Is Harry Potter Part Of Disney

Interactive Wands And Spell Casting Locations

With the opening of Diagon Alley, Universal also introduced interactive wands to the parks, supplementing the nonfunctional replica wands that continue to be sold at Ollivanders and in the smaller selection at Wands by Gregorovitch. Interactive wands are available in 13 Ollivanders Original styles inspired by the Celtic calendar interactive wands modeled after those wielded by a variety of characters are also available. The widest selection of wands is found in the two Ollivanders shops. Stores outside of the Wizarding World at the entrance of each park, as well as CityWalk’s Universal Studios store and gift shops at each hotel, carry a limited variety of interactive and non-interactive wands. Wands can also be ordered from Universal Orlando’s merchandise website.

Note that the price of the interactive wands includes unlimited activations of the hidden effects you don’t have to pay to “recharge” your wand on subsequent visits, or even replace a battery. If you encounter a spell-casting location with a sign saying it currently has an anti-jinx in place, just move along to the next one that’s Potter-speak for it’s broken.

Weve received positive feedback so far on the interactive wands,like this praise from a New York, New York, family:

On the other hand, a cost-conscious dad from Rigby, Indiana, sends this advice:

Harry Potter And The Disneyland Purchase

One source claimed that one of the reasons why Harry never made his way to Disney is because of the underwhelming offer J.K. Rowling received from Disney for a Harry Potter-themed attraction in Disneyland. According to Jim Hill Medias Universal Joint podcast, Disney would put Harry Potter attractions around Disneyland as big as the leagues of Fantasyland or Tomorrowland, but would simply be a mini-land featured inside Fantasyland.

Had Disney gotten its way, there would be a Leaky Cauldron that served food and probably their version of butterbeer, a petting zoo inspired by a Care of Magical Creatures class, and an attraction that was similar to the Buzz Lightyear attraction, but with wands instead of guns. This was an extremely small attraction for the real potential the Harry Potter franchise could have, so it was no surprise that J.K. Rowling turned it down and accepted Universals offer which was much more extensive and immersive.

Prior to this, Disneyland not only dominated the competition for theme parks from the 80s until the early 00s, but it made so much that it earned twice the profits of its closest competition. But in 2010, when Universal won the rights to opening a Harry Potter land called The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Suddenly, Disney had a serious competitor threatening its position in terms of profit. So, in an attempt to beat the Harry Potter attraction, it turned to other franchises it thought could compete with Harry Potter.

Why Disney Collected Star Wars And Marvel

Part of the reason why Leia Organa is now technically a Disney Princess and why Disney and Sony are battling it out for the rights to Spiderman actually has to do with Disneys need to compete with the Harry Potter franchise. Because in Disneys eyes, if you cant join them, beat them.

As a result of the theme park snub, Disney has been trying to expand its Disneyland Parks around the world to feature new attractions. Now that Disney has the rights to Star Wars, for example, it opened a new area in 2019 called Star Wars: Galaxys Edge as an attraction to compete with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Having learned its lesson from J.K. Rowling and Universal Studios, it opened a themed area dedicated to the one franchise and not just a few Star Wars-themed attractions scattered in Tomorrowland.

And outside of theme parks, the Star Wars and franchises are the only two that can compete with the Wizarding World Franchise. In 2011, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 topped the list of the highest-grossing films with $1.3 billion. Disney came in 3rd place with Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

Prior to this, the Harry Potter films were doing so well that Disney bought Star Wars for $4 billion to compete with Harry Potter. Its why the third installment of the Star Wars trilogy features plots similar to the Heros Journey featured in the Harry Potter series.

Also Check: What Point Of View Is Harry Potter Written In

Harry Potter Theme Park England

• The Making of Harry PotterWarner Bros Studio Tour Londonexplore

Harry Potter Theme Park England, known as the Warner Bros Studio Tour London, is one of the worlds most popular attractions for Harry Potter fans! Step into the world of witches and wizards and go behind the scenes to see how the 8 Harry Potter movies were made. Highlights of a visit include riding a broomstick, standing on platform 9 ¾ and getting onboard Hogwarts Express! This is an amazing day out for all family members and the Harry Potter Theme Park England is one of the most popular attractions for visitors to London. We offer awesome Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio tours departing daily from Central London that also includes pickup and transfer to the studio!

Discover a world of Harry Potter and book tickets today! Tickets can be collected directed at the Studio Tour or taken with transportation from Central London.

Top tip: If you cannot find tickets on your travel dates, please check out our useful last-minute guide for finding tickets.

Which Streaming Service Has Harry Potter

While the Harry Potter films are not on Disney Plus, the movies are streaming on HBO Max and the NBC streaming service Peacock. For some time now, the rights of streaming Harry Potter have continued to change between HBO Max and Peacock. Last month, the Harry Potter films started streaming on HBO Max again.

And the good news for HBO Max users is that theres no warning about these films going away anytime soon. In the past, HBO Max has added the Harry Potter films with notification of removing them in a month, but this time, it will likely stay for a long time.

Here is the list of Harry Potter Films, you can stream on HBO Max currently:

No matter the Harry Potter movie you want to stream, HBO Max currently has all the 8 Harry Potter films available for streaming!

Don’t Miss: Draco Malfoy Smelling Candle

What If Disney Owned Harry Potter

Shows like on Disney+ have certainly got us thinking whether the multiverse exists, in which every other reality is radically different to our own. And should it exist, then weve no doubt whatsoever that theres a dimension where Disney owns Harry Potter and not Universal!

Its not a far cry to imagine such a scenario after all, Harry Potter has all the right ingredients for one of Disneys IPs, even if the acquisition of Fox has muddied any lines of distinction. And could we ever really have imagined Disney owning Star Wars?!

But what if Disney owned Harry Potter? What would the movies have been like? Would the Wizarding World feel any different in Disneys theme parks than it does at Universal Studios? Would it feel more magical or more muggle? Grab your broomsticks and join us as we see what things might be like in another reality..!

How Far Is Harry Potter Land From Disney World

According to Google Maps, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is8.7 miles from Disney World. It takes roughly 15-30 minutes to travel between the two locations.

Be sure to check out our article about how to go between Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort. This page explains how to travel from Disney World to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter without a car. Options include Uber, taxi, shuttle bus, and more.

Here are the directions from Disney World to Universals Harry Potter World:

• Walt Disney World® Resort

Read Also: How To Find Out Your Harry Potter House

The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter Tips

How to avoid long lines: Arriving early may help you avoid long lines during the first hour of the morning. During the day, however, the lines grow long, and purchasing Express Passes may be a better option to avoid the lines.

Take a bunch of pictures: Yes, the attractions are fun, but the incredible attention to detail is what makes The Wizarding World of Harry PotterCorvonero shirts memorable. Why not take as many pictures as possible to capture and cherish the moment forever?

Renting a locker: Some attractions that prohibit backpacks or purses offer free temporary lockers to hold your items. You can save some time and jump on another ride more quickly if you rent a locker, ride a few attractions back-to-back, then come back and pick up your items.

Disney’s Plans Were Too Small

According to renowned Disney historian Jim Hill in a 2018 episode of his podcast, “There were two attractions. Basically it was going to be Buzz Lightyear. You were going to be in an Omnimover attraction with a wand instead of a gun, and you were moving through basically a Dark Arts teaching class. The other aspect was going to be a Care of Magical Creatures Petting Zoo.” There were also plans for a Leaky Cauldron quick-food station, but that still leaves us thinking: That’s it?

These plans sound extremely minimal for a world so vast. Disney planned to only dedicate a small chunk of Fantasyland to Harry Potter. Instead of its own attraction, it would be a mini-land featured inside of Fantasyland. Disney also insisted that products such as Coca-Cola be available in the Wizarding World. Rowling didn’t like the sound of any of this not one bit. She wanted a world that remained true to its essence one that provided fans with a totally immersive experience. The entire deal with Disney fell apart, supposedly because Rowling was unhappy with her level of involvement and felt unnecessarily marginalized .

In hindsight, Disney may have disliked not having complete freedom to do what it wanted with a plum piece of intellectual property. Not having full control is something that the company isn’t used to, and so Disney officially pulled out of the deal with Rowling. This falling out accrued to Universal’s obvious benefit.

Also Check: Who Gives Harry Potter The Nimbus 2000

Does Netflix Us Have Harry Potter

Now for the bad news: Harry Potter films are unavailable on Netflix US.

Before you get all gloomy, we should add that we have found a way around these geo-restrictions, and you wont need a magic wand. Instead, youll need something that isnt fictional but can still teleport you to a different location.

What Is The Scariest Harry Potter Movie

Which Harry Potter Movies Are The Scariest?Every Film, Ranked

Recommended Reading: Which Actors Played Dumbledore

Disney Has 21st Century Fox Movies And Television Shows On Its Streaming Platform

This studio may be known for its animated classics like Frozen and Princess and the Frog. As the Walt Disney Company grew, it acquired more and more franchises. That includes Pixar, Lucasfilm, National Geographic, Marvel, and 21st Century Fox.

After a deal with Warner Bros, the Harry Potter franchise is owned exclusively by NBCUniversal, as of 2018. This is the same network with the rights to Jurassic Park and Jurassic World, the musical Les Miserables, and Pitch Perfect. NBCUniversal also has the theme park rights to this franchise, opening attractions in Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Universal Studios Japan.

