Today marks the grand opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando Resort in Florida! To celebrate, we at Magical-Menagerie are partnering with Destinations in Florida, a travel agency based in Orlando, to offer one of our readers the chance to win Hermione Granger’s wand! To enter just use the widget below.
A couple weeks ago, Magical-Menagerie was able to attend the Diagon Alley Media & VIP Preview event. Let me tell you, the expansion will not disappoint. All of us in the group were wishing we had more sets of eyes (like Harry said in the first book.) The scale is amazing, you really do not know that you’re inside a theme park while inside Diagon Alley. It is also noticeably cooler inside, which is a plus for those hot Summer days.
Alan Gilmore, the art director of the park (who also worked on the films) clued us in on a fun little tidbit while we were waiting in line to go on Escape from Gringotts. He told us that the Harry Potter theme parks have 4 different garbage cans and no other theme park does that. There is a Gringotts Bank, Diagon Alley and then 2 others so you feel fully immersed into the settings. Sadly the ride was still not complete so we didn’t get to experience the actual ride, but the line is worth it even if you don’t partake.
View all our coverage of the event, including tons of video footage, here!
OPENING TIMES FOR JULY 8 The Grand Opening will take place at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida between 8:00 am and 8:30 am, with all other attractions opening at 9 am. Universal’s Islands of Adventure will be open at 9 am.
However, we will be ready to accommodate guests as early as 5 am on Tuesday, July 8 only. That is when the parking plaza will open and transportation from our on-site hotels will begin.
For all other days, follow the posted times listed on our website.
EARLY PARK ADMISSION Early Park Admission (beginning one hour before the theme parks open) is available for on-site hotel guests, vacation package guests, Virgin Holidays guests, and guests who purchase a 7-Day length-of-stay ticket.
On July 8, these guests may enjoy Early Park Admission to Islands of Adventure beginning at 8 am, where they can experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade.
Starting July 9, both parks will be opening at 8 am through early August. Guests with Early Park Admission can begin enjoying Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure beginning at 7 am. We encourage you to enter through Universal Studios on one day of your trip and Islands of Adventure on another to experience all of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
HOGWARTS EXPRESS The Hogwarts Express is scheduled to begin operation at 9 am on July 8.
On July 8, to ride the Hogwarts Express from King’s Cross Station in Universal Studios to Hogsmeade Station in Islands of Adventure, you’ll be asked to wait in the Grand Opening queue line in Universal Studios.
On July 8, if you ride the Hogwarts Express from Hogsmeade Station in Islands of Adventure to King’s Cross Station in Universal Studios, you will then be asked to wait in the Grand Opening line to enter Diagon Alley or to ride the train to back to Hogsmeade.
Because the Hogwarts Express will transport you from one theme park to another, you will need a Park-to-Park admission ticket to ride it. If you don’t have one, you can upgrade to a Park-to-Park admission ticket at locations in front of each train station or at the front of each park.
OTHER IMPORTANT NOTES The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley are very popular and we do expect a large number of guests. As we still want each guest to have the best experience possible in those lands, we may occasionally limit the number of people inside busy areas of our theme parks as needed.
The Universal blog has announced that Diagon Alley has partially “soft opened” for the general public. This means that for limited hours, visitors can enjoy the shops and restaurants of Diagon Alley but NOT the Escape from Gringotts ride.
We are now inviting guests to experience the atmosphere, shops, food and entertainment that Diagon Alley has to offer. Dine in the Leaky Cauldron. Grab your favorite Hogwarts house apparel at Quality Quidditch Supplies. And get that first taste of Butterbeer ice cream.
It brings us all one step closer to the Grand Opening on July 8, when guests will get to ride Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts and enjoy all of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley.
If you plan to visit before the July 8 Grand Opening, please understand that the hours are limited, and access to shops and food venues may vary—not everything may be open all the time.
It has been all over Twitter today that the Hogwarts Express has opened for business over at Universal Orlando in Florida. And the Official Blog has announced the details of the opening. You must have a park to park ticket and CANNOT enter Diagon Alley. Book your vacation to visit Diagon Alley now!
Around 3pm today, we opened King’s Cross Station, Hogsmeade Station and everyone’s favorite scarlet steam engine to guests with Park-to-Park admission. The Hogwarts Express will be open, in limited hours, between now and the grand opening of Diagon Alley on July 8.
Just to make sure there’s no confusion, Diagon Alley itself is still not open. But starting today, there will be windows when the Hogwarts Express, along with King’s Cross Station and Hogsmeade Station, will be open for you to enjoy.
Hop on in Hogsmeade in Universal’s Islands of Adventure and step off in King’s Cross Station. Or jump on the train in London and disembark for a day in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade. It’s all yours with Park-to-Park admission.
During the Diagon Alley Media & VIP Preview last week we got to participate in a bunch of Q&A sessions with cast members. Last, but not least, we’re sharing the panel featuring Bonnie Wright, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch, James Phelps and Oliver Phelps.
P.S. Let’s all wish Matthew Lewis a Happy 25th Birthday today!
Next Monday, June 30th, at 8pm, NBC will be airingHarry Potter: The Making of Diagon Alley, an exclusive special, hosted by Meredith Vierra.
In anticipation of the July 8th Grand Opening of Universal Orlando Resort’s newest theme park experience, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, Meredith Vieira will host Harry Potter: The Making of Diagon Alley, an NBC News primetime special produced by Peacock Productions. Vieira gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the design and construction of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, the latest manifestation of the multi-billion dollar cultural phenomenon of Harry Potter.
Harry Potter: The Making of Diagon Alley chronicles the remarkable four year journey leading up to the highly anticipated unveiling of the new theme park experience. Meredith Vieira details the tremendous global effort and groundbreaking technology involved in creating Diagon Alley, from the initial conception, development and construction of the biggest attractions, down to the most fascinating details of the massive operation.
The NBC News primetime special provides behind-the-scenes access and interviews with the cast of the Harry Potter films, including Bonnie Wright and James and Oliver Phelps, as well as in-depth interviews with the creative team that brought J.K. Rowling’s enchanted world to life.
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