Harry Potter's World Comes Alive

Fans storm the opening of the Harry Potter theme park in Florida

Harry Potter fans celebrate in front of Hogwarts on the new theme park's opening night.

Thousands of frenzied fans gathered at the opening last week of Universal Orlando's The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
The new theme park in Orlando, Florida, aims to bring the magical universe of Harry Potter to life.
After seven novels, author J. K. Rowling has said she has written her last book in the Harry Potter series. Still, many
readers want more. Now fans can relive their favorite moments from the books in a theme park approved by the author
herself.
Visitors can taste butterbeer and chocolate frogs in Hogsmeade, the magical village where Harry, Ron, and Hermione
spent many hours plotting their adventures. True fans can even buy wands at Ollivander's Wand Shop in Diagon Alley.
Remember, the wand selects the wizard, not the other way around—just like in the books.
To make sure the park delivered a realistic experience of her imaginary world, Rowling was involved in deciding all the
important details of the park's creation. She even helped pick the butterbeer recipe that was most like how she thinks the
drink should taste. With Rowling's guidance, set designers from the films helped bring the magic of the movies into real
life.
OPENING DAY
Rowling and many actors from the movies were present on Friday to help start the fun, including the series' stars Daniel
Radcliffe (Harry), Rupert Grint (Ron), and Emma Watson (Hermione).
"For any kids out there who were like me when I was a kid, you can now just come here and live the movies . . . but
without all the danger involved," Radcliffe told reporters.
One ride even allows visitors to fly Hagrid's hippogriff, the mythical beast that's half-eagle, half-horse. But first guests must
learn how to approach the proud creature. (Bowing and maintaining eye contact are key to mounting hippogriffs.)
Radcliffe's favorite ride is the Dragon Challenge, where guests experience a roller-coaster version of the Triwizard
Tournament, the scary competition that Harry entered in the fourth book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
"It's been a while since I've been on a roller-coaster that terrifying, but I've done it five times in the last two days, and I
plan to go a couple more times today," he said.
ROWLING'S GIFT TO FANS
Although Rowling is done with the book series, she worked closely with the park's creators to offer up one last adventure
for Harry and the gang. It's called Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and it's the park's most complicated ride.
The creators used never-before-seen technology to put visitors inside the story. Even the line to get into the ride is
interactive. Visitors get to explore Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and learn the ride's story while they wait.
But once the ride begins, guests get to see everything from the Forbidden Forest to the heights of the school's Quidditch
field. Paintings come to life, statues move, and appearances by professors Dumbledore and Snape all start a secret
adventure that you will have to see to believe.