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Universal Orlando’s Diagon Alley

Universal Orlando announced that it will disclose more information in a webcast scheduled for Jan. 23 2014, about its widely anticipated Wizarding World of Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley, the latest land scheduled to open by this summer in its Universal Studios Florida theme park.

Universal Orlando’s Diagon Alley, which is scheduled to open at Universal Orlando this year is planned to coincide with an 1,800-room resort and eight new restaurants in the Universal CityWalk dining and entertainment area.

The Harry Potter expansion will be based on  fictional scenes in Diagon Alley and London, Supposedly, Diagon Alley is a cobbled wizarding alley and shopping area located in London, England behind a pub called the Leaky Cauldron. Inside the alley is an variety of restaurants, shops, and other sights.. The alley is completely hidden from the Muggle world which is right outside of its boundaries. It is very large in area and essentially the center for the wizards of London.

Universal Orlando’s Diagon Alley will also include a London waterfront area with Knight Bus parked out front, working Hogwarts Express train connecting Universal Orlando’s two theme parks, and Gringott’s Bank ride. The new attraction will be located in the Universal Studios section of the theme park, while the existing Wizarding World of Harry Potter is located in Universal Islands of Adventure.
Universal’s Islands of Adventures is where the first Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey was created, within Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It takes riders on a journey through Harry Potter’s Wizarding World. Other attractions include Dragon Challenge, a pair of inverted roller coasters, and Flight of the Hippogriff, a family roller coaster. The area also features a re-creation of Hogsmeade containing many gift shops and restaurants from the series of Harry Potter books including Dervish and Banges, Honeydukes, Ollivanders, Zonko’s Joke Shop, The Three Broomsticks and The Hog’s Head.

Universal Orlando’s Diagon Alley, the second phase was originally announced on December 6, 2011, as a considerable expansion of the existing Wizarding World of Harry Potter. On May 8, 2013, it was officially announced that a significant portion of phase two would be constructed in the adjacent Universal Studios Florida theme park with a replica of the Hogwarts Express taking guests between the two lands. This area’s flagship attraction will be a roller coaster themed around the Gringotts Wizarding Bank. The remaining attractions will be themed around London and Diagon Alley.

The Hogwarts Express, the new black and red train, which has been brought in piece by piece, will connect the two parks. Hopefully this will persuade visitors to buy a two-park pass so they can explore both sections.

Hogwarts Express

“You have these two great parks. Now you have an opportunity to go from one park to another in a one-story experience,” said Mark Woodbury, president of Universal Creative. “You go to Universal Studios Florida, you can get on at Diagon Alley, you can get on the Hogwarts Express and take it over to Islands of Adventure, the Wizarding World, Hogsmeade, an unbelievable opportunity.”Woodbury noted the train will run both directions between the two parks. “Most people that come to the resort now experience both parks. This will be a great way for them to do that,” he said. And even if guests were to choose just one park, they’d still get a “Harry Potter experience,” he said.

It seems like Universal Orlando has thrown down the gauntlet with the new expansions! The war for summer 2014 is on, with Walt Disney World countering with upcoming Seven Dwarves Mine train and SeaWorld Orlando announcing  the new Aquuatica expansion, Omacka Rocka! It will be exciting to see what happens next! Whatever the outcome it means more fun and more choices for visitors as well  as greater economic outlook for Central Florida’s booming tourism industry!!