The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter Diagon Alley Officially Announced by Universal Studios Orlando

The big news today is the official announcement by Universal Studios Orlando that The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter Diagon Alley is coming to the park and will open ...in 2014! Disney and more has all the renderings and infos for you, including the official press release. No need to say that there is a new big battle coming in 2014 between WDW and Universal Studios Orlando with the opening the same year of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at WDW Magic Kingdom and at Universal this new Diagon Alley with the new Gringotts Bank coaster ride plus the Hogwarts Express ride to Islands of Adventure!


ORLANDO, Fla. (May 8, 2013) – 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. And – just like in the books and films – guests will be able to travel between ‘London’ and Hogsmeade aboard the Hogwarts Express.

Below, what should be probably the Hogwarts Express train station entrance.

Work on the new area is already underway. When complete, it will feature shops, a restaurant and an innovative, marquee attraction based on Gringotts bank – all directly inspired by the fiction and films. More details on The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley will be released over time.

 Above, the entrance of the Gringotts bank attraction. And, yes, there will be a giant dragon breathing fire at the top of the building. My guess is that part of it - probably head and neck - will be audio-animatronic. 

Below, the London street with iconic shops, and more.

 To bring Diagon Alley and ‘London’ to life, Universal’s creative team is working closely with Warner Bros. and the production design team from the Harry Potter films – just as it did for Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. "I'm so pleased that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has proved so popular to date, and I'm sure that the attention to detail in creating the new Diagon Alley area will make this an even better experience," said J.K. Rowling. “We are continuing the journey and adding an entirely new level of adventure,” said Tom Williams, Chairman of Universal Parks & Resorts. “And we are bringing the same drive, commitment, enthusiasm and innovation to this project as we did to the first.” “We are thrilled to offer the legions of fans the opportunity to embark on this new journey and experience Diagon Alley as it was brought to life in the books and films,” said Brad Globe, president, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “Our vision is to create two amazing theme park experiences that combine into one, complete, magical journey,” said Alice Norsworthy, executive vice president, marketing and sales for Universal Orlando Resort.

Above the London waterfront, located near Universal Orlando lagoon... including the famous double decker bus which was part of Harry Potter adventures and apparently a copy of Picadilly circus famous "Eros" statue.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade opened at Universal’s Islands of Adventure in June 2010 as a fully immersive Harry Potter themed environment - bringing to life the bestselling books by J.K. Rowling and the blockbuster feature films from Warner Bros. Since that time, it has become a global phenomenon, entertaining millions of people from around the world. Visitors to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter are swept into the adventures of Harry Potter. They can tour Hogwarts castle, shop in Hogsmeade and dine at the Three Broomsticks. They can soar above Hogwarts with Harry, be chosen by a wand at Ollivanders, sample Butterbeer and much more".

Pictures: copyright Universal Orlando

Universal Studios Orlando : Farewell to Jaws!, Hello Harry Potter Phase Two!

I know it's sad to say, but the Jaws attraction at Universal Orlando has closed forever yesterday and for those of you who, just like me, will miss the ride or those who never had the chance to ride the attraction, here is a great video filmed December 17. Abord are those who were the former "skippers" from the early years of Universal Studios Florida's JAWS! attraction and who take one last trip on Captain Jake's Amity Boat Tours. This skippers reunion was organized by ex-skipper Tom Croom and as you will see the farewell voyage was pretty hysterical, in the good meaning of the word (if there is one!).




I also include below two 1990's artwork for the ride.





As you can see on the aerial shot below the Jaws land was pretty big and now that the Jaws ride is closed what will take its place? Well, as i told you last month in a previous article the expansion of the Harry Potter land is expected to be build at Universal Orlando and not at IOA. And guess what? I think we can say this is now confirmed, although not officially, since last saturday and the great post on Theme Park Insider who had access to Universal secret plans and revealed virtually almost everything of this Potter expansion.



And when i mean everything it's really everything as TPI details scene by scene what will be the big E-Ticket , i.e the Gringotts coaster ride which according to TPI will not be a traditional coaster but "appears to be a hybrid roller coaster and motion-base ride, a la Spider-Man and Transformers with 3D projection screens throughout the ride, embedded in the rockwork of the tunnel walls, creating an illusion of open space, within which we'll watch battles taking place".

He has also posted two CGI artwork showing the Victorian design of the coaster train, that you can see below, slightly enhanced here.





So, jump to the Theme Park Insider article as you better don't miss this fantastic description of the Harry Potter expansion!

Pictures: copyright Universal Studios

Universal release new " Wizarding world of Harry Potter " Artwork

A little artwork for the week-end, as Universal has released on the "Wizarding world of Harry Potter" web site a new rendering showing the Dervish and Banges shop, located in Hogsmeade.

I remember you that the previous rendering released on the Harry Potter site was the one of the Three Broomsticks restaurant.



This highly-awaited new land of Islands of Adventure is always supposed to open in 2010.

Artwork: copyright Universal Studios

Universal officially announce " The Wizarding world of Harry Potter " land at Islands of Adventure !

That's it! Universal Studios officially announced today the opening in late 2009 of the awaited Harry Potter land at Orlando's Islands of adventure !
And here are the three renderings released by Universal showing this future land.




WOW! It looks great, doesn'it? Here is more about it with the press release:

Universal and Warner Studios are partnering to "create the world’s first fully immersive Harry Potter themed environment envisioned as a theme park within a theme park, based on the best-selling books by J.K. Rowling"
Barry Meyer, the chairman of Warner Bros Entertainment said "Working with Universal Orlando Resort, we are confident that we’ll be able to provide Harry Potter fans with an incredible experience that upholds the richness of J.K. Rowling’s books and delivers on the authentic detail portrayed in our films.”
Ron Meyer, Universal Studios president and COO declared: "We will rely on our company’s rich movie heritage and expertise in transforming film concepts into theme park entertainment experiences. The Harry Potter stories are among the most compelling of our time. The millions of people who have read the books and seen the movies will now be able to experience the world of Harry Potter in person.”
Guests will be able to visit some of the most iconic locations found in the books and the films including the village of Hogsmeade, the mysterious Forbidden Forest, and Hogwarts castle itself.
"The plans I've seen look incredibly exciting, and I don't think fans of the books or films will be disappointed," said J.K. Rowling . The "Wizarding world of Harry Potter" as the project is called will include immersive rides and interactive attractions, as well as experiential shops and restaurants that will enable guests to sample fare from the wizarding world’s best known establishments.
Universal said " we're planning a collection of rides and attractions specifically designed to bring the magic and adventures of Harry Potter to life in an exciting way that guests have never experienced before. That will include a new state-of-the-art attraction"
Stuart Craig , Potter's Movies production designer will collaborate with Universal creative's team in designing the park and J.K.Rowling hopes this will provide fans with another way to experience the world beyond the books and films.
The "Wizarding world of Harry Potter" fully immersive experience will be located at Islands of adventure, a portion of what is currently the Lost Continent will be devoted to the new environment, as well as an undeveloped area that is currently not in use. The new environment will be comparable in size to other islands within Islands of Adventure and will open late 2009 or early 2010. An here is the best: although Universal didn't mention any budget for this new land , the cost is supposed to be of 1 BILLION dollars!
The BIG question, now, is how is going to react Disney at this major announcement. This is where it becomes interesting, as this billion dollars Harry Potter land will be a major danger for WDW when it will open in 2009. No doubt that everybody coming to Orlando will rush to IOA to see it. So, my feeling is that we can expect in a while some major announcement from WDW. Hmmm...what about a "Narnia" land in Animal Kingdom where WDI was supposed to built the Beastly-kingdom-that- never-was? Or a real - at last - Star Wars land?

Here is some additionnal infos from the Orlando Sentinel article:

"Universal plans a 20-acre "Wizarding World," a little bigger than the average size of its themed "islands" at Islands of Adventure. Part would be carved away from what is now "The Lost Continent" island, and the rest would be land now used for employee parking and park support, outside the back fence.

The new, "seventh island" would feature reconstructed and rethemed attractions, and all-new ones, Scott Trowbridge, vice president of Universal's Creative Studios, said in an interview. The Hogwarts castle and locations from Rowling's Forbidden Forest and Hogsmeade village will be created as backdrops to attractions, shops and restaurants.

Three-time Academy Award-winning production designer Stuart Craig, who designed sets for all the Harry Potter movies, leads the "Wizarding World" design team.

Much of "The Lost Continent" island, including Universal's award-winning Mythos Restaurant, will be retained as a separate themed area, just smaller. The island is to remain open during construction as well.

Some current "Lost Continent" attractions such as The Dueling Dragons roller coasters and The Flying Unicorn coaster ride likely would be adapted to fit the Harry Potter story. Trowbridge would not discuss specific attractions, but did say that Universal intended to "leverage some existing infrastructure." He said that would have to include far more than a new paint job and a new sign, because too much is at stake.

"We do have a responsibility to all the fans that are out there in the world that have followed the Harry Potter saga through the films and the books," Davis said. "We're taking that very, very seriously. We're going to be true to the books and the films, and make sure that when people come here they're going to be very, very happy with what they see."


Artwork: copyright Universal Studios.