A host of stores and restaurants are set to feature in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley when it opens at Universal Studios Florida in 2014.
Universal has made a fortune from merchandise sales from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It’s no surprise, then, that the entire second land is based around what is, essentially, a wizarding shopping street. Heavily-themed retail and dining outlets will play a big part in the Diagon Alley experience. We now know what mostof the shops in Diagon Alley, Horizont Alley and Carkitt Market will sell. And we also have details on the dining outlets that will form part of the area. So let’s take a look!
The Leaky Cauldron
In the books and movies, The Leaky Cauldron pub forms the entrance to Diagon Alley. Muggles see just an old, rickety shop front on Charing Cross Road, but wizards are able to pass through a hidden doorway and enter the mysterious alley. At Universal Studios Florida, The Leaky Cauldron will become the main dining outlet, performing the same function as the Three Broomsticks in the original Wizarding World. Expect Butterbeer aplenty, along with traditional English dishes. No word yet on the menu, although it is expected to include fish and chips and bangers and mash.
Quality Quidditch Supplies
Quality Quidditch Supplies will offer a host of supplies for the sport, such as broomsticks, snitches, bludgers and bludger bats and quaffle balls.
Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes
Next to Quality Quidditch Supplies is the instantly-recognisable Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes. It will sell all manner of tricks, and will feature the distinctive storefront seen in the movies.
As with the stores at the existing Wizarding World, expect the merchandise to be completely unique to Diagon Alley – although the merchandise from the soon-to-close Zonko’s in the original Wizarding World will be moved here.
Borgin and Burkes
The headline store of the murky Knockturn Alley will be Borgin and Burkes, which will offer all manner of dark magic objects and other dangerous items such as human bones and leering masks.
Ollivanders Wand Shop
Yes, there’s already an Ollivanders Wand Shop in the existing Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Its chronic lack of capacity, though, means that a larger version will be installed in Diagon Alley (the real home of the store in the books and movies).
Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions
Expect this one to be a real money-spinner. Madam Malkin’s is where Harry Potter and his friends buy their Hogwarts school uniforms, and also offers an array of dress robes, cloaks and…oh yes…invisibility cloaks! Let’s see if Universal can pull that one off. Universal promises that guests will be able to buy character outfits from the store, too.
Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour
Next to Madam Malkin’s is the second food and beverage outlet in the new Wizarding World. In the books, Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour is a small shop with indoor and outdoor seating areas. It serves up lots of colorful ice cream flavours, along with toppings such as chopped nuts. Its owner met a sticky end, however…he was murdered by Death Eaters.
Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment
Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment will double as the ride shop for Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. In the movie, the store sells magical instruments such as telescopes and hourglasses.
Magical Menagerie
The Magical Menagerie shop will sell a host of soft toy animals, including owls, snakes and toads. It was here that Ron bought rat tonic for his pet rat, Scabbers, and that Hermione bought her cat/kneazle crossbreed, Crookshanks.
Scribbulus Writing Implements
Scribbulus will sell wizarding stationery, including notebooks and quills.
Secret shop
One retail outlet is yet to be announced, but Universal has promised that it’s one that fans “will flip over”.
Learn more about Diagon Alley
Click through to any of the articles below to learn about another element of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley: