Given that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade – thanks to its perpetual coating of ice & snow – already sort of looks like a Christmas card …
… is it any wonder that visitors to Universal’s Islands of Adventure have (ever since Hogsmeade threw open its doors to Muggles back in June of 2010) been longing to visit this immersive environment during the holiday season?
Because – as any fan of J.K. Rowling’s books and/or the Warner Bros. film series will tell you – Christmas is a very big deal within The Wizarding World. There are magical decorations everywhere …
… not to mention special seasonal food & drink for friends and family to share.
Unfortunately, this sort of holiday magic only existed between the pages of Rowling’s books and/or up on the screen whenever a “Harry Potter” film was being unspooled.
But all of that changes as of November 18th of this year. That’s when the Universal Orlando Resort – as part of its destination-wide Holiday celebration – introduces its brand-new Christmas experience within The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
And it’s not just Hogsmeade that will be receiving a holiday-themed makeover. Visitors to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley will discover that this portion of Universal Studios Florida is now festooned with festive garland. Not only that, but each storefront will be decked out with uniquely-themed Christmas decorations.
Those who drop by the Leaky Cauldron – or the Three Broomsticks, for that matter – can expect to find some special holiday treats added to the menu. Not to mention seasonal entertainment being presented on the outdoor stages below Hogwarts Castle & over in Carkitt Market.
But for the real highpoint of Universal Orlando’s new Christmas experience with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, one has to make their way over to Hogsmeade just before sunset. That’s when – with the help of some state-of-the-art projection mapping – Hogwarts Castle will undergo a magical holiday transformation as night falls.
Mind you, Universal Orlando won’t just be plussing its Harry Potter experiences for Christmas 2017. The Resort will also be rolling out a brand-new holiday parade this November. Universal is partnering with Macy’s, the global leader in balloon entertainment, to bring this new seasonal celebration to life. Entitled “Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s,” this Christmas cavalcade will travel through the streets of Universal Studios Florida theme park. Not only that, but this brand-new parade will feature incredibly-detailed floats and balloons. Not to mention beloved characters like the mischievous Minions from “Despicable Me,” popular DreamWorks characters from “Madagascar” and “Shrek,” and even Santa Claus himself.
These new experiences will join other beloved holiday traditions at Universal Orlando Resort for its destination-wide 2017 Holidays celebration. Which is currently scheduled to run from November 18, 2017 to January 6, 2018.
Look for Universal Orlando to reveal more about its new Christmas experience at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – not to mention its “Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s” – in the coming months.
This article was originally published by the Huffington Post on Thursday, April 13, 2017