Wizarding World of Harry Potter: The theme park

[Author By Night]

According to HPANA, the Harry Potter theme park - "Wizarding World of Harry Potter" - will be opening in the spring of 2010.

I haven't heard a lot of buzz about this other than from a few friends and such, so I'd really like to know what other Harry Potter fans think. Do you plan on going?

I personally have mixed feelings. The cynical part of me worries that this is pushing Harry Potter closer to becoming something rather commercialized - more than it already has been. At the same time, although I am generally not a theme park person, it's nice that there's finally something I'll be interested in.

Thoughts?

[nundu]

There have been a lot of information concerning the park on The Leaky Cauldron. It does look like they are working to make it feel 'authentic'. Rowling has been consulted on a lot of it and it has her blessings. It's not enormous, from what I gather. I get the feeling it's about the same size as 'Fantasyland' inside DisneyWorld.

I probably won't go, at least till we have grandbabies to take to Orlando.

[loreleilynn]

I never really considered going myself simply because my husband and I prefer Las Vegas to Florida theme parks as artificially-built vacation spots. I've also always hated the commercial hype surrounding HP, so like Author by Night I worry about the translation from book to physical structures.

However, just last night, the other 30-something accountant in my knitting group was talking enthusiastically about the HP park and the chance to get Sorted and buy a wand. So I think the idea has broad appeal - not solely to hardcore internet fans.

[Mirabelle]

When I told my sister and cousins (all HP fans) about the park they pretty much decided the next major family vacation was going to be in Florida. Then one of my cousins and I decided we'd prefer to spend one day at the park and then go on a cruise so that looks like what we'll be doing 2010 or 2011. I think I'd prefer 2011 so we'd all have time to save our money and for the park to work out the kinks.