The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

"The plans I've seen look incredibly exciting, and I don't think fans of the books or films will be disappointed."

- J. K. Rowling's thoughts on The Wizarding World of Harry Potter before it was opened to the public

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a themed area that replaced the Merlin Woods portion of the Lost Continent region in Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park, part of the Universal Orlando Resort. The theme park includes attractions, restaurants, and shops themed around a recreation of Hogwarts Castle and Hogsmeade Village. In 2014, this was joined by Universal Studios Orlando's addition - a recreation of Diagon Alley (located on the former site of the Jaws attraction) with the Hogwarts Express train connecting the two.

The Wizarding World includes attractions pertaining to adventures in the film and book series, and shops where "wizard lore" is sold including a replication of Ollivander's wand shop. Since its opening on June 18th, 2010, the area has proved very popular with guests, increasing park attendance by over 50%. It was announced that a Harry Potter themed land would be built and opened by 2016 at Universal Studios Hollywood. A version of the land for Universal Studios Japan is now open.

Attractions

 * Dragon Challenge - twin inverted, high-speed roller coasters.
 * Flight of the Hippogriff - a 'family' roller coaster which includes a surreal animatronic Buckbeak.
 * Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey - a 4D, action-packed ride experience starring Harry Potter and his best friends.
 * Ollivander's - here, the wand chooses you.
 * The Hogwarts Express - ride on a scarlet steam engine to Diagon Alley in Universal Studios.

Restaurants

 * Three Broomsticks Inn - enter Hogsmede's most famous restaurant and choose from a selection of traditional English meals.

Shops

 * Dervish and Banges - sells a variety of goods including Quidditch equipment, Triwizard apparel, Spectrespecs and Remembralls.
 * Filch's Emporium of Confiscated Goods - sells anything that Filch could get his hands on (everything, basically). This is where you come out from the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride.
 * Honeydukes - a recreation of the legendary Hogsmeade sweetshop, which sells famous wizarding treats such as Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans.
 * Ollivander's Wand Shop - sells regular and interactive wands from the Harry Potter films including Harry Potter's wand, Ron Weasley's wand, Hermione Granger's wand and many more.
 * Owl Post - send letters or postcards with a certified Hogsmeade postmark to your friends and family.

Other items of interest

 * Bathrooms - the voice of Moaning Myrtle can be heard speaking to guests in the Hogsmeade Wash-rooms.
 * Choir Performance - students from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Frog Choir perform songs from the Harry Potter films with large frogs croaking out the bass line.
 * Dance Performance - students from the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and Durmstrang Institute perform a dance (similar to the one seen in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) called the "Triwizard Spirit Rally" on the grounds of Hogwarts.
 * Hogsmeade Station - at the Hogsmeade Station there is a cheery Conductor who welcomes guests to Hogsmeade.
 * Interactive Wands - using a map and special interactive wands sold at Ollivander's, guests can go to different spots and use the designated spells to activate magical special effects.

Attractions

 * Gringotts Money Exchange - exchange Muggle money for Gringotts Bank notes and interact with an animatronic goblin.
 * Harry Potter and the Escape From Gringotts - a 4D, thrill-seeker style ride through Gringotts Wizarding Bank with Bill Weasley, featuring Harry Potter and his best friends.
 * Ollivander's - here, the wand chooses you.
 * The Hogwarts Express - ride a scarlet steam engine to Hogsmeade Station in Universal's Islands Of Adventure.

Restaurants
 * Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour - choose from a fabulous selection of ice creams and baked goods. Includes butterbeer flavoured ice cream.
 * The Leaky Cauldron - enter the wizarding world's most famous restaurant and choose from a delicious selection of traditional English meals.
 * The Fountain of Fair Fortune - ice-cold butterbeers to satisfy your needs.

Shops

 * Borgin and Burkes - sells Death Eater masks and other merchandise related to Voldemort and the Death Eaters. It is the only shop accessible in the Knockturn Alley area of the park.
 * Gregorovitch's Wand Shop - sells regular and interactive wands from the Harry Potter films including Harry Potter's wand, Ron Weasley's wand, Hermione Granger's wand and many more.


 * Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions - sells robes for all occasions.
 * Magical Menagerie - sells animal related products such as stuffed animal versions of magical creatures.
 * Ollivander's Wand Shop - sells regular and interactive wands from the Harry Potter films including Harry Potter's wand, Ron Weasley's wand, Hermione Granger's wand and many more.
 * Quality Quidditch Supplies - sells many different clothing items and products, including Hogwarts house shirts, Quidditch supporter's gear and much more.
 * Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes - the amazing Diagon Alley equivalent to Zonko's, sells many of the Weasley twin's products, and features props from the film.
 * Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment - sells magical equipment such as crystal balls and Time-Turners as well as a huge selection of other wizarding equipment. This is the shop which you may exit through after riding on Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts.

Other items of interest

 * Fire - the dragon atop Gringotts occasionally breathes fire and lets out a frightening roar.
 * Interactive Wand s - using a map and special interactive wands sold at Ollivander's, guests can go to different spots and use the designated spells to activate magical special effects.
 * Kreacher - when one looks closely at Grimmauld Place 12, they can see Kreacher appear from behind one of the windows.
 * Music Performance - Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees perform three of their most famous songs in Diagon Alley.
 * Theatre Performance - A theatre group from the Wizarding Academy of Dramatic Arts in Diagon Alley presents puppet shows based on Beedle the Bard's Tale of Three Brothers and The Fountain of Fair Fortune.
 * The Knight Bus - talk to the cheerful Knight Bus conductor and his friend (which also happens to be a talking head).
 * The Talking Mirror - in Madam Malkin's Robes For All Occasions there is a mirror which will judge your appearance as you walk past it.

Key Events

 * May 30th, 2007 - the plans for the Harry Potter themed area were announced during a joint press conference between Warner Bros. and Universal.
 * September 15th, 2009 - during a press conference featuring Tom Felton, Universal revealed the official names of the three main rides.
 * March 25th, 2010 - the grand opening date was announced.
 * May 20th, 2010 - Matthew Lewis, Emma Watson, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, and Robbie Coltrane had a tour of the area.
 * May 28th, 2010 - Universal began letting park guests preview the area.
 * June 16th, 2010 - a celebration was held with the Orlando Philharmonic performing music from the Harry Potter series led by composer John Williams. The Frog Choir sang Double Trouble conducted by Warwick Davis. Actors Bonnie Wright, Matthew Lewis, Tom Felton, Michael Gambon, James Phelps, and Oliver Phelps arrived on the Knight Bus and Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint arrived in the Flying Ford Anglia.
 * June 18th, 2010 - Daniel Radcliffe and other members of the Harry Potter cast officially welcomed the first group of guests into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
 * December, 2011 - it was briefly stated that the Wizarding World in Florida would be expanded. This expansion was rumoured to be Diagon Alley themed with a ride based off of the carts at Gringotts Wizarding Bank.
 * December, 2011 - rumours stated that Harry Potter cast members such as Rupert Grint and Helena Bonham Carter had been filming new material, presumably connected with the planned expansion.
 * July 8, 2014 - Diagon Alley officially opened in Orlando.

Behind the scenes

 * In J. K. Rowling's , there is a character named Orlando Quine. When series protagonist Cormoran Strike first hears the name, being half-asleep at the time, he at first assumes it is the resort in Florida that is being mentioned. This could possibly be seen as a reference by Jo Rowling to the location of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Notes and references
Волшебный мир Гарри Поттера The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Parque Temático del Mundo de Harry Potter Le Monde ensorcelé de Harry Potter