Some Hogwarts Magic In The Florida Sunshine

Armed with wands and sun lotion, we and lucky fans are getting the chance to check out the new Harry Potter theme park in Florida ahead of its launch.



Stars of the films, including Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Tom Felton have flown to Orlando for the park’s opening on Friday.

The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter is a $200m, 20-acre expansion of Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

Under a stone archway, the village of Hogsmeade is brought to life from the books and the films.

Fresh from platform 9¾, the Hogwarts Express bellows steam clouds at the entrance gate, while owls from the local postal service twitter nearby as the magnificent multi-spired Hogwarts Castle towers over the whole village.

Creators of the park have spent three years planning the venture, ensuring a truly outstanding attention to detail from the JK Rowling books.


Harry actor Daniel Radcliffe has flown to Florida for the park's opening

Hogsmeade village is made up of snowcapped buildings - among them Honey Duke’s sweet shop.

In here, you can find all the Potter favourite treats, such as chocolate frogs, Bertie Botts’ Every Flavour Beans (except vomit and snot) as well as the traditional British humbug.



A few doors down, the Three Broomsticks serves traditional English fare, and next door at the Hog’s Head pub you can grab a fire-Whisky, a pumpkin juice and, of course, real-life Butterbeer.

Other shops include Ollivanders Wand Shop, Owl Post and Zonko's joke shop.

Three roller coaster rides make up the centre of the park.

The Flight of the Hippogriff is a family-oriented training flight over Hogwarts Castle with the half-horse, half-eagle beast from the Prisoner of Azkaban.



The Dragon Challenge is made up of two dueling roller coasters, the Hungarian Horntail and Chinese Fireball, which reach 68mph and a height of 115ft.

The piece de resistance is Forbidden Journey, found inside Hogwarts Castle.

Queuing at Hogwarts is a captivating experience in its own right as you wander through darkened corridors, past Headmaster Dumbledore’s office, a Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom and a portrait hallway where the paintings come to life and argue between themselves in a 20-minute loop.

Using the latest 3D technology to convince you that the three megastars are in the room, holograms encourage you on your journey.

The ride is action-packed, full of twists and turns and plenty of magic.


Flash Videos can be viewed on the Sky Website:

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just back from florida and this was advertised all over the place, if only the volcano had spewed again i could have stayed