Seven Secrets Behind Universal's Harry Potter Ride

Nov. 19, 2010— -- ORLANDO, Fla. -- Harry Potter is all the buzz these days -- and we're not just talking about the latest movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Watching his adventures unfold on the big screen is one way to experience the magic of the boy wizard, but nothing quite compares to walking through the fictional streets of Hogsmeade Village or visiting Hogwarts Castle.

And that's exactly what thousands upon thousands of Harry Potter devotees have done since June, when the Universal Orlando Resort opened its much-anticipated attraction: the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Thierry Coup, who headed the design team behind the attraction, recently led ABC News through Harry Potter's world, sharing several of its secrets. He did not, however, tell us what was in the extremely popular butterbeer. Apparently, some secrets need to remain so.

"It is not a fake world," Coup insisted. "It feels as real as it can be. The magic happens here."

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The magic starts first thing in the morning when a rush of guests speeds through the turnstiles and races -- like kids chasing after an ice-cream truck -- except it's not just kids -- to the Harry Potter neighborhood.

Jaws dropped, many jumped for joy and almost everyone posed for a photograph. Plenty of guests -- you know, muggles -- were dressed up in black robes and the prep-school ties of Hogwarts. So many were that they didn't look out of place.