WWHP Update: Butterbeer Taste and Hogwarts

In more of an interview with Thierry Coup(vice president of creative development at Universal and head of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter) he tells us about the popular wizard drink butterbeer and the look of the Hogwarts castle.

Although the butterbeer will not alcoholic like in the books, but it will still be done right. It is also good to know that J.K Rowling herself approves of the drink.

"It was really fun to be a part of the whole tasting different [attempts at butterbeer] to try until J.K. Rowling really felt, okay, this is it, this is what I always thought butterbeer should taste like," Coup shared with us in a phone interview. "It was a very exciting moment to see her smile and actually taste it. It's a delicious thing, first of all. It's everything you expected it to be."

Don't expect the recipe in stores nationwide or to be posted on Universals website any time soon. "You can buy as much as you want: here at the Hog's Head Pub," Coup teased us. "You have to come here and taste it."

 

If there is one thing that is important to Harry Potter fans it is to make sure that this theme park is realistic. According to Thierry Coup, that is exactly what fans will be getting. Check out the Remembrall Gallery for a high-res photo of the castle. When asked about the size and the comparison to the castle in the movies Coup had this to say:

"I can tell you when you stand in front of it, it appears to be about 700 feet tall. Truly, you cannot tell how big it is, it's just impossible," he said. "The castle itself, of course we couldn't make it 700 feet tall, but it's definitely about 15 stories tall. It just feels like it goes forever. It's gigantic."

 

"They actually use a fairly small model in the movies," Coup said. "This is gigantic compared to what they use in the movies."

Coup also goes into describing the Forbidden Journey Ride:

But the exterior of the castle isn't nearly as impressive as what the interior promises to be. The castle houses the ride Universal is being most hush-hush about: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. According to yesterday's USA Today article, the ride "uses robotic arms to move passengers in various ways as they pass through scenes from the movies."

Coup told us, however, that the waiting line for Forbidden Journey will offer as much excitement as the ride itself. When we asked him how young children would feel about some of the rides, he said even if they don't want to ride Forbidden Journey, the walk through Hogwarts castle would be worth it because they would be able to "visit all the iconic rooms" described in the "Harry Potter" books and movies.

Keep checking back for more updates.