A post shared by Harry Potter Film on Feb 17, 2020 at 10:12am PST

How Did You Buy Your Ticket

Let’s get your review verified.

• RegalComing Soon

  We wont be able to verify your ticket today, but its great to know for the future.

• Theater box office or somewhere else

Recommended Reading: Harry Potter Nimbus

Free Dining Isnt Free

There was a time when free dining was a boon for travelers when you booked during certain times of the year, Disney threw in the Disney Dining Plan for free, and in most cases, it would save you a ton of money. Over the years, however, that has changed. Disney has made subtle tweaks to what the plan provides, and it changes the value analysis. Ultimately, free dining CAN save you money, but it wont NECESSARILY do so. It clearly isnt the windfall it once was, and in any event, it certainly isnt free.

The reason for this is simple: while the Dining Plan may not add an additional line item cost to your bill, you pay for it by foregoing other discounts. To be eligible for free dining promotions, you have to pay full rack rate for your room. Almost invariably, however, any time Disney is running a free dining promotion, they are also offering other room-only or package discounts. Depending upon how you eat, those discounts may save you more money than taking advantage of Disneys free dining.

What Is The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is the overarching name for the themed areas, attractions, shops, restaurants, and entertainment based on the Harry Potter books and movies. Hogsmeade opened in 2010 at Islands of Adventure and features the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, nearby Hogsmeade Village, and the events of the Goblet of Fire. Diagon Alley opened shortly after in 2014 and includes the London-based aspects of the world such as the Knight Bus, 12 Grimmauld Place, Kings Cross station, and the aforementioned Diagon Alley.

You May Like: Who Sent Harry The Nimbus 2000

Don’t Miss: Harry Potter Hulu

Special And Visual Effects

Visual effects took nine months to make, until 9 October 2002, when the film was finished.Industrial Light & Magic, Mill Film, The Moving Picture Company , Cinesite and Framestore CFC handled the approximately 950 visual effect shots in the film. Jim Mitchell and Nick Davis served as visual effects supervisors. They were in charge of creating the CG characters Dobby the House Elf, the Basilisk, and the Cornish pixies, among others. Chas Jarrett from MPC served as CG supervisor, overseeing the approach of any shot that contains CG in the film. With a crew of 70 people, the company produced 251 shots, 244 of which made it to the film, from September 2001 to October 2002.

The visual effects team worked alongside creature effects supervisor Nick Dudman, who devised Fawkes the Phoenix, the Mandrakes, Aragog the Acromantula, and the first 25 feet of the Basilisk. According to Dudman, “Aragog represented a significant challenge to the Creature department.” The giant spider stood 9 feet tall with an 18 feet foot leg span, each of which had to be controlled by a different team member. The whole creature weighed three quarters of a ton. It took over 15 people to operate the animatronic Aragog on set.

Rumors And Official Announcement

In January 2007, About.com reported a rumor from a “highly credible source” that the Lost Continent area within Universal’s Islands of Adventure park was to be re-themed “to the stories and characters of one of the most popular children’s franchises”. Other sources followed up in the next few days with unofficial confirmation the new area would involve Harry Potter, and was being developed under the name “Project Strong Arm” in reference to the KUKA robotic arm technology it would utilise.Nikki Finke reported her own confirmation of the Potter park plans in April, followed shortly by a story in The Scotsman both reports were widely relayed by other media sources. On May 31, 2007, Universal officially announced the 20-acre addition recreating Hogwarts, the Forbidden Forest and Hogsmeade, with a planned opening in 2009.

Don’t Miss: How To Make A Wizard’s Robe

The Harry Potter Movies Are Not On Disney Plus And Most Likely Won’t Be In The Future

The Harry Potter movies were produced and distributed by Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Warner Media, LLC , which is currently owned by AT& T Inc. Basically, Disney does not own the Harry Potter movies so they cannot have them on their streaming platform.

After Warner Bros made a deal with NBCUniversal in 2018, the Harry Potter franchise became owned exclusively by NBCUniversal. This is the same network with the rights to Jurassic Park and Jurassic World, the musical Les Miserables, and Pitch Perfect. NBCUniversal also has the theme park rights to this franchise, thus Harry Potter World at Universal Studios in Orlando.

Strangely enough, Disney almost acquired the theme park rights to Harry Potter but J.K. Rowling was severely underwhelmed by what the Imagineers over at Disney came up with.

Is Universal Cheaper Than Disney

With that said, Universal is less expensive than Walt Disney World in most ways. Park tickets and food prices are not particularly noticeable, but the big one is hotel rates. Not only is Universal significantly cheaper, but its resorts include perks that would cost additional money at Walt Disney World.

Don’t Miss: Which Two Harry Potter Houses Are You