Universal Studios has officially debuted its new Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction, with its Hollywood location the second to come to the US.
Similar to the Wizarding World at Universal Orlando, the Universal Hollywood version includes themed stores in Hogsmeade Village, the Three Broomsticks restaurant, Flight of the Hippogriff rollercoaster and the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey thrill ride, which has new HD 3D effects. Unlike its Orlando counterpart, the California version of the Potter attraction does not include the Dragon Challenge coaster.
Hollywood’s Wizarding World has been in progress for the past five years. Universal has achieved exceptional theme park attendance and profit growth, driven by the Harry Potter attractions at Universal in Orlando and Japan.
In anticipation of the arrival of the Potter attraction, Universal Studios Hollywood also introduced a variable pricing strategy for the park, becoming the first major theme park in the US to do so.
A host of leading Hollywood stars attended the opening, with Potter actors Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood), James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley), and Warwick Davis (Professor Flitwick) on-hand.
"Today is a very exciting and historically significant day for us," said Larry Kurzweil, president of Universal Studios Hollywood. "This incredible event to celebrate the opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter marks the pinnacle of years of hard work and the beginning of a new generation of Universal Studios Hollywood. With more than 75 per cent completely reimagined, Universal Studios Hollywood is an entirely new theme park destination and we look forward to sharing everything that the Entertainment Capital of Los Angeles has to offer with visitors from around the world."
