MuggleNet Throwback: Universal Studios announces the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

With less than a month to go before the latest Diagon Alley expansion opens to the public, it is only fitting that we travel back to 2007 for this week’s MuggleNet Throwback when Universal Studios brought our most magical dreams to life by announcing a Harry Potter theme park in Orlando, Florida!

Universal Studios and Warner Brothers made the announcement together in the early hours of the morning on May 30 with J.K. Rowling’s official seal of approval. Concept art of the now familiar Hogsmeade Village accompanied the news story alongside several major key components that would be featured in the new park: Hogsmeade, Hogwarts itself, and the Forbidden Forest, just to name a few. Of course, we all know the park went on to open roughly three years later in June 2010 at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure to massive success, sparking immediate debate over expansions both in Orlando and around the world.

Wishes for such expansions were almost immediately granted with plans emerging in the years following the park’s debut for new Wizarding World theme parks to open up in Hollywood and Japan, as well as an added expansion in Orlando. Said expansion of Diagon Alley is set to open within the next month, though no official date has yet been announced beyond “mid-June.” But thankfully, there’s still been plenty to talk about! Recent expansion news has brought us much excitement with new looks at what promises to be one heck of an extraordinary dragon atop Gringotts Wizarding Bank and another incredible sneak peak at the all new Hogwarts Express journey.

You can catch up on all the latest Wizarding World of Harry Potter updates as we eagerly await the opening of Diagon Alley in our very special “Theme Parks” section! Will we see you in Orlando opening day?