Its getting closer and closer to the highly anticipated webcast from Universal Orlando where we are expecting huge announcements regarding the next phase of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
In the meantime to keep your appetite wet, Universal yesterday released their 3rd teaser video entitled “Think Again”. Remember these are just meant as teasers and aren’t the official adverts which I’m sure will be released soon.
I don’t know about you but the more I see the more excited I become… Next week’s webcast can’t come soon enough and we’ll be reporting on it as it breaks.
Christmas is fast approaching, so soon it will be time to get those Christmas cards sent in the post! Today the U.S. Postal Service have revealed 20 new stamps based on everybodies favourite Wizard, Harry Potter.
The Harry Potter collection has been highly anticipated and shrouded in secrecy. The Postal Service has produced 5 million 20-stamp booklets which will be available at 3,100 post offices.
Universal Orlando yesterday announced plans to house a celebration of all things Harry Potter. Taking place on the 24th, 25th and 26th of January 2014 the celebration plans to offer visitors a unique experience including
Q&A sessions with the cast members and filmmakers
A wand masterclass hosted by choreographer Paul Harris, duelling instructor for the feature films
Opportunities to explore Hogwarts™ castle, and shop and dine in Hogsmeade™ at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™
An exciting Harry Potter™ Film Tribute with select cast members and filmmakers
Thrilling rides, including:
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™
Dragon Challenge™
The celebration points towards perhaps the soft launch of Diagon Alley, here’s what Universals wrote;
Come and celebrate all of Harry’s adventures at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™. From interactive experiences to a private evening reception and more, this exciting event will be three days of unforgettable fun for all ages, set against the backdrop of two amazing theme parks.
The key wording perhaps being “Set against the backdrop of two amazing theme parks”, at the moment all the Wizarding World of Harry Potter attractions are found in Islands of Adventure… Hmmm
We’ll keep you updated as more information becomes available.
Every since Universal officially announced that they would indeed be expanding the Wizarding World of Harry Potter we’ve been patiently waiting for news… anything… a whisper… honestly we’ll take anything!
Well today a reader pointed me to some expansion photo’s doing the rounds. They feature construction of the “London” part of Diagon Alley, and although the fronts are yet to be fitted the photo’s give you a good idea of the huge scale Universal are going for.
The scale is very impressive and I’m sure once the fronts of some of London’s famous landmarks are also added it will really begin to submerge you into the Wizarding World. The photo’s were provided by orlandoparksnews.com
As we’ve previously reported the two Wizarding World parks will be connected via a working Hogwarts Express, you will require a ticket for each park to ride it. The 2 Park Universal Bonus Ticket is ideal to ride the Hogwarts Express as it offers 14 consecutive days entry in to both Islands of Adventure and Orlando Studios Florida.
If you’re like me (a Simpsons & Potter nerd) then you’ll be more than interested in getting your chops around these little beauties. Here are the top 3 most famous beverages available at Universal Orlando.
Duff Beer
If you’ve seen the Simpsons you’ll be well aware that Homer’s favorite pastime is to sup a nice cool glass of Duff beer while complaining about the wife and kids. Now you can do the same…except i’d leave out the complaining about the wife and kids bit since they will probably be with you at the time 🙂
Duff Beer is now available from Moe’s Tavern in Springfield USA at Universal Studios. I have read a few reports on this beer and by all accounts it actually a really decent beverage. Brewed by the Florida Beer Company located in Melbourne FL this beer is set to become a winner.
Prices are as follows;
Duff Beer on tap – 20oz in a disposable cup is $7.25
Duff Beer on tap – 23oz souvenir cup $9.25, refills cost just $6.50.
Available in Duff and Duff Lite this beer is nothing short of an icon!
The Flaming Moe
The Flaming Moe is a non alcoholic cocktail served at Moe’s Tavern located at Universal Studios Orlando. Apparently its a fruit based cocktail which tastes a lot like orange soda. The drink itself comes in a glass which has a secret compartment at the base which houses dry ice – this makes the drink look like its bubbling when served – very clever indeed!
FACT Alert: Ah, but do you know the legend of the Flaming Moe? In 1991, episode 45 of the Simpsons, Homer tells Moe Szyslak of a secret alcoholic cocktail called a ‘Flaming Homer’ which includes cough medicine and fire – Moe steals the recipe and starts selling it in his Tavern but calls it a ‘Flaming Moe’
Prices are as follows;
Flaming Moe $7.99 – Signature Specialty Drink of Springfield
Butterbeer
Butter Beer available at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Islands of Adventure.
