The 30,000 square foot enchanted attraction is taking over Water Tower Place.
Chicago continues to prove it ’s second to none : this time , with the worldwide debut ofHarry Potter : magic trick at Play , animmersive 30,000 square invertebrate foot experiencetransporting you into the fantastic earth of wizards that ’s also one of the few places you may getButterbeeroutside of Orlando ’s Universal Studios .
make by Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment and Original X Productions ( the squad behind theFriendsExperienceandThe OfficeExperience ) , the journey kicks off at an owl - lined Dursley home on 4 Privet Drive . Step into the place where you ’ll be greeted by a twister of letters addressed to “ Mr. H. Potter , The Cupboard Under the Stairs . ” The syndicate - well-disposed output allows for people of all historic period to climb through the hearth and taunt down a slide have in mind to mimicthe chaos that ensues when Uncle Dursley tries to prevent the legal transfer of Harry ’s letter .
“ Harry Potter requires the highest storey of creativity in the highest layer of detail , ” says Stacy Moscatelli , Co - President and Chief Strategy Officer at OGX . “ We did n’t want to repair the Universal Studios experience . Instead we create an experience you ca n’t get anywhere else . We took some creative indecorum to make it more hands - on and put you in Harry ’s shoes versus you just watch out Harry ’s journeying . ”
The Great Hall|Photo courtesy of Harry Potter™ Magic at Play
From there , visitors travel to platform 9¾ to be whisk aside to Hogwarts where boats await the first year to take them across the Black Lake and to the castle . A set of threefold - venire door embossed with the Griffyndor , Hufflepuff , Ravenclaw , and Slytherin seal greet visitor before they step into the Great Hall , accomplished with floating candles , to stand with the banners of their chosen house .
“ We did n’t need it to be all props and costumes , that form of reading of Harry Potter already exists [ in London ] , ” Moscatelli sound out . “ This is a jubilation of Harry Potter and his journey . affair are interpreted in a different way here . ”
That mean visitors can expect to see elements from the entire Wizarding World dealership meander into the tale . Nifflers , for instance , from theFantastic Beastsfranchise show up towards the end of the experience in the Triwizard Maze — an grand maze with a drama expanse at its center to think of the young children of the people who grew up with Harry Potter .
But there ’s plenty to do in between the start and finish . Head to Charms class where a moving ridge of the baton and the use of goods and services ofWingardium Leviosawill make a feather plasterer’s float . Explore a multifariousness of smell from the ingredient need in Potions class or ward off a swarm of Cornish Pixies in Defense Against the Dark Arts before heading to the Quidditch field for recitation . Guests can visit the Forbidden Forest where they ’ll belike uncover a patronus or dementor , and turn back by Hagrid ’s Home ( accomplished with anearby pumpkin patch ) .
One of the experience unexpected delights is in partnership with Lego where visitant can create a minifigure in their likeness — and then see it come to life in a full - size Mirror of Erised , in which the Lego follows the person ’s trunk movements .
After a twelvemonth and a half of meeting , ideation and build - out , Harry Potter : deception at Playopened Friday , November 11 , 2022 in Chicago in Water Tower Place , 835 N. Michigan Avenue , and runs through May 14 , 2023 before tour nationwide . Clickhere for tickets .
Boathouse|Photo courtesy of Harry Potter™ Magic at Play
Photo courtesy of Harry Potter™ Magic at Play
Forbidden Forest|Photo courtesy of Harry Potter™ Magic at Play
