We’re used to seeing height restrictions on theme park rides, but Universal Studios ran into a new problem at its recently opened Harry Potter attraction in Orlando, Florida – visitors were too fat to ride.
On the rollercoaster-style Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey, the safety bar has to click three times as it’s pulled down, but larger riders could not achieve the necessary three clicks and were turned away.
Now, Universal has modified some seats in order to accommodate larger frames. Overweight visitors can now sit in a pair of ‘test seats’ outside the ride – if they fail to fit, they’re directed to a special line where they can access one of the modified seats.
“We always want to accommodate as many guests as possible on our attractions,” said Universal spokesman, Tom Schroder. “After watching Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey operate for several months, we made some adjustments to the ride’s overhead restraints that would allow more people to ride. We’re thrilled to be able to give more people the opportunity to experience this attraction.”
by Andy Moreton
If you’re planning a wizard trip to Florida, check out Luxique’s favourite luxury hotel in Orlando, the spectacular Westin Grand Bohemian.
Harry Potter fans – and there are quite a few of them – are eagerly awaiting the opening of a dedicated theme park at Universal Orlando Resort in spring next year.
‘The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’ will feature a high-tech ride, The Forbidden Journey (named by author J.K. Rowling). It will take guests through scenes and rooms from the blockbuster movies inside a richly detailed remake of Hogwarts Castle, designed to look 700 feet tall.
Other rides include the Dragon Challenge, a twin high-speed rollercoaster themed after the Triwizard Tournament, and the family rollercoaster Flight of the Hippogriff, named after a creature with an eagle’s head and a horse’s body.
“Along those journeys people are going to be swept up into the greatest parts of the movies and books,” said Paul Daurio, producer of the Potter area at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. “We’ve pushed every technology available to us to give guests a theme park experience unlike any they’ve had before.”
Art and set directors from the films have been hired to translate the movie magic into a theme park. J.K. Rowling, who’s known for carefully guarding the Potter franchise, hasn’t yet travelled to Orlando, but the design team have made several trips to London for consultations with her.
by Andy Moreton
If you’re planning a wizard trip to Florida, check out Luxique’s favourite luxury hotel in Orlando, the spectacular Westin Grand Bohemian.
Fans of the Harry Potter books have found a new place of pilgrimage – and a luxurious one at that.
J K Rowling completed her phenomenally successful series of novels in a suite at the five-star Balmoral Hotel in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh. Now Room 552 has, with the author’s permission, been re-named after her.
Since the venue for her final chapter was revealed, the wealthier of the Potter fans have been arriving and specifically requesting the suite. The rooms include the writing desk she used and the queen-size bed in which she slept.
There’s also a marble bust of the Greek god, Hermes, on which Rowling wrote in black marker pen: “J K Rowling finished writing Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows in this room (552) on 11th Jan 2007.” A brass plaque has been put on the door and the door knocker’s been replaced by a brass owl in homage to those featured in the books.
Rowling’s background was famously a lot more modest than the plush surroundings of the Balmoral – she wrote the first of the novels in several Edinburgh cafés.
The Balmoral is, of course, on Luxique’s list of luxury hotels in Edinburgh. We can’t promise you’ll get Room 552, but we can promise the best rates with no booking fees.
by Andy Moreton
