'Harry Potter' Diagon Alley Expansion Could Open As Early As June 20th

Universal Orlando Resort is gearing up for the grand opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley expansion sometime this Summer, but when could it be? Today select members of the press received a package from the owl delivery service (muggles know nothing of these kind of things)  inviting them to the media and VIP preview of the The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley expansion.

You can see more images of the official invite, a piece of art in its own right, after the jump. The invite lists the preview dates as June 17-20. Our friends at InsideTheMagic point out that the remainder of Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort will be opening on June 16, also likely part of the 4-day press event – So its very likely that the expansion will opening to the public on June 20th or around that time, although that is merely speculation.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley expansion invite is the coolest and most elaborate press invite I've received since starting /Film. The invite comes in a Gringotts vault box  marked "vault 722" which Potter fans will might recognize as the project number. Also inside the box is a heavy gold bar with the Bank of Gringotts seal with the marking 999 – 3/4.

The box also includes a ticket for travel to Diagon Alley (and on the other side, Hogsmeade), "subject to the rules & regulations of the Hogwarts Express Railway Authority" (a reference to the new Hogwarts Express train ride which will transport guests between Universal Orlando and Universal Islands of Adventure parks. Another slip in the box is a Gringotts bank slip, which has the 722 vault marked on the credit slip.

We will be traveling to Orlando in June to take the Hogwarts Express to the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley expansion, and will report back with a lot of coverage, photos and videos.