Pictures: Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Triwizard Tournament decor dots the outdoor portion of the queue to Dragon Challenge at Islands of Adventure. (Background is the back side of the Owlery.)  (DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

One of the flying cars used in the Potter films now rests in the area before the Dragon Challenge coaster at Wizarding World of Harry Potter. (There’s an occasional honk).  (DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Banners flank the archway to Dragon Challenge at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure.  (DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Hogwarts, home of Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, towers above Wizarding World.  (DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Dragon Challenge riders walk past banners and Triwizard Tournament memorabilia en route to the roller coaster formerly known as Dueling Dragons at Universal’s Islands of Adventure.  (DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

The clockworks inside the Hogsmeade owlery are visible to Wizarding World of Harry Potter guests.  (DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Rain makes for a more British-feeling day at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal’s Islands of Adventure.  (DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Riders must bow before the hippogriff in the first bend of the Flight of the Hippogriff coaster at Wizarding World of Harry Potter. (That’s Hagrid’s Hut in the background.)  (DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Universal opened the Wizarding World of Harry Potter again Thursday, but this time the Harry Potter-themed attraction was open when the park opened to the general park-goers at 9 a.m. And the Three Broomsticks restaurant was open for general Islands of Adventures park patrons, as well. Earlier in the week, the attraction was open only for limited times, and generally for guests of Universal-run hotels or special package customers from Virgin travel.  (KEITH KOHN/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Universal opened the Wizarding World of Harry Potter again Thursday, but this time the Harry Potter-themed attraction was open when the park opened to the general park-goers at 9 a.m. And the Three Broomsticks restaurant was open for general Islands of Adventures park patrons, as well. Earlier in the week, the attraction was open only for limited times, and generally for guests of Universal-run hotels or special package customers from Virgin travel.  (KEITH KOHN/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Universal opened the Wizarding World of Harry Potter again Thursday, but this time the Harry Potter-themed attraction was open when the park opened to the general park-goers at 9 a.m. And the Three Broomsticks restaurant was open for general Islands of Adventures park patrons, as well. Earlier in the week, the attraction was open only for limited times, and generally for guests of Universal-run hotels or special package customers from Virgin travel.  (KEITH KOHN/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Universal opened the Wizarding World of Harry Potter again Thursday, but this time the Harry Potter-themed attraction was open when the park opened to the general park-goers at 9 a.m. And the Three Broomsticks restaurant was open for general Islands of Adventures park patrons, as well. Earlier in the week, the attraction was open only for limited times, and generally for guests of Universal-run hotels or special package customers from Virgin travel.  (KEITH KOHN/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Universal opened the Wizarding World of Harry Potter again Thursday, but this time the Harry Potter-themed attraction was open when the park opened to the general park-goers at 9 a.m. And the Three Broomsticks restaurant was open for general Islands of Adventures park patrons, as well. Earlier in the week, the attraction was open only for limited times, and generally for guests of Universal-run hotels or special package customers from Virgin travel.  (KEITH KOHN/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Universal opened the Wizarding World of Harry Potter again Thursday, but this time the Harry Potter-themed attraction was open when the park opened to the general park-goers at 9 a.m. And the Three Broomsticks restaurant was open for general Islands of Adventures park patrons, as well. Earlier in the week, the attraction was open only for limited times, and generally for guests of Universal-run hotels or special package customers from Virgin travel.  (KEITH KOHN/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Universal opened the Wizarding World of Harry Potter again Thursday, but this time the Harry Potter-themed attraction was open when the park opened to the general park-goers at 9 a.m. And the Three Broomsticks restaurant was open for general Islands of Adventures park patrons, as well. Earlier in the week, the attraction was open only for limited times, and generally for guests of Universal-run hotels or special package customers from Virgin travel.  (KEITH KOHN/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Universal opened the Wizarding World of Harry Potter again Thursday, but this time the Harry Potter-themed attraction was open when the park opened to the general park-goers at 9 a.m. And the Three Broomsticks restaurant was open for general Islands of Adventures park patrons, as well. Earlier in the week, the attraction was open only for limited times, and generally for guests of Universal-run hotels or special package customers from Virgin travel.  (KEITH KOHN/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Universal opened the Wizarding World of Harry Potter again Thursday, but this time the Harry Potter-themed attraction was open when the park opened to the general park-goers at 9 a.m. And the Three Broomsticks restaurant was open for general Islands of Adventures park patrons, as well. Earlier in the week, the attraction was open only for limited times, and generally for guests of Universal-run hotels or special package customers from Virgin travel.  (KEITH KOHN/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Universal opened the Wizarding World of Harry Potter again Thursday, but this time the Harry Potter-themed attraction was open when the park opened to the general park-goers at 9 a.m. And the Three Broomsticks restaurant was open for general Islands of Adventures park patrons, as well. Earlier in the week, the attraction was open only for limited times, and generally for guests of Universal-run hotels or special package customers from Virgin travel.  (KEITH KOHN/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Universal opened the Wizarding World of Harry Potter again Thursday, but this time the Harry Potter-themed attraction was open when the park opened to the general park-goers at 9 a.m. And the Three Broomsticks restaurant was open for general Islands of Adventures park patrons, as well. Earlier in the week, the attraction was open only for limited times, and generally for guests of Universal-run hotels or special package customers from Virgin travel.  (KEITH KOHN/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Universal opened the Wizarding World of Harry Potter again Thursday, but this time the Harry Potter-themed attraction was open when the park opened to the general park-goers at 9 a.m. And the Three Broomsticks restaurant was open for general Islands of Adventures park patrons, as well. Earlier in the week, the attraction was open only for limited times, and generally for guests of Universal-run hotels or special package customers from Virgin travel.  (KEITH KOHN/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Universal opened the Wizarding World of Harry Potter again Thursday, but this time the Harry Potter-themed attraction was open when the park opened to the general park-goers at 9 a.m. And the Three Broomsticks restaurant was open for general Islands of Adventures park patrons, as well. Earlier in the week, the attraction was open only for limited times, and generally for guests of Universal-run hotels or special package customers from Virgin travel.  (KEITH KOHN/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Universal opened the Wizarding World of Harry Potter again Thursday, but this time the Harry Potter-themed attraction was open when the park opened to the general park-goers at 9 a.m. And the Three Broomsticks restaurant was open for general Islands of Adventures park patrons, as well. Earlier in the week, the attraction was open only for limited times, and generally for guests of Universal-run hotels or special package customers from Virgin travel.  (KEITH KOHN/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Universal opened the Wizarding World of Harry Potter again Thursday, but this time the Harry Potter-themed attraction was open when the park opened to the general park-goers at 9 a.m. And the Three Broomsticks restaurant was open for general Islands of Adventures park patrons, as well. Earlier in the week, the attraction was open only for limited times, and generally for guests of Universal-run hotels or special package customers from Virgin travel.  (KEITH KOHN/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Universal opened the Wizarding World of Harry Potter again Thursday, but this time the Harry Potter-themed attraction was open when the park opened to the general park-goers at 9 a.m. And the Three Broomsticks restaurant was open for general Islands of Adventures park patrons, as well. Earlier in the week, the attraction was open only for limited times, and generally for guests of Universal-run hotels or special package customers from Virgin travel.  (KEITH KOHN/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Universal opened the Wizarding World of Harry Potter again Thursday, but this time the Harry Potter-themed attraction was open when the park opened to the general park-goers at 9 a.m. And the Three Broomsticks restaurant was open for general Islands of Adventures park patrons, as well. Earlier in the week, the attraction was open only for limited times, and generally for guests of Universal-run hotels or special package customers from Virgin travel.  (KEITH KOHN/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Universal opened the Wizarding World of Harry Potter again Thursday, but this time the Harry Potter-themed attraction was open when the park opened to the general park-goers at 9 a.m. And the Three Broomsticks restaurant was open for general Islands of Adventures park patrons, as well. Earlier in the week, the attraction was open only for limited times, and generally for guests of Universal-run hotels or special package customers from Virgin travel.  (KEITH KOHN/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Universal opened the Wizarding World of Harry Potter again Thursday, but this time the Harry Potter-themed attraction was open when the park opened to the general park-goers at 9 a.m. And the Three Broomsticks restaurant was open for general Islands of Adventures park patrons, as well. Earlier in the week, the attraction was open only for limited times, and generally for guests of Universal-run hotels or special package customers from Virgin travel.  (KEITH KOHN/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Universal opened the Wizarding World of Harry Potter again Thursday, but this time the Harry Potter-themed attraction was open when the park opened to the general park-goers at 9 a.m. And the Three Broomsticks restaurant was open for general Islands of Adventures park patrons, as well. Earlier in the week, the attraction was open only for limited times, and generally for guests of Universal-run hotels or special package customers from Virgin travel.  (KEITH KOHN/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Among the offerings at Honeydukes is a milk-chocolate wand with Wizarding World packaging.  (DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

