More quotes about Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Here's a few leftover quotes from yesterday's Wizarding World of Harry Potter announcements. Of course, the big news was the newly narrowed opening day. Universal now says it will open its gates in "Spring 2010" at Islands of Adventure.

+ I asked Mark Woodbury, president of Universal Creative, more about the major attraction known as Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. (They've not said much about it, yet managed to be enthused). "This is something totally new, totally different, and an experience unlike anything anyone's ever done, including ourselves," Woodbury says.

ME: Would you call it a thrill ride?

HE: I would call it a full-immersion, visceral, compelling experience.

ME: Would you call Spider-Man a thrill ride?

HE: Yes, I would call Spider-Man a thrill ride. But I would also call it a full-immersion, visceral, compelling experience.

(Art director Alan Gilmore on Forbidden Journey: "It's going to be absolutely mind-blowing. The fans won't know what to say after they come off that.")

+ I also asked Woodbury about the taste of butterbeer. Is it sweet? Is it fruity or what? "It's a little sweet. It's a great drink." (And note: non-alcoholic.)

+ Woodbury on the J.K. Rowling body of work: "The literature is so rich, we didn't really have to invent storyline. We had to come up with a way, technologically, to make it real."

+ Of course, the "Spring" opening date reminds us of a similar target for Universal Studios' Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit opening, which ended up being more like summer.

Robert Niles, editor of ThemeParkInsider.com, noted this: "It’s a little more important to them to hit this opening date than it was to hit Rip Ride Rockit. Maybe they’ll throw a few more resources at it." (Niles also said that it appeared Wizarding World's structures would be ready by spring, but wondered aloud about the readiness of the big ride, which could be a technological challenge.)