By Brittany O’Loughlin
Harry Potter fans eagerly await the spring of 2010, which will mark the opening of the new theme park in Orlando, Florida, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. A collaboration between Universal Studios and Warner Brothers, the Wizarding World will be a theme park within Universal’s Islands of Adventure park. The new twenty acre area will feature many places from the book and movies including shops, attractions, and a restaurant. The area will feature Hogwarts castle, Hogsmeade Station, and many stores, such as Ollivanders and the Three Broomsticks.

Although the release date is set for the spring of 2010, Universal has been known for often having delays that push back release dates. Many people predict that the park will open in late May or at the beginning of June at the earliest.

After over a year of lower than average attendance rates in the Orlando resorts, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is expected to help increase tourism in the area. The new park is expected to boost the number of visitors to the Universal parks, but, according to the New York Daily News, may cause a dip in attendance at the Walt Disney World Resort. Harry Potter’s wide appeal and huge fan base will likely help to increase Universal’s profits, especially with travelers coming from the UK to visit the only Harry Potter theme park in the world.

For more information regarding the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, visit the official website of the new park, http://www.universalorlandoresort.com/harrypotter/.