Website of the week: www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter

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Universal Orlando Resort's website for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has just received a Webby Award as 'Best Tourism Website. In the Internet world, a Webby is the equivalent of an Oscar. So, what's so special about the website that promotes this fantasy land within Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park?

Multimedia magic: First stop is an interactive map, which enables users to whizz deep into the theme park

Strengths

The high-tech wizardry. Click on the map, and it comes to life. You can go on a flight, which is in places interactive, through the park's versions of Hogwarts school and Hogsmeade village. Click on the photos in The Wizarding World News newspaper, and they become videos, with members of the cast giving their thoughts on the park, and designers talking about its creation.Another neat gimmick is the Owl Post, which lets you send an email that pops out to the recipient as a letter with a Hogsmeade postmark.

Wizard welcome: Characters from the park are on hand to show you around

Weaknesses

Arguably, being able to see so much on the screen might make the experience of visiting something of an anticlimax.Also, the website is just a marketing tool - albeit a very good one. So it doesn't tell you if The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is, in reality, any good, or anything about the queues you might have to endure. For impartial views and advice, have a look at www.themeparkinsider.com.

Ratings

Inspi! ring 5/5
Useful 2/5
Easy to use 4/5

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