Universal Sets June 18 as Opening for Harry Potter

The day is set. June 18, 2010 is the official grand opening date for the highly anticipated Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure theme park.

The new $200 million addition that spans 20 acres will include a myriad of familiar sights from the best-selling book series written by J.K. Rowling. Some of the most prominent pieces of the Wizarding World include Hogsmeade Village, Hogwarts Castle and the Hogwarts Express Train.

A soft opening prior to the official launch could occur as early as May 28.

Hogwarts castle will house the theme park's newest and most intriguing dark ride, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. The queue for the ride begins in the castle dungeon at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This area will feature a statue of the one-eyed witch and the Mirror of Erised.

After winding through several chambers and an outdoor area that represents a Victorian greenhouse with vines snaking over the roof and a cage of Rowling's mandrake plants, the queue takes guests to a series of corridors with statues. Guests will also see a number of talking portraits prior to finally entering an exact replica of the headmaster Dumbledore's office.

While Dumbledore wants guests to sit through a lecture and tour, Harry Potter, Hermione and Ron insist the lecture is boring. The ride then incorporates a Quidditch match, a face-to-face encounter with Dementors and the Forbidden Forest.

"We had to create some new technology for this," Coup said. However, Universal officials would not be more specific about that effect, the new filming process or the robotic ride technology, which are essential to Forbidden Journey. They refer to the seats as an "enchanted bench," although two test seats with over-shoulder harnesses are in position outside the castle.

While much of the ride remains secretive, it is expected that the experience will last up to an hour between touring the castle and finishing the ride.