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lifestyle TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2014 Travel A girl stands in front of Florian Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour. A dragon breathes fire from atop Gringnotts Bank. New Harry Potter park: 5 first impressions niversal Orlando Resort opened its new, richly Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions also has on display detailed Harry Potter-themed area to media and a wedding dress and two costumes that aren’t for sale: an Uother travel industry insiders on Wednesday night. intimidating black-beaded cape ensemble worn in a pro- The new park zone, called The Wizarding World of Harry mo for the new attraction, and a costume worn by Kenneth Potter-Diagon Alley, will delight fans of the hit book and Branagh as Gilderoy Lockhart in the “Harry Potter and the movie series with a marquee ride, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” movie. The wedding dress is white Escape from Gringotts. with white feathers at the hem and softly twinkling lights But Diagon Alley is also heavy on experiential retail, within the skirt. with stores so entertaining and visually stimulating that you almost forget you’re shopping. The attraction doubles Photo ops the size of the Harry Potter footprint on Universal’s proper- As you enter Diagon Alley, look toward Gringotts Bank - ty. Diagon Alley opens to the public July 8 at Universal which is the entrance to the centerpiece thrill ride, Harry Studios. A train called the Hogwarts Express connects the Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. A dragon is perched new area to the original Wizarding World of Harry Potter atop the bank, and it breathes fire - instant Facebook pho- attraction, called Hogsmeade, which opened in 2010 on to or Instagram. Once you enter the bank, while in queue the other side of the theme park at Universal’s Islands of for the ride, don’t miss the three enormous glass chande- Adventure. liers. Finally, find 12 Grimmauld Place where Kreacher the If fans want to see both Harry Potter areas, a two-park House Elf peers eerily from a window. — AP ticket is required. For adults, a two-park ticket for one day costs $136; for children, it’s $130. Helena Bonham Carter, Matthew Lewis and Domhnall Gleeson were among the actors from Potter films walking a red carpet at Universal Wednesday night. Here are five first impressions of Universal’s new Diagon Alley, which was inspired by the fictional London location famous for wiz- arding supplies in the Harry Potter series: Window shopping The level of detail in Diagon Alley is amazing, and nowhere are the features more fun and true to the novels A man stands outside the entrance to Borgin and Burkes Allie Dillard shows off a ferret puppet that can be pur- and movies than in shop windows. There are lots of things store in Knockturn Alley during a preview of Diagon Alley chased at the Magical Menagerie store. for sale, but others are simply great decorations. Books play at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal a central role in the decor; window-shoppers will see ani- Orlando. — AP photos matronic versions of “The Monster Book of Monsters,” a tome with teeth, along with self-knitting needles and Harry Potter’s snowy owl, Hedwig. Unique gifts With seven shops in Diagon Alley, there’s plenty to buy. (There are five shops in Hogsmeade, Universal’s original Harry Potter attraction.) Among the offerings: Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes (chattering teeth, expandable ears), Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions ($250 for a wiz- ard’s robe), Quality Quidditch Supplies (everything for play- ing the real-life sport based on the game in the series) and Scribbulus (implements for paper, pen and ink lovers). Magical Menagerie sells cute stuffed animals (pygmy puffs are popular), while Borgin and Burkes - located off Diagon Alley in the book, on Knockturn Alley - is a “dark arts” shop that sells skulls, black T-shirts and Death Eater masks. Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment sells telescopes and binoculars. Interactive wands For $35, guests can buy interactive wands at Ollivanders Wand Shop, located in both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. Signs to shops are seen. When wand-wielding guests see a medallion symbol in either area, they can wave the wand and cast spells. The wands make trolls dance, light lamps and chandeliers, and silence some shrunken heads, among other things. Maps of the medallion areas are available, but Universal says there are also some hidden spell areas for guests to discov- er. Wizard wardrobes In addition to robes, fans can buy capes and preppy button-down cardigans inspired by the four houses where Harry and his fellow students lived at Hogwarts school. Matthew Lewis speaks to a reporter during the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley preview event. James and Oliver Phelps talk to reporters during the Helena Bonham Carter speaks to the media. Warwick Davis speaks to the media. Daniel Cuevas displays a Fire Protection Potion. Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley preview event..