10 Fun Facts About The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter's New Diagon Alley

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is about to get a little bigger. And whileDiagon Alley, the park's new addition, won't open until July 8, perhaps some fun facts will tide you over until then.

First, some basics. Harry's world spans two parks: Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. Hogsmeade and the Hogwarts castle, which opened in 2010, are located in Islands of Adventure. Diagon Alley and London will be located inUniversal Studios Florida. Here's a little preview:

1. You can now RIDE the Hogwarts Express. 

If you visited the Hogsmeade section of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you probably stopped for a photograph with the Hogwarts Express and its conductor. However, when the new park opens, you will be able to actually ride the iconic train from King's Cross Station in "London" to Hogsmeade.

2. The theme park is basically a carbon copy of film sets.

Universal consulted J.K. Rowling and the film's production designers during the design process, so each and every detail is picture perfect, as Robert Niles, editor ofthemeparkinsider.com, told CNN.

3. You'll get to hang with animatronic goblins at Gringotts.

The bank is part of the Park's headliner ride, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. Be advised, goblins are not the friendliest of creatures.

4. Apparently, if you ring their bells, they look right at you. Creepy!

5. Want to buy some Pygmy Puffs? How about Skiving Snackboxes? Or some U-No-Poo? Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes sells them all!

Unfortunately, George, Fred and Ginny won't be there to sell you their favorite gag gifts. The three-story shop is said to look identical to the one in "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince."

6. If hunger strikes you while wandering Diagon Alley, don't fret. The Leaky Cauldron awaits you.

The pub serves up British fare and Butterbeer, of course.

7. And if the, ahem, "darker arts" are more your thing, head over to Knockturn Alley and check out Borgin and Burkes.

And yes, that creepy "Hand of Glory" from "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" is allegedly on display.

8. There are now two Ollivanders Wand Shops -- one in Hogsmeade and one at Diagon Alley. So you can double up on all your wand-related needs.

Get your hands on an interactive wand and make some magic.

9. There is a fire-breathing dragon atop Gringotts.

According to Buzzfeed, the dragon breathes its fiery breath approximately every 15 minutes.

10. It's totally and completely magical. What else would you expect?

(Your favorite film stars agree!)

Contributed by Lisa_Miller, The Huffington Post 

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New Harry Potter Park: 5 First Impressions

This June 2014 photo released by Universal Orlando Resort shows "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley," from the Harry Potter-themed area of Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, Fla. The attraction, featuring shops, dining experiences and the next generation thrill ride, will officially open on July 8. (AP Photo/Universal Orlando Resort, Sheri Lowen)

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Universal Orlando Resort opened its new, richly detailed Harry Potter-themed area to media and other travel industry insiders on Wednesday night.

The new park zone, called The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Diagon Alley, will delight fans of the hit book and movie series with a marquee ride, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts.

But Diagon Alley is also heavy on experiential retail, with stores so entertaining and visually stimulating that you almost forget you're shopping.

The attraction doubles the size of the Harry Potter footprint on Universal's property. Diagon Alley opens to the public July 8 at Universal Studios. A train called the Hogwarts Express connects the new area to the original Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction, called Hogsmeade, which opened in 2010 on the other side of the theme park at Universal's Islands of Adventure.

If fans want to see both Harry Potter areas, a two-park ticket is required. For adults, a two-park ticket for one day costs $136; for children, it's $130.

Helena Bonham Carter, Matthew Lewis and Domhnall Gleeson were among the actors from Potter films walking a red carpet at Universal Wednesday night.

Here are five first impressions of Universal's new Diagon Alley, which was inspired by the fictional London location famous for wizarding supplies in the Harry Potter series:

WINDOW SHOPPING

The level of detail in Diagon Alley is amazing, and nowhere are the features more fun and true to the novels and movies than in shop windows. There are lots of things for sale, but others are simply great decorations. Books play a central role in the decor; window-shoppers will see animatronic versions of "The Monster Book of Monsters," a tome with teeth, along with self-knitting needles and Harry Potter's snowy owl, Hedwig.

