Your Wizard Wand Really Works In Diagon Alley (Plus The Grand Opening Date!)

It is time to seriously talk about opening dates for Diagon Alley and wizard wands that really work.

What? Wands that really work?

Yes! (I'm excited, too.)

But first, the opening day for Diagon Alley has finally been announced!

July 8, 2014 is the official grand opening day for Diagon Alley!

On July 8th, you will be able to ride on the Hogwarts Express, eat strawberry and peanut-butter ice cream at Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour, visit (and escape from) Gringotts Wizarding Bank, eat traditional British food at the Leaky Cauldron (there is a lot of eating in the Wizarding World), and visit all your favorite Diagon Alley shops, and enjoy live entertainment like the preformance of stories from The Tales of Beedle the Bard.

There will also be interactive experiences in Diagon Alley. Including one involving wands that I have been geeking out over since I read about it.

Ollivanders wand shop will offer interactive wands that really work throughout the Wizarding World. When you buy one of these wands, you will get a map that marks all the places your wand will work. There are also bronze medallions marking the shop windows where you can cast spells.

Here is a video of George, Fred, and Ginny Weasley working some magic with one of these wands.

Harry Potter Cast Experiences the Magic Windows in Diagon Alley video link

Isn't that awesome?

I love all the small details Universal includes in the Wizarding World.

One last thing I found while I was stalking reading the Universal Orlando Blog. Universal has released a new app for iOS and Android as well as free, park-wide wifi. The app will help you monitor wait times for rides and show times, as well as helping you find your way around the park. More functions are expected to be added in future. I haven't tried it yet, but I definitely plan on giving it a go the next time I visit Universal.

This has been your Diagon Alley update for the week. Not to say there won't be more updates, because there can never be too much talk about Harry Potter and Diagon Alley.

And, just because it never gets old, I am going to leave you with one more picture of the Ukranian Ironbelly dragon sitting on top of Gringotts Wizarding Bank. This time at night, with a great view of a row of shops on Diagon Alley. If you look closely, you can see The Daily Prophet!

What are you most excited to see or do in Diagon Alley?

*This post is in no way sponsored. I just love Harry Potter, and am super excited about Diagon Alley and the chance to swish and flick my way to feather levitation!

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