Tag Archives: Islands of Adventure

Wizarding World of Harry Potter Review!

by
3 Comments
Enjoying some Butterbeer and Pumpkin Juice at WWoHP!

Enjoying some Butterbeer and Pumpkin Juice at WWoHP!

For months, Potterheads and theme park enthusiasts have been following the development of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter closely, as various construction photos and videos have been leaked and as rumors flew around like Golden Snitches.  Universal employees and hotel guests got early sneak peeks a few weeks ago, and for the past couple of weeks, guests lucky enough to be present at Islands of Adventure were able to experience the WWoHP during its soft opening.  I was one of those lucky guests! Continue reading →

Butterbeer and Magic Wands,Universal’s Mouse Ears and Princess Dresses?

by
Leave a comment
Will butterbeer and magic wands become Universal’s mouse ears and princess dresses?

Will butterbeer and magic wands become Universal’s mouse ears and princess dresses?

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Orlando, FL. ~ For the legions of Harry Potter fans expected to descend on Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter this summer, riding roller coasters is only part of the draw. Just as important is the ability to sip a butterbeer ($3), sample a chocolate frog ($10) and be outfitted with a magic wand ($29). Continue reading →

Wizarding World of Harry Potter Soft Opens at Islands of Adventure

by
Leave a comment
Guests get their first up-close sight of Hogwarts Castle. Photo Courtesy of Attractions Magazine.

Guests get their first up-close sight of Hogwarts Castle. Photo Courtesy of Attractions Magazine.

Universal Orlando Resort has begun allowing regular park guests, or Muggles, to venture into the magical Wizarding World of Harry Potter, located at Islands of Adventure.  Last week, only Universal hotel guests were let in to the WWoHP, but starting on Tuesday, general IoA park guests have been admitted into the new addition each morning for a couple hours.

With less than two weeks to go before the Grand Opening on June 18th, the soft openings and continued release of photos and videos are truly amping up the anticipation!  (The new WWoHP billboards on Interstate 4 are awesome!)  In fact, our Wizarding World of Harry Potter page on our website went live yesterday, and we are extrememly excited to be the discount ticket provider for Muggles all over the world! Continue reading →

Orlando Attractions Magazine – Tons of Wizarding World Videos!

by
Leave a comment

Attractions Magazine has posted a ton of videos from within Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which is opening for Universal Orlando Hotel guests this week.  WWoHP is set to open at Islands of Adventure on June 18th and will be included with general park admission and with your purchase of Discount Islands of Adventure Tickets.

Check out this video of a boy being chosen by a wand at Ollivanders, and many more on the Attractions Magazine YouTube Channel!

Wizarding World of Harry Potter Opens for Hotel Package Guests

by
Leave a comment
Photo Courtesy of Chris Nash and Attractions Magazine

Photo Courtesy of Chris Nash and Attractions Magazine

Universal Orlando Resort hotel package holders lined up outside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter this morning, awaiting the chance to be some of the first Muggles (non-magical folk) to walk the streets of Hogsmeade Village.  Guests who booked the WWoHP Vacation Package received early admission into the highly anticipated addition at Islands of Adventure – guests who did not book the package will have to wait for the grand opening on June 18th. 

Tons of photos and videos have been taken and posted on Twitter and Facebook fan pages, as well as on our affiliate site – Orlando Attractions Magazine.  Check out some of my favorites below: Continue reading →

Wizarding World of Harry Potter – #potterwatch on Twitter

by
Leave a comment
@kcardin09 "Same old story at gates. #potterwatch I'm on duty here another hr http://twitpic.com/1rbfpq "

@kcardin09 "Same old story at gates. #potterwatch I'm on duty here another hr http://twitpic.com/1rbfpq "

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter officially opens its gates in a mere 23 days at Islands of Adventure at the Universal Orlando Resort.  As such, Potterheads and Orland theme park enthusiasts are going a bit wonky with the anticipation!  I, for one, have already downloaded a countdown widget for my computer, I have Universal employees on standy-by to let me know if they hear about any soft openings, and I purposefully didn’t pack my Gryffindor house tie and wand, on the off chance that I’ll get a chance to to see WWoHP before I move in June. 

Potter fans have turned to Twitter and Facebook to stay up-to-date with all of the WWoHP news and rumors. Continue reading →

Harry Potter Stars Visit Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

by
Leave a comment
Harry Potter Stars Robbie Coltrane, Matthew Lewis, Emma Watson, and James & Oliver Phelps in Hogsmeade Village

Harry Potter Stars Robbie Coltrane, Matthew Lewis, Emma Watson, and James & Oliver Phelps in Hogsmeade Village

Universal Orlando Resort welcomed some of the Harry Potter film stars yesterday to preview the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid), Matt Lewis (Neville), Emma Watson (Hermione), and James & Oliver Phelps (Fred & George) were invited to walk the streets of Hogsmeade Village, check out the shops and restaurants, and taste Butterbeer for the first time! 

Check out these photos and video, courtesy of our pals over at Attractions Magazine. Continue reading →

Wizarding World of Harry Potter Preview Party!

by
Leave a comment
The Orlando International Pow Wow 2010 special event was held at WWoHP!

The Orlando International Pow Wow 2010 special event was held at WWoHP!

Universal Studios Orlando Resort hosted a special evening event for attendees of the Orlando International Pow Wow 2010.  The annual conference brings together travel and media professionals to see what new and exciting things the central Florida area has to offer.

According to Inside the Magic, the event took place within the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (WWoHP – those bloody lucky prats!) and attendees got the chance to walk through much of Hogsmeade Village, take a trip through part of the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey queue line inside of Hogwarts Castle, and got to ride on the Dragon Challenge roller coaster (formerly Dueling Dragons) and Flight of the Hippogriff (formerly the Flying Unicorn.)  Check out these new photos and details: Continue reading →

Universal Studios Singapore – Video Preview

by
Leave a comment
Universal Studios Singapore Grand Opening Celebration

Universal Studios Singapore Grand Opening Celebration

Universal Studios Singapore (USS) recently celebrated its Grand Opening this past March.  The park boasts some of the more popular elements from Universal Studios Orlando, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Islands of Adventure.  The new Universal theme park also includes never-before seen lands and attractions

Orlando Sentinel occasional correspondent Don has posted a video that he took during the soft opening of the Universal Studios Singapore theme park. It’s fun to see almost-familiar attractions in different settings, from as small as Finnegans to as large as Revenge of the Mummy or Jurassic Park. Take a look: Continue reading →

Wizarding World of Harry Potter – New Photo Released – The Hog’s Head

by
Leave a comment

WWoHP Hog's Head

*FINALLY* Universal Studios Orlando has confirmed that there will, in fact, be an animatronic hog’s head mounted on the wall at the Hog’s Head Pub.  We heard rumors about this months ago, but never received official word until now.  All of these little tidbits keep building anticipation for the June 18th grand opening of Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure – I am all aquiver!