UNIQUE GIFTS

With seven shops in Diagon Alley, there's plenty to buy. (There are five shops in Hogsmeade, Universal's original Harry Potter attraction.) Among the offerings: Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes (chattering teeth, expandable ears), Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions ($250 for a wizard's robe), Quality Quidditch Supplies (everything for playing the real-life sport based on the game in the series) and Scribbulus (implements for paper, pen and ink lovers). Magical Menagerie sells cute stuffed animals (pygmy puffs are popular), while Borgin and Burkes - located off Diagon Alley in the book, on Knockturn Alley - is a "dark arts" shop that sells skulls, black T-shirts and Death Eater masks. Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment sells telescopes and binoculars.

INTERACTIVE WANDS

For $35, guests can buy interactive wands at Ollivanders Wand Shop, located in both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. When wand-wielding guests see a medallion symbol in either area, they can wave the wand and cast spells. The wands make trolls dance, light lamps and chandeliers, and silence some shrunken heads, among other things. Maps of the medallion areas are available, but Universal says there are also some hidden spell areas for guests to discover.

WIZARD WARDROBES

In addition to robes, fans can buy capes and preppy button-down cardigans inspired by the four houses where Harry and his fellow students live at Hogwarts school. Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions also has on display a wedding dress and two costumes that aren't for sale: an intimidating black-beaded cape ensemble worn in a promo for the new attraction, and a costume worn by Kenneth Branagh as Gilderoy Lockhart in the "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" movie. The wedding dress is white with white feathers at the hem and softly twinkling lights within the skirt.

PHOTO OPS

As you enter Diagon Alley, look toward Gringotts Bank - which is the entrance to the centerpiece thrill ride, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. A dragon is perched atop the bank, and it breathes fire -an instant Facebook photo or Instagram shot. Once you enter the bank, while in queue for the ride, don't miss the three enormous glass chandeliers. Finally, find 12 Grimmauld Place where Kreacher the House Elf peers eerily from a window.

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Contributed by Tamara Lush, Twitter at http://twitter.com/tamaralush

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Just Revealed Food & Beverage Options Coming To The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley At The Universal Orlando Resort

There are so many things I’m looking forward to experiencing when The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley opens this summer. But one of the things at the top of my list is trying all the amazing food and beverage options that I’ll be able to enjoy throughout the land. I’m a big Harry Potter fan and an even bigger foodie…so the thought of combining food and drink with one of my favorite series is absolutely amazing!

We’ll all have the opportunity to actually step inside places you've only seen in the films and read about in the books and actually taste some of the foods and drinks your favorite characters have enjoyed!

First up is the Leaky Cauldron – where I got to take a sneak peek earlier this week.  It looks just like it does in the films…all the way down to the huge cauldron that sits in the middle of the restaurant.  Here, you’ll be able to enjoy delicious British fare like…

• Bangers and Mash (traditional roasted sausages with creamy mashed potatoes)
• Toad in the Hole (traditional sausage baked into a Yorkshire pudding and served with onion gravy)
• Cottage Pie (a savory combination of meat and vegetables in a potato crust)
• Fisherman’s Pie (salmon, shrimp and cod baked together under a potato crust)
• Beef, Lamb & Guinness Stew (served in a bread bowl)
• Ploughman’s (a feast of English cheeses, crusty bread, cornichon pickles, apple beet salad, Branston pickle and a Scotch egg)
• Split Pea Soup
• Banger Pub Style Sandwich
• Fish and Chips
• And more!

And you can finish off your meal with scrumptious desserts like Chocolate Potted Cream, Cranachan and Sticky Toffee Pudding.  There will also be breakfast served at the Leaky Cauldron with two new breakfast items, only available at Diagon Alley: an Apple Oatmeal Flan with Yogurt and Fruit and an Egg, Leek and Mushroom Pasty.

There will also be new beverages for you to enjoy in Diagon Alley like:

• Fishy Green Ale (it’s Fishy Green Ale, use your imagination!)
• Otter’s Fizzy Orange Juice
• Tongue Tying Lemon Squash
• Peachtree Fizzing Tea
• Wizard’s Brew (draught beer)
• Dragon Scale (draught beer)
• Gillywater
• Pumpkin Juice
• Butterbeer (of course!)

Another must-stop during your trip to Diagon Alley will be Eternelle’s Elixir of Refreshment, a cart located in Horizont Alley, where you can enjoy unique elixirs. Here’s how it works:  you select from a variety of elixirs like Draught of Peace, Babbling Beverage, Elixir to Induce Euphoria and Fire Protection Potion, and then add the elixir to Gillywater.  By mixing them, you’ll see your drink transform before your eyes and experience a delightful flavor surprise. Too cool!

