ORLANDO, Fla. — Thousands of people waited in line for hours Friday to get into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando on its opening day, as Daniel Radcliffe and other stars from the movie greeted fans at the minipark.
Aerial photos showed thousands of people in a snaking line waiting to enter. On Twitter and other forums, observers joked that the park had become "Harry Potter and the Endless Line.”
Universal Orlando spokesman Tom Schroder said the park does not divulge attendance figures, but he said 5,000 people were waiting to get in before the park even opened Friday morning.
Schroder said that despite the large numbers of fans, "it looks as if we will be able to accommodate everyone who wants to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter within our regular hours.” The park normally closes at 10 p.m.
The park was admitting guests to the 20-acre Wizarding World area in waves, so it did not appear overcrowded from the inside. But the line to enter the Wizarding World snaked all the way through Universal’s Islands of Adventure park, where the Harry Potter area is located.
"It’s absolutely jampacked,” said Robert Niles, editor of ThemeParkInsider.com, in a phone interview, adding, "The number of people here for this is clearly in the tens of thousands. These are passionate fans.”
The Wizarding World brings the popular Harry Potter books and movies to life with rides, shops and detailed reproductions of the fictitious village of Hogsmeade, the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the steam-belching Hogwarts Express train.
Radcliffe, who plays the boy wizard in the movie series, was joined at the opening by Warwick Davis (who plays Filius Flitwick), Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley), Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom), Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) and Michael Gambon (Albus Dumbledore).
"What Universal Orlando has done with Harry Potter is really, really fantastic,” Radcliffe said at the opening ceremony. "We’re all kind of very grateful that the next part of the Harry Potter legacy has been so well-done and so well-made.”
The park’s marquee ride, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, is filled with special effects as it takes guests on a flight through Harry’s life, including encounters with Dementors and a dragon, and projections of characters from the film like Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts.
The park also has two roller coasters, Flight of the Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge, as well as themed stores like Honeydukes confectionary and Ollivander’s Wand Shop.
"We have brought to life a cultural phenomenon that has captured the hearts and minds of millions of people around the world,” said Bill Davis, president of Universal Orlando Resort.
The Orlando Sentinel reported that Universal received a vague bomb threat Thursday night, but that "appropriate precautions” were taken and it was being investigated.
———
If You Go...
WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER: At Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure theme park; http://www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/. Admission to Wizarding World is included with ticket for Islands of Adventure. Online: Adults, $79, ages 3-9, $69. Gate price is $10 higher. See website for packages including lodging. Islands of Adventure is open daily 9 a.m.-10 p.m. through Aug. 14. Check calendar for closing times later in the summer.
Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading.
To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.
We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.
A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!
Only subscribers can view and post comments on articles.
Already a subscriber? Login Here
Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic, is a fas… Read moreAragon High School Theatre presents "Puffs"
Join us for this fun community gathering. There will be a resource fair, music and a raffle.… Read moreBelmont Senior Showcase
Art Without An Artist: Can AI Be Considered An Artist? Read moreART WITHOUT AN ARTIST: Can AI be Considered an Artist?
Ready to dive into the world of Accessory Dwelling Units? Join us in person for a casual, in… Read moreBuild Your ADU Seminar: From Permits to Keys
Exclusive film screening in San Mateo Read moreA LITTLE FELLOW: THE LEGACY OF A.P.GIANNINI
Join us for an unforgettable evening as we set sail into the world of luxury river cruising!… Read moreLegendary Rivers & Tours Expo
Planning your dream wedding? Discover everything you need at the Wedding Fair in the Park – … Read moreWedding Fair in the Park
CA Is Burning said:
delynsimons said:
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Cancel anytime
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Secure & Encrypted
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
| Rate: | |
| Begins: | |
| Transaction ID: |
A receipt was sent to your email.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.