Grand opening of the Harry Potter theme park in Orlando

The much-anticipated Harry Potter theme park - the Wizarding World of Harry Potter - opened at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida today.

Stars of the films, including Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint, attended the red-carpeted grand opening, and JK Rowling also put in an appearance. Daniel Radcliffe was suitably impressed by the park, which took five years to build.

The Harry Potter theme park has a few rides, but it's more about bringing the world of Harry Potter to life, where the snow covered roofs of Hogsmeade evoke an authentic village feel.

Visitors get the opportunity to taste butterbeer, nibble on Bertie Bott's Every-Flavour Beans in Honeydukes sweet shop or explore the delight of Zonko's joke shop. Wizarding wannabes can also find their very own wand in Ollivander's wand shop if they're willing to part with £20.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has been spectacularly recreated, and a magical, visual adventure takes visitors through Dumbledore's office, the Defence Against the Darks Arts classroom and the Room of Requirement.

A Flight of the Hippogriff rollercoaster, suitable for all the family, takes riders swooping past the pumpkin patch and soaring by Hagrid's hut.

The Harry Potter theme park has arrived thirteen years after JK Rowling brought Harry Potter to life in her seven part series. The park is expected to attract visitors both young and old, and UK fans of the British born character will no doubt want to experience the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

The opening of the Harry Potter theme park has come at the perfect time; when Florida tourism is suffering the ill effects of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The park should improve tourist numbers to the area.

UK fans of the Harry Potter series might wonder why a Harry Potter theme park hasn't been planned for British soil. Who knows - the success of the Universal Studios installation might change that.

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