And of course, to top it all off, you have Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour. You may remember Florean Fortescue’s from the first book and film “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” when Hagrid bought Harry a chocolate and raspberry ice-cream with chopped nuts. You’ll be able to do the same with unique flavors of ice-cream like…

• Granny Smith (pictured)
• Early Grey and Lavender
• Chocolate Chili
• Clotted Cream
• Apple Crumble
• Sticky Toffee Pudding
• Salted Caramel Blondie
• Chocolate and Raspberry
• Strawberry and Peanut-Butter
• Orange Marmalade
• Butterbeer (that’s right, Butterbeer-flavored ice cream!)

During my time learning about the new food and beverage options in Diagon Alley, I had the opportunity to sit with Ric Florell, the Senior Vice President of Revenue Operations at Universal Orlando Resort, and Executive Chef Steve Jayson to learn all the details. Here’s what they had to say:

Deni: How did you approach developing food or beverage that has only existed in the Harry Potter books and films and people’s imaginations?

Ric: The first thing we did was research. We took a look at the Harry Potter books and the films and determined which foods and beverages we wanted to concoct for our guests. Of course, we had to have the Leaky Cauldron. The tricky part was creating a menu when there was no mention of any of the food items in the books and only one mention in the films to Split Pea Soup. So, we devised a menu with delicious dishes you would find in a British pub. 

We also took into consideration what our guests wanted. For example, we received a lot of interest in having a larger beer selection in the Hog’s Head pub in Hogsmeade. We took that feedback and decided to offer more options in the Leaky Cauldron. 

Our goal is to give our guests a culinary experience that immerses them in the fun, excitement and wonder of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. 

Deni: Did you work with J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. for the development and creation? 

Ric: Yes, we definitely worked closely with our partners to put together the menus and beverages that will be found in Diagon Alley. After we developed our recipes and dishes, we had multiple tastings with Warner Bros.

Deni: Speaking of Butterbeer, it has been so well received along with the rest of the Three Broomsticks menu at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade. How have you continued the culinary progression from Hogsmeade into Diagon Alley?

Chef Jayson: We wanted to expand the dining from Hogsmeade into Diagon Alley by re-creating another beloved restaurant found in the Harry Potter books and films that delivers a completely different experience than the Three Broomsticks – yet, has the same magical feel. In the Leaky Cauldron, you actually feel as if you’re walking into a pub with dishes that are true to the British culture.  We even imported certain ingredients like English cheeses to add to our dishes. 

With Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour, you can order flavors of ice-cream that were inspired by flavors associated with England, like Clotted Cream and Earl Grey and Lavender. You will also encounter fun flavors you would expect to only find in the wizarding world like Butterbeer.

Plus, there are a few surprises we’re leaving for our guests to discover. We challenged ourselves to bring the food and drink of Harry Potter’s world to life, and I feel our guests will leave here saying we were successful. 

Deni: How does the food and beverage in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley fit into the overall picture of Universal Orlando’s culinary experience?

Ric: When our guests dine with us in our restaurants, we want them to be fully immersed in the theme, so they feel as if they’re in that world. With The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, we want our guests to feel as if they’re a part of the adventures that their favorite characters experienced. As they dine in the Leaky Cauldron, we want them to feel the authenticity of British cuisine as well as the magic of being in Diagon Alley. 

We’re bringing to life our guests’ favorite stories and giving them a chance to experience them firsthand – and we want our food and beverages to enhance that experience.

Deni: And now for the best question: what are your favorite dishes or drinks coming to Diagon Alley?

Ric: I really love the Bangers and Mash that will be served in the Leaky Cauldron. And I’ll have to say the Ploughman’s, because it’s a plate the whole table can enjoy. 

Chef Jayson: For me, I’m especially proud to be a part of the team that created Butterbeer, so that’s definitely a favorite. As for new dishes, I really enjoy our pies. Our classic Shepherd’s Pie is always delicious, and our new Fisherman’s Pie is especially tasty. 

 What are you looking forward to trying in Diagon Alley this summer? Tell us by commenting below.

 

Contributed by Deni Cox

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