The Wizarding World of Harry Potter expanded into the latest magical experience, Diagon Alley. Inside of Universal Studios, a London replica teases into the magic waiting at the wizarding entrance familiar to Harry Potter fans.
Brick walls give the illusion of walking through a wall, separating the Muggles into the “wizarding” world. You can feel the magic with the mystical music from the Harry Potter movies playing in the background.
Diagon Alley is an amazing place to explore and shop for magical gifts and wizardly wonders. Explore the Weasley twins’ (Fred and George) first joke shop, Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes, a colorful scene filled with toys, candy and gags. Customize an Ollivander’s wand or buy one from your favorite character. Each wand comes with a map explaining where you can use your wand on locations marked by gold symbols. If you hold the wand straight and to say the right spells, you can make an umbrella rain or levitate objects.
Take a wrong turn into Knockturn Alley, known for cool, dark air with a sinister sky to match. Located in the dark alley is Borgin and Burkes, a store for the dark arts where you can buy a Death Eater mask and other dark magic novelties. Shrunken talking heads hang in the window to match an eerie skeleton creature.
Try the delicious non-alcoholic Butterbeer. Each sip tastes like butterscotch cream soda with a frothy, foam topping of butterscotch cream. Butterbeer is available throughout the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
In the heart of Diagon Alley is Gringotts Bank, where a lifelike dragon is perched and breathes fire. Step inside the bank to ride the latest attraction, Escape from Gringotts. The lavish lobby of Gringotts Bank is a cinematic remake, complete with marble columns, tile floors, and lifelike goblins accounting numbers and coins. The real adventure begins when facing the infamous Lord Voldemort, but not without the help of Harry, Ron and Hermione.
Two park tickets can get you a ride on the Hogwarts Express to Hogsmeade at sister park, Islands of Adventure. The King’s Cross Train Station is in the London replica at Universal Studios, where guests can step up to the elusive Platform 9 ¾. A mirror gives the illusion of guests walking through a brick wall.
Sit in a private booth with up to eight people aboard the Hogwarts Express. The windows tell the story of the journey to Hogwarts, but not without an attack from the dementors. The ghostly shadows drifted by and its fingers left icy prints on the door.
Stepping into the world of the Boy Who Lived leaves a strong impression of how real a magical world can feel.
