Photos:: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens at Universal Studios Hollywood
Lights shine behind Hogwarts castle on April 5, 2016, as Universal Studios Hollywood debuts the Wizarding World of Harry Potter for celebrities, VIPs and members of the media.
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Composer John Williams, right, at the VIP opening with Harry Potter actors Evanna Lynch, Warwick Davis, Tom Felton and Oliver Phelps, from right, and Universal Studios Hollywood President Larry Kurzweil, left.
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Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti with a special wand for the debut of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood.
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Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films, arrives for the VIP debut of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood.
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Chris Hardwick, comedian and host of “Talking Dead,” and his fiancee, actress and heiress Lydia Hearst, arrive at the debut of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
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Actor Warwick Davis, who plays Professor Flitwick in the Harry Potter films, at the VIP debut of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
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Actor Ed O’Neill arrives with family in tow for the debut of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood.
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Actor and singer Vanessa Hudgens arrives at the debut of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
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Actors Oliver, left, and James Phelps, who played the Weasley brothers in the Harry Potter films, at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter debut at Universal Studios Hollywood.
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Evanna Lynch, who played Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter films, at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter debut.
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A choir sings as Universal Studios Hollywood debuts the Wizarding World of Harry Potter for celebrities, VIPS and members of the media.
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Fireworks go off over Hogwarts castle as composer John Williams conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter VIP debut.
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Visitors walk through the Wizarding World of Harry Potter during a media preview.
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Aidan Jasanis, 14, left, and Katie Aiani, 28, were first and second in line before sunrise April 7, 2016, for the public opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood.
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Harry Potter enthusiasts take smartphone photos before walking through the front gate to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Thousands were on hand for opening day.
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An early-morning crowd enters the Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction for the first day.
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Diana Li, Bebe Lee and Katie Mitchell, from left, were among the first patrons to enter the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood.
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Visitors ride the Flight of the Hippogriff roller coaster on opening day.
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Dylan Loughlin, 6, and father Mike Loughlin of Colorado made it to the park for opening day.
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Enthusiasts explore the attraction first thing in the morning on opening day.
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William Blumberg, Aidan Jasanis and Katie Aiani, from left, get in the spirit of the attraction on opening day.
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Pacey McWilliams, 10, of Edmonton, Canada, looks the part as he enters the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood.
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Crowds grow as the public is allowed to enter the Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction for the first time.
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Joyce McMaster of Santa Ana was among the first allowed to enter the attraction on opening day.
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Taytum Dinh, 5, visiting from Riverside County, shows off her new magic wand on opening day.
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Jessica Morga serves butterbeer to some of the thousands visiting the attraction on opening day.
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Sereena Worino tries the attraction’s butterbeer on opening day.
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A word of caution at the front gate to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)