Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WHERE'S HARRY?
At Disney World, it's easy enough to get your picture taken with
Mickey. Likewise, in Springfield U.S.A. at Universal Studios Florida, you can get your
photo taken with Bart and Homer. So why can't you snag a photo op with Harry and his
crew at The Wizarding World? The answer begins and ends with J. K. Rowling: Because
both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley were created with her input and to her stringent spe-
cifications, the only true Harry would be the one played by Daniel Radcliffe. And with
Radcliffe having moved on to other projects, Rowling has decreed that no lookalike ever
be hired to stand in for him at the Universal Orlando parks. The same rule applies to all the
other characters portrayed in the Potter movies. This is also why Hogsmeade and Diagon
Alley are staffed by characters you've never heard of before.
The 20-acre Wizarding World draws its inspiration from all the
Harry Potter
movies and books, creating an amalgamation of landmarks, sights, creatures, and
themes that are faithful to the films. The themed area is situated in the northwest
corner of the park, between The Lost Continent and Jurassic Park. From the IOA en-
trance, the most direct route there is through Port of Entry then right, through Seuss
Landing(stayingtotheleftoftheGreenEggsandHamCafe)andTheLostContinent,
to the Hogsmeade main gate. The alternative route is to cross the bridge connecting
The Lost Continent with Jurassic Park, then turn right after entering the latter area.
(Note that the bridge is closed on slower days.) For the moment, though, let's begin
our exploration at The Wizarding World's main entrance, on the Lost Continent side.
Passing beneath a stone archway, you enter the village of
Hogsmeade.
Depicted
in winter, the village setting is rendered in exquisite detail: Stone cottages and shops
