New Details Revealed About Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood – Including Jimmy Fallon!

by · January 17, 2016

With the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood opening this spring, fans have been wondering about many details around the new Harry Potter themed area. Luckily enough, the LA Times has given some awesome details about the shops, attractions, and location for the magical addition.

California has put nearly two and a half years into making the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at its Universal Studios Hollywood park and will finally be rolling out the red carpet on April 5 of this year for Harry Potter alumni and April 7 for the public. The only way Universal Studios Hollywood was able to make space for the Wizarding World was by tearing down the Gibson Amphitheater, along with the Curious George area. Spending over $500 million in the process, Universal Studios Hollywood has high expectations for its new attraction.

Some of the attractions found in Hollywood are identical to those in the Universal Studios Florida park. There’s a replica of the Hogwarts castle, of course, along with the Forbidden Journey ride in the castle. One of the major differences is the roller coaster, Flight of the Hippogriff, which is 50 feet in height and 1,300 feet in length and goes 40 MPH, making it much bigger and faster than the Florida version. Unfortunately, Californians will have to cope with the fact they won’t be getting the Dragon Challenge coaster that Florida has.

Many of the shops and restaurants opening in California already have a Florida home. Those include the Three Broomsticks, Ollivanders, Zonko’s, Honeydukes, Dervish and Banges, Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods, Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment, Gladrags Wizardwear, and the Owl Post shop. You’ll be able to enjoy the new park and get plenty of wizarding goods.

In addition, news has surfaced that Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon will be spending this Valentine’s Day in Los Angeles with his crew, the Roots. While he’ll be having shows during his time there, February 14-19, he’ll also be visiting Universal Studios Hollywood – and hopefully giving us a sneak peak of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! While it’s not for sure that Fallon will be going to that part of the park, we can hope!

You can read the original article here.

I've been making magic at MuggleNet since 2012, when I first joined the staff as a News intern. I've never wavered from the declaration in my childhood journal, circa October 2000: "I LOVE Harry Potter! If I clean my room, my mom says she'll make me a dinner a wizard would love!" Proud Gryffindor; don't hate.