"The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" to be opened in May

The theme park will be a magical miniature universe to enchant Muggle folks (non-magical people). All Harry Potter fans will get a taste of Harry’s world through this park.

“Harry Potter is huge worldwide,” said Sarah Holt, sales coordinator at Universal Studios Orlando.

“Four-hundred million copies of the book have been sold. The films themselves are the highest grossing franchise. It's already at $3.5 billion with six movies. It's going to be a whole new theme park at Islands of Adventure, built on 20 acres out of 100. It is opening this spring. We do not have an official date as of now,” said Holt.

About the park
The venue is 20 acres big and includes shops and eateries within. Hogwarts castle will be seen beyond Universal’s gates.

An attraction called Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey will “use brand-new technology to bring the magic stories and characters of the film to life in ways you’ve never experienced before.”

Another feature in the park will be the Triwizard Tournament. There will also be a family-friendly roller coaster, in the shape of a hippogriff. Hagrid, (the half-giant teacher of Care of Magical Creatures) will give a lesson to ride a hippogriff.

“Rumor is that the spot where the sacred book sat in Dueling Dragons, they are going to have movie props and the real Goblet of Fire from the movies,” said Erik Yates from behindthethrills.com, which monitors theme park development news.

A Hogsmeade Village is also said to be in the making.

Packages for the theme park
UniversalOrlando.com revealed its packages for the soon to be opened park. The packages start at $285 per person. A four-night plan comes at $645 per person which also includes four nights at Universal’s AAA Four Diamond hotel.

The package gives access to various rides along with early park admission to “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.” “Breakfast at the Three Broomsticks” will also be provided.

Radcliffe excited for park
Daniel Radcliffe, who plays Harry Potter on screen, said he is very excited for the Orlando Park.

“I remember I would come out of films when I was younger and absolutely just wish that world could be real and I could be a part of it. It’s fantastic that people will actually get to realize everything they’ve seen on screen,” he said.