Conjuring up another reason to visit Orlando

As if we didn’t need another excuse to head to Orlando, Universal Studios will be opening its “Wizarding World of Harry Potter” theme park there in the spring of 2010. The studios revealed details yesterday of the rides and attractions that will welcome guests when they arrive at the Potter part of Universal’s Islands of Adventure

According to our three daughters, who keep track of such things, it has been more than two years and two months since our family last traveled to Walt Disney World and the Magic Kingdom. In other words and in our kids’ minds, we’re overdue for a trip down I-75.

We haven’t yet visited Universal on our trips to Orlando, but I know that will change the minute our Potter-mad girls get wind of this new all-Harry, all-the-time theme park. The high-tech, immersive experience will feature rides called “Flight of the Hippogriff,” “Dragon Challenge” and a tour through the massive Hogwarts Castle on “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey”.

Across town, the “old” land of magic is hoping a facelift at perennial favorites and the addition of attractions featuring the Disney princesses will help it better compete against the “new” magical realm at Universal. A few days ago, Walt Disney World announced it will begin its largest overhaul of the park when it adds a Little Mermaid ride through Ariel’s underwater home, updates its Star Wars ride (Disney Hollywood Studios), expands its Dumbo attractions, and creates areas where guests can interact with princesses like Cinderella, Belle and Aurora.

Those Disney updates aren’t scheduled to be completed until 2011 for the Star Wars renovations and 2013 for the Fantasyland attractions. If we hit Harry Potter world next summer (and I feel sure we will), the new Fantasyland rides will be ready right in time for us to make our next regularly-scheduled trek to Orlando.

However, I get a feeling we just might need a wand from the Potterworld wand shop to conjure up the money to pay for these Orlando getaways.

Do you think you will check out Universal’s latest Harry Potter attraction when it opens next year?  Will Disney World’s updates be a draw for you to make a trip to Orlando once they’re completed?

How often do you travel to Orlando in general? Do you try to hit all of the theme parks each time, or do you focus on one at a time? Where do you stay when you visit – on the resort or in metro Orlando? Where do you find the best deals, and when is your favorite time to head down there?