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The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is set to open to the public on April 7, 2016 at Universal Studios Hollywood.
I have been fortunate enough to experience this amazing land in Orlando, so I was curious to compare this newest Hollywood incarnation with the original. Would aspects of it be better? Worse? How would Hollywood’s version differ with it’s space constraints versus the sprawling footprint in Orlando?
Let’s find out, shall we?
Click on any photo to enlarge…
Universal obliged our request for gloomy weather to accentuate the Wizarding World experience.
And here we are! Hogwarts’s Express has arrived at Harry Potter West Coast! OMG! Can you believe it?
So far so good! A+ theming! It looks amazing!!!
Trust me. Get the frozen butterbeer. The frozen kind!!! You will not regret it
The first noticeable difference between the lands on both coasts – this version has many more Californians.
Hogwarts Castle! Wow! Looks amazing!
The recreation of Hogsmead is just so impressive. Every last detail covered.
The castle feels closer than its counterpart in Orlando. The forced perspective still works impressively.
I mean, as far as theme parks go, this is pretty epic.
Fun theming and hidden detail throughout.
Our first look at the “Flight of the Hippogriff” family-friendly junior coaster.
The layout is slightly different from Orlando’s, providing some cool new views.
It’s about on par with Gadget’s Go Coaster at Mickey’s ToonTown.
This is the second of the two rides inside Wizarding World, and the first outdoor coaster at the park.
It also contains a Hippogriff.
Not going to lie, Hippogriffs freak me out.
So here we have perhaps my biggest theme park pet peeve, a concept I call, “Thematic Intrusion.” Do you see something off here?
We see it again here. Apparently, Professor Dumbledore enjoys his views overlooking the corporate offices on Lankershim.
Yikes. By reminding us of the outside world, this thematic intrusion takes us out of the immersion and the overall experience.
Here it is again to the left. Within our site lines inside the park, Hogwarts Castle ends and the rectangle show building begins.
This is the key reason why Orlando’s version is superior, and why Disneyland still reigns supreme.
But all is not lost! Let’s go inside the castle and check out the marquee ride, “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.”
You’ll have to see the interior queue for yourself. You will believe you are inside Hogwarts.
The attraction itself is an aggressive dark ride combining practical sets and effects with 3D movie elements.
It’s a thrilling, scary, unique experience, and is a true theme park breakthrough.
The greenhouse portion of the queue before heading back inside the castle.
This is just like Orlando’s version.
Except, yikes, thematic intrusion! Okay, I’ll stop being a tight wad.
I can’t believe they actually had Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, & Emma Watson performing live inside the ride! I mean, how do they take pee breaks?
The hologram technology utilized is a leap forward in the theme park industry. We are going to see a lot more of this. It’s magical.
The blue skies decided to come out! Here’s Flight of the Hippogriff in the sunlight.
I didn’t expect to still see scaffolding. Only a few short weeks left to finish all this up!
Clear skies now inside Hogsmead.
A great example of the rich texture and detail inside the new land.
The snow on the rooftops actually sparkles when the sunlight hits it.
Really great food choices here. I’d pretty much eat anything on the menu.
Frozen butterbeer. Get it frozen. I’m telling you!
Owls in the rafters. They really have packed in the details and the subtleties.
Took a quick break from Potter and wandered through the park.
The Back to the Future clocktower is still on the tram tour, of course.
Yes! They still do the flash flood! They were doing that when I was a kid!
Yes! They still shock the pee out of you with Jaws and fire! They were doing that when I was a kid!
A couple more blue sky shots inside Hogsmead.
This summer, it’s all about Universal. The new land is going to be a massive game changer for this park.
And that’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood!
Overall thoughts, observations, and impressions:
The butterbeer is just as good on both coasts.
Listen for Moaning Myrtle when you’re taking a tinkle in the restrooms. It’s those kind of details that really make this land come alive.
It isn’t just the butterbeer. Inside the pub, they brew their own actual beer unique to the Wizarding World, and even have their own special secret recipe cinnamon whiskey shot, among a few other surprise concoctions.
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is an experience on par with some of the most popular E-Ticket rides at Disneyland. It represents the best in what a theme park attraction should offer: An innovative technology powering a unique ride system, a story that gives the ride a reason for being, and rich thematic details that fully immerse you and transport you to another place.
The 3D element brought to the west coast, not found in Orlando, is surprisingly unnecessary, and dare I say it, might be a bit overkill. The biggest problem is the dimming of the image due to the 3D. When we’re flying with Harry through a Quidditch match, the breakneck pace, rapid-fire imagery, and the darkening of the picture make it difficult for us to figure out, focus, and enjoy what we’re experiencing.
It doesn’t ruin things by any stretch, but it’s noticeably not as effective when you compare it with the vibrant imagery on, say, the Transformers 3D ride.
I would expect a Diagon Alley expansion will occur sooner rather than later, and will probably open conveniently close to Star Wars Land‘s somewhere in 2019 or 2020. There are rumors this will take over the Waterworld stunt show area, which makes sense.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a must-see. If you’ve been to the one in Orlando, this will feel smaller in scale and less immersive, but it’s still epic, incredible entertainment, and a true evolution for Universal.