One of the islands making up the Islands of Adventure theme park at the Universal Orlando resort, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened its gates on June 18th, 2010. It compromises many aspects of Harry's world, from Hogsmeade to Hogwarts itself. This unofficial blog celebrates the WWoHP and delivers news regarding it.
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I joined the LeakyNews staff yesterday, just in time for the big WWoHP news. This is one of my first posts— a look at what we can look forward to from the Diagon Alley expansion. If being able to finally go to Hogwarts was mind-blowing back in 2010, let’s consider the fact that in a year’s time we’ll be able to withdraw some money at Gringotts, board the Hogwarts Express, and travel toward Hogwarts the same way Harry did. We’re going to be able to grab a bite at the Leaky Cauldron, probably while checking LeakyNews on our phones. We’ll be able to spend hours at Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes, visit the original Ollivander’s, and maybe hit Hogsmeade for some butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks. As opening day approaches, we’ll bring our wands, scarves, and white button-ups out of the closet. We’ll be abuzz once again, exchanging plans and counting down. We’ll be speculating, debating, and waiting. This is the magic many feared– but never truly believed– would end with the last book in 2007 or the last film in 2011. This is the stuff that brings us together, brings the wizards and witches out of the woodwork, and reminds us where our loyalties lie. What are you expecting from Diagon Alley? Let us know in the comments over there! I’ll talk back. It’ll be a party.
OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED ON UNIVERSAL’S FACEBOOK PAGE
THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES: THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER – DIAGON ALLEY IS COMING TO UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT.
Building on the global phenomenon that is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Orlando Resort and Warner Bros. Entertainment today announced an expansion of historic proportion with the entirely new themed environment, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley.
Scheduled to open in 2014, the world’s first centrally themed, multi-park experience expands The Wizarding World of Harry Potter across both Universal Orlando theme parks and allows Universal’s creative team to bring an unparalleled vision to this unique project. The new area will bring to life some of the experiences and places found in and around London in the Harry Potter books and films, offering brand-new adventures for fans and theme park guests from around the world.
Diagon Alley and ‘London’ will be located within the Universal Studios Florida theme park, which is adjacent to Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park, where guests now experience Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. The new area within Universal Studios will be just as expansive, immersive and authentic as the existing themed environment.
Basically, we told you so. Oh, and yeah, it’s going to be absolutely amazing.
dinghysailingpirates asked: Do you guys know what they're doing with the Universal Studios in Osaka? I was there in December and all I saw was a huge rectangular-ish building that was being built.
That is the WWoHP that will be open there as well. The timeline seems to include both the Osaka Phase I copy as well as the Phase II expansion in Orlando for next year, and then the Hollywood Phase I copy.
Diagon Alley Update
A lot has changed over on the Diagon Alley side of the expansion since new elements started going vertical. Not only is Gringotts coming along, there are store/restaurant structures and, most interestingly, the famous Diagon Alley arch through which guests will enter the area with some authenticity. These pictures are all from hatetofly over at OrlandoUnited.
There is also a video update here.
Just a heads up.
Activity on this blog is going to pick up over the next few weeks in preparation for the imminent official press conference.
Anonymous asked: Do you know when construction will be done?
There is absolutely no word on when construction will be done. While the general timeframe appears to indicate a 2014-2015 opening, the construction process is very intricate and will involve massive amounts of theming checks and WB approvals before anyone gets to enjoy the new area.
hogsmeade station update
dragon challenge is currently closed, and this is at least part of the reason why: hogsmeade station construction! though the imagery has changed over the course films, it’s likely this will resemble the one seen in ootp.
notice the distance from the entrance arch— a feature that will be moved forward in front of the new station as completion nears.
this does beg the question of what will be done with the stationary hogwarts express and the dragon challenge lockers.
(credit to bobwadd over at orlandounited)
gringotts construction update - jan. 12
(credit to bobwadd over at orlandounited)
That one time that the internet called it in 2008.
there was a rumor of blending the parks with Diagon Ally being at Uni Studios with the Hogwarts express connecting the two
This post is mostly for those skeptics out there— the people who are weary of online sources in general and the people waiting on an official confirmation to believe anything.
The screenshot above comes from the very early pages of OrlandoUnited’s first ever WWoHP thread, which grew to be thousands of pages long. The page this appears on also got many phase 1 things right, like the new bridge and the affected areas.
The point is that all of this, including Phase 2, has been in the works for a very long time and the people who were getting the right information back then are still getting it today. Things will change as the area develops, decisions will be made, plans will evolve.
But we’re not going to post any information on here that doesn’t come from sources we’ve trusted for years upon years now. We tell you what we believe to be true, and it’s usually right. Take everything with a grain of salt, but don’t let skepticism ruin the fun.
