Universal Orlando Announces Expansion of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Into Two-Park Experience

- Michelle Snow

uo-wwohp-2014expansionminiYesterday, Universal Orlando made an official announcement on a subject that has been much talked about by theme park and Harry Potter fans worldwide.

Building on the popularity of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure, Universal Orlando, in conjunction with Warner Bros. Entertainment, will be expanding the attraction into Universal Studios, next door to IOA.

Scheduled to open in 2014, the new environment will be called The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley. 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.

Diagon Alley and “London” will be located in the area that formerly was home to the Jaws attraction in the back of Universal Studios. When complete, it will feature shops, a restaurant and an innovative, marquee attraction based on Gringotts bank (reportedly an indoor roller coaster), all directly inspired by the books and films.

Connecting Diagon Alley and Hogwarts/Hogsmeade in IOA, the park will offer guests a ride aboard the Hogwarts Express. This makes me wonder if Universal Orlando will do away with the single park ticket option they currently have and just offer tickets that cover both parks. Otherwise, they’d have to have someone constantly checking guest tickets to make sure they can park hop.

At any rate, I’m sure those questions will be addressed closer to the opening date.

Are you excited for this Harry Potter expansion, or do you wish Universal would have put in a different attraction?

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[Art courtesy of Universal Orlando]

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