The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Release Date // Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey Storyline

Earlier today webmaster Stefan Marseglia had the chance to visit the Harry Potter theme park to find out the official release date and storyline to the main attraction.

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Okay, so let's all cut to the chase and answer the question that you have all been dying to know the answer too.

Earlier today Universal officially released to a select few Harry Potter websites the release date for Universal Studios the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Despite numerous rumours and second-guessing, I am pleased to announce that the release date for the grand opening is....

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JUNE 18, 2010

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However, the excitement doesn't stop there. Earlier today I was also given a sneak-peak of the actual theme park itself and was even lucky enough to step foot into the main attraction, the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride.

While I am not able to tell you much about the actual park itself just at the moment, since it isn't yet completed, let's just say that no-one will be disappointed, since attention to detail has certainly been upheld by all of the people involved with its creation. All of the sights and sounds that we have come to know and love will definitely be present and exceed all of the expectations that you have ever had.

So, the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride will certainly give Harry Potter fans a hard time distinguishing reality from fantasy, since through a combination of a 360 degree panoramic view plus new film technology, which to me resembles something more holographic than anything else, will enable everyone to delve into the world.

The queue experience for the ride will definitely be different to anything that you have experienced before, since the adventure you will take starts the second that you pass the two boar-winged creatures at the gated entrance to Hogwarts.

The totally seamless journey to the ride continues as you walk down the path, gazing up at the stone which rests as the foundation to the greatest castle possibly known to Wizarding kind.

Upon entering the front door be prepared to experience dull-lit lighting and stone en masse, since you will be entering the deepest and darkest depths of Hogwart's dungeons. On your way through the castle you will see key props and items including a statue of the one-eyed witch and the notorious Mirror of Erised.

After selecting your fate, either going on the ride as a single rider or in a group, the adventure intensifies, with a walk up into the Greenhouse section allowing you to come face-to-face with the deadly Mandrakes.

Entering the castle again through the Oxford corridor, you will again see props including the house counter “guess which house is in the lead!“ alongside new additions that tie in neatly to the Potter saga, such as a statue of the first headmaster of Hogwarts.

For those fans which are worried that such additions will ruin any experience you might have, don't fret, since every decision was okayed by J.K. Rowling herself and the name of this headmaster in particular remains anonymous.

Following the Oxford corridor along, explorers will come face-to-face with the statue itself that leads professors and students alike to the office of the well-known headmaster, Professor Dumbledore.

Shifting your movements to the left of the statue and in a semi-circular fashion will lead your adventure to continue through the use of moving portraits. Shot using actors from the movies, as well as new characters again approved by Rowling, be prepared to witness lessons on various topics by an elderly white-haired professor who enjoys flitting between his own portrait and another!

What are all these Muggles doing at Hogwarts anyway? is a question that you might see yourself having to answer as you continue your voyage to a multi-level room, which is shown through the stairs and fireplace halfway up the walls being stripped out, fitted with tons of tons of moving portraits.

This will be the first time that fans have the chance to meet all of the founding members of Hogwarts talking to one another and arguing and debating on various issues, such as the one mentioned above.

A thing to note, fast-pass users will get the same experience of moving portraits from a different entrance, however will bypass areas such as the greenhouse.

Dumbledore's office is the next thing on your trip, with the ceiling of his office actually being viewed for the first time too! After Dumbledore, who I swear seemed like he was actually there as the projection was just so real, welcomes you to Hogwarts and invites you to a Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson with Professor Binns, you move along to the classroom where you find.... the trio!

Again, through using new technology, the trio seem to appear in front of your very eyes and reveal that instead of being bored to death like Professor Binns is, viewing a Quidditch match would be much better.

Therefore, to make this so, meeting Hermione in the Room of Requirement is the only way sneaking out of the castle will be achieved without Professor McGonagall "giving us the boot" as Hermione puts it.

With a new task in mind, you will walk up to the Fat Lady portrait, which has already been opened despite her having some reservations, into the Gryffindor Common Room. Minute attention to detail can especially be seen here, with a moving Daily Prophet donning headlines such as Gryffindor Defends Title in your midst.

Upon entering the Common Room, be sure to pay attention to three moving portraits, since they will announce important sources of information such as health and safety points as well as items that should not brought onto the ride in loose form.

After a little last walk and a talk by the Sorting Hat you are ready to rock and roll and your next part of the adventure will begin on the ride itself!

Despite not going on the ride, since it isn't yet finished, walking through the castle itself up to that point seems like a ride in itself.

With some fans wanting to take in every single detail, despite the castle's “queue” being free-flow, larger areas at certain points inside are present so that one can stop and admire and take it all in.

You have to experience it to believe that it is "real" certainly rings true in this case, and like the Universal staff member that said this to me, I definitely without a shadow of a doubt will be back once the ride is up-and-running, since despite having been to the set of the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince movie, being able to immerse oneself into Harry Potter's world left, right and centre is an experience everyone who has ever read the books or watched the movies should do before they join the ranks of Sir Headless Nick and other ghouls!