For all you Harry Potter fans out there Butterbeer is obviously a given when it comes to famous Orlando brews. Probably the most sought after beverage at Universal, Potter fans make a beeline to grab a sup. Its not surprising that this beverage is so successful given the amount of effort put into producing it. Did you know that it took the Universal team almost 3 years to perfect the taste? which incidentally had to be cleared by J.K. Rowling herself.
Actually we have a very simple Butter Beer recipe that you might want to try at home if you’re not going to be in Orlando anytime soon. Click here
Prices are as follows;
A Butterbeer will cost around $5.00. You can also buy a souvenir mug for $10.00
So there you have it Thrill Seekers 3 awesome beverages for you to add to your itinerary the next time you are lucky enough to find yourself in Universal Resort Orlando. Speaking of fining yourself there, you’ll probably need a ticket to get in – here is the ticket information you’ll need.
Today thanks to screamscapes anonymous source I’m able to share with you the latest imagery of what appears to be the track for the Hogwarts Express *squeal*.
The Hogwarts Express attraction is said to connect Islands of Adventure with Universal Studios, where the London section of the Wizarding World will be located.
As Universal aren’t confirming anything at the moment (and why would they with Transformers so close to launch) we can only speculate what the Hogwarts attraction might entail.
Here at Orlando Attraction Tickets we can’t imagine that Universal will just build a bog standard train that takes you from A to B, the idea of peering out of a window looking at the backlot of Universal kind of kills the mythos, could the attraction incorporate a 3D experience within the train? Original cast members did recently shoot additional scenes specifically for the Wizarding World could they have been filming a Hogwarts Express scene?
This story will run and run until we get something concrete from Universal but until then imagining the end product is so much fun!
OMG!!! Mass hysteria!!! A new Harry Potter film is in the works!!! *scream and shriek*
Rumor has it that a mini movie has been commissioned for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park in Orlando. The Universal Studio’s owned theme park has been doing great business since its launch in 2010 and the Daily Mail reports that the 9th Potter movie will only be available at Universals Islands of Adventure, Orlando, Florida.
Actors including Helena Bonham Carter who played Belatrix Lestrange in the Harry Potter movies (who is said to be reprising her role) have already shot scenes at the Warner Brothers owned studios in Hertfordshire.
I can’t seem to find any information regarding the plot but a “source” told The Sun newspaper
The cast have really enjoyed getting back together – they are so tight-knit. The shooting schedule is nowhere near as long as the films, so though filming has been intense, the stars have enjoyed being able to pop in and out.
I emailed Universal Orlando for a quote but at present haven’t heard back… no news is good news though?
So you love Harry Potter but you can get to Orlando this year. Dont panic, there does seem to be an alternitive solution that may temparily feed your Potter based cravings.
On the 31st of March a 150,000 square foot museum in Leaversden near Watford junction will be showcasing an intricate scale model of the Hogwarts castle from the Harry Potter films.
Stuart Craig, production manager, unveils a model of Hogwarts castle
The design and special effects employed in the Harry Potter films will go down as a benchmark in British filmmaking. So it stands as a great testament to the wizarding academy of Hogwarts, a turreted gothic castle, that the films’ Art Department have named this model as their “jewel”.
This 1:24 scale model, with details taken from the original sets at Alnwick Castle and Durham Cathedral, will be the final trump card played at the end of Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, which opens this month.
Jose Granell, model supervisor
It took 86 artists and crew members to construct the first version which was then rebuilt and altered many times for the next seven films.
The work was so extensive that if one was to add all the man hours that have gone into building and reworking the model, it would come to over 74 years.
All the doors are hinged, real plants are used for landscaping and miniature birds are housed in the Owlery.
The model, which sits at nearly 50 feet in diameter, has over 2,500 fibre optic lights that simulate lanterns and torches and even gave the illusion of students passing through hallways in the films.
To show off the lighting to full effect a day-to-night cycle will take place every 4 minutes so visitors can experience the changing atmosphere at the castle.
The attraction will contain some of the most iconic Harry Potter film series sets including the Great Hall, Dumbledore’s office, the Ministry of Magic, Harry Potter’s famous cupboard under the stairs, 4 Privet Drive, Gryffindor common room, the boys’ dormitory, the Potion’s classroom, Professor Umbridge’s office, the Weasley kitchen, the Hogwarts bridge and others still to be announced.
