With construction now underway on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park, work begins on other facets relating to the theme park in Orlando, Florida. As such, we’ve gotten a new report today stating auditions are now, or will soon be, underway for actors to portray an assortment of magic related people, including characters from the Harry Potter novels. Word is that they “are casting all the major parts for the characters in the books,” in addition to others such as “a wand instructor for the kids. They basically show kids how to do wand magic tricks.” Others “will be traveling actors through the park playing the parts of wizards that come together in duels. They have specific spots in the park that this happens for special effects. For example, one wizard throws a spell at the other, the other reacts, does stunts and the places around, or behind them, bursts into flames or there is an explosion.”
Finally, in one very cool piece of news, reportedly “there is going to be a ride through Gringotts that is based on the rails through the bank. There will be a stage show that comes from Goblet of Fire of the scene in the grave yard where Harry fights Voldemort.”
As fantastic as this sounds, please keep this in the rumor category for now, until we can obtain further information on this. As announced previously, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is under construction at Universal Orlando, Florida, with the latest report stating a December, 2009 opening is planned.
OMG I forgot about accents. If these “actors” don’t stay in character then it’s going to be so bad cause it does matter. Imagine Harry etc with American accents. Shudder.
Michele I’m not saying your lying or anything but I would really like to see some proof that more non-US residents visit Florida than say LA or NY cause I really don’t see how that can be true. LAX is the second busiest airport in the world and one of the main stop overs for flyers. If it had to be in the US then it should have been in LA. To me Florida makes not sense.
I still think this park should be in the UK or Europe. I don’t know if I’ll ever go. Florida is not high on my list of the places I want to visit before I die.
And the whole Harry Potter is English not British thing is getting old. It can be classed as both so it’s not that big a deal.
Hmm…I am one of those terrible skeptics who doesn’t think this park is going to work out. I really want to be optimistic about it, but I have this unshakeable vision of stores filled with Harry Potter action figures rather than “real” wands. I think Universal is probably the best place this could happen, but at the same time, I’m having a hard time picturing walking through Hogsmeade with the Florida sun shining down on you. It just seems…Out of place. I wish it could be somewhere in the UK, though I live in the US. I love visiting Florida, don’t get me wrong – it’s a great vacation spot! But I’d really prefer drizzly England to sunny Florida for something involving Harry Potter, strange as that sounds.
I know they’re counting on the American HP fans to turn out for this, and are expecting more money from them than they could gain from the people of the UK. Numerically speaking, there are more HP fans in America than in England. I get that. But I would be willing to travel to England or Scotland if I knew it was going to be really good! I’m a college student, so it’s true it would be cheaper – much cheaper! – for me to fly to Florida than to the UK, not to mention hotels and the like. But I would save money but ahead of time and I think I would be able to go, and I think I would enjoy it more.
I don’t know – I guess I shouldn’t judge before it’s completed and I’ve visited. I just question some choises, and whether or not it will be a real Harry Potter expierence or not.
i’m in canada and i would Not be willing to fly to the UK for an HP section of a park attached to a second rate theme park. i don’t know what you guys are thinking but this is an add on to an existing park, not a stand alone entity. Orlando is a top family vacation destination – NY and LA is more a business hub, air fair to Orlando from anywhere in the US or Canada is less than half that to fly to London not to mention conversion rates, food, lodgings, ect are all much more expensive im the UK. lets not forget that it’s been said many times that US fans are much more fanatical, also this park can not survive on fandom alone who are willing to travel hundreds of miles. no one out side the fandom are going to fly to the UK for a themepark, however those who like the HP books but also like Universal studios, Disneyworld, laying on a beach, will fly to Florida.
this really is a no brainer, wether it’s “fair” or not.
I’ll definitely be heading out to Orlando to pay a visit to the Harry Potter theme park. Gotta do something to kill time during the two year dry spell between Half Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows Part One!
That’s a good point – the majority of HP fans wouldn’t fly out to the UK, and people who aren’t huge fans definitely wouldn’t. But that is looking at it from a purely money-making standpoint. Yes, the most money will be gained from placing the HP area in Florida. But quality wise, I would really prefer somewhere in the UK.
Basically (and this is just one naive person’s opinion), I would rather go to a place that really feels like Harry Potter England because it is England, than go to a place that feels like a really fabricated version of England…In Florida.
Anyway, I know most people couldn’t afford/wouldn’t want to/just don’t like the idea of flying out ot the UK for it. I just personally wish it could be as realistic as possible.
i realllly hope that this is true. i like in PA but i would sooooo go to the park if it would b like this!!!!
i hope i’ll get to go once its done…. :)