MadeToLove
The Ultimate Potterholic
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2006
- Messages
- 358
I've been getting comments on various threads on this board about my Harry Potter geekiness and knowledge. So I thought I'd start this thread so that I and other Harry Potter geeks could share websites and other info with those of you who may be new to the magic that is Harry Potter (Muggles) and want to learn more about the world you may be visiting during your next trip to Universal, and for those who may already love HP but want to become bigger geeks so you can appreciate why some of the people standing in line with you at WWoHP are hopping up and down like little kids (despite obviously being over 30). 
So here is a list of some of my favorite websites and insider info that will help make your trip to WWoHP that much more magical.
Obviously you know you can get theme park updates here at disboards, but for more info, you can check out www.orlandounited.com That site has several insiders at Universal with updates, as well as locals with annual passes who take pictures of the park's progress at least once a week.
For general HP news, galleries of photos from the films, actors, etc. the best sites to visit are: www.mugglenet.com and www.the-leaky-cauldron.org
Both of these sites are run by uber fans who are well respected by the powers that be at Universal, WB, Heyday Films and J.K.R. herself. They are both currently posting reports about their recent visit inside the walls, and will always get official scoop first (I suspect they'll have the guest list for the grand opening first as the webmasters of both boards are friendly with many of the actors and their publicists). www.snitchseeker.com is another good site for news.
Want to remember the name of a spell? Or the anniversary of a major battle? www.hp-lexicon.org is your one stop encyclopedia of all things HP. This is not a site for actors and news, but a true encyclopedia of Harry Potter canon (canon means everything that JKR has said is true about any particular character or place or thing, even if it wasn't in the books or movies). You'll have fun playing around on this site.
Speaking of fun.....the funnest website for Harry Potter is J.K. Rowling's own HP site: www.jkrowling.com Make sure you have the volume up on this one. Rowling has approved all the content here, and although it hasn't been updated recently, it's still a fun place to play. There are "Easter Eggs" hidden everywhere that will give you all sorts of secret behind the scenes info on the writing of the books. You can just play around on the site and try to find them, but some are harder than others so when you give up, go here for a list of what you have missed: http://www.hp-lexicon.org/about/sources/jkr.com/jkr-com.html and go to tips and tricks for finding extras.
Need to gear up before you go? There are several places to get HP gear:
www.wbshop.com www.whimsicalley.com and www.alivans.com
Can't wait for WWoHP to open and must have an HP fix now? There are a few other places you could visit. First is the Harry Potter Exhibition www.harrypotterexhibition.com They open in Toronto next month after having been in Chicago and Boston. They have props, costumes and set pieces from the movies and recreate several settings quite accurately. Everyone whom I have talked to who have been have only been disappointed that it wasn't bigger.
You could also visit the Warner Bros. studios in Hollywood and see a small museum of props and costumes from the movies in their studio tour. They've made an effort to make the experience nice, but it isn't nearly as elaborate as the Exhibition or Theme Park. And finally, if you are in Southern California, you should check out Whimsic Alley www.whimsicalley.com They are a themed store for HP fans, but it's not just a store, it's an experience, and looks just like Diagon Alley inside. And best of all, it's free!!! If you go, tell them I sent you, they know me well there.
That's enough from me for now. I'm sure my fellow geeks will have other suggestions as well, so I hope they'll share some of their insider info so you Muggles out there can experience WWoHP with the same excitement and joy as the rest of us.
Have a Magical Day
So here is a list of some of my favorite websites and insider info that will help make your trip to WWoHP that much more magical.
Obviously you know you can get theme park updates here at disboards, but for more info, you can check out www.orlandounited.com That site has several insiders at Universal with updates, as well as locals with annual passes who take pictures of the park's progress at least once a week.
For general HP news, galleries of photos from the films, actors, etc. the best sites to visit are: www.mugglenet.com and www.the-leaky-cauldron.org
Both of these sites are run by uber fans who are well respected by the powers that be at Universal, WB, Heyday Films and J.K.R. herself. They are both currently posting reports about their recent visit inside the walls, and will always get official scoop first (I suspect they'll have the guest list for the grand opening first as the webmasters of both boards are friendly with many of the actors and their publicists). www.snitchseeker.com is another good site for news.
Want to remember the name of a spell? Or the anniversary of a major battle? www.hp-lexicon.org is your one stop encyclopedia of all things HP. This is not a site for actors and news, but a true encyclopedia of Harry Potter canon (canon means everything that JKR has said is true about any particular character or place or thing, even if it wasn't in the books or movies). You'll have fun playing around on this site.
Speaking of fun.....the funnest website for Harry Potter is J.K. Rowling's own HP site: www.jkrowling.com Make sure you have the volume up on this one. Rowling has approved all the content here, and although it hasn't been updated recently, it's still a fun place to play. There are "Easter Eggs" hidden everywhere that will give you all sorts of secret behind the scenes info on the writing of the books. You can just play around on the site and try to find them, but some are harder than others so when you give up, go here for a list of what you have missed: http://www.hp-lexicon.org/about/sources/jkr.com/jkr-com.html and go to tips and tricks for finding extras.
Need to gear up before you go? There are several places to get HP gear:
www.wbshop.com www.whimsicalley.com and www.alivans.com
Can't wait for WWoHP to open and must have an HP fix now? There are a few other places you could visit. First is the Harry Potter Exhibition www.harrypotterexhibition.com They open in Toronto next month after having been in Chicago and Boston. They have props, costumes and set pieces from the movies and recreate several settings quite accurately. Everyone whom I have talked to who have been have only been disappointed that it wasn't bigger.
You could also visit the Warner Bros. studios in Hollywood and see a small museum of props and costumes from the movies in their studio tour. They've made an effort to make the experience nice, but it isn't nearly as elaborate as the Exhibition or Theme Park. And finally, if you are in Southern California, you should check out Whimsic Alley www.whimsicalley.com They are a themed store for HP fans, but it's not just a store, it's an experience, and looks just like Diagon Alley inside. And best of all, it's free!!! If you go, tell them I sent you, they know me well there.
That's enough from me for now. I'm sure my fellow geeks will have other suggestions as well, so I hope they'll share some of their insider info so you Muggles out there can experience WWoHP with the same excitement and joy as the rest of us.
Have a Magical Day
