Wizarding World of Harry Potter to Open at Universal Studios Hollywood

Wizarding World of Harry Potter expansion

Universal Studios Hollywood Eyeing 2015 Opening of Harry Potter

West coasters, rejoice! The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will soon be coming to Universal Studios Hollywood.

It was only a matter of time before the Harry Potter Universal theme park attraction made its way west, based on the popularity of the original Orlando location.

A new Wizarding World of Harry Potter is planned to open at Universal Studios Hollywood in 2015.

So close, yet so far away.

According to Variety, Universal Studios and Warner Bros. will pay $200 million to build the Wizarding World attraction in Los Angeles.

Since the opening of the Orlando Wizarding World on June 18, 2010, Universal Islands of Adventure has enjoyed a 41 percent bump in visitors.

Rather than expand the existing attraction, the two companies instead decided to build a second Wizarding World in Hollywood.

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The Universal Studios Hollywood installment of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be smaller than the Islands of Adventure park in Florida because of the park's size.

Plus, Variety reports that some older rides at Universal Studios will need to be removed to accommodate the massive recreations of Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, and King's Cross station.

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Universal also hopes to open a Wizarding World in South Korea at some point.

Of course, it's all pending approval from J.K. Rowling, but it seems only fair to have east and west coast Wizarding Worlds, doesn't it?

With Disneyland set to open its highly anticipated "Cars Land" in summer 2012, Universal, already a far second to the Mouse House, will need to get Harry and Co. up and running as soon as possible to stay even remotely competitive.