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Report from the Grand Opening Festivities for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

This report needs to start with a disclaimer. Whatever you read here will not do the Wizarding World of Harry Potter justice until you can experience it for yourself! This is but a small taste of what the grand opening festivities were like, and how authentic and faithful the park is to the books and films.

The adventure began Wednesday morning, 16th June, when the world's press - ranging from prestigious UK newspapers to the enthusiastic fansites - were welcomed to Universal by Mark Woodbury (President of Universal Creative) and Bill Davis (President and COO of Universal Orlando Resort). There was a brief presentation about Universal Studios and Island of Adventure followed by a question and answer session. Perhaps one of the most interesting things we learned during this Q&A was that Mark Woodbury and his creative team pitched the idea of a Harry Potter theme park to J.K. Rowling in the form of a pop-up book!

Grand Opening Kick-Off Event

The same Wednesday evening was a Grand Opening Kick-Off event with a red carpet and our favorite Harry Potter actors! The cast walked down the red carpet being interviewed, while JK Rowling herself made a surprise appearance and caused me to go into a state of shock. You would too if the woman who created Harry Potter and changed the lives of so many people walked right by you!

Rupert and his castmates all seemed to be in good spirits and thrilled to finally be at the park. They posed for photos, signed autographs for the students of the winning class at the Today Show and tried not to melt with their long-sleeved outfits! The cast were whisked away and later reappeared once the ceremony got underway. Bonnie Wright, Matthew Lewis, James and Oliver Phelps, Tom Felton, and Michael Gambon all arrived on the Knight Bus while Rupert and Dan Radcliffe showed up in the Ford Anglia. Aw, just like old times!

The whole night must have been one really big emotional experience for the cast, as it was for the fans in the crowd. Seeing John Williams conducting his orchestra to play such classic Harry Potter theme songs was epic and the lighting up of the castle was just incredible and beyond anything I could’ve imagined. The fireworks and clips from all the films playing on the surface of the castle created for one incredible, breath-taking sight.

Once Hogwarts castle was officially declared open, we had the opportunity to ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey for the first time. Again, it is absolutely unreal. RGN first had a peek at the queue in March (which itself is like an attraction). The ride is difficult to explain because it’s not a roller coaster, but not quite for the faint-hearted either! Riders experience so much from Hogwarts – there are the light and fun elements, but the dark stuff too. Watch out for the dementors, especially!

Your photo is also taken during the ride at a point where some people (I’m looking at you, Rupert!) might have their eyes covered. Or in my case, your hand is over your mouth and eyes are wide open with shock because you can’t quite believe everything you’re seeing. Even now, everyone I was with is still laughing at me for my reaction! But I think it sums up the attraction perfectly. You just can’t believe you’re actually on a journey inside Hogwarts castle!

The Press Conferences

Thursday morning was the day to speak with the creative team that put together the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and also the actors who have brought these iconic characters to life for so many years. The interviews took place inside the Three Broomsticks (how bizarre does that sound?!) and just reinforced my admiration for this group of people! Everyone from the Universal creative directors to the Potter cast were engaging and thrilled to be there speaking about the park.

Audio clips from Sessions 1 and 3 are available for download below. Various media forms from the second session which included Rupert are also linked to below.

Session one included Mark Woodbury (President of Universal Creative), Thierry Coup (Creative Director of WWOHP), Stuart Craig (Production Designer for HP films), Alan Gilmore (Art Director for both films and theme park), David Heyman (Producer), David Barron (Producer) [Download Audio]

Season two included Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton, and Michael Gambon
VIDEO: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
PHOTOS: Gallery

Session three included Matthew Lewis, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Bonnie Wright and Warwick Davis [Download Audio]

Official Public Grand Opening

Only something like the Grand Opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter could get me to wake up at 5:30 in the morning with no complaints. But then again, by 5:30 a.m. there were already hundreds of fans lined up waiting for the park to open!

The archway into Hogsmeade was covered by a giant curtain imprinted with the design of an envelope. After some remarks from the conductor of the Hogwarts Express and Bill Davis, the curtain fell and the Harry Potter cast came onto the stage to help open the theme park and once again greet the winning first graders from the Today show. James and Oliver Phelps help set off some fireworks and “snow” began covering Hogsmeade some more before it was time to finally let the crowds go in!

My favorite part of this day was seeing the expressions on the crowd’s face when they too finally walked into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Fans came running in, clutching onto each other, and even crying because they were so happy to finally enter into this magical place.

Saying Good-Bye

By Thursday afternoon, I had already told my family I wasn’t coming back home. How could I possibly survive without drinking butterbeer everyday!? Or peering at the spires of Hogwarts from my hotel window? But unfortunately, the Muggle world reclaimed me, though I managed to take some pumpkin juice back to aid in the butterbeer withdrawal.

Everything at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is made to feel authentic and as if you really are at Hogsmeade and Hogwarts. There’s no sign of palm trees and “real” witches and wizards are mingling around ready to talk to you about their magical world. No small detail is missing from any of the shops in Hogsmeade or the castle. A small vending machine in Honeydukes even says, “Sickles only!” and the second level of the Owl Post is nearly overflowing with packages. Good thing the magic’s there to make sure nothing comes tumbling down!

After spending three days at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, I’m pretty sure I've found my new home away from home.

Added by Steph June 20, 2010 (1:25AM)

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