We're finally in the home stretch until the June 18 grand opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and Universal is proving that by starting to invite down some big names to show off to the rest of the world just how awesome the park is. "Harry Potter" stars Emma Watson, Robbie Coltrane (who plays Rubeus Hagrid), Oliver and James Phelps (George and Fred Weasley, respectively) and Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom) went down to see the park yesterday, and all of them were overawed by it.
"I was not expecting to feel like this. I really wasn't. It was blown away," Emma said in a promotional video. "It's really kind of amazing. I've always been a huge fan of the books, aside from the fact that I've been a part of the films, so for me it's just such a pleasure and a delight to see all these things I've read about come to life."
She and the rest of the visiting stars got to try food at The Three Broomsticks ("I could be at home right now," Emma said of the food) and taste butterbeer at the Hog's Head Pub just like we did, but they had the benefit of being able to walk through the fully furnished Zonko's and Honeydukes and see some of what will be for sale. "We didn't have this," Emma commented of one of the foods in Honeydukes.
Then they went to Ollivander'ss, where Emma went through the wand-choosing experience. In the "Harry Potter" universe, the wand chooses the wizard, and the video showed Emma finally getting the right wand and a light illuminating over her head to show this was the proper fit. She laughed delightedly as she accepted the magical item.
"A film set has a cut-off point, you know, you're only using a particular section of it, but this is a completely immersive environment," Emma said. "Being here was actually really moving and emotional for me, because I know that the sets are going to come down, but this will be here forever." Robbie added, "Emma and I had a rather emotional moment actually because it was kind of like bits of your life suddenly made real."
They all got to ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey as well, which means the ride must be finally finished. While the experience of the ride wasn't given away, there is video of Emma repeating, "That was unreal. That was unreal," after she got off the four-person-wide ride.
"I think as soon as you walk through this arch here, you just let yourself go with it, really, because it's just so immersive," said Matthew. Robbie added, "It's the detail that's so wonderful. Every bit of stone is perfect, everything's so beautifully made."
Entertainment Weekly also got invited down to the park on Monday. They have some new info on the prices of the souvenirs at the park, saying Sneakoscopes at Zonko's will cost $15 while Firebolt broomsticks will cost $300 at Dervish and Banges. Sounds like that's the general range of prices for Potterphernalia, so expect to bring some extra cash for your visit unless you want to go home empty handed. Still no word on the menu prices for food in the park.
We aren't sure when or if the rest of the stars will get a chance to tour the park, but we did get word from Tom Felton himself that he would be down to see the park on June 16 for the Grand Opening celebrations.
Are you more excited for the park now that it has some of the stars' stamps of approval? Have you bought your ticket to visit yet?
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