Dear Josh,
Don't you think it will be a bit hot out to be dressing in robes for the park opening???

Charles, Philadelphia,

It is unfortunate that the UK will not experience the HP theme park, but, it is sad to say, Universal Studios is linked to Warner Brothers and so is the HP franchise. It would be inappropriate to open the theme park in any other place than one linked to Warner Bros. If the UK could build a Waqrner Bros. theme park, then maybe, just maybe, it would be considered. Also, the UK isn't the only place where people line up for the books and the films. As you may well know, the amount of pre-ordered books for the Deathly Hollows in the US far exceeds the UK. Just think of the British Invasion. Who enjoyed the Stones, the Beatles and the other groups from the UK the most? The US. I live in Canada and am certainly looking forward to saving my nickles and dimes to enjoy this new theme park. I'll give up a lot to get there but I'll get there.

Linzzz, niagara falls, Canada

I'm quite glad it is being built here, for those who can come over to the states it will be a good way to start makign some Hp friends who could be bigger HP fans than them, just cuz the Author lives in England dosn't mean her biggest fans of the HP books are thier, smuch as me and My friends we love the HP books and movies, we go to all midnight showing for everything, I am happy that it will be here, and I'm already makign plans to dress up for it and keeping a watch for the tickets, yes i know its years away but hey, an HP fan like me is bound to try and go opening night, who knows what magic will happen ((mabey we will get the stars of the movies here or what not.)) But till then my cash is going to HP clothing and mechendise, along with the books and movies, but I can't wait to meet HP fans like me in Floridas Harry Potter Theam Park In Orlando, (though it would have been a better park had it been built by its self)), Finally I am proud of the U.S.A for once.

Slytherin For Life

Josh Ethier, Richmond, Va, U.S.A

There's also the statistic that 90% of Americans don't have passports. That's alot of business lost if the theme park were to be built in the UK.

Emma , Dorset , UK

Keep in mind that the Harry Potter area is just going to be one part of an already existing park, the Islands of Adventure, that is already quite busy even without Hogwarts. I was there a few days ago. The park already boasts other regions such as Suess Landing, the Marvel comic area with popular attractions such as #1 ride Spiderman and the popular roller coaster, Hulk, Jurassic Park, etc. The new Harry Potter segment will make use of some existing architectures such as the Dueling dragons roller coasters, Flying Unicorn roller coaster (for children), and award winning Mythos restaurant. All this combined with Universal's experience eases the logistics of building the region of the park, and JKR is happy with plans, so it's got to be good. I would like to see a stand-alone Harry Potter Theme Park in theUK in the future.

Terry, Orange Park, Florida/USA

I feel quite bitter that the Harry Potter theme park will be in the US. Largely due to the fact that as a UK mother who reads the books to her children, will never be able to afford to take them across the Atlantic. Perhaps the States are renowned for their theme parks, but they have Disney, and a number of other theme parks to their name - why take this from Britain?
It is the UK fans who queue until Midnight to buy the books, who wait on tenterhooks for both film and book to come out.
And now, the lower income fans are to miss out on what could be a wonderful experience.
Orlando is a top tourist resort? What Harry Potter could do for the UK tourism industry is unlimited, the locations used in the films, the inspiration for places in the texts, all could add to make a wonderful experience for UK tourists, why give it to somebody who already has more than their fair share of the worlds theme parks?
Its a sad day for the UK HP fans, and a sad day for the UK tourism industry.

E.L., Hants, U.K.

can`t wait till the Harry Potter theam park opens to feel like where in the movies while your there should be asome

sharlene bernstein, milford, massachusetts

I will love to see a harry poter theme park in florida.Then I won't have to travel half way aroung the world to the united kingdom. I will probably go there when I'm all upset with the world. I can go get a tarot card reading and they can tell me what will hapen in my life. Maybe this is a great exspansion to the Metaphysicall side then we won't be condemd.

