Wizarding World of Harry Potter Opens to Public Today; HP Cast Open Archway to the Crowd (Update)
FansJune 18, 2010, 08:20 AM
At long last, muggles will be able to walk through the gates and enter the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park at Universal Orlando Resorts this morning. Grand Opening activities have been taken place all week and will be topped off starting at 9 AM EST with a grand opening to the public. This event will be streamed live online from 9:00 - 9:30 AM EST via the Universal website right here.
Update: The final grand opening ceremony has just commenced. Here is a brief rundown of events of this morning:
- The Hogwarts conductor notes that the Hogwarts Express is about to arrive with some special guests and extraordinary students from across the country.
- A VIM, Very Important Muggle, Bill Davis for Universal speaks to the crowd.
- The Hogwarts Express arrives with Dan Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Warwick Davis, Bonnie Wright, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Tom Felton, Matthew Lewis, and Michael Gambon.
- Radcliffe speaks to the crowd, notes they are "very, very, very exited to be [there] today."
- Cast meets with students from one of the winning schools.
- James and Oliver Phelps set off Zonkos firework to open park.
- Snow falls in Orlando (or at least the Wizarding World) as the crowds enter.
Leaky will be covering the event as it happens via our Twitter account. We will also update throughout the day with the very latest from the public grand opening of the theme park.
D: Nooo! They can’t just keep going! They have to fix their cameras!!!