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FEBRUARY 27, 2004 at 3:17 PM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: HP Fan Trips
Reminder: You can win a trip for two
on the weekend portion of this trip. Contest ends March 15, 2004.
February 27, 2004 - Participants on the first HP Fan Trips tour to Britain will ride on what Harry Potter fans worldwide recognize as the Hogwarts Express train from the films based on author JK Rowling's popular books.
The announcement was made after Beyond Boundaries Travel, the fan-created group's operating tour company, secured the deal this week with the West Coast Railway Company, the train's owner. The locomotive #5972 doubles as the celluloid version of the Hogwarts Express and is being put into service expressly at the request of HP Fan Trips while on exhibit in York for the National Railway Museum's Rail 200 extravaganza, celebrating 200 years of railways. Trip-goers will have private carriages just like the ones used in the films, with access to a candy trolly and other goodies during the ride.
"We're extremely excited to be able to offer this to the Harry Potter fans who will be coming on the first of what we hope is many HP Fan Trips operated by Beyond Boundaries Travel," said Jeff Guillaume, one of the group's organizers. "Only the people on this trip will be able to say they've ridden on the actual Hogwarts Express train seen in the Harry Potter movies."
An immersive week-long excursion through the United Kingdom, centered around the film debut of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, awaits participants who have until March 31, 2004 to book their reservations. Actor Chris Rankin, who portrays Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry's head boy Percy Weasley in the movie, will accompany travelers for an entire weekend as they trek through London, feast at a Great Hall-style gathering, and watch a "Quidditch" match created exclusively for the tour by USA Team Handball, a member of the United States Olympic Committee.
(This is the first of three special announcements that will be made through the end of March. The tour, which celebrates the history of wizards, fantasy, and magical creatures using world-class storytellers and ingenious activities, is developed in cooperation with Visit Britain, the official British Tourist Authority, and commences on June 1, 2004.)
About HP Fan Trips
HP Fan Trips in July 2003 began planning a Harry Potter fan's dream vacation, focused around the premiere of the third Harry Potter film. Its organizers include Heidi Tandy, an intellectual property lawyer and co-founder of fan site FictionAlley.org; Jeff Guillaume, a 23-year-old programmer and creator of Harry Potter news site HPANA.com; Jeannie Barresi of Beyond Boundaries Travel; and Jonathan Trachtenberg, designer of the HP Fan Trips web site.
About Beyond Boundaries Travel
Since 1991, Beyond Boundaries Travel has designed theme-based experiential tours for group travel. It is an international tour company working with The History Channel, the World Bank, the United Nations, the National Institutes of Health and numerous other clubs and organizations. Beyond Boundaries works with actors, authors, film directors, dancers and choreographers and many other very special guest presenters on these customized programs.
CONTACT: Jeannie Barresi
TEL: 800-487-1136
E-MAIL: jeannie@beyondboundariestravel.com
CONTACT: Jeff Guillaume
E-MAIL: info@hpfantrips.com
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Half-Blood Prince
(Moderator)
Points: 942
Professor Scoots says:
I want to ride on the Hogwarts Express!! I think it would be so neat to be able to ride the actual train - even if it doesn't really go to Hogwarts! Just to see and experience something from the movies would be au-some!
Too bad I am here in America and have no plans to take a trip to London. Nor do I have the money/time to make such a trip!
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 6:02 PM EST
Crookshanks Caretaker
Points: 3836
hermionefan1 says:
Thats awesome! I would love to ride the Hogwarts Express. I won't win thou i never win anything.
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 6:02 PM EST
Witch
Points: 617
*_Johnny 4 EveR_* says:
(sniff,sniff) I really would want to go on this trip but my parents probably wouldn't be able to come with me because they gotta work!
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 6:03 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1445
PotionMaster says:
I would love something like that! But, I could never do it. I live in the States for one thing. I also looked at the prices on the site. Ouch!
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 6:13 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 393
pinkllama says:
O my goodness! That would be ssssooooo fun!
