It’s been a while since last we checked in on Universal Studios Japan’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which is due to open on July 15, 2014 (an ironic date, since it was the last of the three Hogsmeade Villages to be announced and yet the second to open). Given the land’s imminent debut, there is, unsurprisingly, a great deal more information available on just what will be awaiting visitors to Universal’s most-visited park.
This is actually a matter of some importance, given the absolutely huge number of rumors that had been swirling about over the course of the past two years, detailing not only which aspects of the Orlando original would be making the international journey (no, Universal didn’t happen to reveal that particular piece of information when it formally announced the Japanese clone back in May 2012), but also, much more importantly, what would be new and exclusive to Asia; in an interesting and extremely shrewd twist, Universal has decided to make at least one attraction or experience exclusive to each of its Hogsmeade locations, thereby forcing visitors to travel to Orlando, Osaka, and Hollywood for the complete Harry Potter experience.
Image © Universal
Now that we’ve gotten the skinny on Harry’s Asian digs, we can safely say two things: (1) while intriguing, the new, presumably exclusive developments at USJ don’t necessarily live up to what was originally rumored to be coming; but (2) they still make the case that perhaps its rendition of Hogsmeade Village may be the best in the world – depending, of course, upon your personal parameters.
(Please note: when we say the best Wizarding World, we’re just talking about the various Hogsmeades out there, and not the soon-to-open Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida, which would easily take the grand prize of most immersive theme park land in the world, Harry Potter-related or not.)
What was rumored
An upgraded Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
When the original Forbidden Journey was being built in Islands of Adventure, it was originally slated to feature three immersive features or scenes that ultimately got cut thanks to a combination of technical difficulties and interference from license holder Warner Bros. and author J.K. Rowling, who were concerned about having an overly scary ride experience for children: 3D film segments, real fire being breathed by the audio-animatronic dragon, and a whole host of AA Dementors in the ride’s climax (replete with hands stretching out to grab you!).
This guy would still love to spit real flames. Image © Universal.
It was speculated that Universal would have resurrected the 3D aspect of the attraction, at the least, and all three original design features, at the most, when bringing the ride across the Pacific. Unfortunately, none of these have panned out, though the second version of Forbidden Journey will feature the 4K video projection upgrades that the original recently received. That’s something, we suppose.
An upgraded Flight of the Hippogriff
Just as with its sister ride in next-door Hogwarts Castle, the kiddie coaster Flight of the Hippogriff was widely expected to see an expanded presence, though, this time, it had nothing to do with the ride experience, but, rather, with its queue.
Image © Universal
According to unofficial accounts, Jo Rowling was quite eager to have Hagrid’s hut be a major part of Hippogriff’s queue, with riders being able to actually enter and walk through it. However, it seems like America’s Disabilities Act, which requires that every public space have wheelchair accessibility, got in the way (literally), and the iconic building was doomed to being just another piece of scenery that passengers simply pass by.
All those who were hoping that Universal Studios Japan would represent a second shot for dear ol’ Hagrid will have to be disappointed (again), as it looks like the Japanese version will be identical in every respect to its American forbearer.
Great Hall dining experience
Although mostly rumored to be heading to Universal Studios Hollywood, the new restaurant located in one of the greatest fictitious culinary settings ever – Hogwarts Castle’s Great Hall – was also whispered to be making its way to Osaka.
The idea behind the quick-service experience would have gone essentially along the same lines as Be Our Guest in Magic Kingdom, with your food being sent directly to your table after having placed your order at the cash register (which, ironically enough, is precisely the set-up that Universal opted to take with the Leaky Cauldron inside of Diagon Alley). In a wizarding twist, however, Universal had supposedly found a way to literally make the food magically appear on patrons’ tables.
This could have been you. Image © Warner Bros.
Just how that would’ve worked is entirely unknown, but it looks like no one will have to worry about solving that particular riddle now – the only restaurant coming to USJ is the Three Broomsticks (and, in a delightful surprise, its attached Hog’s Head Pub, as well).
