The Wizards World of Champions Gate may not run off actual magic, but through the power of smart home ingenuity, this Harry Potter themed AirBnB certainly captures the series’ fantastical charm. Transporting guests to a land of wizardly design themes and ‘magical’ automated surprises, Cyberhomes Systems LLC and Control4 have made a custom-built vacation rental that fits right in with the fictional world. All it’s missing is a Quidditch court.

“Located 12 miles from a major magic-themed amusement park, this rental property offers families an all-encompassing vacation where they can delight in fantasy and magical fun that seems to leap right out of the walls,” said Lance Faber, owner of Cyberhomes Systems LLC.

“Normally that might sound like a gimmick, but I’m serious – this Control4-powered home has timed and motion-activated lighting, speakers and TVs that surprise guests with magic events like simulated lightning and thunder when they open a door, having apparitions appear and disappear on screens as they walk by, or playing train sounds when someone enters the train station bedroom.”

The timed motion sensors placed throughout the Wizards World of Champions Gate keep the experience fun and surprising for visitors, no wand required! For example, when entering the movie theater, a projector automatically starts rolling on the screen and when walking past a storefront animations appear on the wall, mimicking some familiar scenery one might find in Diagon Alley.

However, these events are set on a timer and therefore aren’t always triggered by motion, both preserving the technology and keeping the AirBnB’s experience whimsical for Harry Potter fans.

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Hidden Smart Home Technology Keep the Magic of Harry Potter Lively

The Control4 system that manages the Wizards World of Champions Gate’s lighting, TVs, Triad multi-room audio, ClareVision security cameras and luxurious home theater is largely invisible to guests. It’s like Cyberhomes threw a concealing cloak over the entire set-up.

The integration team chose technologies that were designed to meld with the AirBnB’s wizardly design theming so that Harry Potter magic could be captured in full by the automations. This includes Triad PDX in-ceiling speakers, Samsung Frame TVs with custom designed frames, and engraved Control4 lighting keypads that make lighting control intuitive and easy.

Astute pre-planning combined with the wireless capabilities and in-wall foundation of the Control4 system also helped. This allowed the team to uniquely design each room in the AirBnB to bring to life a variety of magical scenes that are heavily inspired from the Harry Potter books and movies.

For instance, one of the five bathrooms looks like a classic British phone booth that expands to become much bigger on the inside. Meanwhile, the bedroom has a life-size replica of a train car very reminiscent of the Hogwarts Express that houses a child’s bed.

Combined with the automated audio and visual surprises, one could be forgiven for starting to believe they have found and alternative to Platform 9 3/4 on a rental app.

 “The programming and special features we developed for this home go above and beyond what’s offered by even high-end accommodations, making it an unforgettable destination all in itself,” Faber added.

“They can easily and immediately play their favorite music in any room, right from their own devices, or relax by the pool and enjoy the outdoor audio and TV that ensure the party never stops. Control4 makes all of this powerful automation appear seamless to guests and enables us to have full insight into the system to detect and fix any issues.”

Resilient Systems Cast a Spell of Protection on the Wizards World of Champions Gate

To keep the magic of Harry Potter up and running, the owners and integrator decided to limit direct control to the AirBnB’s core systems. Of course, certain controls are provided, such as Control4 remotes that provide instant control of the home theater and TVs without providing access to deeper systems like security and lighting. In a way, it really does resemble being in your first year at Hogwarts (only the basics, but boy are they still magical).

A single tap of the ‘Home Theater’ button on the remote activates the entire setup. Guests can then enjoy movies from a variety of streaming services or play games with the connected Xbox and Playstation consoles.

Cyberhomes also installed WattBox power management products that provide full protection against power surges or voltage fluctuations, including for the robust Araknis network. This enterprise-grade wireless network features multiple wireless access points and switches to ensure reliable internet connections and functionality of special features in every room.

What’s more, the WattBox components include the advanced OvrC remote project management platform, so technicians can log in to the home’s system from anywhere in the world and quickly reset components or troubleshoot issues that need immediate attention. This ends up being integral for the operations of this Harry Potter AirBnB, as the integrator can’t quite apparate to the property from several states away if something goes wrong.

Cyberhomes also invested in an uninterrupted power supply which ensures the system is ready to stay up and running when the power goes out. This more robust technology gives both the owners and visitors greater peace of mind so this magical AirBnB can keep the magic of Harry Potter up and running, no matter what.

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