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Universal Studios Will Build Their Biggest Theme Park In South Korea

Lately the big news out of Universal Studios has been all Harry Potter all the time, and we couldn’t be more excited. However, officials have been busy thinking about some other theme park opportunities, and they’ve inked a deal to bring the magic of Hollywood to South Korea. Despite some slight delays and a temporary lack of funding, the newest Universal Studios will open when 2014 rolls around in Hwaseong City—not too far outside Seoul.

The cranes and bulldozers are set to start turning up the earth next year. There will be the new park, condos, a golf course, and even a water park. The price tag on this whole project is about $2.67 billion, so we’re kind of expecting only the best of the best. No cutting corners here—maybe Universal saw what Disney’s impressive overseas offerings in Hong Kong were all about.

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Tags: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter / Harry Potter / Universal Studios / Amusement Parks / Theme Parks / Orlando Travel / Florida Travel / → All Tags

Revealed: The First Commercial for the Harry Potter Theme Park at Universal Studios

More, more, MORE new information leaks out from Universal Studios as they get ever closer to the spring opening of their new theme park: "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter."

Fresh from post-production, we have the commercial for the place, which isn't due to air on television until during the Super Bowl on Sunday. Watch it above—before most of the rest of the world gets even a glimpse of it—and start trying to decide whether you're don a Gryffindor or Slytherin scarf for Sunday.

Okay so we've watched it a few times now, and it keeps giving us goosebumps. There's something about the look of the place that appeals to us so much, and you know—we wouldn't mind throwing on a cape and pretending we were in old-timey England for a day (although the theme park is in Orlando, so it'll be like 80 degrees). Who's ready for Harry Potter fever to hit South Florida?

Related Stories:
· More News On Universal Studio's Harry Potter Theme Park: Ollivander's! [Jaunted]
· Revealed: First Images of Hogwarts at 'Wizarding World of Harry Potter' Theme Park [Jaunted]
· The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to Open at Universal Orlando in Spring 2010 [Jaunted]
· Universal Studios news [Jaunted]

[Photo: care of Universal Studios]

Tags: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter / Harry Potter / Universal Studios / Amusement Parks / Theme Parks / Orlando Travel / Florida Travel / → All Tags

More News On Universal Studio's Harry Potter Theme Park: Ollivander's!

As we get closer and closer to the projected opening season of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park within Orlando's Universal Studios, we're receiving updates on the construction and features pretty quickly. Just earlier this week, we revealed the first official photograph of the huge Hogwarts castle, which is making finishing touches.

Today, we've found out details of a few interactive experiences that'll be around the base of Hogwarts, down in the park. Want to know more about Ollivander's Wand Shop and more? We've got all the details after the jump, but also pick up today's USA Today for a code to use with your phone's camera or laptop camera to see an augmented reality map of the park.

More! After the jump

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Tags: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter / Harry Potter / Universal Studios / Amusement Parks / Theme Parks / Orlando Travel / Florida Travel / → All Tags

Revealed: First Images of Hogwarts at 'Wizarding World of Harry Potter' Theme Park

Look what just landed in our inbox just a moment ago. It's the first official real image of Hogwarts, within "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" theme park at Universal Studios Orlando. Muggles, rejoice!

Seriously though, this is one work of crazy construction. Granted we don't have any idea of its actual size from the picture, but it does look impressive and we can't wait for more news to trickle out before the 20-acre "fully immersive" theme park officially opens sometimes later this spring. Oh wait, we remember the CEO of Universal Studios saying something about how "everything will be scaled to size with an incredible level of detail." We're far too old to be freaking out about this, but the thought of donning a cape and entering a life-size great room at Hogwarts is pretty appealing, you have to admit.

After the jump, a full update on construction

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Steven Spielberg Keeps His Two Percent Of Universal Studios Ticket Sales

We were pretty eager to see if Steven Spielberg and Mickey Mouse would actually come together to create some kind of super theme park. Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen, and we’ll just have to settle for separate parks with separate rides. At the end of the summer it seemed that Spielberg might be getting out of his lucrative theme park consulting contract, but instead, he’s just extending it.

He agreed to delay a buyout option in his consulting contact with NBC Universal, which means he’ll be getting a fat paycheck until 2017. He’ll probably get to throw his two cents in when it comes to designing new attractions in Singapore and Dubai, so we might need to put those new parks on our theme park wish list. Maybe he’ll even tell Harry Potter how to do things the Spielberg way down in Florida. We kind of figured that his deal was too good to drop, especially because Disney probably wouldn’t have wanted to share that much cash with anyone.

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Tags: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter / Harry Potter / Universal Studios / Theme Parks / Wizarding World of Harry Potter / Travel News / → All Tags

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to Open at Universal Orlando in Spring 2010

It's hard to believe anything good could come out of Draco Malfoy's mouth but today in a media webcast, Draco (aka actor Tom Felton) let us know that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a 20-acre "fully immersive" theme park attraction would be opening at the Universal Studios Orlando in Spring 2010. Muggles and Wizards rejoice!

Tom Williams, chairman and CEO, Universal Parks and Resorts was joined by Harry Potter films production designer Stuart Craig and show producer Alan Gilmore to give out a special sneak peek of the most anticipated theme park attraction since...hmm...maybe since Disney World opened? You all know how nutty HP fans get over the newest books/films. But imagine what they'll do to experience riding a Hippogriff or sending owl mail or exploring forbidden rooms in Hogwarts Castle?

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Could Steven Spielberg Bounce From Universal Studios To Disney World?

We are already quite aware of the roller coaster delays at Universal Studios in Orlando, but at least we know it’s coming sooner than later. However, that might not be the case for those of us who love the rides from Steven Spielberg movies. See, the movie director extraordinaire is re-negotiating his contract with park officials—he’s got quite the lucrative consulting contract.

Right now, Spielberg gets a flat fee and a percentage of the cash brought in for attractions at the park. He signed the deal about 20 years ago, so you can imagine that his annual check has probably increased significantly. They never set an expiration date to the agreement, but as of June 2010, he does have the right to cut things off.

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Florida's Summer Is Sunny Skies With Chance Of Roller Coaster Delays

We’ve been trying to plan a trip to check out Universal Studios' latest coaster at their Florida park for a while, but constant delays have left us less than thrilled. The summer is definitely approaching its end and we haven’t heard too much about this new roller coaster’s grand opening. Originally the thing was supposed to be thrilling folks around the Memorial Day weekend, but maybe Labor Day will be when we can welcome it into the world.

Apparently there’s been some issues with the lift, and the cars haven’t been making it all the way through the track. We love a little thrill, but we’d rather not be stuck upside down on a lift hill—so we say keep up the tests!

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Cindy Crawford Goes Skydiving in Hollywood

Ever wanted to go skydiving but didn't think you were up for the whole jumping out of a plane bit? Then make like Cindy Crawford and head to Universal Studios City Walk in Hollywood where you can try out indoor skydiving. No plane needed. Heck, you don't even have to jump off a bench or anything.

That's because iFly Hollywood is essentially a vertical wind tunnel. Here's how they describe it:

Simply put, iFLY is flying; you will soar on a column of air inside a vertical wind tunnel....iFLy uses superior technology and is unique; multiple fans located at the top of the flight chamber produce a wall-to-wall airflow that is smooth and fun to fly in.

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Universal Studios Is Already Prepping For A Horror Show Halloween

Although summer has just begun, the theme park-loving people are already looking forward to the next major holiday. To get the blood racing, Universal Studios has announced a few new details about this year’s Halloween festivities, and like usual, it looks to put other park’s offerings to shame.

The theme this year, Halloween Horror Nights, will be based on slasher films, horror flicks, and other scary movies. The parks on each coast will have similar offerings, but the park in Orlando has announced a few more details than its sibling out west.

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Summer Concerts An Added Bonus At Universal Orlando

If waiting in a long line for your shot to ride the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is not your idea of a good time at Universal Studios Orlando, then you might want to consider some of their summertime entertainment. The Summer Concert Series kicks off on June 13 with a concert by Jordin Sparks, and admission is included in your daily park pass—no need to shell out any additional cash.

Things continue with performances by LL Cool J on June 20 and Natasha Bedingfield on June 27. Even The O’Jays cruise into town over the Independence Day holiday weekend to help celebrate and kickoff the fireworks displays.

Apparently park officials aren’t too familiar with a calendar, as the concert series ends without anything else planned for July and nothing at all for August. Well, we guess it’s better than nothing.

Related Stories:
·Universal Orlando Summer Concert Series [Official Site]
·Theme Parks Are Cookin' Up Some Goods For Summer '09 [Jaunted]
·Theme Parks coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo of another Universal Orlando concert: divemasterking2000]

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Universal Orlando's Newest Coaster Delayed Until 'Late Spring or Summer'

If you were planning to head to Universal Studios in Orlando soon, you may want to push your trip out a couple months. The Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit coaster has been delayed from its original launch date, and is now looking to thrill tourists starting in “late spring/early summer.” Um, isn't it already late spring? Anyways, at least they’ve finally revealed some details of the coaster.

Before riding this new steel beast you’ll pick your own soundtrack to listen to while you are trying to hang on for your life at up to 65 mph. Even fans of country will be able to listen to their favorite Toby Keith joint, as the song selection will encompass five different genres of music. At the end of your trip you can even purchase a video of your ride complete with the soundtrack you picked—sounds expensive.

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