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View Full Version : Snoops reveal Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park secrets



Grumpy
07-30-2009, 06:45 AM
http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/index.php/wizarding-world-of-h-4993/
Some industrious Internet snooping through public records has revealed the names of several rides, restaurants and shops at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the theme-park-within-a-theme-park that Universal Studios Orlando has sought to keep secret.

Theme park fansite IOA Central turned up a series of trademarks related to the new Harry Potter theme park — filed by Warner Bros. in May — during a search of the United States Patent and Trademark Office website.

The most intriguing find: The large ride under construction at the back of the Florida theme park will be called Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Universal Studios describes the ride as a state-of-the-art attraction that will “bring the magic, characters and stories of Harry Potter to life.”

Two other existing rides will be re-themed to fit into the Wizarding World:

* The Flying Unicorn kiddie coaster becomes the Flight of the Hippogriff

* The twin-tracked Dueling Dragons steel coaster becomes Dragon Challenge

While a few details of the 20-acre land have been revealed — including the themed areas of Hogsmeade Village and the Forbidden Forest as well as a walk-through Hogwarts Castle — the trademark search divulged the names of previously secret restaurants and retail shops.

Among the restaurants:
* Three Broomsticks
* Magic Neep
* Butterbeer

Among the stores:
* Dervish and Banges
* Zonko’s
* Owl Post
* Ollivanders
* Honeydukes

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is scheduled to open in 2010 at Islands of Adventure theme park, part of the Universal Studios Orlando resort.