Charles,Paul,Bartlett, Zephyrhills, florida

Everybody seems to be saying that they would rather see the Harry Potter theme park be built in the UK as it originated from here.
But Orlando offers much more in the way of tourism, space and money. There are already a number of theme parks out there and combined with the Harry Potter park, it will be amazing.

ALSO it gives us British an excuse to go on holiday more often. And as a number one fan of Harry Potter I cannot wait !

Katrina, Hertfordshire, UK

Here are a few reasons it is being built in the US.
1 Theme park land already available. The portions of the park being used are not that exciting anymore.
2 JK is extremely protective of her characters and is not going to approve a shoddy representation. This brings me to
3 Money. It will take a lot of money to make this park look like she wants. Universal is always trying to beat Disney at it's own game and this is the one they've been waiting for.
4 Orlando is one of the biggest tourist destinations in the world and Harry is popular world wide.

Even though I live in the US, it still would cost quite a bit of money for me and my family to go there as I live in the middle north. I also think the illusion of walking though a snowy village in 90 degree weather is quite contradictory. None the less, I plan on going when I can afford it. The technology mentioned so far sounds amazing.

Tony Adler, Zumbro Falls, MN

I think the theme park is a great idead, but i think the uk should have one too, I'm a single mum living on a budget. ( I can just imagine some lawer like the one in jurasic park saying " well have a coupon day or something) what about the thousands of parents in the uk like myself, who have to tell their kids they cant go, please build one here.

Jo, Liverpool, uk

I think it will be awesome and i would probably never what to leave it but on some sits it says the them park will be in Orlando but i think ot should be in Scotland because J.K Rowling lives there and i love going there.

chantelle, nottingham, uk

I think its a great idea to open theme park , it will give funs of Harry Potter books something to look forward to after the last book and movie is done.

victoria albornoz, wollongong NSW, AUSTRALIA

I think this is a SUPER move and about time too!!!

Lots of Adult Fans have been craving/ longing for this kind of thing.
Afterall, the books aren't anymore just for kids... adults are a large part too!

I only hope that they will being to live not just the overall beloved Characters (Hermione, McG, Harry, Dumbledore, etc) but also those who are either evil or somewhat shady (Malfoys, Snape).

Rose, Cottageville, WV,USA

THIS WILL BE GREAT FOR THE UK .the appeal of the
castle will have USA tourists flocking to the UK to see
the real thing ,Scotland's going to boom , not sure about
the stuffed owls ,and snakes . DONT TELL THE AMERICANS ABOUT CHARLES DICKENS or they will
never go home.

george william taylor, hull, uk

It's not an either/or, there could be more than one Potter theme park but I doubt sucha venture would be as profitable in Britain as we already have places such as Alnwyck Castle and other places used in the film to visit. Then again if the florida one is successful, they may buy up Alnwick castle

Mark, Newcastle,

If she si the best selling author of all time then what does that mean to Agatha Christie who reputedly sold a billion books?

Steve Brown, Torquay, England

It's being built in America because American money is building it. At least the Americans put their money where their mouth is. When you are willing to invest *your* money, then *you* get to say where it's built. It's as simple as that.

Ann F., expat Brit in NY, NY, USA

Such prejudice! Americans will not claim Harry Potter as their own; we all quite like the British setting and characters. Locating the park in Orlando, Florida, is a good idea: there are already theme parks located there, and there will be economies of scale from already being a popular tourist destination. In addition, the weather in Florida is consistently good, if hot, (barring hurricanes) which is a further incentive for planning a vacation to expensive theme parks. Universal already has a movie-themed theme park, so they will know what they are about in creating a Harry Potter world, based on literary and film sources.

Julia, Virginia, USA

James H (and others). The fact that the weather in Florida is better is the main reason for putting a theme park in the USA instead of the UK don't you think. And it can be open all round the year (except in Hurricanes) ... yes it's a shame they don't use a real castle and put this them park up in Scotland - it would be more appropriate but hardly as successful.

