Introducing… The Wizarding World of Harry Potter–Diagon Alley!

I’m used to feeling tired. I always need more sleep. I dream of napping but rarely have time for a nap. I know that I can and do manage to get through my ever-present tiredness. I’ve probably not had a consistent 8 hours of sleep in decades. I can deal with lack of sleep, but when one of my kids is over tired I get concerned. When my teen was exhausted all the time, I began to worry. I got concerned. From the moment my daughter started high school, she was on the go. Waking her up for school was a struggle. Encouraging her to go to bed at a reasonable hour was hard as she had so much homework. She made the JV volleyball team and would frequently come home from after school practice and sleep. I hated waking her up from her nap, but I had no choice. She had many homework assignments. She was exhausted all the time. She made it to Christmas break, then did her midterms in January.

As a treat for our family, I had a trip to Universal Orlando planned. Though the trip was a working one for me, our trip to Orlando’s Universal Studios could not have come at a better time. We left snowy, windy, cold Maryland and boarded a plane for a very short, but much-needed weekend over the MLK holiday. We all needed to re-charge our batteries from work, school, and the day-to-day grind of sports and activities. We had a glorious, albeit windy and cold on one day, three-day weekend to Universal Studios and the Islands of Adventure.

The highlight of our trip was the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I had been intrigued by this new land at the Universal park since I caught a glimpse of it during a press trip to Orlando with my son. The Wizarding World was not yet open, but upon seeing the spire of Hogwarts I knew a trip back was a necessity. Our family was not disappointed at all…we loved everything about Hogsmeade from the rides to the mugs of butter beer to the selection of wands at Olvander’s. During our trip, we never strayed far from this part of the park.

I’m very excited to announce to you that that the Hogsmeade area of the park is expanding! This summer The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley will open at Universal Orlando Resort. Warner Bros. Entertainment will bring even more of Harry Potter’s adventures to life inside a new, magnificently themed area that includes a revolutionary attraction experience, as well as all-new themed shops and dining. You will climb aboard the Hogwarts Express in Hogsmeade and moments later arrive at King’s Cross Station – where the wonders of London and Diagon Alley unfold before you.  I. Cannot. Wait.

With Diagon Alley, the sweeping area already dedicated to Harry Potter’s adventures will double in size and span both Universal theme parks. Guests will be able to travel between the two areas aboard the iconic Hogwarts Express.

Here’s an update on the new attractions:

• Universal Orlando launched a global phenomenon when it opened The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at its Islands of Adventure theme park in 2010.  The Hogsmeade area includes the iconic Hogwarts castle — which houses the groundbreaking Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey attraction – and the village of Hogsmeade.
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley will be located within Universal Orlando’s second theme park, Universal Studios, and will create new experiences based on the signature areas of London, Diagon Alley, and Knockturn Alley.
• Universal’s creative team has been working closely with Stuart Craig and the production team from the Harry Potter films to make the new area as authentic and spectacular as possible – just as it did with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade.
• The vision for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley is unprecedented, with Universal Orlando creating the world’s first centrally themed, multi-park experience.
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Visitors to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley will: 

• Board the Hogwarts Express and journey between London’s King’s Cross Station (located in Universal Studios Florida) and Hogsmeade Station (located in Universal’s Islands of Adventure). The journey will be filled with views of London and the British countryside – as well as a few surprises. Park-to-park admission is required.
• Experience a groundbreaking new, multi-dimensional thrill ride, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, which will place riders in the middle of an incredible adventure as they navigate their way through the perils of the Gringotts vaults
• Witness the magical experience of a wand choosing a wizard at Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC, one of the wizarding world’s premier wand shops
• Discover the darker side of magic in Knockturn Alley, the darkest of dark places that features Borgin and Burkes – a shop specializing in the Dark Arts that will offer a wide variety of Dark objects, such as Death Eater masks, skulls, and other sinister items
• Explore some of Diagon Alley’s famous shops, including:
  • Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, a vibrant shop featuring novelty items, magical jokes, and toys inspired by the books and films that will amaze the mischievous child in everyone
  • Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions, where guests will find a variety of wizardwear from Hogwarts school uniform ties, scarves and jumpers, to authentic wizard’s robes and character costumes
  • Magical Menagerie, which features a collection of plush animals, such as owls and Hippogriffs
  • Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment, where guests can grab wizarding essentials such as telescopes, binoculars, armillary spheres, compasses, magnifying glasses and hourglasses
  • Quality Quidditch Supplies, offering a wide assortment of apparel and equipment including Quidditch sweaters, brooms, Golden Snitches, Bludgers, Bludger bats, Quaffles and more
  • Scribbulus, featuring authentic writing implements and products such as feather quills, ink and inkwells, bookmarks, journals, parchment paper, seals, stationery sets and postcards
  • Enjoy traditional British fare that includes favorite dishes such as fish and chips, bangers and mash and more at the Leaky Cauldron
  • Visit Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour for frozen treats in a variety of tantalizing and unique flavors such as strawberry-and-peanut-butter ice-cream and many others.

For more information about the area, visit https://www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter. When you plan your visit to the Universal parks in Orlando, don’t forget to stay at one of the three themed on-site hotels, spend time at the nighttime entertainment complex, and experience the fun of rides featuring favorite characters, including Spider-Man, the Despicable Me Minions, Optimus Prime and the Transformers, and many more.