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Harry Potter Fans Flock to Diagon Alley


July 8th, 2014 | WMFE, Orlando- Long lines and big crowds at Universal Studio's new Diagon Alley exhibit on its grand opening Tuesday.

[Diagon Alley. Photo- WMFE]

Wait times to get on the attraction’s Gringott’s ride were sometimes over 400 minutes.

Some fans- like Tampa resident Lauren Gay- beat the crowds by getting to the park at 3 a.m.

She says it was worth the early start. 

“It’s complete immersion," says Gay

"I’m a book fan and a fan of the movie since I was a teenager- and they nailed it. The detail- I mean you really forget when you’re inside of Diagonalley that you’re actually still in Universal Studios.”

Gay visited the park with fellow members of the Central Florida Slug club- a Harry Potter appreciation society.

The theme park has poured millions of dollars into the attraction based on the series of books and movies. 

Mark Woodbury is President of Universal Creative for Universal Parks and Resorts.

He says the attraction’s designers took pains to try and make it real for fans.

“There’s a tremendous amount of detail and attention to authenticity that was important to us and we feel a great responsibility to JK Rowling to be true to her stories and to bring them to life in a way that would do them justice.” 

 

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