LK, Derby,

Since the USA has a much larger population, that must be part of the reason for the decision to build it there. It will be a tourist attraction that will have the most profitable number of visitors. When you compare the British tourism to the USA, and the number of people worldwide who already go to the Orlando area because of Universal and Disney, having the additional theme park there is the dollar wise decision maker!

Granny, Wildwood, Florida/USA

Zelona,
Don't forget there are alot more of you americans than brits. If you work out the figures as a percentage of population, the brits win easily.

Wendy, Sydney, Australia

I'd like to point out that the 620K as opposed to 250K figure noted by Zelona, while signalling a large number of online Harry Potter lovers in the USA, does not offer concrete evidence that more people in relation to the size of the country read and enjoy Harry Potter.

The greater number of people with online bookings compared to the UK is only natural considering the USA's greater size.

Perhaps it could be that the Park creators favoured the monetary appeal in the decision to place the Park in the USA - with a larger base of people on the continent, it is more likely to generate funds instantaneously.

Who knew the world of Harry Potter would come at such a cost? I thought I only had to pick up a book and open it to be transported there immediately. But then, imagination is nothing to special effects and a multi-million-dollar budget.

Vicky, Leeds, UK

The park really should be in the UK. I think Scotland would work well.

Paul Ryan, Mansfield, United Kingdom

You all do have a point. But, did you read the numbers above? Only 250K books have been pre-ordered on Amazon by people in Britan. Note the 620K pre-ordered in the U.S. This is why they're building it in Orlando. People are going to arrive in droves, I believe, for the park's opening in 2009. As a die-hard Harry Potter fan, I cannot wait!!!!

Zelona, West Palm Beach, Florida, USA

Most of us Americans who are Harry Potter fans have nothing but respect and appreciation for the British. In fact, I don't think Harry Potter would have been as popular if it originated as an American story. I can understand how many Brits are disappointed to see it being built in America. Orlando is quite an international tourist destination. It is very common to walk around that city and hear accents from every corner of the world, and especially British ones.

Any decent American and Harry Potter fan would never claim Harry Potter to be an American concept. Not all of us are so pretentious.

Jen, Pembroke Pines, FL

I've never really got into Harry Potter, but I may buy the book this summer and read the last chapter. Should save me about a year of my life.

MT, Woking, UK

But are Europeans as gullible and free-flowing when it comes to their money? Bottom-line profit is gospel here in the states. It's all about the money. The Orlando area used to be pretty until Walt Disney started ripping it up for his theme parks. Would you really want that crass commercialilsm (and increased crime - that's what happened in Orlando) in Europe? Maybe the author approved of Orlando to save the blight of her own country. I'd rather travel to England to see the beautiful countryside, not a Disney theme park.

Diana Celesky, Omaha, USA/NE

Don't want to remind everyone that in such matters the Americans beat the British hands down! As much as I would like to "fly the flag" on this one, forget it, it's not wortht the effort. Britons flock to Florida every year as wellas to LA and Disneyland/Universal Studios. I don't see anyone flocking over here to go to Alton Towers!!!
Vision and money invested makes these things happen, not talking and complaining!

I think it's a great idea and think Warners has done a great job of the films so far. I hope Tim Burton gets to direct one of them too. His dark vision combined with the Harry Potter world would be wonderful to see!
Congratulations to JKR for picking a company that can not only make the movies but also a theme park based upon them... I guess Disney would have been the other choice.
I look forward to reading the books with my kids and then later taking them somewhere where this world exists!

James Hunter, Cologne,

Too bad this parc is being build in Orlando, Floriada. In my opinion this should be build where it should be, in England, Europe. But there must be a reasonable explination why it is build in the USA. On the other hand I am very exciting about it :) I just hope it will also be build in England.

Patrick Dalderop, Zoetermeer, Netherlands

Why Florida? Why not the UK? Isn't J.K Rowling British? Isn't Harry Potter another work of genius from a British author?

Yet another top tourist opportunity slips from our fingers into the hands of the Americans who will no doubt claim the concept as their own in a few years

Yoga anyone?

Paul Ritchie, Southampton,