JAMES ELLIS has a sneak preview of the magic of Florida's new Harry Potter park

"WELCOME to Orlando's second castle, " says Alan Gilmore, waving his hand towards a series of menacing, peaked turrets piercing the blue Florida sky.

The first castle is a few miles down the road at Walt Disney World but Cinderella may soon find she's no longer belle of the ball, for Alan's castle is a wizard one - a Wizarding World of Harry Potter one.

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Alan is supervising art director at the "theme park in a theme park" that opens at Universal's Islands of Adventure next week.

From the minute you enter Hogsmeade, with its snow-capped houses and shops, to be greeted by the Hogwarts Express guard, it's clear nothing has been left to chance.

Every inch of the 20-acre, £134 million park has been approved by Harry Potter creator JK Rowling.

Alan worked on three of the Potter films before being seconded to Florida.

"We knew Hogsmeade was a strong part of the stories, so we made a proper town with much more detail than you see in the films, " he says. "Then we had to have Hogwarts."

At Honeydukes, one of six shops, I try Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. At Zonko's Joke Shop we look at "Puking Pastilles", moving chess sets and fanged frisbees and in Ollivander's Wand Shop the wands choose us, just as in the films.

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We pass the Owlery and a post office where you can buy Harry Potter postcards, write them with Potter pens, put Potter stamps on them and have them Potter postmarked.

Best of all are the Three Broomsticks restaurant and Hog's Head pub. Creaky walkways and bridges rise above us and shadows of owls, elves, cups and brooms dance around.

Here I get to try butterbeer, a fizzy caramel-tasting drink with a creamy foam top (in regular or frozen).

There are three rides in the park. Flight of the Hippogriff is a child-friendly rollercoaster and Dragon Challenge is for hardcore riders.

Head to Hogwarts for the third ride, Harry Potter And The Forbidden Journey.

Already 400ft high, the castle has been painted using a technique called forced perspective to make it look even taller.

In one room you meet the founders of the Hogwarts Houses:
Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin.

The hologram of Michael Gambon as Dumbledore is in the headmaster's study.

Finally, you end up in a classroom, where Harry, Ron and Hermione persuade you to join them in an adventure which sees Hermione enchant a bench that takes you soaring over Hogwarts.

You meet a dragon, take part in a Quidditch match and feel the cold of the Dementors. It is the one thing I'm not allowed to see but if it's anything like the rest of the Wizarding World, it's hard to believe this castle will remain number two for long.

THE KNOWLEDGE:
Virgin Holidays (0844 557 3859/www.virginholidays.co.uk) offers seven nights at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando from £989pp (two sharing), room only.

Price includes seven days car hire and return flights with Virgin Atlantic from Gatwick to Orlando.
Departs June 13.

Universal Orlando Resort 2 Park Bonus Ticket from £76 per adult and £71 per child (3-9 years). Price includes admission to Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure theme parks. Orlando Tourism Bureau: 0800 018 6760/www.visitorlando.com/uk