New ‘Wizarding World of Harry Potter’ Delights at Universal Studios Hollywood

Fans can now experience witchcraft and wizardry up close and personal.
New ‘Wizarding World of Harry Potter’ Delights at Universal Studios Hollywood
Fans discover Hogsmeade at the Grand Opening of the 'Wizarding World of Harry Potter' to the public at Universal Studios Hollywood, in Universal City, California, on April 7, 2016. (VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images)
4/11/2016
Updated:
4/13/2016

Fans can now experience witchcraft and wizardry up close and personal.

Universal Studios Hollywood opened “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” on April 7 to the excitement of thousands of fans who waited on line to experience in the new attraction. 

Tickets to the opening day of the $500 million attraction sold out fairly quickly and those who were lucky to experience it on the first day were in for a treat.

The surrounding areas of the Hogsmeade Village in the theme park is similar to that of the film and book—including cottages and shops such as Owl Post, Wiseacres Wizarding Equipment, and Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods.

The highly-anticipated attraction also allows for fans to become students in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, including sites the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom and Professor Dumbledore’s office. 

Fans are also privy to the first ever U.S. roller coaster that combines 3D HD technology along with motion thrills with the ride, Forbidden Journey.

“I am delighted to see ‘The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’ brought to life in a way that is so close to what I imagined when writing the books,” J.K. Rowling said in a news release

Rowling’s first novel, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” was released close to two decades ago and has had fans entranced ever since. Rowling recently shared her rejection letters for the same book that has made the British author millions. 

One lucky fan earned a piece of Harry Potter history, winning an auction bid of J.K. Rowling’s chair for $394,000.