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Universal's Wizarding World Of Harry Potter Will Open In April
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood now has an official opening date of April 7, 2016. Soon, guests of Universal Studios Hollywood will finally be able to immerse themselves in the world of Harry Potter. The Hogwarts castle is now aglow at the park, with two video spots offering a glimpse into what the attraction—which brings the all-wizarding village of Hogsmeade to life—will look like.
According to a release, Universal has been working on this attraction for the last five years, paying close attention to detail in an attempt to replicate the magical setting in real life. Guests will enter snow-capped Hogsmeade via an archway to find it full of villagers going about their daily lives.
There will be two rides inside: Flight of the Hippogriff, an outdoor roller coaster, and a 3-D-HD ride called "Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey." This ride uses 3-D scenes and an elevated track to tell an action-packed story, similar to Universal's Simpsons and Fast and Furious rides.
Restaurant options will include Three Broomsticks and Hog's Head Pub, plus MagicNeep and Butterbeer carts. Butterbeer, according to the books tastes "a little bit like less-sickly butterscotch." You can also purchase gifts and Potter merchandise at a number of shops, including Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment and Filch's Emporium of Confiscated Goods.
You can get a glimpse of what the attraction will look like in the two videos below. The first is a TV ad, and the second features actress Evanna Lynch, who plays Luna Lovegood in the films, using a wand to illuminate the castle.
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