A lot has been happening this week at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. It’s a scurry of activity all around as they’re putting the final touches and getting ready for opening. As you can see above, they’ve taken down the old construction walls and have added these “prettier” walls that have a wide door ready to open. There have been rumors of a soft opening any day now, but no confirmations.

Universal just released this video which offers a peek at some filming for the brand new Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey ride. They’re promising more details on the ride and an opening date announcement at noon next Thursday, March 25.

If you look just beyond the new construction wall you’ll see this large barrel on a stand-alone cart, which will be used to sell Butterbeer.

This clock in Hogsmeade Village was right on time.

Also in Hogsmeade is a sign for the Owl Post and a storefront.

Look up and you’ll see this tower. Keep watching as an owl makes an appearance. View the video below to see it in action.

It’s not one of the more interesting costumes, but here’s one of Universal’s team members from Wizarding World passing by. Others have reported seeing wizard robes and kilts on some team members.

This will be the back entrance into Hogsmeade from the Jurassic Park area. The hanging sign says “Welcome to Hogsmeade”.

Look towards the Flight of the Hippogriff ride and you can see the entrance to Hogwarts Castle and the wait time board for the new ride.

The Dueling Dragons roller coaster has been closed for a while but it’s reopening tomorrow, March 19. The entrance to the ride will still be back in Jurassic Park, and it’s supposed to still be called Dueling Dragons. It’s not known if it’ll close again before it becomes the Dragon Challenge ride.

This greenhouse runs along the side of the castle and will serve as a queue for the new Forbidden Journey ride.

A look at some of the pots hanging in the greenhouse.

Not everything looked ready to open. Here you can see they still have a little bit of work left to do.

The Hogwarts Express has arrived at Hogsmeade Station as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter continues to develop at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. As guests enter Hogsmeade, they will be greeted by the iconic, smoke-billowing steam engine, made famous in the Harry Potter books and films for transporting students to a world of magic and wonder.

A new 2010 Universal Orlando brochure found at universalorlandovacations.com features a map of both their theme parks and a listing of the rides and dining locations. What’s most interesting are the previously unreleased height requirements for the rides in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

The Flight of the Hippogriff ride is set at 36 inches, which is expected because when the ride was known as The Flying Unicorn, it was also 36 inches. And Dragon Challenge is also the same as it was when it was Dueling Dragons at 54 inches.

But the brand new Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride is set at 48 inches. While this doesn’t confirm Forbidden Journey will be a roller coaster, it’s a good bet it will be a very thrilling ride. The ongoing rumor is that guests will ride on the end of a robot arm. The whole arm could also move along a track, similar to a roller coaster.

Also of note is that the Three Broomsticks restaurant is listed as counter, not table service.

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.

She told the group they were the first to hear about a Frog Choir that will perform five times day in the park. She also said that Butterbeer, previously thought to be only non-alcoholic, will also come in an alcoholic version.
(Editor’s note: Universal officials have corrected the quote from the newspaper, saying there will not be an alcoholic version of Butterbeer.)

More from the TheLedger.com

“You’ll go on this great journey specifically designed for this part of the park,” Holt said. “It’s ground-breaking, state of the art technology that will even surpass the Spiderman ride. If you’ve been on Spiderman, you know that’s pretty big.”

The theme park will host the Three Broomsticks restaurant and the Hog’s Head Pub, where Holt said guests can buy “very old liquor, and we’ll have animated hog’s heads on the wall that will interact with you while you drink your old beer. The Butter Beer is going to be non-alcholic. However, you can go into the Hog’s Head Pub and ask for the alcoholic version.”

Universal is now offering a special Wizarding World of Harry Potter Vacation Package. For travel starting May 28, the package includes:
• Early Park Admission to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
• A traditional British breakfast at the Three Broomsticks – one per person.
• Commemorative Grand Opening ticket – one per person.
• Hotel accommodations at a Universal partner hotel.
• 3-Day Base Ticket to both Universal Orlando theme parks – one theme park, per day
• Access to live entertainment at Universal CityWalk

Guests can choose to either stay at one of Universal’s on-site hotels (Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel or Royal Pacific Resort) with prices starting at $645 per person, or at the nearby Quality Inn International starting at $285 per person. Staying onsite gives each person complimentary Express access to bypass the regular lines at select attractions. Transportation is provided from the Quality Inn.

