Have you heard that there is going to be a new Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park in Orlando? This exciting project is now well underway and there is speculation that it could preview as early as Christmas 2009. Universal Studios has just announced that it will open in Spring 2010.

Just as you would expect from any Harry Potter creation the details are shrouded in mystery. Universal Studios has been very careful to release only limited information about the new and much anticipated addition to Islands of Adventure. But some digging around can help predict what will be in the new Wizarding World. So join us on a journey around Harry Potter's new Wizarding World........

Photo Credit Gubatron

Universal Studios is building The Wizarding World of Harry Potter on a 20 acre site - a theme park within a theme park. It is being constructed on a 20 acre site where the Lost Continent is at the moment. Barriers are still up of course but now you can see a lot of what is going on inside.

We already know that the central attraction will be Hogwarts. You can now see the huge structure being built and you can be sure it will be the center piece of the new Harry Potter park.

But what else is gong to be there? We know that the Village of Hogsmead wlll feature too. Speculation is that this is likely to form the shopping and dining portion of the Wizarding World.

But what else is likely to be included? We will most likely not know for sure until the previews which are expected around Christmas 2009, but it is possible that there are some clues out there so let's start speculating!

Photo Credit Jonathan D. Bloom

This is all speculation of course - but there are some pointers out there to help us think ahead what will actually be included in the new Harry Potter theme park.

Universal Studios has recently made some interesting trademark applications including Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. We know that there will be a dark ride housed inside Hogwarts Castle. Other sources suggest that there will be some kind of interactive attraction that will let guests use wands to change the outcome of a story or game. 

Another one is Flight of the Hippogriff. Could this be the new name for the Unicorn children's roller coaster which we know is going to be part of Harry Potter's world. 

What will happen to Duelling Dragons. One of the very best roller coasters in Islands of Adventure this attraction is currently closed and is set for some kind of transformation. Will the new name be Dragon Challenge?

The other trademark applications are Dervish and Banges, perhaps magic wands will be sold at Ollivanders, will Zonko's be a joke shop, and how will Universal use Owl Post?

Trademarks have been applied for Three Broomsticks, Magic Neep and Butterbeer.

Universal Studios has been running an online pool to ask potential guests opinions about certain elements of the new World of Harry Potter. It is pretty safe to say that they are using this as a way to test out ideas for what to include in the new Wizarding World. So what can we learn from this?

The Three Broomsticks

When asked where visitors would like to get a drink or snack by far the most popular answer was The Three Broomsticks. So it seems a pretty safe bet that this is going to feature there somewhere. Butterbeer anyone? This was the overwhelmingly popular choice for the drink that guests would like to enjoy there.

Which is Your Favorite Broomstick?

The clear winner was the firebolt. Harry Potter fans would of course love some kind of broomstick related ride. Not sure what the chances of this one are as the rumors are that the major new ride will be based around the flying Ford Anglian as seen in Chamber of Secrets.

Honeydukes Shopping?

There wasn't such a stand out winner in this one when asked where guests would like to shop, but Honeydukes came out the top answer. So can we expect to be shopping at Honeydukes some time soon?

Which Dragon Would You Like to Ride?

Most likely this question would seem to b asking for opinions about some aspect of the Dueling Dragons ride. We already know that this is being re-themed for the new Harry Potter part of the park. The winner was a Chinese Fireball with a Hungarian Horntail getting only just over one quarter of the popular vote.

Harry Potter Wands

Which type of wand would you like to own? The stand out winner with over 90% of the vote was a personalized Olivander's Wand that chooses you. So how are they going to use this information? There is already speculation about an interactive element of the park which will involve magic wands being used by guests to cast spells in some kind of attraction where what guests do will affect the outcome of the ride. Sounds interesting......

Dementors?

For the new online poll Universal has asked which Harry Potter character would scare you the most. Dementors are the run away favorites (or least favorites depending on which way you like the see it)! Not sure how they are going to incorporate this as potentially this is really scary!

Ever since the Wizarding World of Harry Potter park was announced by Universal Studios there has been talk that there will be a ride based upon the flying Ford Anglia in The Chamber of Secrets. Code named Project Strongarm the rumor is that it will be based upon the technology used for the Knight's Tournament Robocoaster at Legoland Calfornia.

Will this be the attraction housed in the huge 15 storey Hogwarts building? Rumor has it that guests will sit in seats suspended on a robotic arm which will travel along a track. There is expected to be an elaborate pre show possibly including falling snow.