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 6:16 PM EST
Points: 182
HPnerdANDproud14 says:
sweet... the problem is i live in a cardboard box, and cant afford anything!
ANDy
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 6:32 PM EST
Quidditch Captain
Points: 6166
Alex Seeker says:
My mother tells me I've already been on the train they use as the Hogwarts Express but I was 5! Still pretty cool though huh?! These fantrips must be so good - wish I could afford just one!
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 6:38 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 345
Mormon_Chic says:
Cool...sounds fun whoever wins--have fun--and whoever enters--good luck!!!;)
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 6:46 PM EST
Student
Points: 277
hp_freak_23 says:
Gosh, I'm gonna cry coz I can't go!! What happened to FREE trips??? Huh?? Anyone for that??
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 6:47 PM EST
High Inquisitor
Points: 23477
KT Lady says:
Oh my gosh! That is awesome! I sent it like 20 of those entry forms to win the free trip for 2...oh man..I hope I win! *crosses fingers* I would seriously spaz out!! AHH! I wish I had money to definitely reserve a spot though!
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 6:47 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1155
AFawkes05 says:
Man I want to go so bad! I would pay a grand just for the candy! that sounds sooooo cool.
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 7:21 PM EST
Curse Breaker
(Moderator)
Points: 3786
Galilea says:
I want to go on that trip so bad. It would be such a wonderful adventure!
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 7:41 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1068
Penumbra says:
That's really awesome! I would love that the trip include knowing more of the members o the cast!
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 7:46 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 44
LuRsi says:
I'd like to go!!! but i can't =( I'm from Chile, i'm so far from UK!
Bye!
P.S: excuse my english, i'm still learning...
P.S: is anybody in here who speak a little of spanish?
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 8:00 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1503
liLchogurL says:
I wanna go too...but so do the rest of the millions of Harry Potter fans all over the world.
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 8:00 PM EST
Honeydukes Sweetie Pie
(Moderator)
Points: 4710
Keng says:
97 days, boys and girls. 97 days...
Oooo, I am so jealous! I would adore to go on one of these trips. I really want to go on the HP one, and the LotR one (New Zealand... oooo, I wanna go). Phtt, I live in Canada; what's the chance of me going over there?
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 8:11 PM EST
Witch
Points: 862
Lilison says:
I am so tempted to use my reserves and blow them on a trip, yeah that's right a Harry Potter trip!!!
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 8:31 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1191
mrsmad says:
Oh gosh! That really sounds cool, I hope I win!
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 8:33 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1191
mrsmad says:
It seems that only the people who take the 6 day tour get to ride on the Hogwarts Express. NOT THE CONTEST WINNERS. What A BUMMER!oh well I still hope I win.
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 8:49 PM EST
Daily Prophet Journalist
Points: 2597
dance_gear says:
Ahhhhh.......I'm so jealous!!!!!! I really more than anything wish that i could go!!!! Those people going are like the luckiest people in the world! I cant believe they get to ride the Hogwarts expresss....This is just not fair! i think i'm goonna cry....i have the worst luck ever! I siriusly wish that i could go on this trip....why, why, why....me!!!
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 9:15 PM EST
Witch
Points: 977
Butterbeer says:
That sounds so much fun! Id love to attend that trip.
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 9:23 PM EST
Student
Points: 243
kris10michelle04 says:
I wish I could go, but I shall be here... in the states... not in England..
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 9:45 PM EST
Gryffindor Chaser
Points: 3637
Angelina Johnson says:
Man, i wish i could go. It's so amazing!!!!
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 9:52 PM EST
Transfiguration Professor
Points: 2990
Choralee says:
It would be so cool to actually travel on the Hogwart's Express! Imagine the pictures you could take of you and your friends in one of the cabins. Amazing. Simply amazing.
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 10:20 PM EST
Student
Points: 223
punkmarshmallow11 says:
wow that is so cool i wan to ride on it! WOW that wow.
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 10:21 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1303
wahnaroo22 says:
That is so cool!!! I would have to ride in the same compartment they used in the movies.
Posted Feb 27, 2004 at 10:53 PM EST
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