANDO, Florida — The ultimate dream of millions of Harry Potter fans comes true this week: Hogwarts is finally welcoming Muggles.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, an attraction inside the Universal Studios Orlando theme park, opens Friday. Three themed rides, including an amazing high-tech experience called Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, join a variety of shops and experiences that bring author J.K. Rowling’s world to life.
Visitors can drink Butterbeer, dine on Chocolate Frogs and buy a magic wand in the town of Hogsmeade, which sits in the shadow of Hogwarts’ great castle. On Wednesday evening, Rowling and most of the cast of the hit Harry Potter movies were on hand to cut the ribbon on the grand project during the opening gala.
Above: A massive fireworks display erupts over Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, marking the official opening of the park.
Photo: Karen Chu/Wired.com
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Two vehicles that play major roles in the Harry Potter books sit outside the park’s similacrum of Hogwarts. In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry and Ron take the flying, powder-blue Ford Anglia (above) for a joyride. The Knight Bus (below) ferries lost witches and wizards to their destinations late in the evening.
Photos: Karen Chu/Wired.com
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John Williams conducts the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra in a medley of his scores for the smash Harry Potter films. Earlier, actor Warwick Davis, who plays Griphook in the Deathly Hollows movie, led the Hogwarts Frog Choir, a musical group made up of Hogwarts students and six singing frog puppets.
Photo: Karen Chu/Wired.com
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The Honeydukes candy shop puts a magical twist on getting fat. Candies referenced in the books are all available for sale here. Whether you want Ton-Tongue Toffee, Bertie Botts’ Every-Flavour Beans, Chocolate Frogs or Canary Creams, Honeydukes has you covered. Wash it all down with a Pumpkin Juice for $6.
Photo: Karen Chu/Wired.com
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Zonko’s Joke Shop is filled with gags and tricks for the wizard with a prankish streak. In addition to generic retro-styled toys that fit in with the shop’s visual theme, Zonko’s sells lots of exclusive items based on references in the books. If you need to hook yourself up with a Sneakoscope, a Rememberall or a pair of Pygmy Puffs, the Weasley brothers’ store has it — for a price.
Photo: Karen Chu/Wired.com
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Wired.com reporter Chris Kohler chooses a wand — or is the wand choosing him? — at Ollivander’s Wand Shop while wandmaster Ollivander himself looks on.
As small groups of park guests are escorted into the tiny wand shop, the actor playing Ollivander re-creates the pivotal scene from the books where Harry makes his fateful choice of a magic wand. Special effects around the store complete the illusion.
Afterward, guests are escorted to the gift shop where they can buy many different styles of wands — those modeled after the movie characters’ magical pieces or originals based on the signs of the zodiac — for about $30 each.
Photo: Karen Chu/Wired.com
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Attendees to the invite-only opening were handed limited-edition wands while they wandered around the shops of Hogsmeade. Later in the evening, during the opening ceremony, Harry Potter himself (in the form of actor Daniel Radcliffe) led the crowd in shouting the spell “Lumos!” to start a massive light show on the side of the Hogwarts castle. Like “magic,” everyone’s wand lit up when they shouted the incantation.
Photo: Karen Chu/Wired.com
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Actors from the Potter films applaud composer John Williams’ performance following the Wizarding World of Harry Potter’s opening ceremony.
From left to right: Michael Gambon (who plays Dumbledore), Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom), one of the Phelps twins (one-half of the Weasley twins), Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), the other Phelps twin (the other Weasley twin), Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley) and Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley).
Photo: Karen Chu/Wired.com
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Many, many collectibles, pulled straight from the books, are piled high in the gift shops of Hogsmeade. Ever wanted to read the wizarding tabloid The Quibbler while wearing a pair of Spectrespecs? Now’s your chance.
Photo: Karen Chu/Wired.com
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For those who wish they could send important messages with a magical owl instead of over e-mail, in the Owl Post you can send a postcard to anyone unlucky enough to not be joining you on your trip to Hogsmeade. It’ll be postmarked with a special stamp marking its wizardly origins.
Photo: Karen Chu/Wired.com
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Hogwarts Castle at dusk. The castle conceals the key attraction, a thrilling ride called Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. It’s a complex combination of effects and high-tech gimmicks — a wild ride through the Potter world guided by stars of the film. The narrative of the ride centers on a Quidditch match that suddenly turns dangerous, leading riders into the spider-filled Forbidden Forest and an attack by Dementors.
Photo: Karen Chu/Wired.com
