In a new interview, Loews Hotels Chairman Jonathan Tisch revealed that the Diagon Alley expansion is set to open mid-June, coinciding with the opening of the new Cabana Bay Beach Resort Hotel.

“As you noted, it’s the largest hotel to be built in the world outside of China. Phase one opened, 600 rooms about a month ago; the rest will open when Harry Potter II opens mid-June. It is a big structure so that then will give us 4,200 rooms at Universal Studios Orlando and business is very strong there.”

Thanks to Mugglenet for the tip!

The Today Show posted a video preview for their coverage of the Diagon Alley expansion of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando. Al Roker gives us a first look at the Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts queue and animatronic Goblin bankers.

Every day next week, the Today Show will be sharing sneak peaks of Diagon Alley. They also offering viewers the chance to win tickets to the Grand Opening of the expansion this summer. To learn how to enter visit the sweepstakes page

Thanks Inside the Magic For the video!

The Orlando Sentinal is reporting that the Today show will no longer be broadcasting from Universal Orlando this Friday as we reported yesterday. Universal spokesman Tom Schroder said:

“Plans for live broadcasts are ever-changing things, any attempt to draw conclusions beyond that would just be wrong.”

The Orlando Business Journal reports this morning that during Comcast Corp.’s first quarter conference call they revealed that the Diagon Alley expansion of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Orlando will be opening by the end of the second quarter.  This means that the park will hopefully be open by the end of June, which many fans have already speculated. But this is always subject to change.

The Orlando Sentinal is also reporting that The Today Show will be broadcasting from Universal Orlando this Friday, April 25th and the exact opening date could possibly be revealed then. The article states:

A Universal Orlando spokesman confirmed Monday that Today will broadcast from the resort at the end of the week, though he would not say whether the show will include an opening date announcement for Diagon Alley, which is being built in the Universal Studios Florida theme park.

Finally, all this week, EXTRA will be holding a contest to win a trip to the Grand Opening with host Mario Lopez.  Watch EXTRA every day to see the word of the day and enter here to win.

Universal Studios Japan have announced a grand opening date for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It will open to the public on July 15th, 2014. Evanna Lynch and Stuart Craig (production designer) were at an event in Osaka to make the announcement. A press release may be read below:

Universal Studios Japan hosted an event today, to celebrate the announcement of the Grand Opening of “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” which meticulously recreates some of the iconic locations from the world of Harry Potter. Universal Studios Japan revealed that “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” will open on July 15, 2014. The announcement culminated with the unveiling of the magnificent Hogwarts castle, the focal point of the land.

Universal Studios Japan welcomed special guests from Japan and around the globe: Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan; Ms. Caroline Kennedy, Ambassador of the United States of America to Japan; Academy Award®-winning art director and production designer for the Harry Potter films, Stuart Craig; actress Evanna Lynch, who played “Luna Lovegood” in the Harry Potter film series; world-renowned architect Tadao Ando; and Universal Studios Japan ambassadors, and beloved musical act, SMAP, gathered for the celebration.

When Prime Minister Abe and Ambassador Kennedy announced the opening date, Hogwarts castle was illuminated with a spectacular show of lights and brilliant fireworks.

Event Overview

The evening’s celebration began with an “owl” delivering a letter from Hogwarts to President and CEO of Universal Studios Japan, Mr. Glenn Gumpel, who was revealed on stage with the letter in hand to introduce the honored guests.

Guests Evanna Lynch, Stuart Craig, Tadao Ando and SMAP were greeted on stage with loud cheers, and the appearance of United States Ambassador Kennedy was met with thunderous applause. Following her remarks, she introduced special guest Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, for the momentous occasion.

With distinguished guests from around the world gathered, Mr. Gumpel presented the letter from the wizarding world to Prime Minister Abe and Ambassador Kennedy, who together, reading from the letter, announced “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” opening date. At that moment, Hogwarts castle was illuminated with a radiant light show with fireworks, which unveiled its towering scale and lit up the night sky.

Following additional remarks by Prime Minister Abe, Ms. Evanna Lynch led the guests in casting the spell “Lumos!” followed by more dazzling fireworks to the further the excitement and joy of the crowd.

A special website, where you can begin to explore “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” online, has now launched. Please visit www.usj.co.jp/harrypotter in the official Universal Studios Japan website.

Universal Studios Japan received an annual 10 million visitors for the second time this past March 19 (day 353 of fiscal year), which is the first time USJ has achieved this milestone since the park’s opening in 2001, and, thanks to all, continues to perform strongly. With the much-anticipated opening of “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” USJ looks to continue to attract more visitors from both Japan and worldwide.

It has been announced that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be coming to Universal Hollywood in 2016!  According to a news release:

2016 will be a magical year for Universal Studios Hollywood as the theme park’s epic transformation becomes fully realized with the highly-anticipated arrival of “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.”

Inspired by the magical world created by J.K. Rowling and brought to life in the Warner Bros. films, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” at Universal Studios Hollywood will be a fully immersive land designed for the entire family that brings the Harry Potter fiction and films to life with impeccable detail and authenticity. Similar to the dynamic Universal Orlando Resort themed land that opened in 2010, the Hollywood experience will be faithful to the visual landscape of the fiction and films, including Hogwarts castle that will serve as the iconic focal point of the impressively themed environment. “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” is a collaboration between J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Entertainment and Universal Parks and Resorts.