ORLANDO, Fla. — The Wizarding World of Harry Potter officially opens Friday, but WFTV got a first look at the new, magical attraction a day early.
ACTOR INTERVIEWS: Harry Potter | Ron Weasley INSIDE WIZARDING WORLD: WFTV Takes Tour POTTER VIP EVENT: Raw Video | See Images
The magic begins on Hogwarts Express, where you will feel like you're flying. It's one of three rides in the Wizarding World. Along with the moving portraits, you can see the same shops you know from the books and movies in Hogsmeade Village.
This is big for Universal and Central Florida. WFTV went one-on-one with actors Daniel Ratcliffe and Rupert Grint, who were at the VIP opening (raw video | images) to share in the excitement of the $200 million Harry Potter experience.
"Me and Rup stood outside for like five minutes, ‘Wow it's great man.' I didn't actually realize you could go in. It was fantastic!" Ratcliffe told WFTV reporter Darlene Jones.
"It's amazing!" Rupert Grint, who plays Ron Weasley, said. "I think I really need this place. I'm gonna be here a lot."
Harry Potter Grand Opening - Universal Press Photo - BLURB - 061710 GO INSIDE: WFTV Takes Tour POTTER VIP EVENT: Raw Video | Images POTTER PLANE: Pics Of AirTran's Plane FORBIDDEN JOURNEY: Details | Peek VIRTUAL TOUR: Images | Watch Video The creative minds behind the new attraction spent five years working with the author of the book and producers of the movie.
"Is this the attraction this year?" reporter Daralene Jones asked.
"Oh, definitely. I don't know if it's just this year, might be forever," Harry Potter Creative Director Mark Woodbury replied.
Part of the staying power might be wrapped in some of what you'll find in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, including butter beer, pumpkin juice and magic wands.
"When you're here, you don't feel like you're in the park, the rest of the park really. The castle is quite bigger than the Disney one, which is quite cool," Grint said.
It's so cool, even the mayor of London made a big fuss over the attraction being built in Orlando.
"I thought, if anyone's got the power to make that happen, surely it's you. I'm just so please it's being done at all," Ratcliffe said.
Harry Potter Actor Radcliffe At universal BLURBY 061710 ACTOR INTERVIEWS: Potter | Weasley WFTV compared The Wizarding World of Harry Potter with some other Central Florida theme park attractions. Hogwarts Castle, the focal point of the Wizarding World, stands at 150 feet tall. That's shorter than Cinderella's Castle at Disney, which stands at 189 feet tall.
The Wizarding World, altogether, is slated to cost $265 million. The most expensive recent addition to Disney is the Expedition Everest ride at Animal Kingdom, which cost $100 million.
Universal Studios is ranked 13th in the world based on $9.7 million visitors in 2009. It attracts 13,000 visitors daily. Islands of Adventure, where Harry Potter is located, is 16th among parks.
"They're anticipating record breaking crowds. I've already met people who were camping out last night, two days ahead. Amazing fans," Harry Potter Art Director Alan Gilmore said.
Orange County tourism officials said the new Harry Potter attraction will give Central Florida a great jolt. They believe it will be a big summer for all the area's major theme parks. They've already gotten a positive forecast from a consulting firm that is predicting a big year.
"Total visitation will grow 1.7 percent this year, 3.1 percent next year. Now, that may not sound like a huge percentage, but remember, that's on a base of 46 million people," said Gary Sain, Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Sain said hotels around the attractions are sold out this week.
TOURISTS EXCITED ABOUT WIZARDING WORLD
It all started years ago with a series of children's books, then motion pictures, and now an amazing attraction. Central Florida tourism officials couldn't be more excited about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
The Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry will officially open to tourists on Friday. The Parham family is in Orlando from Tupelo, Mississippi to witness the magic.
"It's really cool. We've had a great time. All the kids are really excited. They had to see all this!" Greg Parham said.
While the grand opening is set for Friday, some Universal guests got a sneak peak. The Convention And Visitors Bureau believes the new attraction will jolt this year's total tourist numbers.
"It's one of a kind, and that's what's so great for Orlando. There's no other place in the world where this attraction is," said Gary Sain, Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The hotels are packed, and that leads to packed restaurants and even busier shopping malls. There is no prediction yet on how much money Harry Potter could bring to the Orlando area, or whether it's good for the long haul.
But for the Parham family, they built their Orlando vacation around the opening of the attraction, and they already say they'll be back.
"They're really into Harry Potter, so they had to come this time," Gary Parham said.
A consulting firm that works with Orange County predicts tourism will be up.
Previous Stories: June 16, 2010: Harry Potter Plane Takes Flight April 6, 2010: County Turns Down Fancy Harry Potter Invites March 25, 2010: Universal Sets Opening Date For 'Harry Potter' Attraction September 15, 2009: First Look At "Wizarding World Of Harry Potter"
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