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Warner Bros Insider Rewards program has started a sweepstakes that offers a lucky fan to win a chance to go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, to help celebrate the release of the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 on DVD and Blu-ray.

The contest started today and will end on October 13, 2011.

The lucky winner will get a 3-day vacation package for 4 to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and also get a chance to meet the cast and filmmakers in attendance.  It includes 3-night hotel accommodations, 3-day admission to both Universal Orlando theme parks, airfare, complete Harry Potter Blu-ray collection, one reservation per person to one in-park cast member Q&A and one in-park cast member autograph session.  Plus, admission to the nighttime gala event on Saturday and Sunday night, November 12 and 13!

The sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 US states and DC who are 13 years and older.  You can see all the rules here.

So, don’t wait!  Go enter here!

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We previously reported that Universal Orlando Resorts in Orlando, FL had prepared special vacation packages for Harry Potter fans who plan to attend the celebration of all Harry Potter films, a special screening of all eight films at the AMC Universal Cineplex 20 with IMAX in CityWalk and a Q&A session with cast members and one with the filmmakers and the Universal Orlando’s creative team.  At this time, the vacation packages may be sold out due to the limited amount available.  However, Warner Bros. has sent us a reminder of the event which means it is still open to fans who may be able to make other arrangements for accommodations if necessary.  The event is scheduled for Friday,  November 11 –  Sunday, November 13.

Although there is an online rumor that Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) may be one of the cast who will be on the panel, there has been no official confirmation on who will be attending the Q&A sessions at this time.  But we will keep you posted.

Thanks to Warner Bros. for letting us know!

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 According to Central Florida News 13, Universal Orlando Resorts intends to release photos of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in the next few months to display and highlight details of the theme park which are referenced in the books and films. They would be the ‘untold stories’ of Harry’s world within the park.

One of the first images is a photo of the hourglasses in Hogwarts Castle as seen in the Harry Potter films  The hourglasses were used to record the points earned or lost by members of the four Hogwarts houses throughout the school year.  Scarlet was for Gryffindor; blue was for Ravenclaw; green was for Slytherin and yellow was for Hufflepuff

Click here to see the photo in the Gallery.

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Universal Orlando Resorts in Orlando, FL have informed us that on July 31, starting at 12:00pm EST,  fans/guests who purchase a vacation package for November 11 – 13, 2011 will have the special privilege of attending certain events at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

A limited number of guests and those who buy special event packages (shown below) will be able to attend some exclusive events such as:

• An evening gala in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Autograph signings with stars from the Harry Potter films
• Q&A sessions with Harry Potter filmmakers and cast members, along with the creators of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Screenings of all eight Harry Potter films – including Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 – at the AMC Universal Cineplex 20 in Universal CityWalk (this can also be  added to the vacation packages for an additional fee)

Event access depends on which vacation package is purchased.  There are also different packages for US and UK residents.  Additionally Universal Studios have informed us that there are more packages that they’re working on, so make sure to check back for those!

US RESIDENTS

Premier Package (Starting from $699 per adult tax inclusive)

• 4-Night Hotel Accommodations at a Universal Partner Hotel
• 3-Day Park-to-Park Ticket to Universal Orlando’s Theme Parks
• Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Reservation to One In-Park Cast Member Q&A Session – one per person
• Commemorative Pin – one per person
• Blu-Ray Set of Harry Potter Films – one per package
• City Walk Party Pass

The following is specifically for the purchase of a Premier Package

• Admission to the Nighttime Gala Event on Sunday, November 13 – one per person
• Reservation to One In-Park Cast member Autograph Session – one per person
• Breakfast at Three Broomsticks – one per person

Celebration Package (Starting from $369 per adult tax inclusive)

• 4-Night Hotel Accommodations at a Universal Partner Hotel
• 3-Day Park-to-Park Ticket to Universal Orlando’s Theme Parks
• Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Reservation to One In-Park Cast Member Q&A Session – one per person
• Commemorative Pin – one per person
• Blu-Ray Set of Harry Potter Films – one per package
• City Walk Party Pass

More information about the event for US residents can be found here.

UK RESIDENTS

Premier Package (Starting from at £1,299 per person)

• 7-nights accommodation at selected hotels
• Return Virgin Atlantic flights to Orlando, Florida
• 3-Park Universal Bonus Ticket
• More time to enjoy The Wizarding World of Harry Potter with Early Park Admission starting at 6 a.m.
• Reservation to one in-park Harry Potter talent Q&A session (one per person)
• Commemorative pin (one per person)
• Harry Potter Blu-Ray set (one per room)
• Reservation to one in-park Harry Potter cast member autograph session
• Admission to the exclusive nighttime gala event on Sunday, 13 November
• Breakfast at the Three Broomsticks

More information about the event for UK residents can be found here.

Admission to the events are limited, so be sure to note the July 31 date and the 12:00pm EST time to make your reservation.  At this time, there is no confirmation as to which Harry Potter stars will appear at the Q&A session or the autograph session.

Click here for more information and to review the terms and conditions.

