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RRU Special Edition: Fascinating rumors emerge about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter under construction at Universal Studios Hollywood

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Every once in a while rumors come along that are so exciting and so teaming with possibilities, we know that our readers will be just as filled with the tinglies as we are – even if the rumors concern a park outside of our Central Florida purview.

That’s why today we’re publishing this special, West Coast edition of the Rumor Round-Up. Expect to see these one-offs pop up once in a blue moon, to cover the most cutting of the cutting-edge happenings on the other side of the country – or, even, on the other side of the world.

And who knows? Maybe we’ll see these new developments play out in Orlando, to one degree or another, some day really soon…

 

Harry Potter and the Deluxe Journey

Back in December 2011, when Universal Creative was nice enough to hint at the expansion of the Wizarding World that would ultimately result in Diagon Alley, the company also announced that it would be taking Harry and transplanting him to California. Although no details were offered at the time, we all assumed that Universal Studios Hollywood would be getting an exact clone of Hogwarts Castle – along with Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey inside it, of course – and that would simply be that.

Behind the Thrills, it turns out, says we all were wrong – very, very wrong.

In a way-cool posting that combines all known rumors floating around out there about Harry’s West Coast digs, the site lists in magical, meticulous detail just what Universal may have in store for Californians. (It’s important at this incredibly early juncture to stress the may in that previous sentence; no one knows for certain just what will be awaiting park guests when the new Wizarding World finally opens its doors in 2016.)

IOA's Hogwarts Castle at night.
IOA’s Hogwarts Castle at night. See more on the new OI Flickr page

First and foremost, it won’t just be the castle, but the wider area surrounding it, as well. And though it won’t be as large as Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure, it’s still going to pack a number of its sister park’s attractions: Ollivander’s Wand Shop, Zonko’s, Honeydukes, the frog choir show, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and, perhaps surprisingly, Flight of the Hippogriff. You won’t be able to find either the Three Broomsticks or Hog’s Head Bar, but there will be a butterbeer “tavern” where visitors can buy their Universal-exclusive drinks (in both normal and frozen varieties, presumably).

Now for the differences. Hippogriff is said to be bigger, though the article seems to mean the ride’s footprint in the park rather than the coaster itself. More interactive elements are supposed to be included, presumably in the queue – which may even include a walk-through version of Hagrid’s hut. (Universal Creative and author Jo Rowling had both wanted to include this in the Orlando version, but they couldn’t agree on how to overcome America’s various rules and regulations when dealing with public spaces: Rowling didn’t want to include ramps for wheelchairs, for example, for fear of ruining the illusion of immersion. It’s doubtful the two parties have come to some sort of compromise since then, but – hey – who knows?)

And then there’s Hogwarts Castle, which will still double as Forbidden Journey’s queue but will be significantly expanded to include many and more enhancements, such as full-blown reconstructions of the movie sets instead of Florida’s skimpy compilations of, say, the Gryffindor common room. The highlight of this will easily be the Great Hall, which will function almost identically to Disney’s Be Our Guest restaurant in New Fantasyland: a quick-service lunch and a deluxe dinner will be set against a flurry of special effects, such as a changing ceiling, interactive portraits, and Dumbledore himself.

The Great Hall of Hogwarts Castle.
The Great Hall of Hogwarts Castle. Source

Finally, as if all this weren’t enough, Behind the Thrills leaves us with one last juicy tidbit – the Defense against the Dark Arts classroom inside this suped-up version of Hogwarts will be home to a brand-new show that has a new professor attempting to teach muggles the finer points of defensive magic, possibly against the likes of Cornish Pixies, Boggarts, and, even, Death Eaters. As if the more detailed sets and the possibility of eating in a fully animated Great Hall weren’t enough to boggle the mind, then this should be enough to put even the most casual Potter fan in catatonic shock.

Once again, this is all merely rumor at this point… but if Universal were truly interested in making all the hardened veterans of the Wizarding World on the East Coast ravenous for a cross-country trip, it would be difficult indeed to think of a more compelling lineup.

 

Reminder: Our regularly scheduled Rumor Round-Up will return again at the end of the week. If you can’t wait, check out a complete year’s worth of previous RRUs!

Curious about Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida? See OI’s full construction coverage. And of course, to learn about the current Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure, you definitely need to check out the world’s largest insider’s guide in the OI Universal Center.

 

[sws_author_bio user=”msunyata@yahoo.com” size=”105″ authorposts=”More OI posts by Marc” name_format=”About the author”] [/sws_author_bio]

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OrlandoInformer.com
OrlandoInformer.com
July 3, 2013 10:08 am

Thanks to the fan who pointed out it’s “Great Hall” not “Great Room”. I’m typing too fast I guess – because I’m excited to get to Universal so I can start posting live in-park photo updates!

Marc N Kleinhenz
Marc N Kleinhenz
July 3, 2013 10:43 am

That’s my fault — I need to stop writing these articles so frakkin’ late at night.
Sorry!  =(
~M.

OrlandoInformer
OrlandoInformer
July 3, 2013 11:10 am

I thought the fan was talking about my Facebook post, but like Marc said I see it was a typo here too. Anyway, it’s been fixed 🙂

Pumkin2princess
Pumkin2princess
July 3, 2013 10:35 am

OrlandoInformer that would be amazing and smart on universal’s behalf. I would love to dine in the great hall!

Kat Srq
Kat Srq
July 3, 2013 10:33 am

That would be very cool!

Rachel Burke
Rachel Burke
July 3, 2013 10:48 am

That would be amazing!!

Jade Brannan
Jade Brannan
July 3, 2013 11:11 am

Dafuq?! I want to eat in the Great Hall, FL deserves it more. 🙁

Marc Kleinhenz
Marc Kleinhenz
July 3, 2013 11:24 am

You guys are getting Hogwarts Express! =)

Suzanne Torrey
Suzanne Torrey
July 3, 2013 11:28 am

Sounds great! I adore the area in the Orlando park and could (and did) happily spend hours looking at things while my family rode Dragon Challenge and Flight of the Hippogriff. I must use an ECV due to injuries and I’m so grateful to the laws and cast members who make it possible to ride what I can. It’s distressing to read that Ms Rowling felt that full accessibility would have ruined her “immersive atmosphere”- she may one day have a rude awakening should something occur to make it less than easy for her to get around.

Louise Nicholls
Louise Nicholls
July 3, 2013 11:47 am

Didn’t even know there was a great hall in the castle! Also apparently the owelry but never saw that either when I was there!!

Natalie Mitchell Chapman
Natalie Mitchell Chapman
July 3, 2013 11:55 am

Happy happy yahoo!!! 🙂 🙂

Cassy
Cassy
July 3, 2013 3:10 pm

I hadn’t really thought about going to CA as FL has so much to offer (and it is much closer!), but this has me reconsidering….

NanAr
NanAr
July 3, 2013 9:40 pm

Going to start a fund NOW. Whether this all comes to fruition or not I have been wanting to visit the west coast anyway. This rumor just gave me the incentive I needed to save up $.

Jennifer Sterling
Jennifer Sterling
July 3, 2013 9:51 pm

So hoping these rumors our true, the Great Hall would be amazing to sit down in and eat and would for sure get me back across country.

jason_wilson
jason_wilson
August 4, 2013 9:40 am

Love Harry Potter, can’t wait to go

JoeMellon1
JoeMellon1
September 6, 2013 10:33 am

Does anyone know why the CA target date is in 2016 (3+ years) when the FL expansion may be opening in the summer of 2014?

About Marc N. Kleinhenz

Marc N. Kleinhenz is the former editor of Orlando Informer.

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