The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hollywood

[Brandonshah97]

I feel the same Allen, but I will still be attending the preview just because I need to have a robe to wear to UO when I go in a couple weeks..

 

[JPLA]

Owlery progress and lots of new snow on buildings.

New details on the grand staircase tower.  Scaffolding around great hall suggests it will get castle skin and roof, soon.

Obligatory view from Lord Farquaad's castle.

 

[Miss Betty Juice]

I doubt that, considering there's already a Potter installation in Florida and Japan and a Potter museum in London. Save for perhaps a few pieces, Hollywood isn't selling new merchandise.

You underestimate the stupidity of eBay buyers sometimes and the shrewdness of the theme park community. People will still fall for the "exclusive preview merchandise" bit regardless of the fact that it's the same merch from the other installations. I've seen this happen with Transformers merchandise in Florida in the opening weeks despite ours and Singapore's existing already and the merch already being available online from Hollywood sellers.

 

[William]

I honestly couldn't care less that I'm buying outside of Hogsmeade, nor that I won't be getting a discount (but no surprise there, coming from me). The sooner I can get my hands on Potter merch, the better!

Speaking of Featured Presentation, here's a sneak peek from IU's Twitter at the merchandise already stocked in the shop:

(https://twitter.com/insideuniversal/status/599699322553270272)

If you take a close look, we'll already be getting tons of Hogwarts house robes, cups, shirts, pillows, and more. Also, that wall on the left behind the cash register is a shelf filled to the brim with character wands.

To say I'm excited would be a massive understatement!

 

[Imdbman]

It looks like the castle roof is up and the rocks are being painted now too!  Even more exciting to see the Owlery building come along!

 

[raven24]

I went to the employee preview today. I saw lots of neat things, things I really wanted, but couldn't stomach the prices! The sorting hat, the wands, the scarves, the robes, the howler... It's all there. This merch will sell, no problem!

 

[Allen The Actor]

*sigh* I might just give in and get an item or two...or three...or four...or....

 

[Imdbman]

I went up to Mulholland Drive Sunday and took photos on my phone on the Universal lookout.  The view of the Hogwarts construction from there is truly breathtaking.  Sorry for the bluriness of my photos, but you can clearly spot Hogsmeade and Hogwarts.  I'm amazed how far our Hogwarts is from Hogsmeade in this one!

 

[bigclown94]

I went up to Mulholland Drive Sunday and took photos on my phone on the Universal lookout. The view of the Hogwarts construction from there is truly breathtaking. Sorry for the bluriness of my photos, but you can clearly spot Hogsmeade and Hogwarts. I'm amazed how far our Hogwarts is from Hogsmeade in this one!

Just wondering for my next trip to USH where is this amazing shot taken from on Mulholland? I would love to shoot it with my camera.

 

[Imdbman]

Just wondering for my next trip to USH where is this amazing shot taken from on Mulholland? I would love to shoot it with my camera.

It's called the "Universal Outlook" and it's a little parking area not too far from Universal on Mulholland Drive and you get a nice view of all of Universal City!

 

[William]

I went to the employee preview today. I saw lots of neat things, things I really wanted, but couldn't stomach the prices! The sorting hat, the wands, the scarves, the robes, the howler... It's all there. This merch will sell, no problem!

Did it seem like the amount of merchandise was a bit too much for that shop's footprint? It's not a huge store to begin with, so it makes me wonder just how much of the Wizarding World merchandise they were able to squeeze in there.

 

[raven24]

Did it seem like the amount of merchandise was a bit too much for that shop's footprint? It's not a huge store to begin with, so it makes me wonder just how much of the Wizarding World merchandise they were able to squeeze in there.

No, everything fit in quite nicely. I'm pretty sure not every single piece of Potter merchandise they've come out with within the last couple of years wasn't on display in the store. It seems they chose what would and what wouldn't go in for the previews.

 

[Aaron]

ThemeParkInsider: Universal Studios Hollywood to make a Wizarding World of Harry Potter announcement on June 2.

 

[Alexshow.]

It has been confirmed by Theme Park Insider and other people that details of

WWoHP on the day of June 2.

 

[Ryan]

Basically, last year's announcement with finer details. Everything we already know: Forbidden Journey, Hogsmeade, Hippogriff. The estimation of "Spring 2016" will be tossed out there (instead of summer, since Potter surely will be ready for a Memorial Day opening) and they'll call it a day.

The best thing will be the locked-down confirmation of things.

 

[raffman]

I can see them announce a early spring opening rather than summer. By Xmas this year the whole land will be complete or even before then .but who knows

 

[techmaniac16]

If the annual passes expire in mid-feb, then I could see them doing soft openings in january and official opening in mid-feb. 

 

[Allen The Actor]

If the annual passes expire in mid-feb, then I could see them doing soft openings in january and official opening in mid-feb.

The point of them pushing the season pass expiration from March to February is so that guests with season passes DON'T see the new land until a new pass program is introduced, making them buy a totally new one. Any soft opening will be AFTER February. Probably end of March. Grand opening will probably be around March or April.

 

[Chris]

I am also hearing that employees aren't getting discounts on Potter merchandise...yikes!

One question:  Are they selling interactive wands?

 

[William]

I am also hearing that employees aren't getting discounts on Potter merchandise...yikes!

One question:  Are they selling interactive wands?

I'm hearing that interactive wands aren't available (yet).

I was actually wondering about this myself recently. If they wanted to, they could start selling them a little early to entice guests to return next year. I don't really expect them to do that, though, nor do they really need to.