The past few months have seen lots of press for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the latest attraction set to open at Islands of Adventure. The official opening date is open June 18th 2010 and Harry Potter fans are already on the verge of exploding with excitement and anticipation. For those of us who have never read the books, nor seen the movies, this whole thing may seem like a bit much. 

But wait, before we cross it off the list of things to do before we die, maybe we should actually explore what this place is all about and what is going to make it so fantastic.

You may have seen the commercial launched during the Super Bowl that didn’t really reveal much except for the tagline: “Be Courageous. Be Outrageous. Be extraordinary.” Or maybe you’ve stumbled upon press releases and speculative articles by theme park-enthusiasts. You may even be familiar with the official Web site promoting the new attraction. But, in case you’re unfamiliar, here’s what you can look forward to.

What to expect:

• 20 acres of  magically themed Harry Potter fantasy land
• Full immersion in this story that gets brought to life
• A theme park within a theme park
• Visual landscapes exemplary of those in film
• Hogsemeade Station is the first thing you encounter when you step into the experience
• Buildings of Hogsmeade Village that utilize forced perspective to make buildings appear larger (This is the architectural technique also used in places like the Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom.)
• A 150-foot-tall castle
• A chance to tour Hogwarts castle, Professor Dumbledore’s office and the Gryffindor common room
• Three Broomsticks Restaurant in place of the former Enchanted Oak Tavern Restaurant
• This restaurant will feature traditional British cuisine
• The Owlery meeting space where you can relax and watch owls perched above
• The children’s Flying Unicorn coaster is re-opening with a new name and theme
• Dueling Dragons coaster will be renamed and re-themed as Dragon Challenge
• Flight of Hippogriff ride, which is a family-friendly coaster
• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride where visitors soar above castle grounds
• Themed shopping—you can buy everything from Hogwarts school uniforms and toys to journals and t-shirts
• Honeydukes sweet shop where you can purchase Cauldron Cakes, Fizzing Whizzbees and Chocolate Frogs
• The first Harry Potter theme park experience in the entire world

Of course, it’s hard to say exactly what can be expected because everyone involved in the creative process is sworn to secrecy. As the Spring opening date approaches, more information is slowly being leaked out. So stay tuned.

The biggest expansion in the park’s history, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is sure to appease the masses—and maybe even create a mind-blowing experience for non-Harry-Potter-fan guests.

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