The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

• Type: Themed Land
• Location: Universal Orlando Resort (Florida, USA), Universal Studios Japan (Osaka, Japan), Universal Studios Hollywood (California, USA), Universal Beijing Resort (Beijing, China)
• Owner/Residents: Universal Destinations & Experiences and Warner Bros. Discovery (in partnership)
• Key Features: Immersive, life-sized recreations of iconic wizarding world locations; interactive wand experiences; themed rides, shops, and dining.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a series of themed lands at Universal theme parks around the globe. It is a highly detailed and immersive recreation of the magical world depicted in the Harry Potter novels and films, allowing guests to experience locations like Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley, and Hogwarts Castle. The project was officially announced in 2007 as a partnership between Warner Bros. and Universal. J.K. Rowling was an active creative consultant on the project, ensuring the details remained authentic to her vision. The design was led by Stuart Craig, the production designer for all eight Harry Potter films. The first phase, themed to the village of Hogsmeade, opened at Universal's Islands of Adventure in Orlando on June 18, 2010. The land's centerpiece is a grand-scale replica of Hogwarts Castle, which houses the flagship attraction, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. A significant expansion, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, opened at the adjacent Universal Studios Florida park on July 8, 2014. The two Orlando parks are connected by a functioning replica of the Hogwarts Express. Following the success in Orlando, the Hogsmeade area was replicated at Universal Studios Japan (2014), Universal Studios Hollywood (2016), and Universal Beijing Resort (2021).

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has no role in the narrative of the original seven Harry Potter novels, as it is a real-world visitor attraction created after the books were published. Its significance is cultural, serving as the first and most prominent physical manifestation of the wizarding world, allowing millions of fans to step into the universe they read about. It extends the world of Harry Potter beyond literature and film into a tangible, interactive experience.

The themed lands are primarily divided into Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, with Orlando being the only resort to feature both.

• Hogsmeade (Located at Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios Japan, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Beijing Resort)
  • Attractions:
    • Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey: A dark ride inside the Hogwarts Castle replica.
    • Flight of the Hippogriff: A family-friendly roller coaster.
    • Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure: A high-speed story coaster through the Forbidden Forest. (Orlando only)
  • Shops: Honeydukes, Zonko's Joke Shop (in some locations), Dervish and Banges, Owl Post, and a branch of Ollivanders.
  • Dining: Three Broomsticks Inn, Hog's Head Pub.
  • Transportation: The Hogwarts Express - Hogsmeade Station connects to King's Cross Station in the Universal Studios Florida park. (Orlando only)
• Diagon Alley (Located at Universal Studios Florida)
  • Attractions:
    • Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts: A 3D dark ride and roller coaster hybrid located inside the Gringotts Wizarding Bank replica, which is topped by a fire-breathing Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon.
  • Areas: The main street of Diagon Alley, Carkitt Market, and a dark, atmospheric recreation of Knockturn Alley.
  • Shops: Ollivanders, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, The Magical Menagerie, Quality Quidditch Supplies, Scribbulus, and Borgin and Burkes in Knockturn Alley.
  • Dining: The Leaky Cauldron, Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream Parlour, The Hopping Pot.
  • Transportation: The Hogwarts Express - King's Cross Station, which features a special effect allowing guests to walk through the barrier to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
  • Other Features: A replica of the Knight Bus is parked outside the land's entrance.

• J.K. Rowling's approval was required for almost every aspect of the land's creation, from the taste of Butterbeer—a real-world, non-alcoholic beverage created for the parks—to the exact merchandise sold in the shops. (J.K. Rowling interviews)
• Many actors from the films, including Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, and Michael Gambon, reprised their roles to film new footage for the park's attractions. (Universal promotional materials)
• One of the most popular interactive features is the ability to purchase an “interactive wand” which can be used to “cast spells” at specially marked locations throughout both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, triggering magical effects. (Theme Park feature)
• The Gringotts dragon atop the bank in Diagon Alley breathes real fire at regular intervals, with a blast reaching approximately 3,560 °F (1,960 °C). (Universal Orlando)