As I reported last week, Warner Bros and Universal will be holding a special event at the Potter theme park entitled A Celebration of the Harry Potter Films. The tickets for the event went on sale today and the Premier Package is already sold out, the Celebration package is still available but I would advise anyone still interested in going to hurry up and book as soon as you can by heading the Universal Website!

Additionally, Universal have posted up some frequently asked questions about the event that you can read at this page. Some of the questions are as follows:

When will I know the celebrities that will be attending? Please continue to check www.universalorlando.com/celebration for updates about the event. Celebrities may not be announced until closer to the event.

How can I participate in the Autograph and Q&A sessions? Guests can purchase a Premier Package to participate in one Cast Member Autograph session. Guests can purchase either a Premier package or a Celebration package to participate in one Cast Member Q&A session. There will be additional ways for a limited number of people to participate in celebration events. Stay tuned for more details.

Can I bring a camera and or/video camera to the event? Yes, you can bring a camera/video camera to the event. However, please keep in mind we cannot guarantee that we will be able to accommodate requests for personal photos with cast members.

Are the film screenings included in the vacation package? No. Harry Potter film screening tickets are not included in the vacation package.

When will film screening tickets be available for purchase? Film screening tickets will be available for separate purchase at a later date. Please continue to check for updates.

Thanks to SS for the tip!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II has finally crossed the $1 billion dollar mark. It is the first Harry Potter film to reach $1 billion and the ninth film in cinema history to reach it.  It reached this amount in record time, only 17 days!

According to the press release “the film has now earned an estimated $318.46 million domestically and an estimated $690 million on the international side for a worldwide total to date of approximately $1.008 billion, already making it, globally, the top-grossing film in Warner Bros. Pictures’ history. ”

Some Potter executives had this to say about the achievement:

Dan Fellman stated, “What’s truly astounding is that these kinds of numbers are being achieved so early in the film’s release. The movie’s excellent reviews, outstanding word-of-mouth and repeat business will ensure that Harry Potter will be charming moviegoers for months to come.”

Veronika Kwan-Rubinek remarked, “To say that the global response to the film has been extraordinary would be an understatement. We are so proud that this last film in the series has not only reached such heights but has reached them in record time. It is now Warner Bros.’ most successful release ever, and there is still plenty more to come.”

Day 1 of Pottermore’s pre-registration is closed. The clue for today was from Sorcerer’s Stone and was: “How many breeds of owl are featured on the Eeylops Emporium sign? Multiply this number by 49.” Tomorrow’s clue will be released at a different time and will be a question that comes from Chamber of Secrets.

Some new information on the Magical Quill Challenge may be read below from the Pottermore Insider Blog:

If you did register for early access today, then congratulations! You should receive your validation email shortly. Don’t forget to click the link in your validation email within 48 hours; this will secure your early access place.

Please note that we will not be enabling early access to the site straight away. Once The Magical Quill challenge is over, we will send successful early access registrants a Welcome email, letting them know when they will be able to access Pottermore. We won’t be able to let everyone into the Beta site at the same time; you may have to wait a few weeks for your Welcome email to arrive.

Many fans are trying to get on the Pottermore website without success, it took a while but the page finally loaded for me. Fans who aren’t able to gain early access will need to wait until the official opening in October. Below you will find a screenshot of the current home page, click it to see it full size.  It reads:

7 books, 7 days, 7 chances
Those of you who would like the chance to gain early access to Pottermore must find The Magical Quill, and then submit your registration details. Each day, from 31 July to 6 August, a clue will be revealed here. Solve the clue and you will be taken to The Magical Quill. Be quick, The Magical Quill won’t be there for long and registration will only be open while spaces are still available each day.

There is also a help page with information about The Magical Quill, you can read that information in the screenshot below. Click it to see it full size so you can read!

It is now July 31st in the UK so it is time to wish Harry Potter and JK Rowling a Happy Birthday!

Harry is celebrating his 31st birthday with his wife Ginny and children James Sirius, Albus Severus and Lily Luna! Harry currently works as an Auror at the Ministry of Magic and successfully defeated the Dark Lord 13 years ago!

JK Rowling is celebrating her 46th birthday with her family. She is married to Neil Murray and has three children; Jessica Isabel, David Gordon and Mackenzie Jean.

We wish them both amazing birthdays and many more to come!

Wiley, a book publisher, recently sent me a copy of Harry Potter and History to review for the site. The book gives you “the historical backdrop to Harry Potter’s world, covers topics ranging from how real British boarding schools compare to Hogwarts to how parchment, quills, and scrolls used in the wizarding world were made” AND includes a timeline comparing the history of the wizarding world to Muggle “real” history. If this sounds interesting to you, you can head over to Barnes and Noble to purchase the book, it retails for $17.95 but B&N has it for $12!

I am not normally the type of person to read history books but I do enjoy watching those random history shows on television when they are on an interesting topic so I knew that I would enjoy this book.  It was great to learn the history behind some of the themes and objects in the Potter books. This book is a wonderful learning tool because you are learning history but it is also fun because it is being related to the Potter series.

It was very cool to learn the history of bezoars and how they were prized possessions long ago because of their value, they also believed them to have healing powers. Some more interesting things you will read about, if you haven’t researched them already on your own, include the history of Nicholas Flamel, The Malfoys and the class system, the oppression of witches and wizards throughout history, how Voldemort and his Death Eaters are like the Nazis and so much more!

I encourage you to pick up this book and dig a little deeper into the series that we all cherish and love to read over and over.  It will give you a whole new understanding of the history of the wizarding world.