Calling all of you wizards and muggles out there! The new Harry Potter expansion in Universal Studios will be opening this summer. The park has been slow to release many of the details about this area of the park, to keep everyone in suspense no doubt. However, we have some information about the rides, shopping and dining. We also just took a photo of Diagon Alley (pictured here) last weekend, so you can see that construction is in it’s final stages.
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, located in Diagon Alley, is the main attraction of the Harry Potter expansion. It aims to recreate the famous scene from the popular book and movie. Riders will first enter Gringott’s Bank’s grand lobby. There will be massive chandeliers overhead and goblins scribbling bank records and counting the money. They also stop and stare at the riders on occasion and ask if they want to open up a bank account. These brief interactions with the goblins are expected to really get the riders into the ride. Once guests actually get on the ride, it’s a whirlwind of 3-D excitement and special effects. Guests will go through a labyrinth of things including underground vaults, escaping Death Eaters and seeing the one who must not be named.
Hogwarts Express
Park guests can also take a ride on the beloved Hogwarts Express. They will go from Hogsmeade Station to London’s King’s Cross Station and then back. During the ride guests will watch a short, 4 minute Harry Potter movie that is made for the ride.
Shopping and Dining in Diagon Alley
There’s plenty of shopping and dining opportunities all around Diagon Alley. Guests can enjoy a meal of British inspired items in the Leaky Cauldron. For those that want a thrill there’s Knockturn Alley. It’s dark and spooky and has skeletons that dance and shrunken heads that tell jokes. For a little desert after lunch Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour is located by Gringotts. It serves flavors inspired by the movie like clotted cream. The Magical Menagerie is just down the alley and has a wealth of different souvenirs available including plush toys.
Travel Tip: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ – Diagon Alley™ will open Summer 2014 in Universal Studios Florida while The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ – Hogsmeade™ is now open next door in Universal’s Islands of Adventure. That means that you’ll need admission to both of the Universal Orlando theme parks to experience all of the Harry Potter™ magic and excitement. An Annual Pass will give you access to both theme parks PLUS access to the Hogwarts™ Express! Or you can visit either land with a Single Park Admission ticket.
The new Harry Potter expansion surely won’t disappoint. Universal has spent an estimated $400 million dollars on the renovations. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter still continues to draw large crowds even after opening 4 years ago and Universal expects the new expansion to bring even more guests to their parks. It’s expected to draw Harry Potter lovers from countries all around the world.
The park will open June 17th-20th for media and VIP guests, and then July 8th to the public.
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