Wizarding World of Harry Potter set to open spring 2010!

What’s the next stop on the Hogwarts Express Train? The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park, of course!

Universal Studios Orlando announced yesterday that the long-awaited Potter land will open in spring 2010.

Visitors will enter the park through billowing smoke of the Hogwarts Express Train and hear the whistle signaling its arrival in Hogsmeade station. Then they can visit the following locations (list courtesy of the LA Times):

Attractions
* Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey — An indoor attraction bringing the magic, characters and stories of Harry Potter to life
* Dragon Challenge — A Triwizard Tournament-themed dueling roller coaster
* Flight of the Hippogriff — A family coaster simulating a Hippogriff training flight over the grounds of Hogwarts castle

Food
* Three Broomsticks restaurant — Traditional British fare
* Hog’s Head pub — Drinks including Butterbeer and pumpkin juice
* Dervish and Banges — A magical instruments and equipment shop featuring Quidditch equipment, Spectrespecs and Remembralls
* Honeydukes — A sweet shop with treats such as Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavour Beans

Shops
* Ollivanders — An interactive wand shop where the wand chooses the wizard
* Zonko’s — A joke shop with a collection of tricks and jokes, including Extendable Ears, Boxing Telescopes and Sneakoscopes
* Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods — Ministry of Magic merchandise including Omnioculars and remote-control Golden Snitches
* Owl Post — The post office sends letters with a certified Hogsmeade postmark and sells official Wizarding World of Harry Potter stamps
* The Owlery — A roost for mail-delivery owls

Looks like they have come one step closer to making the Harry Potter world come alive for reals. While we wait for spring 2010, let’s decide what we’re most excited about. I’ll go first.

My ideal day in the park:

First, I would run to Ollivanders and pick up my personalized wand (in case of magical emergencies during the rest of my visit), then hit up the Forbidden Journey and Dragon Challenge for some action-packed adventure. Then, I would refuel with some British grub from the Three Broomsticks and a Butterbeer from the Hog’s Head Pub. To top it off, I would do some satisfying shopping at Zonko’s and Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods. Sounds like a perfect Potter day to me!

What would you do at the park?

(Hint: If you need more ideas, check out this virtual map of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter).