Friday 6 June 2014

Gotta Get Back to Hogwarts - and soon, into Diagon Alley too!


A view of Hogsmeade Station from inside the WWoHPLast weekend, FictionAlley's Heidi went "back to Hogwarts" (to quote the StarKid song) to revisit Hogsmeade, have some #Butterbeerforbreakfast and see what could be seen of the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando.

It was magical! While we're still a few weeks from the Grand Opening of the Diagon Alley area - Hypable reports that June 20 looks to be a likely Opening Day - we got the new double-park shopping bag with our purchases and caught glimpses of Hogsmeade Station and the top of the Knight Bus.

We also visited the revamped Honeydukes - now bereft of the joke products that will be available soon, alongside more japes and tricks, at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes in Diagon Alley - and checked out new products including mens' swimming trunks and an interactive Marauders' Map that lets you track Harry, Hermione, Ron, Dumbledore and Snape around Hogwarts.

WWoHP Diagon Alley Knight BusWe're not the only ones who went to the WWoHP this week - Oliver and James Phelps joined Bonnie Wright for a peek into the shops and experiences along Diagon Alley and Muggle "London" - but be warned! There are spoilers for the park in that video! They also tried some of the new food options that visitors will get to enjoy at The Leaky Cauldron before long.

We'll see you there when the construction walls come down!

New WWoHP Diagon Alley shopping bag
Here's the latest from Universal: 
Opening this summer, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley will bring even more of Harry Potter’s adventures to life. Inside the land, guests will enjoy themed shops, dining experiences and the groundbreaking thrill ride – Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. The new area will double the size of the sweeping land already found at Universal Orlando, expanding the spectacularly themed environment across both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.