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The news millions of children (and socially awkward adults who enjoy playing wizarding make-believe in their leisure time) have been waiting for has finally come: Plans for a Harry Potter theme park have been announced, in which the series's enchanted cobblestone walkways and ivy-covered walls will be painstainkingly recreated on the grounds of the equally magical Universal's Islands of Adventure. Reports the AP:

"The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" is set to open at Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park in late 2009, complete with the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Forbidden Forest and Hogsmeade village.

"The plans I've seen look incredibly exciting, and I don't think fans of the books or films will be disappointed," said author J.K. Rowling, who has been working with a creative team to make sure the park resembles the books and films.

[Universal's Scott] Trowbridge said while there would not be any character lookalikes at the park, fans wanting to see Harry Potter and his magical friends wouldn't leave disappointed.

"This is Harry's world," said Trowbridge. "Most every fan wants to have an encounter with the star of the show."

Since the project gets the nod of approval from notoriously protective series creator J.K. Rowling, you can be sure The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will capture the scope and detail of the novels. Souvenir stands will likely grace every other corner, selling the requisite Fanged Frisbees and Screaming Yo-Yos to the dazzled Harry fans. And at the end of their long day of spell-casting adventure, sick from gorging on Bertie Bott's Vomit-Flavored Churros, they'll trod back to their cars, wishing their official Nimbus 2000 reproduction could hasten the journey, and incapable of a withholding just a slight sneer of derision as they pass the Muggle simpletons cavorting at the park's comparatively puerile Seuss Landing.