The May 28 date does not represent the opening date of Wizarding World. No exact date has been set yet, but of course, it should be before May 28.

Click Here for more information and to book the package.

The official Web site for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal’s Islands of Adventure was updated today with some new features and details on the rides and experiences.

One new feature on the Web site is a low fly-through tour of the Hogsmeade Village and around the castle. New details found on various part of the Web site reveal …

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
This brand new ride in Hogwarts Castle will allow guests to “soar above the castle grounds, joining Harry Potter and his friends on a thrilling adventure. Riders will come face to face with creatures from memorable moments in the films such as the Hungarian Horntail, a giant Acromantula, Dementors, and the gigantic Whomping Willow as they speed and swerve through iconic locations from Harry Potter’s world.”
The ride is rumored to be using robot arm technology with guests riding on broomsticks.

As you make your way to the ride you’ll pass by Dumbledore’s office, the Defense against the Dark Arts class, the Gryffindor common room, the Room of Requirement and more.

Dragon Challenge
This roller coaster ride is currently running as Dueling Dragons. But once made-over, “guests will pass the Goblet of Fire and Triwizard Cup on their way to choose their dragon.” You’ll choose between the Chinese Fireball and the Hungarian Horntail.

Flight of the Hippogriff
This family coaster used to be known as The Flying Unicorn. But when Wizarding World opens, “visitors will follow a path past Hagrid’s hut and will be instructed in the proper way to approach a Hippogriff. (A Hippogriff has the head of an eagle and the body of a horse.) Once on board, guests will then have a chance to bow to Buckbeak before the family-friendly coaster spirals and dives around the pumpkin patch, swooping past Hagrid’s hut. The coaster is described as “woven from wicker and decorated with fluttering leaves representing feathers.

Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods
This shop will be located at the exit of the Forbidden Journey ride and it’s where you’ll be able to buy your on-ride photo. In addition to Harry Potter souvenir clothing and stationary, you’ll also be able to buy authentic movie prop replicas here, including walking sticks and Death Eater masks.

Zonko’s Joke Shop
Some of the items for sale will include Sneakoscopes, Extendable Ears, Fanged Flyers, screaming yo-yos, boxing telescopes, Pygmy Puff and shrunken heads. You’ll also be able to try “magical” sweets such as Fainting Fancies, Fever Fudge, U-No-Poo and Nosebleed Nougat.

Dervish and Banges
This shop will offer The Monster Book of Monsters, Hogwarts clothing and Quidditch gear such as Quaffles and Golden Snitches. Brooms will also be for sale, including the Nimbus Two Thousand and the Firebolt. This shop is also listed as carrying Sneakoscopes, Spectrespecs and Omnioculars.

Honeydukes
This sweet shop will offer Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavour Beans, Cauldron Cakes, treacle fudge, chocolate frogs, acid pops, exploding bonbons and Fizzing Whizzbees.

Ollivanders – Makers of Fine Wands Since 382 B.C.
We previously wrote about Ollivanders here, but the updated Web site says that in addition to having a wand choose you, you’ll find character replica wands from the films and collectible wand sets.

Owl Post
This is where you’ll be able send mail with a Hogsmeade postmark using Wizarding World stamps. In the rafters of the building you’ll see nearly two dozen resting owls, turning their heads, hooting and ruffling their feathers. The site warns you to cover your ears as you pass the Howler displayed in the window. Listen for the Grand Owlery clock tower to hoot on the hour.

Three Broomsticks
This restaurant will offer Butterbeer and pumpkin juice, and meals such as fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, Cornish pasty and turkey legs. Kids meals and dessert are also available.

Contest may offer clues to an opening date
The only date that’s been released for the opening of Wizarding World is Spring 2010, but a new contest may offer some clues to a more exact date.

