Construction has begun on building Hogwarts Castle for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Theme Park at Universal Orlando, Florida. Longtime theme park blogger Jim Hill reports today that work is underway on the castle that will serve as the centerpiece of the Harry Potter attraction, and has photos of the steel beams that are forming the base of the castle. He writes “According to Universal insiders, this bare framework is just the start. In the weeks and months ahead, literally thousands of pieces of metal will be hoisted up & then bolted into place. As a full-sized recreation of Harry Potter’s alma mater is built at the southwestern border of IOA’s “Jurassic Park” section.”
Also, Mr. Hill gives some reported background on how Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling was persuaded to go with Universal for the theme park, as well as one amusing story involving Harry Potter film production designer Stuart Craig, who is overseeing things for the Harry Potter theme park as well.
“Mind you, that’s not to say that there weren’t a few bumps in the road before Rowling finally agreed to sign that contract. Like that time that Universal Security had to be told NOT to arrest the man who was climbing the hill behind IOA’s “Flying Unicorn” ride. You see, that man was Stuart Craig. The three-time Academy Award winner who has designed all of the sets for the “Harry Potter” films. And Stuart was just climbing that hill to see if he could find the proper spot to build Hagrid’s cottage.
Speaking of which … “The Flying Unicorn” is expected to shut down sometime in September of this year. So that this IOA attraction can then be transformed into “The Flying Hippogriff.” More to the point, so that work can finally begin on Hagrid’s cottage.”
At last word, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter was set to open in December 1 of 2009, but that remains still in a state of flux, given the early stages of construction for the theme park.
yay!!! omg i SOO can not wait till it comes outt!!! XD
they should also make a complete replica of Hogsmeade like it’s described in the books, that would be so kool =] from the Three Broomsticks and Hogsmeade to The Hogs Head and the Shrieking Shack. _ the Shrieking Shack could be sort of like a walk through haunted house type thing. hp fans know its not rly haunted but it would still be kool. =]
This really is going to be utterly fantastic, and I can’t wait to see the park. The Harry Potter Park is probably the only thing that will persuade my mum to get on a plane.
It’s such a shame that us Brits couldn’t get a version of the park over here in the UK.
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh man i could never go there. i live in ohio. its a long way to florida from here. i would have to buy tikets. i bet they’ll be expensive.
LONG LIVE HARRY POTTER.
Posted by potterlover1992 on February 11, 2008, 06:23 PM
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Hahaha, I totally love the part about Stuart Craig climbing the hill behind the ride to see if there was enough room to build Hagrid’s hut. :P Harry Potter dreamland, here I come! :D
Thanks, Michele….so cool! Like Disney, out here, with ‘California Adventure’ and ‘Disneyland’...I can’t wait. The “one ticket for both parks” sounds too cool. I don’t think Disneyland has that…I could be wrong, but I don’t think so….still can’t wait1 Never been to Universal, Orlando. That’s gonna be as good a time as any! Maybe better! *D
Posted by Confederate Lady on February 11, 2008, 08:15 PM
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to michele;
so does that mean they took down the island of adventure part of the park?
HECK YES. HECK FREAKING YES ! =) I am going to make a trip down there when this park opens. And that will be the best experience of my life. :) As for the Stuart Craig story, that was HILARIOUS ! (; Oh gosh, I just can’t wait. Oh gosh. =D
I have been waiting for this since the Universal first published the idea!! I’ve already told my parents that s what i want for my graduation present in 2009 so I’ve already secured my spot….. maybe i’ll live there for the summer. Do you think Universal will let me live in the HP section of the park?? Hope so!!
Christmas at Hogwarts… visiting Gryffindor Tower… Ravenclaw Tower…Slytherin Dungeons…Who else REALLY wants to see the Hufflepuff Common Room that never appeared in the books?? Think they’ll have it?
Oh my GOD, what about Dumbledore’s Office!? faints
I bet you get sorted and everything (maybe take a test or something just for fun?)! EEE!
lol I’ll be 18 by then but eh, who cares! EXCITING!!
You know what else would be great? Have people try and FIND the Room of Requirement! I mean, if you read the books you know its location but still, Hogwarts is huge, and maybe they’d change the location (I hope they don’t though)! Kinda like the Jekyll and Hyde restaurant in NYC where ya have to find the bathrooms in the bookcases!
Well, I would be concerned that the attraction area is properly cleared of any stray Dinosaurs from the Jurassic Park Section. Possibly Stuart Craig had a discussion with Hagrid about where his hut should go – “Put it close to where I can see those Dino’s. If I can’t have a Dragon, I will settle for a Tyrannosaurus Rex!”
You know how Stuart Craig has been so accommodating, so what’s a small hike around some pesky strange flying Unicorns. Stuart probably thought, “It’s a good thing that Hagrid doesn’t see this, you know how he is about those Unicorns!”
Better to see some Hippogriffs enjoy the gentle breeze in the area. – but hopefully its just not Unicorns in disguise, so if you ride it make sure it’s a real Hippogriff than a Unicorn that doesn’t like boys.
yay!!! omg i SOO can not wait till it comes outt!!! XD they should also make a complete replica of Hogsmeade like it’s described in the books, that would be so kool =] from the Three Broomsticks and Hogsmeade to The Hogs Head and the Shrieking Shack. _ the Shrieking Shack could be sort of like a walk through haunted house type thing. hp fans know its not rly haunted but it would still be kool. =]