Nearby, a shopping area called Hogsmeade Village, created to look exactly like the village described in the book, will contain shops and restaurants.
Guests likely won't realize that two older roller coasters will also be part of the Harry Potter magic. The old Flying Unicorn family coaster becomes Flight of the Hippogriff. The twin Dueling Dragons coaster is being repainted and re-themed into Dragon Challenge.
"Rumor is that the spot where the sacred book sat in Dueling Dragons, they are going to have movie props and the real Goblet of Fire from the movies," Yates says.
Rumor: There is going to be snow.
Fact: The chatter could be all wet, but park watchers say they heard that a company was contracted to create "real snow in piles that don't melt" in the village, says Yates. A Universal spokeswoman declined to comment on the snow rumor but didn't discount it.
Rumor: There's going to be a real post office, and owls (maybe real, maybe animatronic) will take your mail.
Fact: Universal confirms there will be a post office with an owl theme and a Hogsmeade postmark. Its front window will feature a loud-talking Howler, which in the book is a bad-tempered red envelope that explodes if you don't open it. Sadly, trained owls won't be swooping down and taking the mail for real.
Rumor: Once Harry Potter opens, it will be hard to get a ticket because Universal will be so crowded.
Fact: Universal won't comment on expected crowd levels, but park watchers expect a crush the first few months.
"There will be Disney fans who want to see what the excitement is about, but the vast majority are millions of Harry Potter fans, who are going to make a pilgrimage for this, to see how they brought the books to life," Yates says. "You are going to have to expect really long lines all over the park."
Rumor: You'll be able to eat and drink items Harry had in the books and buy Harry products.
Fact: It's true. You'll be able to drink pumpkin juice and butterbeer, buy Quidditch equipment and Remembralls.
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