New Wands at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

Hey Thrill Seekers,

There’s some new wands on the block! That’s right, in honour of the upcoming Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Universal have released new wands available at Universal Orlando inside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley and they are only available for a limited time from now until January.

The wands are not interactive and are priced at $46 plus tax.

The above photo was taken by Inside Universal and are in order from top to bottom: In order, from top to bottom; Newt, Theseus, Queenie, Porpentina, Flamel, & Leta Lestrange.

The wands available to purchase are from the following witches and wizards:

  • Newt Scamander
  • Theseus Scamander
  • Queenie Goldstein
  • Porpentina Goldstein
  • Nicolas Flamel
  • Leta Lestrange
  • Albus Dumbledore
  • Gellert Grindelwald

Grindelwald’s wand is the Elder Wand that is eventually used by Dumbledore, then followed by Voldemort. Dumbledore’s original wand has not yet been released.

The above photo also taken by Inside Universal and shows the wands on the shelves ready to be purchased.

Don’t forget there’s tonnes of other wands available to purchase at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter including the interactive ones which are awesome!

Who’ll be picking up one of the new wands on their upcoming visit?!

Smiles Included,

Abby

Top Secrets at Universal’s Islands of Adventure

Hey Thrill Seekers,

We poked our noses in at Universal Studios yesterday so now it’s time to pop next door and nose a little bit more.

We’ll start off in Marvel Super Hero Island where there are red phones dotted around that you can pick up and listen to various options on how to report different crimes.

All the buildings have been designed with all of the Marvel characters. The artist Adam Kubert has secretly signed his first name into each painting with the exception of Storm from X-Men.

hulk

Some of the Marvel characters ride into the park on quad bikes at the top of the hour but quickly disperse to get ready for their character meet and greets.

The Incredible Hulk Coaster has lots of games to keep you entertained throughout the queue on a busy day but don’t forget to listen out for the roar as you shoot out of the slingshot launch tunnel!

Doctor Dooms Fearfall has prints of his victims, the Fantastic Four, on the floor! There’s also a little cubby hole underneath the Osborn Industries sign. If you stand there and listen carefully, you will hear two thugs planning their next stunt!

DDFF

Just across the road at Captain America’s Diner, you will see Thor’s hammer stuck in the glass and if you head inside, Thor will be over the other side, mid-throw.

Time for some Jurassic Park now and if you look carefully just outside the exit of Jurassic Park River Adventure, on the shelf there is a Barbosol shaving cream tin which represents the tin that contains the dino embryos in the film.

We’re gonna jump across back to by the entrance now into Seuss Landing where it all looks a bit different and crazier than the rest of the park! There are no straight lines and all of the buildings are unorthodox.

As you enter into the area, you will see McElligot’s Pool on the right hand side. One of the fish in the pool is special and if you toss a coin into it’s mouth, you’ll see what happens next..

“Young man, young man, you’re sort of a fool. You’ll never catch fish in McElligot’s pool”

pool

Moving swiftly over the The Lost Continent, you will find a mystic fountain which you can talk to. He will tell you jokes and riddles, but you won’t want to get the riddles wrong…!

Let’s go over to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter now but this time we’re in Hogsmeade! Ladies, if you’re wanting a toilet break, now is the time to go. If you listen carefully you will be able to hear Moaning Myrtle!

Olivander’s is the place to be if you want to become a wizard with your very own wand and if you’re lucky, the wand may even choose you! You can then head off to some of the spell locations dotted around the area and cast some of your own spells!

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Just outside of Olivander’s is the Owl Post station where you can post a letter of your own to anywhere in the world with the official Hogsmeade stamp before heading back to Diagon Alley on the Hogwart’s Express. Don’t forget, the journey is a completely different experience this way!

So there we have it, some of Universal Islands of Adventure’s secrets. What else have you found on your travels?

Smiles Included…

Louise

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How Much Money Does Harry Potter Make Universal Orlando?

Q: How much money does Harry Potter make Universal Orlando?

A: Well some of this question was answered on Friday when Universal Orlando released its quarter 3 results, and what cracking results they are as well, showing that the popularity of Mr Potter was well worth the Universal outlay.

Attendance increased by 36% for the three months ending Sept. 26 to 3.7 million people over the same period last year! and even more importantly visitors to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter couldn’t get enough of wands, broomsticks and butterbeer, as the company stated revenue was up 62% to $364 million. Operating profit more than doubled to $127 million and net profit rocketed to $97 million, a 162% increase.

Plus on Oprah recently JK Rowling spoke the words that Harry Potter fans and Universal Orlando alike had been waiting for… she might not be quite done with the series!!!…. $$$$$