Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey Complete POV Ride Experience Wiza...

Diagon Alley Universal Studios Orlando

Diagon Alley, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure is the newest addition to the Harry Potter experience.  Diagon Alley is a street in old London containing shops, eateries, and other places of interest located at the far end of Island of Adventure.

The latest addition is the Hogwart's Express that you can take from Universal Studios and get off at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  You can see it from miles because Hogwart's Castle looms high in the sky above the area which is out of sight of the "muggle" world.

Young and old alike can visit London and explore places such as Ollivander's wand shop and get a demonstration from a wizard or dine a 3 Broomsticks across the street.  There are all sorts of little shops with oddities such as Broomsticks (you guessed it) and Sugarplums Sweet Shop where they sell old world confections.

Harry Potter Expansion - Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure

Universal Studios Orlando is at it again.  For months now there has been a tremendous amount of construction going on in both parks and now they have revealed what many speculated to be an addition to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

The area pictured above is inside Universal Studios and will be called   "Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley".  It will be modeled after London and will have a major ride where visitors ride cars through a labyrinth of passageways populated with dragons and other characters based on Gringott's Wizarding bank from the J.K. Rowling novels.

There will also be shops and eateries like on the Islands of Adventure side and other novelties not yet revealed. Diagon Alley, located on the site of the old Jaws Ride, will be connected to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure by the "Hogwarts Express" train ride.

There has been so much interest and speculation about the expansion, The folks at Universal and Warner Bros. decided to release the proposed expansion to the public to boost interest in the parks.  The entire project is set to open sometime in 2014. Exact date to be announced sometime in the future.

Since the Harry Potter project will span both parks, it's likely visitors will need a 2-Park Pass to see the whole thing but it will be well worth it. Tickets and packages can be purchased on Universal Studios Orlando website.  Shop around and see what kind of deals you can secure from other travel sites as well.

Although an opening date hasn't been firmed up yet, the parks usually open newer attractions prior to the summer months to maximize visitor enjoyment so I'm going to venture a guess it will be ready in April or may 2014.  We'll see.

New Attractions at Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure

When I was at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure last weekend I was checking out the construction behind all the panels and trying to see what the newest thing was going to be.  Lots of speculation has taken place about what is the large construction where the old Jaws Ride used to be.  It's a structure about the same size as the Transformers Ride but when I was at Islands of Adventure I noticed something else.

Behind the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is what looks like the construction of a train station.  The idea  was first floated last year that an addition to the Harry Potter theme would be at the Jaws site and it looks like there may be a connector to the two parks.  Unfortunately, the only way I could see it was from the Dueling Dragons ride and I couldn't possibly get a photo during all that action.  When I go back I'm going to see if I can find a way to shoot the construction and let everybody see for themselves.

What's Happening at Universal Studios

Theme parks are in fierce competition with each other mainly due to the billions of dollars in tourist revenue at the number one vacation spot in the world. Universal Studios added the Wizarding World of Harry Potter back in 2011 which rocketed them past Disney and Sea World but they're not stopping there.

On the site of the old Jaws ride is this huge structure.  It's going to be an interactive Transformers Ride.  I can't see this topping Harry Potter but at least they're not resting on their laurels. Below is the site of the new stage at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  Harry Potter - The Musical?  Whatever, if the folks at Universal Studios do it then it will be a smash.

Wizarding World of Harry Potter -Universal Studios Islands of Adventure

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure is steaming along as popular as eve.  located on the back side of the park, one can see Hogwarts Castle looming ominously against the sky.  In the photo above you can also see Jurassic Park on the left and Mythos restaurant on the right as you look across the lagoon.

Enter Harry Potter's world (left) and join the magical world of wizard's and magic. Visit the shops along the 19th century lane.  Enjoy HoneyDuke's confections and Zonko's novelty shop.  You could walk up and down the street all day and never get on a ride.  Every spot is a photo shoot a the Universal wizards did a masterful job of immersing you in J.K. Rowling's fantasy.

 The younger visitors will enjoy the Ride of the HippoGriff and all will thrill to the Harry potter and the Forbidden Journey.  This one is inside the castle and will truly rattle your cage!  You'll have all the modern effects of Harry Potter right in your face and participate in a virtual Quidditch game.

Something is brewing to the left here. Apparently a stage is being built for shows.  Anybody know?

We'll be visiting this Saturday again so stay tuned and I'll see if I can learn more.  Don't forget to have some Pumpkin Juice or ButterBeer.  Dine at Three Broomsticks, a casual 19th century pub-style eatery that is surprisingly not too expensive.  Enjoy Harry Potter.  Buy a wand at Ollivander's Magic Shop and be a kid again!

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Universal/Islands of Adventure

When you visit Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure there's a good chance you're going because of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  This segment of the park is located in Islands of Adventure and is almost like a little theme park of it's own.  Based on the writings of J.K. Rowling, the Wizarding World is like stepping into the movies.

As you enter this part of the park you encounter late 19th century England with some 20th century amenities.  Your first encounter is a street scene and at the entrance is the locomotive that took Harry and friends to Hogwarts School.  Up the cobbled avenue are  various shops and eateries.  Ollivander's is the most popular store where they sell all the magical wands from the books.  When you enter you encounter a charming shopkeeper who operates a magic shop and explains all the wands and what they do.  He selects one child from your group as an apprentice wizard.  Sort of a skit.  After he gives you his script you move onto the store and the kids can shop  for a wand they can attach themselves to. They are a rare and special souvenir.  It's not just shopping for the kids, it's an experience. 

A variety of other shops line the street but just one other I'll mention is Honeyduke's, a sweet shop you won't want to miss.  The confections are Hogwarts unique and it's like the sweet shop many of us grew up on. Small, cramped but filled with candies, cakes, and chocolates you'll only find at this experience.  The employees are all costumed and act like cast members.  It's totally cool. 

As you venture up the street you'll encounter the Dragon Challenge, a high speed dual roller coaster that'll rattle your cage.  It starts in a castle and shoots you up in the air.  Complete with loops, barrel rolls, and heart-wrenching turns it's a scream!  Younger children have a 48" height requirement as do many of the more mature rides but other than that you'll love it.  Don't feel left out, though, because around the corner you reach the Flight of the Hippogriff.  This is a smaller roller coaster.  It's fun and a nice substitute for the young ones who miss out on the Dragon Challenge. 

The "Boss" ride here is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.  This is located in a life-size replica of Hogwarts School that towers over the entire park.  You get in line and wind your way through the classrooms and halls of Hogwarts School with talking paintings, dark rooms, and creatures you only find in Harry Potter.  The ride is a moving platform that uniquely seats all passengers facing to the side as the vehicle moves through the castle so everyone has front row seats.  It's not fast-moving like a roller coaster but the technology is definitely 21st century.  The ride comes at you and you actually feel what it's like to play in a game of Quidditch.  I'm not going to describe it too much because one needs the element of surprise.  I'll just say I've been on a lot of theme park rides in my life and this one leaves me breathing hard when I get off.  I've ridden it about ten times and every time I leave my first word is "Wow". 

The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter is the experience of a lifetime.  Presently there isn't a Harry Potter theme hotel but, if you stay at one of the on-site hotels (Royal Pacific, Hard Rock Hotel, or Portofino Bay) you get "Fast-Pass" access and the park opens one hour early just for you. Also, don't miss the Harry Potter store at Universal.  Now, I've been asked about a Harry Potter Contest at Universal but can't find any evidence of one.  If you know of one please post it here so we can all know about it.

My next posting will be a restaurant in the Central Florida attraction zone.  Thanks and please keep reading.