When Was Harry Potter World Built In California
A joint venture between Universal and Warner Bros. released the documentary Chasing 9/11 on May 31, 2007. Islands of Adventure will be added to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter for the upcoming holiday season. Over a period of 21 212 years, the building of the area began in 1890, and its official opening took place on June 18, 2010.
Is Harry Potter In Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood has been experiencing record tourism for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The park, which is based on a boy wizard book and movies, was officially opened in 2016. Unlike Potters fans, whose loyalties may lie with other folk, Muggles come to this landmark attraction in the Wizarding World.
How Fans Feel About Breaking The Timeline
At what point should an established canon take precedence over advancing the story? Large fictional universes often run into this problem. When planning began for the new Star Wars cinematic trilogy in 2014, the decision was made to de-canonize over 30 years worth of the books, comics, and video games that comprised the Expanded Universe. The decision gave creators room to create new cinematic storylines without needing to worry about continuity.
Films like Superman Returns ignored Superman III and IV in favor of continuing the story right from the end of Superman II. More recently, 2018sHalloween ignored the whole string of sequels that crowded the canon since the original movies 1978 release, and began the action right after the first films events. The two movies even share identical titles. Its not unheard of for the creators behind long-running franchises to reinvent whole worlds in order to revive and refresh the timeline when its in greater service of the story. However, these timeline issues likely wont just go away if Rowlings plan is to continue bringing the Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter timelines closer together.
With three Fantastic Beasts movies to go, only time will tell how much work fans will have to put into amending and justifying twists and bends in the timeline theyve spent two decades building.
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Which Was Built First Hogsmeade Or Diagon Alley
It is no surprise that most of the guests of this park will be visiting both Universal Harry Potter parks at the same time. Hogsmeade Village a peaceful and mystical setting surrounded by cobbled streets, snowcapped rooftops. Nevertheless, Diagon Alley was a key development in the Harry Potter saga.
When Was Harry Potter Built In Universal Studios

If you want to tip a glass of butterbeer, do so!! More than a decade have passed since the wizarding world made its debut. It was open to the public for the first time on June 18, 2010 at Universals Islands of Adventure. IOA-goers observed the completion of the Lost Continent building atop park land for about three years.
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Harry Potter Land Shops Universal Orlando Florida Vs California
Double, double toil and trouble! Looking for a cauldron, magical creature or your very own wand from the famous Ollivander? Both Universal Studios Harry Potter Worlds offer a variety of shops to get all of your witch-y needs! But which shops are better California or Florida? Lets compare Wizarding World shops in Florida and California.
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“When I had the chance to take the cast through, even they were moved. For so many years, they had been on the set and they had seen parts and pieces of that world and now, being there, they were touching the actual walls. It was really so magical for them.”
The latest addition to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter was an impressive storycoaster, Hagrids Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, which opened just last year. Coup told People the construction of this new ride granted one of his wishes, allowing him to add the Forbidden Forest to the parks as part of the rides intricate set.
Epic Universe, a new 750 acre theme park by Comcast CMCSA under Universal Studios, will open likely in 2024 or beyond. Initially the Comcast planned to open the park in 2023, however, Covid-19 meant construction was halted on the project, delaying the opening of the park significantly. Universal Japans Super Nintendo World, however, is going ahead with an opening of February 4 2021, after delaying a summer 2020 opening due to the pandemic.
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Godric Gryffindors Legacy Lives On Today Through His Hat
Godric Gryffindor favoured the virtues of courage and heroism, and has been described by J.K. Rowling as the best duellist of his time both with a wand, and a sword. Thus his legacy lives on with the Sword of Gryffindor, the relic that Harry Potter used to destroy Horcruxes. But he also endures through another object. You see, when the founders became older, they were faced with a problem: how would they ensure that students were sorted into the right House after they were gone? For up until that point, that decision was made by them and them alone. The solution? Godrics hat. The founders decided that the best course of action was for Godric to take off his hat so that all four of them could enchant it to sort students long after their deaths. And lo, the Sorting Hat was born.
At The Wizarding World The Magic Is In The Details
While Disney is well-known for the immersive design in their parks, Universal Studios’ Wizarding World might have them beat: Once you enter, you genuinely feel like you’ve stepped into Harry Potter’s world. This even continues when when you go to the bathroom, as Moaning Myrtle’s voice floats around you. If you visit 12 Grimmauld Place, a location featured heavily in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and are patient enough, you can see the house elf Kreacher make an appearance in the upstairs window.
For more interactive details, have a wand handy: according to Orlando Informer, there are many spells that, with your wand, you can activate in shop windows throughout the parks. Or consider visiting the Knight Bus and have a nice talk with the driver, Stan Shunpike. Going a step further, Japan’s Wizarding World also includes Hogwart’s Black Lake complete with live owls in the park.
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The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter Hogsmeade At Universal’s Islands Of Adventure
The original Wizarding World soft-opened in late May 2010, following a 2007 announcement that Universal has secured the theme park rights to J.K. Rowling’s characters and would be bringing them to the Universal Orlando Resort. Themed to the village of Hogsmeade from the Harry Potter books and films, original Wizarding World land was designed by Universal Creative in consultation with author J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter film production designer Stuart Craig. It includes one new attraction, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, as well as two rethemed rides and multiple shops and restaurants.
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Film Paradoxes
The release of the original eight Harry Potter films confused the entire timeline, and for a while, it appeared that the films were not taking place in the same fictional time frame and fans figured that might make sense. As an adaptation of the original novels, the movies didnt need to adhere to the books timeline. Evidence mounted that the films were shifted forward by several years as anachronisms started to appear, mostly in relation to the Muggle world.
Several scenes supposedly set in the 1990s featured car models that were not manufactured until after 2000. Many scenes set in London during Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 included buildings that were not constructed until after the 1990s, such as the London Eye , The Gherkin , and Millennium Bridge . In 2010, Deathly Hallows: Part 1 used the song O Children by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, which wasnt released until 2004.
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Harry Potter World Rides Universal Florida Vs California
Soaring through the Forbidden Forest or roaming the halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Universal Studios Harry Potter rides are amazing. So, to start our Harry Potter World coast to coast comparison, lets start with what rides are offered at Hogsmeade. The Harry Potter rides in both Universal parks are mostly the same when it comes to Hogsmeade, but Orlando definitely has gotten some updates over the years. So what are the difference in rides when comparing Harry Potter World Hollywood Vs Orlando?
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.
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The Founders Were Friends But Fell Out Over What Hogwarts Should Be
Much like the Marauders, or Harry, Hermione and Ron, the founders of Hogwarts were originally friends. Yet that changed once it became clear that certain founders had a very different idea of what they wanted Hogwarts to be. That founder, of course, was Salazar Slytherin, who distrusted Muggle-born wizards, and believed that only pure-blood students should be allowed to attend Hogwarts. The other founders disagreed especially Godric Gryffindor, who was, up until then, Slytherins greatest friend. Their argument possibly, its suggested, a duel resulted in Slytherin leaving the school behind.
Get A Park To Park Ticket
As mentioned above, to get the full experience of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you have to get the Park to Park add on for your ticket. Without it you are unable to ride the Hogwarts Express, so even if you are planning on spending a day in each park you still wont be able to hit everything. You will undoubtedly feel the draw of Platform 9 and 3/4 when you are there, so why not plan ahead and get the park to park ticket ahead of time.
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Universal Studios Hollywood Harry Potter Shops Hogsmeade
- Ollivanders
- Filchs Emporium of Confiscated Goods
- Wiseacres Wizarding Equipment
- Gladrags Wizardwear
Hogsmeade StationOverall, the Hogsmeade in Universal Studios Hollywood uses its space to allow more shopping for guests. You will not find Zonkos, Gladrags Wizardwear or Hogsmeade Station Shop over in Orlandos Hogsmeade.
Harry Potter World Lands Universal California Vs Florida
One of the most obvious differences between the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Universal Orlando Resort and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Universal Studios Hollywood are the lands. Both parks offer guests to experience Hogsmeade, which has the Hogwarts castle and the various shops and rides throughout the village. Unfortunately, because of size issues and where Universal Hollywood is located, there was not room for another Harry Potter theme park.
It is important to note that while comparing the two, Harry Potter World in Universal Hollywood is missing Diagon Alley. Harry Potter World in Florida has an entire second theme park where guests can ride the Hogwarts Express back and forth from the two parks with a proper ticket. That is one of the major disadvantages of Universal Hollywood when comparing both Harry Potter parks.
When it comes to the layout of Hogsmeade, it is nearly identical in both parks. Although Universal Hollywoods Hogsmeade is slightly smaller, you cannot tell the difference with the amazing theming. Universal Orlandos Hogsmeade is also located in the Islands of Adventure park, where Californias is in their Universal Studios Hollywood.
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Renewal Options And Closing Thoughts
When this contract was being written back in 2007, the owners of the Universal Parks were not who owns them now. Since then, Comcast has taken 100% control of the parks. Its possible that this contract had to be amended in some way .
Since the contract has likely been updated in some way over the past 14+ years, none of this should be taken as how the agreement is currently structured.
The initial agreement we have been discussing today offered two renewal terms, one that would last through July 1, 2024 and another that would expire on June 30, 2029. Clearly Universal has renewed the contract for that first renewal option, as the lands are still open today.
Seeing the company continuing to build Wizarding World lands in theme parks around the world, including their newest park in Beijing, its clear that Universal intends to keep the licensing agreement in place for the foreseeable future.
We dont know what the current agreement between Warner Bros. and Comcast looks likeand if it has already changed since this document from 2007but we do know that this iteration of the agreement ends in the summer of 2029. So, we most likely still have at least 7 and a half more years of Potter at the Universal parks.
Please note: I am not a lawyer, and the above is only my interpretation of publicly available documents. Subscribe to the news feed or enter your email below to never miss an update. Photos: Alicia Stella
Other Items Of Interest
- Bathrooms The voice of Moaning Myrtle can be heard speaking to guests in the Hogsmeade Wash-rooms.
- Dance Performance Students from the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and Durmstrang Institute perform a dance ” rel=”nofollow”> film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) called the “Triwizard Spirit Rally” on the grounds of Hogwarts.
- Hogsmeade station At the Hogsmeade Station there is a cheery Conductor who welcomes guests to Hogsmeade.
- Interactive Wands Using a map and special interactive wands sold at Ollivander’s, guests can go to different shop windows and use the designated spells to activate magical special effects.
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The New Wizarding World Of Harry Potter In Hollywoodin Pictures
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Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban

Principal photography for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban began at Leavesden Studios on Monday 24th February 2003.
One of the most complicated set pieces to create was the Knight Bus, which appeared in this film. The audience sees the bus drive Harry through the streets of London and, despite its three decks, this was not achieved through CGI. The bus was driven to London, which required a lot of planning because the bus was specially built using components from two double-decker buses, in order to create a triple-decker. Taking the height of the bus into consideration, the route into London had to be carefully mapped out bridges were clearly out of the question!
This film marked the first time the Dementor were introduced. Director Alfonso Cuaron and Producer David Heyman experimented with different methods to make it appear as if the Dementor were actually floating. Initially puppeteers were brought onto set, to move large pieces of cloth in a water tank which created the illusion that the Dementor were floating. However, this movement was later created through visual effects.
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Smellitzerlike A Howitzer But This Fires Smells Instead Of Shells
Just as orphaned Harry Potter found himself at Hogwarts Academy, so did the Universal Orlando Resort, forever considered an also-ran to Disney, find itself with the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The 20-acre themed land, which re-created the magical village of Hogsmeade down to Ollivanders Wand Shop, opened in 2010, and spawned another 20-acre plot of Potter, Diagon Alley, in 2014. Compact versions of the Wizarding Worlds opened at Universal Studios Japan in 2014 and Universal Studios Hollywood in 2016.
Besides its hotels and waterparks, Universal Orlando has two theme parks, Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios. The $250 million Hogsmeade is located in the former and the $400 million Diagon Alley in the latter, with the Hogwarts Express connecting the two, requiring two separate admissions to the two separate parks. Their attractions require the visitor to spend at least one extra day at Universal, taking a big bite out of the Orlando pie, and putting a nice farthing or two into the pockets of the parties concerned. Wands at Ollivanders run from $25 for a toy version to $48 for a more advanced model, and that is only the beginning of the retail possibilities.
The point is, it might have seemed that Universal was not a perfect fit for the storied J. K. Rowling. Gutsy as her narratives were, they were also detailed and descriptive.
Would Harry feel comfortable being so near Jurassic Park?
It was enough to make a believer out of anyone.