A Defense against the Dark Arts show
Deemed perhaps the likeliest of the new, exclusive features, given Universal Japan’s propensity to refer to a “school for wizards” as part of its plans, we now know that the enigmatic phrase is merely the result of that pesky language barrier – no show staged in a bigger, more authentic recreation of the Defense against the Dark Arts classroom, which would have taught the basics of wand maneuvers, is, sadly, in the cards.
Image © Warner Bros.
(In retrospect, the havoc this would play with Forbidden Journey’s queue would be considerable, unless Universal, Warner Bros., and, most importantly, Rowling would be happy with having two versions of the same set situated in the same physical location.)
It’s still somewhat likely that this will be headed to USH, but given the even greater likelihood that the West Coast will be getting the Great Hall restaurant, this rumor should similarly be considered dead on arrival – there’s only so much space in Hollywood, after all (even less than in Osaka!), and having both of these experiences would require a very large castle, indeed.
What is coming
Thanks to the recently-updated Universal Studios Japan website, we now know precisely what additional experiences are headed to the Asian Hogsmeade. Coming in at a cost of $442 million (more than half of all of the park’s annual sales) and at a size of nearly 10 acres, Harry’s new Japanese home is nearly as big as the Floridian original and will increase the park’s footprint by one-fifth – meaning there’s plenty of room for these new exclusives.
Of course, at the same time, such stats only help to make the new additions somewhat underwhelming – with all that money and all that real estate, it’s disappointing that Hagrid’s hut or fire-breathing dragons will still be MIA. Then again, if these experiences fall directly in your personal purview, it’s hard to deny the magic they’ll weave and the temptation they’ll provide to make the jaunt over to the other side of the planet.
The Black Lake
While not home to any particular type of attraction, Hogwarts Castle’s magical lake provides the most faithful adaptation of the Harry Potter source material yet – not to mention the fact that it’s absolutely beautiful. The fact that live owls will be kept on the grounds only adds to its charm, positively guaranteeing that this will be one of the most-photographed parts of any theme park in the world.
Image © Universal
There’s one last bonus here: this is almost guaranteed to be exclusive to Japan, as there’s no room in Hollywood and there’s precious little chance that Orlando will go through the trouble of reshuffling its Hogsmeade Village lineup.
The Hogwarts Express (well, sort of)
While not the fully functioning ride that will shortly debut at Universal Orlando, Universal Studios Japan’s version of the Hogwarts Express will have a lavishly detailed interior that will allow guests to climb aboard for a pretty nifty photo-op. And, yes, the Conductor will still be on-hand for trivia and (more) photographs, which absolutely makes this a step-up from what’s available at Islands of Adventure.
Image © Universal
Since this is, once again, an upgrade that would seem to be extremely unlikely for Florida (why mess with the original prop when there’s an actual working train just a few yards away?), the question becomes whether Universal Studios Hollywood will follow Japan’s lead. If not, expect the Asian Hogsmeade Village to become even more magical – and popular – by default.
Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment, Zonko’s Joke Shop, and Gladrags Wizardwear
It seems like Universal Studios Florida might be losing some of its new exclusive elements from its soon-to-open Diagon Alley, as Osaka is scooping up one of its stores (Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment) and stealing two other shops’ inventories (Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes and Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions).
Here’s the scoop: Wiseacre’s and Gladrags were originally fake storefronts in the original Hogsmeade, and although the latter is still there, the former has been removed and trotted over to London’s Diagon Alley, where it truly belongs (not to worry – that façade has been replaced with another, Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop, which has the added benefit of one of the new [and, thus far, exclusive to Orlando] interactive spell-casting displays).
Image © Universal
Zonko’s, meanwhile, started out life as a full-fledged shop (sharing a building with Honeydukes) before it was shut down a few months ago and had most of its merchandise similarly sent over to Diagon, where it rightfully belongs in Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes. Not having duplicate shopping experiences was Universal’s prime concern here, but the fact that Honeydukes – the most popular store in the Wizarding World to date – got some much-needed extra room certainly didn’t hurt matters.
Technically, USJ will be the exclusive home to walk-in Zonko’s, Gladrags, and Wiseacre’s (for now, at least), but, as previously stated, it seems like the wares they’ll be peddling will be suspiciously similar to their predecessors in Diagon Alley. Consider this the best of both worlds, then.
