Universal Studios Florida opened in Orlando on June 7, 1990, as Universal’s original Florida park and a direct competitor to Walt Disney World. Initially conceived as a blend of theme park and working production studio, it featured attractions such as Kongfrontation, Jaws, and Back to the Future: The Ride, while hosting real film and television production, including Nickelodeon Studios. As filming in Orlando proved difficult, the production model faded and the park shifted toward immersive, film-centered lands around its central lagoon. Diagon Alley became a major milestone in that evolution, helping establish the park as one of the world’s most visited theme parks.