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CORPORATEPublished on January 28, 2014 NewsParcs to take an extended break
EVENTPublished on November 10, 2013 IAAPA Attractions Expo 2013 debuts next week in Orlando
CORPORATEPublished on November 10, 2013 Difficult season for Compagnie des Alpes' amusement parks
NEWPublished on October 21, 2013 Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week #12
NEWPublished on October 13, 2013 Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week #11
NEWPublished on October 13, 2013 Theme Park Industry News Roundup – Issue #6
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NewsParcs is an online trade publication dedicated to theme park industry professionals worldwide.

Since 1998, we work in direct contact with manufacturers, suppliers, consultants, owners and operators to publish only reliable and relevant information.

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The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to expand with

Diagon Alley in 2014 at Universal Orlando

Update : 05/09/13 - 15h31 Published by François Mayné the 3 September 2013, New.
Universal Orlando Resort (Florida, USA) will most certainly explode the counters once again in 2014 as it prepares to open a second themed area dedicated to the universe of Harry Potter, only four years after the opening of the now iconic The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal's Islands of Adventure.

Universal Orlando Resort announced a major expansion of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter set to debut in 2014.The original project, born from the collaboration between Universal Parks & Resorts, Warner Bros. Entertainment and British author J.K. Rowling, is one of the biggest financial successes of the recent history of theme parks. With an estimated budget of more than $250 million - a risky bet considering that the U.S. economy was at its lowest -, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has literally reinvented the visitor experience by taking advantage of the global phenomenon of the Harry Potter franchise* to create a new standard in immersive themed environments. A creative work that was especially acclaimed by the entire theme park industry for its originality and the quality of its execution.

Pushed to the front of the media spotlight, Universal Orlando Resort quickly welcomed a record number of visitors, Islands of Adventure rising from 4.6 million admissions in 2009 to 7.98 million in 2012, a spectacular increase of over 70% over a period of three years! Quite logically, the unprecedented global interest for the concept and attractions motivated Universal Parks & Resorts to launch two similar projects at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Japan, but also to launch a reflection on an expansion of historic proportions in Orlando.

The new Diagon Alley themed zone will feature shops, entertainment, a restaurant and two major attractions.At the beginning of the summer season, Universal lifted the veil on this expansion, prepared in great secrecy for many months. And once again, Universal will push the boundaries of immersive experience with the construction of a new themed area, this time on the other side of the resort within the second theme park: Universal Studios Florida. While The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is based on the village of Hogsmeade with the majestic Hogwarts castle in the backdrop, the new area will focus on the London streets and, more precisely, the Diagon Alley: a fictional high street that leads to the magical world of the wizards.

The London district will offer visitors new opportunities to interact with the world of Harry Potter through several shops, a restaurant and entertainments. They will notably be able to visit the Ollivander wands shop or drink the now famous Butterbeer drink, of which Universal has sold more than 5 million glasses since 2010! Just like the dark ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey in the original Wizarding World, a major indoor attraction will complete the district, this time inspired by the Gringotts Bank (a bank run by goblins).

Another highlight of the expansion is that the two themed areas of Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley will be now connected to each other by a second attraction taking up the form, as in the Harry Potter stories, of the Hogwarts Express: a steam train flowing between London and the Wizarding World. To create the illusion of travel, Universal Creative engineers have designed an aerial tunnel of more than 1.960 feet/600 meters built between the two theme parks. An originality that will allow visitors to move from one place to another without going through the main entrances.

For confidentiality reasons, Universal Orlando Resort declined to give information about the suppliers and contractors selected for this new project.

The original Wizarding World of Harry Potter is  one of the biggest financial successes of the recent history of theme parks.Unprecedented global interest for the concept motivated Universal to launch two similar projects in Hollywood and Osaka.

We are continuing the journey and adding an entirely new level of adventure,” said Tom Williams, Chairman of Universal Parks & Resorts. “And we are bringing the same drive, commitment, enthusiasm and innovation to this project as we did to the first.”

J.K. Rowling is also delighted by the Diagon Alley announcement: "I'm so pleased that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has proved so popular to date, and I'm sure that the attention to detail in creating the new Diagon Alley area will make this an even better experience."

Just like for the dark ride TRANSFORMERS: The Ride - 3D, another major project which opened before summer, Universal surprises again the observers by the very short construction period of the expansion. Diagon Alley will actually be completed in just two and a half years, a real tour de force considering the amount of work to be done and which started early 2012 on the former site of the legendary attraction Jaws and the adjacent Amity City now demolished.

Projects associated with intellectual properties are currently making the golden days of the theme park industry worldwide. With the expansion of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley, Universal Orlando Resort should stay ahead of the most significant achievements of the decade, along with two other projects carried out by Disney, its main competitor on the US market: Cars Land (Disney California Adventure) and the New Fantasyland (Magic Kingdom).

*: Harry Potter global phenomenon represents today seven novels translated in 70 languages and sold more than 450 million copies worldwide, as well as $7.7 billion at the box office by the film versions.

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