Early bird
tickets
available now!
Job search
Job Search
Latest news
More news: (showing 1 - 20 of 13774)           
UK only International

Exclusive: Universal poised to rollout Harry Potter Diagon Alley attraction globally

By Jak Phillips    12 Dec 2014
One million guests rode the Hogwarts Express in the month after it opened in July 2014

After the runaway success of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction at Universal Orlando, the theme park operator plans to replicate the winning formula across its other sites, Attractions Management understands.

The groundbreaking attraction, reported to have cost around US$250m (€202m, £159m) to create, saw thousands of designers, artisans and engineers collaborate to faithfully recreate Diagon Alley as JK Rowling imagined it, complete with a 3D multi-sensory ride that takes passengers on a daring escape from Voldemort and co at the Gringotts wizarding bank.

The joint collaboration between Universal Orlando Resort and Warner Bros. Entertainment broke the mould to create the world’s first centrally-themed multi-park experience. This saw the construction of a replica Kings Cross train station – complete with platform 9 and ¾ – enabling guests to catch the Hogwarts Express train to hop between the new world and the Hogsmeade attraction at nearby Islands of Adventure. For Potter fans to use the train, a two-park ticket costing US$136 (€101, £81) is required.

Given the standout success of the attraction – one million guests rode the Hogwarts Express in its first month – it is unsurprising that Universal is eager to spread the concept across its parks and capitalise on the Potter-mania that evidently endures.

According to a high-placed source, Universal is looking at a similar concept for Universal Studios Hollywood, as well as its parks in Singapore and Osaka, Japan. The plan would work particularly well at Osaka – which earlier this year launched its own Wizarding World of Harry Potter featuring Hogsmeade and Hogwarts Castle – with the potential for an area similar to Diagon Alley and a Hogwarts Express to link the two attractions.

It is thought that the company is also mulling the presence of Harry Potter attractions at its forthcoming resorts in Beijing and Moscow.

Potter-related attractions have proved to be hugely successful for Universal. Wizarding World of Harry Potter has doubled attendances at Universal's Islands of Adventure, from 4.2m at opening in 2009 to 8.1m in 2013.

Numbers for Universal Studios, Florida – also saw an increase – from 5.1 million to 7.1 million (according to most recent figures) – via sales of the multi-site Universal/Seaworld pass, showing how the Potter-effect has knocked on to the wider business.

A Universal spokesperson was unable to comment on the company’s expansion plans.

Sign up for FREE ezines
Related news
Sports jobs

Swim Manager

Everyone Active
Salary: Competitive
Location: Sutton-in-Ashfield, UK

General Manager

Coach Gyms
Salary: £40,000pa basic + bonus + commission
Location: Leeds, UK

General Manager

Tennis Swansea 365
Salary: £36,000 - £40,000pa + benefits
Location: Landore, Swansea, UK

Swim Teacher

Everyone Active
Salary: Competitive
Location: Middlesbrough, UK

Customer Service Advisor

Everyone Active
Salary: Competitive
Location: Middlesbrough, UK

Sports Facility Manager - LSBU Active

London South Bank University
Salary: £31,396 to £34,557, inclusive of £4,952 London Weighting
Location: London, UK

Team Leader

Everyone Active
Salary: £25,337pa + excellent benefits
Location: Bristol, UK

Fitness Motivator

Everyone Active
Salary: Competitive
Location: Gainsborough, UK

Swim Teacher

Everyone Active
Salary: Competitive
Location: Bristol
recruiting with sports management

Duty Manager (Dry)

Everyone Active
Salary: Competitive salary
Location: St Albans, UK

Head of Operations

Fife Sports and Leisure Trust Ltd
Salary: £56,107.80 - £63,165.86pa + benefits
Location: Dunfermline, UK

Senior Leisure Officer

East Devon District Council
Salary: £41,418 - £48,474pa + local govt pension + benefits
Location: Honiton, UK

Swimming Teacher

Everyone Active
Salary: Competitive rates of pay
Location: Rickmansworth, UK

Swimming Teacher

Everyone Active
Salary: Competitive rates of pay
Location: Watford, UK
Swimming Teacher jobs  duty manager jobs  Team Leader jobs  Swim Manager jobs  general manager jobs  recreation assistant jobs 
More jobs

Company profile

Company profile: FIBO Global Fitness
FIBO pursues the vision of a strong and healthy society and as a global network makes an essential contribution to a long and fulfilling life for people. At the annual FIBO Show, therefore, all players from the fitness, wellness and health sectors come together and form the hot spot for innovations, investments and trends for an active lifestyle.
View full profile >
More company profiles

Featured Supplier

Altrafit introduces custom functional fitness equipment at Third Space
Altrafit has taken further steps to cement its reputation as a provider of high-quality, affordable functional fitness equipment that is built to last with the development and introduction of a new functional fitness keg for luxury gym operator, Third Space.
View full details >
More featured suppliers

Property & Tenders

Location: Jersey
Company: Jersey War Tunnels
Location: Chiswick, Gillingham, York and Nottingham
Company: Savills
Location: Cleveland Lakes, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire
Company: Cotswold Lakes Trust
Location: Loughton, IG10
Company: Knight Frank
Location: Grantham, Leicestershire
Company: Belvoir Castle
More properties & tenders

Diary dates

03-05 Sep 2024
IMPACT Exhibition Center, Bangkok, Thailand
08-10 Sep 2024
Wyndham® Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs™ Resort, Lake Buena Vista, United States
19-19 Sep 2024
The Salil Hotel Riverside - Bangkok, Bangkok 10120, Thailand
20-22 Sep 2024
Locations worldwide,
More diary dates