What to Expect at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Open This Week

for certain you ’ve pick up by now that the Harry Potter universe has been plant with meticulous item at Universal Studios Hollywood , and it ’s officially open to the populace this workweek , on April 7th . But , like , what exactly can you expect when you go there , other than themed intellectual nourishment and swallow ? You Muggles well get ready : this home is like living all your in high spirits school day dreams at once ( except that one with that one cheerleader / football game player / drama grind / insert figure of speech here ):

It ’s all true : one of the first things you see upon entering the land is the Hogwarts Express , billowing locoweed but not travel anywhere . In the post next to it is a pic cubicle ( natch ) , where you may send booster pics proving you ’re off to see about a maven .

Of of course , before you get to Hogwarts , you ’ll see Hogsmeade Village – perennially snowy , and always serving ultra - unfermented Butterbeer . ( The intellectual nourishment and beverage here are worth a account themselves , manifestly . )

Harry Potter World Universal Studios

David Sprague/Universal Studios Hollywood

A paseo through the streets reveals stores you ’d never thought you could really set ft into , each loaded with easter - eggy , for - fans - only stuff like …

Honeydukes Clippy ’s Clip Joint – which really solve …

… populace - specific treats like Butterbeer fudge …

Hogwarts express universal studios hollywood

Jeff Miller/Thrillist

… merch , made from the same wool as the uniforms in the films …

… and , of course , a real - act post office , where you could beam your postcards via owl ( OK , that part ’s not all true , but how cool is this mold ? ? )

Of naturally , Ollivanders Wand Shop also exist , and once you walk through a secret door in this room …

Harry potter universal studios hollywood

David Sprague/Universal Studios Hollywood

… you end up in this ( much dark ) way , where a literal - lifetime maven helps a little - bitty champion recover the sceptre that ’s right for him , by casting a buncha piece that are actually really , really awing .

Speaking of amazing , some of the wands actually perform magic in the ballpark . Seriously …

Just find a logo on the street , like this one …

Harry potter universal studios hollywood

David Sprague/Universal Studios Hollywood

… do the spell as it ’s laid out …

… and window will open , contraption will move , hourglasses will turn , and more secrets will be revealed .

On your manner to the rides , you ’ll come across themed shows – like these singing toads …

Clippy Clip honeyduke universal studios hollywood

Jeff Miller/Thrillist

Yes , we articulate rides – there ’re two , include this outdoor rollercoaster , Flight of The Hippogriff , which is sort of a mini - coaster for quiver - ride initiate , and the more intense three-D + apparent movement devolve on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey , which is in Hogwarts Castle . Yep : inside . Hogwarts . Castle .

In fact , the whole human beings , admit Hogwarts , was designed with the squad from the pic , so everything will look , well , awful …

… let in presentiment griffins at the close of hallways …

butterbeer universal studios hollywood harry potter