Universal Orlando Resort Reveals Details for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley1/23/2014
 2014’s Most Anticipated New Theme Park Experience Opens This Summer and Brings More of Harry Potter’s Adventures to Life Expansive New Area Will Feature Something for Everyone: The Hogwarts Express, A Groundbreaking Ride, Plus Spectacular Shops and Dining  ORLANDO, Fla. (January 23, 2014) – Never before has a theme park created a guest experience like this: you climb aboard the Hogwarts Express in Hogsmeade and moments later arrive at King’s Cross Station – where the wonders of London and Diagon Alley unfold before you. And it is all real. With this summer’s opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, Universal Orlando Resort and Warner Bros. Entertainment will bring even more of Harry Potter’s adventures to life inside a new, magnificently themed area that includes a revolutionary attraction experience, as well as all-new themed shops and dining. The two companies today revealed first-ever details about the new area and the one-of-a-kind adventures it will offer the whole family. The spectacularly themed environment will double the size of the sweeping area already dedicated to Harry Potter’s adventures at Universal Orlando, expanding it across both Universal theme parks. And – just like in the books and films – guests will be able to travel between the two areas aboard the iconic Hogwarts Express.  Universal Orlando launched a global phenomenon when it opened The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at its Islands of Adventure theme park in 2010. That area includes the iconic Hogwarts castle – which houses the groundbreaking Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey attraction – and the village of Hogsmeade. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley will be located within Universal Orlando’s second theme park, Universal Studios, and will create new experiences based on the signature areas of London, Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley. Universal’s creative team has been working closely with Stuart Craig and the production team from the Harry Potter films to make the new area as authentic and spectacular as possible – just as it did with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade. The vision for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley is unprecedented, with Universal Orlando creating the world’s first centrally themed, multi-park experience. After arriving at King’s Cross Station aboard the Hogwarts Express, guests will pass through London and the iconic brick wall archway from the films into Diagon Alley – a bustling, wizarding hub within a Muggle city. There will be shops, dining experiences, and a new ride called Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts – a multi-sensory, multi-dimensional journey that will take theme park attractions to a new level.  The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley will give visitors the exciting opportunity to:
 Explore some of Diagon Alley’s famous shops, including:
And more!  More details about the unique experiences that can be found in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley will be released over time. For more information about the area, visit www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter  We are very excited to bring you the first of what we hope will be many updates for the upcoming Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood. The area doesn't open until 2016 so that gives us lots of time to follow all aspects of construction. As if Harry Potter wasn't enough, the new for 2014 attraction "Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem" is inching closer to opening this spring. There is also a lot of work going on around The Simpsons Ride. Wizarding World of Harry PotterBefore we get into what the area for Wizarding World of Harry Potter looks like now, let's take a look at what the area looked like just a few short months ago on September 13, 2013. Thanks so much to CoasterMatt for the following "Before" pictures.   And this is what that same area looks like today.   What is at the moment big piles of dirt will eventually be the highly themed world of Harry Potter.   Big machines that punch holes in the ground are on site as well as the crane that can be seen from well outside the park. Isn't there some kind of spell that can just make this be ready to open tomorrow?   As seen from outside the park.    Lots of stuff in the staging area.  From inside the park you can get an idea of just how big the crane is.  The size and scope of this project is, quite simply, the biggest project in the parks history. This is going to change the park, not only expanding the size of the upper lot but most likely changing the way the park is seen from a local and tourist standpoint. While other parks have had a lock on the local Southern California market for years, Universal Studios was always seen as a park for tourists with only an occasional visit for locals. This project will expand the local market for the park unlike anything else in the parks history. Despicable Me: Minion MayhemThe park is also hard at work on the new for 2014 attraction, Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem. Unlike it's Florida Counterpart this attraction brings with it an entire new "mini-land" that is rumored to include a spinning ride. Given how popular the franchise is (especially the Minions), and considering the lack of major attractions in the local market, this is probably going to be the biggest attraction opening in Southern California in 2014.  It looks like the crane is mainly being used for the "Super Silly Fun Land" area.   The facade for Gru's house is only one of many things featured from the movies. And this is only what we can see so far.   I'm sure this guy was doing something pretty important. Actually, since these pictures were taken the sign for the ride has been installed (just to the left of where the crane is in the picture below).   From the lower lot you can see some of the work being done on "Super Silly Fun Land"    A lot of Despicable Me merchandise has already started to show up in the stores both inside the park and at CityWalk.  It's so FLUFFY!!!!  Once we get some firm opening dates for Minion Mayhem we will be sure to share them  Around The ParkAs if Harry Potter and Despicable Me weren't enough, there is a lot of work going on around The Simpsons Ride for the long-rumored Springfield makeover. The queue for the ride is also getting some work done. However, no official announcement has been made.  There are walls from the entrance of Shrek 4D all the way to the entrance of the Studio Tour. As a result, Doc Brown's chicken and a few other restaurants and stores have closed.      If you haven't been to the park for awhile, some big recent changes include the removal of the Wild West arena and the addition of the new Universal Plaza which really opens up the park.  A couple of tidbits from the Studio Tour. Always make sure to check the production board to see what's filming, you never know what you might see.  Beware of Norman Bates  The Avalanche Tunnel/Curse of the Mummy's Tomb is completely gone, opening up a huge plot of land. Not sure if this is going to be part of Harry Potter or something different.   An overhead view of just how much has been cleared.   Looks like Jaws finally got what was coming to him.   That's going to wrap it up for this update. Considering how fast Harry Potter and Minion Mayhem are progressing we are likely going to have pretty consistent updates from the park. Make sure to take our poll below. |
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