Will You Go to Harry Potter's Wizarding World?

I'm really looking forward to seeing this new "land" at Universal. I loved the books, so I'm interested in how they're going to translate the architecture and feel of the books into a theme park in florida.

Yep! Really looking forward to this one.

I've never read the books, or seen the movie. *GASP*, I know...just never have. I've heard a hundred times how great they are. I tend to have an aversion to things that are 'all the rage'.

Far as the area at Universal, I was there on our recent trip and even during construction it looks cool. And I must say, Dueling Dragons alone is worth a trip to the park (and this same area).

So you're the one!

I do too. I didn't watch Friends until the series was over!

I am really intrigued about what they're going to to with Dueling Dragons. Has there been any news about what the theme of the ride will now be?

Haven't heard anything, but I don't think the theming is too far off as is.

I think that's right. There are plenty of dragons in the books!

This is where my HP geekiness comes in!

It will be theme\ed around the TriWizard Tournament where they had to get the golden egg from the dragon!

Hardcore HP fans to the rescue. Have you been paying close attention to all the news over there?

I listen to the HP podcasts that follow it! They just had a press event that had some cool into about openings and some of the rides (the best thing is you can buy a wand when you first go to the park and use it to interact with the park!)

Ooh. I didn't know there were HP podcasts. I guess I should have assumed so, since there are podcasts on much more obscure things. Are there a lot?

There are several, but there is one huge one - Pottercast. JK Rowling has actually been on it.

Wow. That's impressive. It would be like getting Walt on one of the Disney podcasts...okay maybe not that impressive. Do they have a personal relationship with her or are they just that huge?

Mostly they are just that big. One of the hosts wrote a book on the fandom and did an interview with her, but she got to do that because they have been such an impact. They also run the largest Potter news site and always check sources and report with integrity, so the Potter people respect them and help them out.

It's really interesting how much being a reliable source of information on the web can be valued. Have they been doing it since the first book? How long have you been following them?

I think they started in 99 or 00...I know it was before 9/11. I have been following them since 2004.

There is the first commercial for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter...and it is quite disappointing.

http://video.the-leaky-cauldron.org/video/1385

Basically it just has clips from the movie with talking over it.

I watched it and just thought "Disney would have done such a better job." at least with the commercial. It isn't creative or anything.

Thanks for the video, Caitie. I agree, though -- could be more, right? Now, why did I think Disney owned the rights to Harry Potter?

Here's a good update video on the construction:

http://dismarks.com/OtherParksCruises/Wizarding_World_of_Harry_Potter_Construction_Updates_Video

Nope, I'll stay at Disney! I like the movies, never read the books, but Universal just doesn't do it for us. We go there every couple of years just to see what is new, but the last time we were really disappointed.