New Harry Potter/Fantastic Beasts experience opens at WB Studio Tour Hollywood

A Brand new Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts experience will open to the public on June 26th as part of the grand finale of the newly re-designed Warner Brothers Studio Tour in Hollywood California. I was invited to preview this exciting new experience alongside our beloved Ginny Weasley actress, Bonnie Wright, to show you the most magical details before it opens to the public next Saturday.

While being forced to close for more than 15 months, Warner Brothers jumped at the opportunity to redesign this classic Hollywood attraction that first opened to the public in 2012. Visitors of the previous tour will recall the focus on props, costumes, and sets for a variety of evolving films and Television shows, led by an expert tour guide amongst the fully operational backlot sound-stages.

From the moment you walk inside, this tour experience feels entirely new. I was so excited to see that the focus had been improved to include a wider variety of interactive experiences, and instagram worthy installations. The first thing I noticed is a newly constructed parking structure, and spacious lobby which reminds me of the foyer built for the Warner Brothers Studio Tour London. Complete with a Starbucks, a substantial WB gift shop with a wide variety of Wizarding World merchandise, and most surprisingly, a massive large scale prop replica of the Triwizard Cup!

When the tour begins, you will walk through a storytelling showcase celebrating Warner Brothers nearly 100 year history. After your guided tour of the backlot, explore an interactive soundstage, fly over Hogwarts on a Nimbus 2000 Broom in a green screen movie, and eat at the new Central Perk Cafe from the Friends TV show. Upon returning to the front of the backlot, you will enter into the new grand finale, “Action and Magic Made Here.”

For the purpose of this article, I will focus on the moments dedicated to the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts franchises. Once inside, take your time exploring the combination of both DC Universe and Harry Potter/Fantastic Beasts props, sets, and costume pieces. I was surprised to discover that the Wizarding World set replicas were a bit overshadowed by the wider variety of DC comic elements which became the main focus of this building. With the wide variety of interactive elements and photo opportunities, kids and families will especially appreciate this exciting new part of the tour.

Towards the back, large curved walls are wallpapered with copies of a variety of original hand drawn Harry Potter film set blueprints. A box set of Special edition autographed Harry Potter books that WB purchased at a JK Rowling charity auction to fight Multiple Sclerosis, sits on display just before the entrance. The first visible prop, the Weasley’s iconic Flying Ford Anglia used on screen in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, is hovering in the air in the dead center above a glass case housing a screen used Marauders Map prop designed by the Mina Lima Graphic Design team.

5 interactive set replicas are available to explore once inside, with an additional Wand Dueling area where you can follow along with an instructional video by Paul Harris who choreographed wand combat for the films.

1. The Dursley’s Home:

Here you will find a unique photo opportunity to go inside Harry Potter’s cupboard under the stairs. Explore all the tiny details and even sit on Harry Potter’s childhood bed for photos. The Warner Brothers studio Tour London showcases the cupboard under the stairs set, but does not allow guests to go inside. For now, you sadly can not run up and down the Dursley’s stairs shouting “Wake Up cousin, we’re going to the zoo!”

A second photo opportunity awaits in the living room set of #4 Private Drive where a large scale wall of Harry’s Hogwarts acceptance letters are falling from the ceiling in a solid frame. Here you can step into the frame of letters and reenact trying to catch an envelope and escape Uncle Vernon.

Two display cases sit under a Privet Drive street sign, containing a pair of Harry Potter’s glasses, and Harry’s Hogwarts acceptance letter/envelope prop from Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone. Standing next to these in a shorter display case, is a silicone prop figure of Dobby The House elf used as a stand-in for the 7th film, Deathly Hallows Part 1.

2. The Potions Classroom:

Professor Snape would feel right at home in the Potions classroom set where interactive cauldrons, and potion ingredient jars line the large central table surrounded by dozens of tall replica ingredient jars along the walls. This is a fun hands-on experience for kids and an excellent photo opportunity for fans of all ages.

Nearby, you can also check out a glass display cabinet with two Advanced Potion Making book props, a bezoar with a cutting knife, and potion jars all from Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

3. The Great Hall:

Have you been sorted into your Hogwarts house yet? Or maybe you have already been sorted and would love a video or photo opportunity wearing the sorting hat in the Great Hall announcing your official Hogwarts House? This photo/video opportunity allows you to log into your account in the official Harry Potter mobile app and connect it to the Sorting Hat ceremony before walking up to take your seat on the iconic, 1st years stool under the Sorting Hat floating above you.

4.The Greenhouse:

Here you can step into the sunlight of the Hogwarts grounds and into this Chamber of Secrets film classroom to practice re-potting Mandrake plants. Each Mandrake baby that you pull up from the soil shrieks loudly so I hope you brought your fluffy earmuffs. This experience was previously featured in the Harry Potter traveling Exhibition which will return in 2022 and was my personal favorite room.

5. Newt Scamander’s Suitcase:

Here you can jump inside Newt’s suitcase with an interactive projection on a large wall where you can activate a variety of magical creatures like the niffler, occamy, and bowtruckle. There’s even a fun opportunity to get photos of yourself to appear as if you are standing inside Newts Suitcase. Towards the back, Newt’s workbench has been reconstructed to explore every detail from inside his suitcase. From Newt’s leather journal to sketches of a thunderbird, the attention to detail is incredible. Large digital screens act as windows above the workbench, looking out at various magical creature habitats from the Fantastic Beasts films. Say hello to Mooncalves as they walk over to greet you, and brace yourself when an Erumpent runs over, shaking the whole work bench in front of you to smell the musk that you can activate to attract them. WB Studio Tour London does not offer Fantastic Beasts related set environments yet, so it was exciting to experience this Fantastic Beasts related set replica.

At the time I explored the space, there were a total of 12 screen-used movie props on display through this new Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts space, with the potential for more to be added soon; so keep an eye out for the display cases. As you explore, each room has the official flying key QR codes on the walls that you can scan using the official Harry Potter mobile app to discover behind the scenes photos, videos, and additional information.

While there are no Harry Potter costumes found within this part of the tour, you can discover both Harry Potter and Ron Weasley’s screen used Quidditch costumes on display inside the Lobby gift shop. If you are a Gold Member of the official Harry Potter fan club, you can pick up your free collector pin from the gift shop in the lobby at any time by showing your mobile account at checkout. 

These new additions to the tour have been revealed at the same time as the Warner Brothers London Announcement that a new Harry Potter Photographic Exhibition will open in Covent Garden next month! With the Harry Potter traveling Exhibition returning next year, and the New York Harry Potter store now open, opportunities to celebrate your love of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts have never been more accessible.

All tickets and reservations must be purchased in advance on the official WB website here. Tickets are $69/adult, $57/ for SoCal residents, and $59 for children ages 5-10.