Universal Orlando - Islands of Adventure
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Opened in June 2010 within the Islands of Adventure, this $200 million-plus project brings the world of Harry Potter to life. You can visit the following locations:
- Hogsmeade
- Hogsmeade Station
- Zonko's Joke Shop
- Honeydukes Sweet Shop
- Three Broomsticks restaurant
- Hog\'s Head pub
- The Owlery
- Owl Post
- Ollivanders [a magical experience where \'the wand chooses you\' - a faithful recreation of the store from Diagon Alley in the first Harry Potter movie
- Dervish and Banges
- The Dragon Challenge [inspired by the first task of the TriWizard Tournament] This is the rethemed Duelling Dragons rollercoaster.
- Hagrid\'s Hut
- The Flight of the Hippogriff
- Hogwarts Castle
- Entry gates
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey - a new state-of-the-art attraction
- Filch's Emporium of Confiscated Goods
Shopping
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
This impressive structure is 150 feet (or 15 stories) high towering over Hogsmeade as well as the rest of the Islands of Adventure! It's visible from almost everywhere inside the park.
Rides - The Flight of the Hippogriff
Hagrid will train you how to properly ride a Hippogriff. This is the rethemed Flying Unicorns ride.
Rides - The Dragon Challenge
[inspired by the first task of the TriWizard Tournament]
This is the rethemed 'Duelling Dragons' rollercoaster.
Rides - Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
This new attraction is entered inside Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Guests will experience the more magical aspects of the Castle in the preshow queue area where floating candles and mysterious snowy weather conditions are promised.
The ride is the first to feature Kuka Robocoaster technology mounted on a track. Guests are fitted into rollercoaster-style seats on a 'magical bench'. The robotic arm moves the bench around a dark ride featuring animatronics, detailed sets, and a number of projections featuring the Harry Potter actors in a new movie which can only be seen on the attraction.
The robotic arm travels along a track to take the rider through around 12 different scenes.
As is common on large 'dark ride' attractions, the bulk of the ride takes place inside a large 'show building' which is hidden behind or beyond the main entrance building (Hogwarts).
Visualisations Photo Gallery
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Press Release
Harry Potter 'Theme Park within a Theme Park' Scheduled to Debut in 2009
Fans to be Immersed in the Adventures of the World's Most Popular Wizard
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and Universal Orlando Resort are partnering to create the world's first fully immersive Harry Potter themed environment based on the bestselling books by J.K. Rowling and blockbuster feature films from Warner Bros. Envisioned as a 'theme park within a theme park' and titled The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the new environment will become part of the experience within Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park at the Universal Orlando Resort.
"Over the years we've received thousands of letters from fans around the world wishing they could visit Hogwarts and the wonderful locations described in each of J.K. Rowling's beloved stories", said Barry Meyer, chairman and CEO, Warner Bros. Entertainment. "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."
"We will rely on our company's rich movie heritage and expertise in transforming film concepts into theme park entertainment experiences," said Ron Meyer, president and COO, Universal Studios. "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."
Inspired by J.K. Rowling's compelling stories and characters - and faithful to the visual landscapes of the films - "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" will provide a one-of-a-kind opportunity to experience the magical world of Harry and his friends. The fully immersive, themed land will enable guests 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 even 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.
"We have a profound sense of responsibility for the Harry Potter franchise at Warner Bros. Bringing the magic of J.K. Rowling's written word to the motion picture screen was the first step in expanding this amazing and imaginative world. Working with Universal Orlando Resort to bring it to life in a physical environment that you can walk through, relax in and ride on is the natural next step for fans to experience and enjoy," said Alan Horn, president and COO, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Expected to open in late 2009, the new environment will feature 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. Also debuting will be a state-of-the-art attraction that will bring the magic, characters and stories of Harry Potter to life in an exciting way that guests have never before experienced.
"We are going to devote more time, more money, more expertise and more executive talent from throughout our entire organization and creative team - as well as from Warner Bros., our partners - to ensure that this entire environment is second-to-none," said Tom Williams, chairman and CEO, Universal Parks and Resorts.
Brad Globe, president of Warner Bros. Worldwide Consumer Products, added: "In Universal, we found the right partner whose unparalleled commitment will ensure that this is a world class destination. Their track record of success and the consistently high level of entertainment at all of their parks gave us the confidence to know that they will meet - or exceed - the extremely high expectations we all have for this project."
The Academy Award-winning production designer Stuart Craig, who has worked to bring the world of Harry Potter to life in all of the feature films to date, leads the creative design for the area to ensure it remains faithful to the look and feel of the films.
"Our primary goal is to make sure this experience is an authentic extension of Harry Potter's world as it is portrayed in the books and films," said Craig. "I am very excited to be working closely with the Universal Orlando team to bring the area to life."
More Information
- Official website
- Orlando Sentinel article
- Orlando Attractions Magazine construction photos