Universal Studios Hollywood Launches Interactive Wizarding World Preview

October 27, 2015, 11:20 AM · Universal Studios Hollywood today launched Wizarding World Hollywood, a new interactive, online preview of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter land that will open at the park next spring.

Wizarding World Hollywood
The Wizarding World in Hollywood, earlier this month

Similar to the websites that Universal Orlando launched to preview its two Harry Potter lands, Wizarding World Hollywood allows viewers to navigate the west coast version of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, clicking to learn more about the rides, restaurant, and shops they will find there.

Hollywood's Wizarding World is the Hogsmeade version from Islands of Adventure, with a few changes. There's no Dragon Challenge roller coaster, and Universal has added a couple of shops from Florida's Diagon Alley, as well.

The tour starts at the familiar Hogsmeade gate, where you will see the Hogwarts Express locomotive to the right, just as in Orlando. Zonko's Joke shop and Honeydukes sweet shop stand to the left, with the Three Broomsticks just beyond. A Butterbeer cart stands in the middle of the street, just as in Orlando.

There's a side street to the right, just beyond the Hogwarts Express locomotive, which will take you to Dervish and Banges before returning you to the Hogsmeade High Street, on your way to Hogwarts Castle. Back on the main pathway, you will find Owl Post and Gladrags Wizard Wear on your right and Ollivander's and Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment on your left, as you walk from the Three Broomsticks through Hogsmeade on your way to Hogwarts.

Hogwarts Castle is the home to the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride, with the Flight of the Hippogriff family coaster standing in the woods to the right as you approach the castle. Flich's Emporium of Confiscated Goods is the gift shop at the exit of the ride.

Exterior construction of Universal Studios Hollywood's Wizarding World of Harry Potter appears to be nearly complete, with work continuing on interiors in advance of an opening in early 2016.

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Replies (3)

October 27, 2015 at 4:04 PM · I really loved this Interactive tour in that you can actually "enter" the shops on this one unlike the others! Which Diagon Alley shops did you notice in this one, Robert? Those must be on the new side street, which I guess is Hollywood's touch of "magic."
October 27, 2015 at 9:50 PM · Wiseacres is in Diagon Alley in Florida, and Gladrags seems like Hollywood's version of Florida's Madame Malkin's. And Zonko's revives the Hogsmeade joke shop that Florida closed in favor of Weasley's in Diagon Alley.
October 28, 2015 at 9:32 AM · Oh right, I forgot Wiseacres is in Diagon Alley in Florida. I see!

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