Harry Potter's Diagon Alley opening on July 8 is expecting to see thousands of park-goers and fans of the phenomenal magical series.
The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley is the theme park's counterpart of the Hogsmeade attraction at the Islands Of Adventure. With the newest attraction garnering much attention from the public, Universal Studios is already expecting visitors to line up as early as 5:30 am on opening day.
A two-park ticket can bring guests to and from the two Potter attractions on board the Hogwarts Express, the magical train that brought Harry and his schoolmates to school in the fictional series. A two-park ticket costs $136 for adults and $130 for children (single day).
Vacation packages are also available at $135 per adult per night.
People who visited the park on Monday were already allowed to roam Diagon Alley for its soft opening. However, the main attraction, the "Harry Potter And The Escape From Gringotts" ride, will only start operating on Tuesday.
A visitor from the UK, Adiran Hill, told Click Orlando that she doesn't have "any chance whatsover" of booking for the said ride, adding that the ride already has "a six, eight, 10 hours queue" even before its actual opening.
The ride had been available for VIPs and the media last month but had to be closed due to technical issues.
Should the ride breakdown on D-day however, there are still a lot of things to do on the official Harry Potter Diagon Alley opening. The whole area which was designed to recreate the magical street in the Potter universe is filled with stores and restaurants.
The Leaky Cauldron, which resembles the popular wizard pub and inn, serves traditional British dishes as well as "Potter-ish" food choices. Fishy Green Ale, a mint-flavored beverage with blueberry boba bubbles, is quickly becoming a favorite drink.
Knockturn Alley, on the other hand, is ideal for the more adventurous muggles. It is a sketchy area where wizards who practice the Dark Arts like to visit. Universal's version however-a covered and air-conditioned area-is more of a refuge from the heat. Fans of the franchise would love visiting Borgin and Burke, where more "sinister" items can be seen and sold.
Harry Potter Diagon Alley opens at 9am and closes at 10pm (Tuesday: 8am-10pm) daily. There will be a grand opening ceremony at 8am on July 8.