Thanks to Universal Studios for letting us know!

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This past weekend, while attending LeakyCon, Evanna Lynch, who portrays Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter films, visited the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Universal Studios have provided us with a photo of her at one of the shops.  She’s holding a pair of spectrespecs.  See the photo in our gallery here!

Thanks to Universal!

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Today marks the one year anniversary of the opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios, Orlando.  The theme park opened amongst huge celebrations.  Most of the Harry Potter actors and crew were there to celebrate.  And so was JK Rowling and composer of the original Harry Potter score, John Williams.

You can see our photos from the event in our gallery here.  And don’t forget to check out our interviews from the theme park on our YouTube page here.

To help celebrate, Universal Studios has a few things for the fans.  First, they have updated their Facebook page with a new section that has videos and photos.  They also want everyone to help celebrate by using the tag #WWoHP when tweeting about them.

They also have a new app on their Facebook page that allows fans to share a butterbeer and toast to their anniversary.

UPDATE: It has now been announced that the Facebook page has another tab added:  Share Your Story.  Fans can share their memories of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  Check it out here!

UPDATE2: Universal Studios have now posted a video showing their 1-year anniversary celebration that happened at exactly 1 year after the opening of the theme park – June 18, 2011 at 9:23 a.m.

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 Orlando Sentinel reported that the website for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Orlando, FL won the 2011 Webby Award in the Tourism category and it also won The People’s Voice Award in the same category at the 15th Annual Webby Awards held yesterday in the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City yesterday.

The Webby Awards is an international award honoring excellence on the Internet.  It was established in the beginning days of the internet.  The Webbys are presented by The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, which includes an Executive 750-member body.  The members include Web experts, business and creative people as well as familiar celebrities like David Bowie!  There are also associate members who are former Webby Award Winners and Nominees and other Internet professionals. 

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe attended the award ceremony to present Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour with the award for Best Fashion Website.  Click here and here to see photos of him at the ceremony, posted by Wire Image.com.

As fellow website workers, we at Harry Potter’s Page would like to congratulate all the winners!

Source:  The Leaky Cauldron

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James and Oliver Phelps, who portray Fred and George Weasley in the Harry Potter films, visited the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Orlando today.  We’ve been sent a photo of them while they were there greeting fans.  You can see it in our gallery here.

Thanks to Universal Studios for the photo!

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Along with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 making it onto the seven finalist list for the Visual Effects Oscar, the film has also received three nominations for the 9th Annual Visual Effects Society awards.  The Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios, Orlando, also received a nomination.  The film has also received eight nominations on the 2011 Orange British Academy Film Awards longlist.

The awards are in these categories

• Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project
  Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
  Richard Mann VFX Producer
  Adam Howard Visual Effects Supervisor
  Matt Hendershot CG Supervisor
  James Strauss Animation Supervisor
• Outstanding Animated Character in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture (2 nominations)
  Dobby
  Mathieu Vig Animator
  Ben Lambert Modeller
  Laurie Brugger Character Supervisor
  Marine Poirson Look Development TD
  Kreacher
  Laurent Laban Animator
  Will Brand Modeller
  Matthieu Goutte Rigger
  Jason Baker Look Development TD
• Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual-Effects Driven Feature Motion Picture
  Tim Burke Overall VFX Supervisor
  Emma Norton Visual Effects Producer
  John Richardson Special Effects Supervisor

The 9^th Annual VES Awards takes place on Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.  It will air on REELZCHANNEL Saturday, February 19, 2011 at 10p ET/PT with encore presentations throughout February.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 nominations on the BAFTA longlist include

• Special Visual Effects
• Sound
• Editing
• Costume Design
• Production Design
• Cinematography
• Cinematography
• Original Music

The films placed on the longlist will be reduced down to five films for each category.  The awards ceremony takes place on February 13th.

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Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida sent a press release to inform us that they celebrated the sale of the one millionth butterbeer in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter by sharing 1,000 complimentary butterbeers with guests on the streets of  Hogsmeade inside the theme park.

As all Harry Potter fans know, butterbeer is a favorite drink among the wizards in the books written by J.K. Rowling who personally approved the special recipe created by Universal.  There have been many speculations about the ingredients since the drink’s debut on June 18, 2010.  But Universal Orlando will not share the closely guarded recipe. Special security procedures have been implemented to protect the details.

According to the press release, the drink has become popular enough for a fourth butterbeer location to be added to the theme park.

“You can see the excitement on our guests’ faces as they wait in line – and then the smile that comes with their first sip,” said Ric Florell, General Manager and Senior Vice President of Resort Revenue Operations for Universal Orlando.  “Butterbeer is not just a beverage. It’s an experience.”

Well, I’m proud to say that I do believe I was one of the first 1,000 to have that ‘experience’.  For I was lucky enough to attend the Grand Opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  And just in case you don’t believe me, click here to see a photo of myself with my frozen butterbeer.  I strongly recommend having one during your visit.

Thanks to Universal Orlando Resort for letting us know!

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