The highly anticipated Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley opened to the public yesterday (8 July) with fans of the Potter brand turning out in droves to explore Universal Orlando Resort Florida’s new attraction.

Thousands showed up to explore the area, which includes its signature attraction, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts.

Such was visitor demand that queue times for the new Gringotts ride exceeded five hours. Some technical problems meant the ride was down sporadically on the day though there were no major faults. The ride is a 3D attraction, with a roller coaster car that tilts and weaves in tandem with the action on screen.

The area recreates the set seen in the Potter movies to minute detail, with shops and the Leaky Cauldron pub featured in JK Rowling's books and new "enchanted" wands that make things move or light up on command.

The Potter theme is now set across both of Universal’s theme parks in Orlando, with a Hogwarts Express train taking guests (with a two-park ticket) from the wizard shopping district, where Harry Potter buys his school supplies, to Hogsmeade that opened in 2010 at the nearby Islands of Adventure park.

The new attraction is a joint project between Universal Orlando Resort and Warner Bros. Entertainment. Equal in size to the Islands of Adventure Potter site, creation of Diagon Alley has involved thousands of designers, artisans and engineers, while architects were sent on several research trips to London to assist the reconstruction of Kings Cross.

Despite the film franchise ending in 2011, demand for Potter have shown no sign of slowing and rumours are afoot that the latest attraction could soon be followed by themed attractions based around the Potter spin off Fantastical Beasts and Where to Find Them.