Information was released this morning on a new contest through the Today show. A school classroom will win a trip to the opening ceremonies by making a video telling “Why is my class extraordinary?”

The contest ends on March 19. The public will be allowed to vote online for the winning class through April 29. That tells us The Wizarding World of Harry Potter won’t have its opening ceremony until after that date. There’s also a section of the contest rules that says all travel arrangements must be made a minimum of 25 days prior to travel. That would put the opening sometime in late May. Of course the new land could soft-open before the official ceremonies, and the contest says all dates are subject to change.

• You can read more about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in the Winter 2010 issue of “Orlando Attractions Magazine.”

Aol’s WalletPop.com is hosting the exclusive online premiere of the complete Super Bowl commercial for Universal’s new The Wizarding World of Harry Potter area in Islands of Adventure.

The spot is also appearing on the home page of Aol, in advance of its CBS television broadcast on Sunday’s Super Bowl.

The ad shows two children riding on broomsticks through Hogsmeade. From that, many are guessing that broomsticks will be some part of one of the rides. You can briefly see the Dragon Challenge ride, and the riders aren’t on broomsticks. Plus at the end of the commerical, Harry Potter appears and tells the kids to follow him and they fly right into Hogwarts Castle. Since that’s where the brand new Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride is located, you could guess you’ll be riding on a broomstick during that ride.

Universal Orlando will launch a brand-new, national commercial for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter during Super Bowl XLIV on Sunday, Feb. 7.

Set to air during the first half of the game, the ad will feature all new footage. You’ll see children magically transported to Orlando to fly on broomsticks around the Wizarding World. They’ll swoop through the bustling streets of Hogsmeade past the Hogwarts Express, dodge a flying dragon and meet Harry above Hogwarts.

The commercial also begins a new brand campaign, “Be Courageous. Be Outrageous. Be Extraordinary.” The press release from Universal says the campaign will “show viewers that Universal Orlando Resort is the only theme park destination in the world where you can soar above Hogwarts castle with Harry Potter, swing above the streets with Spider-Man and help Shrek save Princess Fiona in Shrek 4-D.”

Does this mean the new Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride will let guests “soar above Hogwarts castle with Harry Potter”? Or will the Dragon Challenge ride feature broomsticks as the ride vehicles? Or neither?

Visitors to the Ollivanders wand shop at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will step into one of the iconic scenes from the Harry Potter books and movies. With the assistance of a live actor, along with some special effects, guests of Ollivanders will get to experience the same type of magical moment Harry had in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone when a wand ”chooses them.”

Universal has worked closely with Warner Bros. Consumer Products and the Warner Bros. Harry Potter brand team to make this moment as authentic, magical and immersive as possible for guests.

“When guests visit Ollivanders, they will instantly feel like they’re in the shop from the films. It’s an intimate, single-windowed building, with the same signs, colors and other details read about in the books and seen in the films,” said Alan Gilmore, art director of the Harry Potter films and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. “But more importantly, visitors to Ollivanders will experience for themselves the magical moment that forever changed Harry’s life.”

Inside Ollivanders, visitors will be surrounded by thousands of multi-colored dusty wand boxes stacked on shelves from floor to ceiling. They will be welcomed by an inquisitive Wandkeeper, who will guide them through an enchanting experience to find their very own wand. First the Wandkeeper will ask the guest a few special questions and then select the first wand for them to try. Just like Harry, the guest will be prompted by the Wandkeeper to give the wand a wave, and a series of magical mishaps will occur until the right fit is found.

In addition to the magic featured in Ollivanders, guests will experience many other magical happenings at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, including a Howler featured in the Owl Post shop front window whose ranting can be heard by guests as they pass by; The Monster Book of Monsters in Dervish and Banges that will snarl and growl at anyone who tries to get too close, and the Hog’s Head which can be seen puffing his jowls at visitors who visit the Hog’s Head pub.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal’s Islands of Adventure will feature multiple themed attractions, shops and an eating establishment when it opens this spring.

• For more on the Wizarding World, be sure to the feature story in the Winter 2010 issue of Orlando Attractions Magazine.