Sneak Preview: Universal Orlando's secret Harry Potter 2010 Super Bowl ad

Sneak Preview: It's the hottest new theme park opening in a decade: Universal Orlando Resort's Islands of Adventure park is putting the finishing touches on its feverishly anticipated The Wizarding World of Harry Potter section. This Sunday, Feb. 7, the world gets a sneak peek at the new 20-acre attraction when a top secret commercial airs during the Saints-Colts Super Bowl battle. Among the surprises: Daniel Radcliffe himself appears as Harry Potter to promote the opening, which was designed with the full cooperation and approval of series author J.K. Rowling. Guess what, Potterheads?

Universal Orlando is one of the elite group of American businesses that have been able to pay $2.5 to $3 million for a 30-second ad on this year's Super Bowl. That's a pretty big chunk of change, and it doesn't include what it cost to secure Radcliffe or produce the ad itself. But it's nothing when you consider the fact that millions of American families are likely to visit the new Harry Potter land on one of their upcoming vacations. It's officially the biggest new draw in Orlando.

Super Bowl ads are a marker for where we're spending our money. This year, Orlando is fervently praying that means more of us will be spending our money there. It desperately needs the magic Harry may bring: New York City recently toppled the city from the top of the list of the most-visited American tourist cities.

The arrival of Harry Potter also gives Universal a huge lead on its biggest rival, because Walt Disney World's next big expansion doesn't come for another three years. That's when Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom balloons to incorporate a new Little Mermaid ride and two Dumbo rides.

Florida's tourism industry is overjoyed at President Obama's promise of high-speed rail, which would deliver huge numbers of foreign tourists from Miami, a major international air gateway, to Orlando. That may be just the magic wand Harry Potter needs to create new jobs and beef up spending again.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Universal
• Orlando's
• secret
• Harry
• Potter
• 2010
• Super
• Bowl
• ad

[TheBreezeInTheSky]

If I had the money, I would just buy the whole place. So when people ask me where I live I'd say, "I LIVE IN HOGWARTS BITCH!" :D

[epeemstr316]

fuck college, im transferring to hogwarts!

[PrincessEliBu]

I'll be there in about a month. Can't wait! XD

[thegodsofolympus100]

I went there! It was like stepping into my dream!

[SnowDude2129]

@Imagineer5986 ...lame...

[Imagineer5986]

They should put a hotel in Hogwarts! THUMBS UP IF YOU AGREE

[leafsrule142]

i was there in july 2010 and it was sooooooooooo packe it wasent even funny

[23airjordanfreak]

@Empronmovies stfu you penis licking dildo

[partygirl209]

i want to go to there!!

[Empronmovies]

Walt Disney World is better than universal.

[Quintinlicious]

@TheBreezeInTheSky even if you had the money you would never in your life be able to buy it. no one can. asshole

[seenlee93]

i been to unversal this summer and the rides at harry potter are awsome. even thow you have to wait a long line for an hour i been on all the harry potter rides twice

[blueboy921]

i will hide until park closes, and sleep there...somewhere....IN HOGWARTS !!!!!!

In dumbledores office for example..

[Caprile91]

Oh my god.... if they ever make a Harry Potter summer camp or boarding school...... I'd sell my parents to go!

[meggisstheebestllool]

Wow! can't wait till the summer holls, im going there! Its going to be great!

[neecee401100]

They need to make this in Disney World sized lol

[JACNproductionstv]

i went the other day and i saw th castle already built, it was smaller than i thought but it's still awesome. also i passed through hogsmeade to get to "the dragon challenge"/"dueling dragons" but there were boards hiding most of the stuff and you cant get caught taking pictures.it's pretty cool you actually feel that you are in that world and you can hear the score from the movies every where. iCANT WAIT TILL THEY OPEN!

[hilsacaproductions]

I just cant wait to go think i am going in summer hahahaha love harry potter

[BeBeAyumi]

@TheBreezeInTheSky hahahahahahahah XDDDDDD

[jollyholly103]

Couldn't they just make an entire Harry Potter theme park? PLEASE? :]

[thepascalhouston]

@Angry0212 no it no 9full preview)

[annthepup2]

Yes, but they advertised "opening SPRING 2010" to build up interest.....our family scheduled a vacation in SUMMER 6-6 thru 6-17 to go to it only to later find out it wasnt opening until the 18th of JUNE! This was misleading and cost us 750.00 in non refundable tickets and a weeks non refundable housing in fla!

[Angry0212]

looks pretty small, hope it's not a total disappointment

[stevenjw2006]

well you could go there or you could just go to kings cross station in london and try repeatedly smashing you head between platforms nine and ten saying "just let me in, im begging you"

[jo666football]

I went in October last year and saw it being built. Yeah, it's not huge but is still impressive. If your a real harry potter nut you'll love it

[Pelicaaan]

It looks like it's gonna be pretty small, right?