With the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hollywood finally opening its doors at Universal Studios to witches, wizards and Muggles alike, the West Coast is simply abuzz with excitement. The magical land has long been anticipated at Universal Studios Hollywood ever since its Universal Orlando Resort counterpart opened in 2010. Continue reading for five reasons why the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hollywood is a great idea.
Despite all the positive reception, there have been a few people who are questioning Universal’s decision to build another Harry Potter land. Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hollywood is, after all, almost an exact copy of the original Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade in Orlando (click here for a full video tour of that land and compare for yourself) . While I can see how it may seem like a futile move to some, there are a few good—nay, great—reasons why opening the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood makes sense for Harry Potter fans as well as theme park lovers.
- Unfortunately, we don’t have a rocket powered motorcycle, so not having to fly all the way to Florida to experience it is a plus. For people living in the Western states, an area that makes up more or less half of the country, flying all the way to Florida is not as easy or as cheap as for those living on the Eastern part. Sure, during the off season we may be able to find flights for as low as $180 RT, but during the peak season, round trip flights can get up to $300 to $400. That may not be much for seasoned travelers, especially those who have racked up miles; but for those who rarely travel or can’t really afford to travel, it’s a lot. Plus, they would have to take a few days off just to make the cost of the airfare worth it. I know a lot of Harry Potter fans here in Los Angeles and in neighboring cities who have been dying to go but simply do not have the funds or the time to visit. Now that we have one here, all it will cost them is the price of admission.
- California has the best weather. Unlike in Orlando, California boasts dry summers and mild winters. There’s barely any humidity here, so even though summer days are warm, they’re not uncomfortable. This means that exploring the Wizarding World of Harry Potter here — or any theme parks for that matter — will be a more pleasant experience, one that doesn’t have to involve sweating through your good shirt and suffering from heat exhaustion and dehydration.
- You can pair your Wizarding World of Harry Potter visit with the unique Studio Tour. The Universal Studio backlot, home to some of the most historic movie studios, is unique only to Universal Studios Hollywood. Touring the backlot will give guests a good glimpse of what happens behind the scenes of movies as well as hit TV shows, and might even give them a chance to see some of their favorite Hollywood actors and actresses. This world-famous tour and a visit to a themed land inspired by one of the top grossing movie franchises in history is a match made in filmmaking heaven.
- Universal Studios Hollywood is easily accessible by public transportation. Visitors have to take a cab from Orlando hotels or wait for the hotel shuttle to take them to the Universal Orlando Resort, unless they’re staying at one of Universal’s four (soon five) onsite hotels. It’s just a tad inconvenient. Universal Hollywood, on the other hand, is located right in the middle of a busy district, which means visitors can simply take the Metro to Universal City then take the complimentary shuttle up to the park.
- Universal Studios Hollywood needed something to really compete with Disneyland. While Universal Hollywood is a top destination in its own right, there’s no denying that it barely holds a candle to Disneyland. Disneyland has remained at the top of everyone’s must visit attractions in Southern California. Even locals, I’ve noticed, prefer Disneyland to Universal Studios. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter might just be the competitive edge the park needs to up its ante and give Disneyland a run for its money.
Now it’s your turn. What do you think of Universal’s decision to duplicate Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter on the west coast? If you’ve been to Universal Orlando Resort, are you going to make the pilgrimage to California to see this new Harry Potter land? Let us know in the comments below. For more family travel news, reviews, and trip reports, be sure to follow Adventures by Daddy on Twitter and “like” our Facebook page, too.
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