New Harry Potter theme park

Harry Potter fans from London to Lincoln Park have been eagerly waiting for Universal Orlando Resort’s The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to open its doors to muggles (that’s us non-wizards).

The 20-acre project at Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park brings the popular Harry Potter books and movies to life with rides, shops and replicas of the famous Hogwarts castle and Hogsmeade village. It took 2½ years and a reported $265 million to build. The jam-packed grand opening was June 18.



TICKETS: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is included in admission to Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park. One-day park tickets bought online cost $79 ($69 for children ages 3-9); $10 higher at the gate. If you want to go to Universal Studios Florida, too, you can get a one-day, two-park ticket for $109 online ($99 for children). Several other ticket options are available for longer stays; universalorlando.com.

TIP: Consider buying a Universal Express pass along with your regular park ticket. It costs an extra $25.99, but it gets you to the front of the line for other top attractions at the park.

HOURS: Islands of Adventure is open daily 9 a.m.-10 p.m. through Aug. 14. Check online for times later in the summer.

HOTELS: Universal has three on-site hotels: the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, the Hard Rock Hotel and the Loews Royal Pacific Resort. Staying at any of these gets you Universal Express access to the rides. If these are out of your budget, choices abound nearby. We stayed at the Hampton Inn Orlando—S. of Universal Studios, which was nicely decorated and clean, and cost $89.89 a night.


But does it live up to the hype?

Three young Chicago fans rated the newest mecca for Harry Potterphiles on a scale of one to five broomsticks, with five being the best.

Elizabeth Howaniec, 12, of Chicago, has read all seven Harry Potter books and seen all the films. She’s the expert on literary details. Her sister Audrey Howaniec, 9, spends her free time watching (and re-watching) all the Harry Potter films on video. She can’t wait for the next movie to be released in November. And Elizabeth O’Conor, 13, also from Chicago, has seen only one Harry Potter film, but she likes the franchise’s good-versus-evil story line. Read more at suntimes.com[courtsey]