At Zonko’s, Islands of Adventure guests can purchase a Sneakoscope for $14.95 or chattering teethc for $4.95.  (DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Caged pygmy puffs are in the window of Zonko’s, which is near the entry of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter area of Universal’s Islands of Adventure.  (DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Icicles dangle from the angular roof of the Owl Post in the Hogsmeade village section of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  (DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

A butterbeer cart in the center of Hogsmeade is designed to sell both the regular and frozen varieties of the drink, an exclusive concoction at Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  (DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Visitors pose next to Hogsmeade Station, which, in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, doubles as the locker area for the Dragon Challenge roller coaster.  (DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Some Harry Potter merchandise, including wands, is now available in the Trading Company store at the front of Islands of Adventure theme park.   (DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Some of the storefronts in Hogsmeade are merely facades, such as this one for Dogweed and Deathcap, which porports to sell exotic plants at Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Although guests cannot go in, Potter lore is included in the windows and detailed exteriors.  (DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

A Universal Orlando employee stands in Hogsmeade with an owl (available for purchase) that’s also a puppet with a movable head.  (DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

A display at Dervish & Banges shows off merchandise, including scarves, ties and patches, that is geared toward each individual house of Hogwarts school. The store is in the Hogsmeade section of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal’s Islands of Adventure.  (DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

The (caged) Monster Book of Books growls at customers of Dervish & Banges at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which is part of Islands of Adventure theme park in Orlando.  (DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Every-flavour beans are available at Honeydukes, a candy store at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando.  (DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

A Universal Orlando employee rings up a sale -- a big sale if that bell is any indication -- at Zonko’s, a joke store at Wizarding World.  (DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

The owlery provides shade for Wizarding World of Harry Potter guests.  (DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Broomsticks are on display above the shelves at Dervish & Banges in Hogsmeade village.  (DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

January: Universal CityWalk billboard pushes Wizarding World. It’s later covered by a Mardi Gras promotion.

Jan. 28: Guests will be able to buy magic wands at Wizarding World, Universal announces. Actually, through special effects and a live actor, the wands will select their new owners. A 3-D, “augmented reality” map of Wizarding World appears in a newspaper ad. With aid of webcams, visitors “fly” through the area and hear the Hogwarts Express.  (DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINEL)