Photo/Video update: Helicopter tour above Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Feb 192010 Filed under: Islands of Adventure, Movies, Theme Parks, Universal Orlando, Video Posted by: Matt Roseboom
For this February 2010 update, we take a peek above the construction walls – way above. Come fly with us to check out the progress of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. No, we didn’t use a magical broomstick. Thanks go to Air Florida Helicopter Charters on International Drive. You can read more about their tours in the upcoming Spring 2010 issue of Orlando Attractions Magazine.
From up in the air, you can see just how big the building behind Hogwarts is. This is the building that houses the brand new Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride.
Before we go any further, here’s the video from above:
Many more photos from the helicopter are below in the gallery. But for now, let’s get back to the ground.
You can definitely see Hogwarts from all around the area. Here it’s peaking above Seuss Landing.
This new sign can be found just behind the Hogwarts Express train as you enter the area.
As with most things in Hogwarts, they’re not quite straight on purpose.
I believe this is the entrance area to the Owlery. Notice the brown speckled paint or mud.
More brown speckles here behind The Three Broomsticks. I’m not sure if this is supposed to look this way, something more will be done with it or it’ll just be cleaned off.
The entranceway to the Dueling Dragons coaster (Soon to be Dragon Challenge) is about as narrow as it can get. Team members are directing traffic, making people coming and going to wait their turn.
Some more crooked buildings and chimneys.
Here’s the old entrance to Dueling Dragons, and what I believe will be part of the new entrance to Dragon Challenge.
I’m not sure what this is supposed to be. A spotlight? I’m sure the hard core Potter fans can tell me.
They’re painting the outside of the show building that houses the new ride. It’s going from a light yellow to gray. (Edit: Or maybe the gray is just primer for something else.)
Click on the photos below to see them larger.
djdrew
February 19th, 2010 at 6:29 pm
and this is why no one covers orlando like attractions magazine. prime example. amazing aerial coverage. vast detail. congrats, and thank u.
Fett101
February 19th, 2010 at 8:51 pm
Have you thought about tilt-shifting the photos and videos? Heck , the fly-by already looks like a miniature to me.
Nick Lepa
February 20th, 2010 at 12:18 am
What you think is a spotlight is the astronomy room. Its basically a really big telescope. Most people are thinking its a spotlight though. If you watch the half blood prince ,you will see it towards the end.
Kevin
February 20th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
In the movie it’s supposed to be that big clock…think prisoner of azkaban. but i think the’yre just going to do a spotlight instead.
CJ
February 20th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
The “Spotlight” is in fact a giant lens. That’s the Astronomy Tower. The lens is used to magnify the stars.
stefanie White
February 20th, 2010 at 3:54 pm
I think the brown speckles might be owl poop… They say in the HP books that Owlery’s tend to be covered in it :O
mollie
February 21st, 2010 at 9:36 am
the giant lens is the magnifying glass in the astronimy tower
im a hp geek.
Mary
February 21st, 2010 at 7:53 pm
It’s the Astronomy Tower. At first glance it may look like the big clock should be there, but its not nearly a wide enough building. I too, am a Harry Potter nerd.
Evan
March 19th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
Great aerial shots from the helicopter. Who doesn’t love HP?!
Ina
April 3rd, 2010 at 4:30 am
wow!
so this is what we see in the movie!?
amazing how they do it.