Islands of Adventure

• Type: Theme Park
• Location: Orlando, Florida, USA
• Owner/Residents: Universal Destinations & Experiences
• Key Features: Location of the original The Wizarding World of Harry Potter themed land, which recreates the village of Hogsmeade and Hogwarts Castle.

Islands of Adventure is a real-world theme park that is part of the Universal Orlando Resort. While the park itself opened in 1999, it became a significant destination for Harry Potter fans on June 18, 2010, with the opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade. This immersive land was created through a partnership between Warner Bros. and Universal, with the direct involvement of J.K. Rowling and production designer Stuart Craig from the film series to ensure authenticity. The area is a detailed recreation of the wizarding village of Hogsmeade, complete with iconic shops, eateries, and a large-scale replica of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry that serves as the facade for the land's flagship attraction. The opening of this area marked the first time fans could physically step into and interact with a fully realized environment from the books and films.

As a real-world location, Islands of Adventure does not appear in the original seven novels and has no role within the narrative of the Harry Potter series. Its significance is entirely as a major, officially licensed extension of the Harry Potter franchise. It provides fans with an immersive experience that brings the world described in the books to life, allowing them to visit locations, purchase items like wands and Butterbeer, and experience attractions based on key moments from the story.

The following are key locations and attractions within the The Wizarding World of Harry Potter section of Islands of Adventure:

• Hogwarts Castle: A large, detailed replica of the school which houses the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey dark ride attraction. The queue takes guests through familiar rooms such as the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, Dumbledore's Office, and the Gryffindor Common Room.
• Hogsmeade Village: The central area of the land, featuring cobblestone streets and buildings with magically crooked chimneys and perpetual snow on their rooftops.
• Hogwarts Express: The Hogsmeade Station allows guests with a park-to-park ticket to ride a recreation of the Hogwarts Express to King's Cross Station in the Universal Studios Florida park, which contains the Diagon Alley section of The Wizarding World.
• The Three Broomsticks: A restaurant modeled after the inn from the books, serving British fare and wizarding world beverages. The attached Hog's Head pub serves Butterbeer, Pumpkin Juice, and other drinks.
• Honeydukes: A sweetshop selling wizarding treats like Chocolate Frogs, Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, and Cauldron Cakes.
• Ollivanders: A branch of the famous wand shop where a small audience can watch a “wand choosing the wizard” show before entering the main shop to purchase replica wands.
• Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure: A high-speed roller coaster that takes guests on a journey through the Forbidden Forest on a recreation of Sirius Black's enchanted motorbike.
• Flight of the Hippogriff: A family-friendly roller coaster that circles past a recreation of Hagrid's Hut and a life-size figure of a Hippogriff.

• The creation of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was a closely guarded project, officially announced in 2007. (J.K. Rowling interview)
• J.K. Rowling maintained creative approval over many aspects of the park's design, from the taste of Butterbeer to the items sold in the shops, to ensure fidelity to her creation. (Pottermore)
• The success of the Hogsmeade land in Islands of Adventure led to significant expansions, including the Diagon Alley section in the adjacent Universal Studios Florida park (opened in 2014) and subsequent Wizarding World lands at Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Japan, and Universal Studios Beijing. (Theme Park Announcement)
• Composer John Williams, who scored the first three Harry Potter films, returned to create new musical arrangements for the land's attractions and ambient soundscape. (Theme Park Announcement)