3. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley

Exictement is building ahead of the opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida. The new land will be the second Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando. The first, which is a recreation of Hogsmeade village and Hogwarts Castle, is located in neighboring Islands of Adventure.

Despite its name, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley will consist of much more than just a recreation of the Diagon Alley shopping street seen in the Harry Potter books and movies. The new land has replaced Amity, the former site of the Jaws ride. This means that it faces onto Universal Studios Florida's main lagoon. Of course, in the movies, Diagon Alley does not face onto a lake. So the front of the second Wizarding World will be a recreation of several London landmarks. Universal has dubbed the area the London Embankment, but actually it will be a mish-mash of different icons from the city.

To enter Diagon Alley itself, you'll pass through a cut-out archway. Once inside, you'll be completely immersed in the Wizarding World.

Gringotts Wizarding Bank, topped by a fire-breathing animatronic dragon, is at the far end of the alley. Between us and the ride that the bank hosts is, effectively, one long shopping street (Universal is going to make a fortune from merchandise sales).

Accessible via an archway from Diagon Alley opposite the Weasley's Wizard Weases store will be the murky Knockturn Alley - a favorite hangout of dark wizards. The area will be covered to ensure that the Florida sun doesn't brighten up the atmosphere.

Towards the rear of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley is a new area dubbed Carkitt Market. This doesn't feature in the books, and was named by Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling. Inspired by Leadenhall Market in London, it will of course have magical elements. Another huge area that is yet to be detailed by Universal is Horizont Alley, which will run perpendicular to Diagon Alley. Again named by Rowling, the nature of this street is a mystery.

The headline attraction of the under-construction Diagon Alley will Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, a major new roller coaster themed around Gringotts Wizarding Bank. Harry’s first encounter with the bank is an innocent descent in its mine-cart-style conveyance in the first film; by the last, the out-of-control race through the vaults was accompanied by loops, waterfalls, and captive dragons - perfect material for a theme park ride.

Because it's enclosed in a enormous ride building, we've seen little in the way of construction photos of the ride itself. Universal has, though, released some concept artwork of the coaster:

The latest rumors point to a June 2014 opening date for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley, but Universal has so far only announced the vague "summer 2014".