The whole thing looks pretty amazing and should be enough to tide over manic Potter fans until they can get themselves over to the Wizarding World or Harry Potter at Universal Orlando. If you are one of the lucky ones that gets to go and see this amazing exhibition please take a couple of pics and send them into us 🙂
Ever wondered exactly what the rules of Quidditch are from the Harry Potter films? Well, wonder no more because below is a quick run down of the how to play;
Rules
The official rules of Quidditch are partially described in Quidditch Through the Ages. They are said to have been laid down in 1750 by the Department of Magical Games and Sports. Some of the more common rules are as follows:
Players must not stray over the boundary lines of the pitch, although they may fly as high as desired. The Quaffle must be surrendered to the opposition if any player leaves the boundary. Quidditch matches in the Harry Potter films, however, show players often deliberately flying over the boundary lines and even around the spectator towers.
A time out may be called at any time by a team Captain. It may be extended to two hours if a game has already lasted for more than twelve hours. Failure to return to the pitch afterward disqualifies the offending team.
The referee can impose penalties if a foul occurs. A single Chaser from the fouled team takes a penalty shot by flying from the central circle towards the scoring area. The opposing team’s Keeper may attempt to block this shot, but no other player may interfere, much like a penalty shot in ice hockey.
Contact is allowed, but a player may not grasp another’s broomstick or any part of his or her body. (Draco Malfoy breaks this rule in Prisoner of Azkaban by grabbing Harry’s broomtail to stop him from seizing the Snitch.)
No substitution of a player is allowed, even if one is too badly hurt to continue (rare exceptions may be made when the game continues for a great length of time, and players become too fatigued to continue).
Players may take their wands onto the pitch, but they must not be used on or against any players, any player’s broomstick, the referee, any of the four balls, or the spectators. (The right to carry wands at all times was granted during the height of wizard and witch persecution by Muggles, according to Quidditch Through the Ages).
Fouls
Rowling writes that there are 700 Quidditch fouls listed in the Department of Magical Games and Sports records, but most of these fouls are not open to the public, owing to the Department’s supposed fear the wizards/witches who read the list of fouls “might get ideas”. It is claimed that all 700 occurred during the very first Quidditch World Cup. Apparently, most are now impossible to commit as there is a ban on using wands against an opponent (imposed in 1538). The most common of those fouls which are described are enumerated below:
Blagging: No player may seize any part of an opponent’s broom to slow or hinder the player. (Draco Malfoy commits this foul in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, thus preventing Harry from seizing the Snitch.)
Blatching: No player may fly with the intent to collide. (Substitute Slytherin seeker Harper breaks this rule when he collides into Harry after insulting the latter’s friend, and Gryffindor Keeper, Ronald Weasley. This occurs in the sixth book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.)
Blurting: No player may lock broom handles with the intent to steer an opponent off course.
Bumphing: Beaters must not hit Bludgers towards spectators (although Harry jokingly orders one of his Beaters to send one at Zacharias Smith in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince), or the Keeper, unless the Quaffle is within the scoring area. (In the first film, however, Marcus Flint, a Chaser, commits this foul with a Beater’s bat, and Madam Hooch penalises him for it.)
Cobbing: Players must not make excessive use of their elbows against opponents. (Marcus Flint, the Slytherin Chaser, commits this foul against the Gryffindor Chaser, Angelina Johnson, in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban).
Flacking: Keepers must not defend the posts from behind by punching Quaffles out of the hoops – goals must be defended from the front.
Haversacking: Chasers must not still be in contact with the Quaffle as it passes through a hoop (the Quaffle must be thrown through).
Quaffle-pocking: Chasers must not tamper with the Quaffle in any way.
Snitchnip: No player other than the Seeker may touch or catch the Golden Snitch.
Stooging: No more than one Chaser is allowed in the scoring area at any one time. (However, game play in Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup and the fan-made Q3D permit this behaviour.)
Well now you know the rules there’s no excuse not to have a game or two…just be careful on those broomsticks 😉
HollywoodNews.com: Anyone who has had the chance to visit Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of ‘Harry Potter’ knows that long, long lines are all a part of the experience, and no shop is more a testament to that fact than Ollivander’s Wand Shop. The powers-that-be at Universal must have also realized that, as it is being reported that a second Ollivander’s has been added to accommodate the massive crowds that are eager to find out which “wand will choose the wizard.”
According to Inside the Magic, the second wand shop has been converted from a former employee stock room, and will allow more visitors access to the vast array of wands and other Harry Potter themed merchandise within Ollivander’s. Guests to the theme park, which opened its doors this past June, have been known to stand in line for more than an hour for the experience of being able to choose a wand, just as Harry Potter himself did in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
The only drawback is that the second store does not allow for the 5 minute wand-choosing “ceremony” that is the draw for the majority of Ollivander’s customers. However, those who are willing to forego the interactive experience will spend less time in line to purchase a wand, which will allow for more exploration of other areas of the park.
As Universal aren’t confirming anything at the moment (and why would they with 
