WHAT'S NEW

Back in January there had been rumors that Universal Studios Orlando had begun construction on a Harry Potter expansion. ThemeParkInsider.com has now confirmed the speculation after they got a look at a few of the new rides and features in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter addition.

Not only will there be a Gringotts roller coaster there will also be a hidden area for Diagon Alley, which will be hidden behind Grimmauld Place, Wyndham’s Theatre and other London landmarks. The secret entrance to the mystical world will be next to the Leaky Cauldron.

The Leaky Cauldron will be the featured restaurant in the expansion and will basically be the entrance for the detailed Diagon Alley. Breaking from most theme park attractions Diagon Alley will be on multiple levels, with stairways, multi-story buildings and areas, elevated train trestles, and more. There will even be a Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour.

There will of course be other shops like Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment, which will be the gift shop after getting off the Gringotts roller coaster – like every other theme park ride.

Slytherins won’t be left out either as Universal Studios Orlando, Florida has included Knockturn Alley, which will be about 1/3 of the new expansion, and includes Borgin and Burkes.

The main attraction in this massive expansion will still be Gringotts Roller Coaster but there will also be the Hogwarts Express train that will connect Diagon Alley with Hosmeade, the original Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

There will be many other shops and areas in the park but the aforementioned will be the big draws. According to ThemeParkInsider.com the new amazing Harry Potter World will most likely open in July 2014. That means back-to-back Summers of huge ride and world openings at Universal Studios, the first being Transformers this July.

Last week brought another change to the I-4 skyline as a 250 ft high rollercoaster was completed at Fun Spot America. The Skycoaster arrived in Orlando from Las Vegas where it used to be located at the MGM Grand Hotel. The new Skycoaster will be different than the 300ft Kissimme Skycoaster and not just in height. It will be constructed using a metal frame and not just beams.

You might be saying, “This thing sounds pretty cool, but what the heck is a skycoaster?” A skycoaster is an amusement park ride where riders in groups of 1-3 are put together in a harness and then pulled up to the top of a launch tower. They are then released and fly, like a pendulum, back and forth under a giant arch.

There are a lot of impressive facts about the height of the Skycoaster. It is the 2nd tallest Skycoaster in the world and the first one at Fun Spot USA, Kissimmee, FL. Once it was completed it became the 10^th highest structure in Orlando and the 2^nd tallest on I-Drive. It is so tall that it will require FAA aircraft lighting! It will be visible for miles.

Skycoaster is only the start of a $20 million expansion to Fun Spot America, which will also include two roller coasters, rip curl, tilt-a-whirl and a crazy new wood and steel combination rollercoaster called White Lightning. There are also plans for a water park and other thrill rides in the near future.

These new additions add to the incredible expansions going on or planned in the Tourist District and Orlando attractions, including Universal Studios, Disney, and Sea World.  It is an exciting time to plan your group or class trip to Orlando.

Construction on the new I-Drive Live shopping and entertainment area near the attractions is scheduled to start next month. The $200 million entertainment district will be over 95,000 square feet and feature a variety of shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Up until 2007 the area was home to The Mercado which was one of the most popular tourist spots on International Drive. The open air shopping area had hosted huge exhibits like Titanic and The Guinness World Records Experience. Competition took its toll on The Mercado and closed in 2007 when it was demolished. Enter Unicorp and Merlin Entertainments (operator of Legoland Florida) with plans of building a brand new shopping and entertainment area, which is now known as I-Drive Live and The I-Shops.

The centerpiece of the new I-Drive Live will be a huge observation wheel that will be modeled off the London Eye ferris wheel. It will be 425 feet tall and take visitors on a 30 minute ride so they can see the entire Orlando skyline. The new tourist attraction will also feature a huge 25,000 square foot Sea Life Aquarium and a Maddam Tussauds Wax Museum.

Some restaurants have already signed leases and include some well known eateries like Outback Steakhouse, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Carrabba’s Italian Grill. Restaurants new to the area include Cooper’s Hawk Winery, Chuy’s Tex-Mex Restaurant, and Seafood Republic.

All of the construction has a timeline of 24 months and should be ready by the end of 2014 or beginning of 2015. It will be an exciting new spot to visit on I-Drive and a great place to go hangout after a long day at the Orlando Attractions.

For help with booking your group trip to Orlando, Florida to visit Disney World, Universal Studios, or the other multiple attractions visit our Start Planning page.