By: Author Kim
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You probably know that there are Harry Potter worlds at Orlando theme parks and in California, too. But is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Disney or Universal Studios? And on which entertainment platforms can you watch the Harry Potter films?
Here are the quick and easy answers that you need to know if you are wondering whether Disney owns Harry Potter and whether Harry Potter lands are at Disney Word or Disneyland.
No rumors, just facts!
Table of Contents
Does Disney Own Harry Potter?
While it seems like Disney owns everything, including Star Wars, Marvel, LucasFilm, ABC television network and more, they haven’t bought all Intellectual Property rights.
No, Disney does not own Harry Potter.
Is Harry Potter in Disney World or Disneyland?
No, you will not find a Harry Potter land in either Walt Disney World in Orlando or Disneyland in California.
You will not find Harry Potter rides, merchandise or restaurants anywhere on Disney property.
If you have planned a visit to Disney, don’t worry. You can easily visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter by going to Universal Orlando Resort or Universal Studios Hollywood, both of which are located near their competing Disney theme parks.
Does Universal Own Harry Potter?
If Disney doesn’t own the rights to Harry Potter, does Universal own them?
No.
Warner Bros. owns the rights to Harry Potter and has licensed them to Universal.
Related Post: Who Owns Universal Studios? The Surprising Answer!
Who Owns the Harry Potter Rights?
When it comes to Intellectual Property, things can get confusing. There are a variety of rights that can be bought, and the owners can vary.
Harry Potter rights are distributed in the following ways:
- Warner Bros. owns the Harry Potter movie rights
- JK Rowling owns the Intellectual Property rights to books and movies
- The Scholastic Company owns the USA rights to publishing
- Bloomsbury Publishing owns the UK rights to publishing
- Universal Studios owns the theme park rights, licensed by Warner Bros.
NBCUniversal has acquired exclusive rights to show the films on TV. NBCUniversal has commercial TV rights for the 8 films and other properties through April 2025.
Related Post: Harry Potter’s Firewhisky and Why You Can’t Buy it at Home
Could Disney Have Bought Harry Potter?
Yes, the Disney company could have bought the rights to Harry Potter but didn’t.
Disney could have bought the book rights, but didn’t. Instead, Scholastic bought the rights to the Harry Potter series for $105,000 in a bidding war.
Seems like a good investment for Scholastic, right?
Rumors suggest that J.K. Rowling was in negotiations with Disney to bring Harry Potter to Disney theme parks. While it is not hard to believe, there is not any solid evidence found on the internet to confirm that the meetings or negotiations took place, or the details.
So, while most people love to tell the stories of J.K. Rowling visiting Florida to scope out the theme park expansion or what Harry Potter world would have looked like at Disney World, we are not going to spread the stories that it is true until finding some definite evidence. Please do send us links to actual news reports if you find them!
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Is Warner Bros. Owned by Disney?
No, Warner Bros. is a separate film studio not owned by Disney.
While Disney does own many studios, including Walt Disney Studios, 20th Century Studios and Searchlight Pictures, it does not own Warner Brothers.
Warner Bros. is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, which also owns HBO, CNN and a variety of other business units.
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Is Harry Potter on Disney+?
Because Harry Potter is not a Disney movie and is not made by their production companies, you cannot watch Harry Potter films on Disney Plus.
You can find Harry Potter films on Peaco*ck, which is a division of NBCUniversal. They are also found on HBO Max.
Want to watch Harry Potter movies on Amazon Prime? You will need to pay to rent them, as they are not free on Amazon.
Related Post: Is Shrek Disney or Universal?
Does Disney Own Fantastic Beasts?
Nope. Just like the Harry Potter franchise, Fantastic Beasts is also owned by Warner Bros.
I'm an enthusiast with an in-depth understanding of the entertainment industry, particularly the intricate web of intellectual property rights surrounding iconic franchises like Harry Potter. My knowledge extends beyond the surface, delving into the business dealings, ownership structures, and distribution strategies that shape the media landscape.
Now, let's dissect the key concepts discussed in the article:
1. Does Disney Own Harry Potter?
Answer: No, Disney does not own Harry Potter. Despite Disney's extensive portfolio, they haven't acquired all intellectual property rights, and Warner Bros. holds the rights to Harry Potter.
2. Is Harry Potter in Disney World or Disneyland?
Answer: No, there is no Harry Potter presence in either Walt Disney World in Orlando or Disneyland in California. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter can be experienced at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood.
3. Does Universal Own Harry Potter?
Answer: No, Universal does not own the rights to Harry Potter. Warner Bros. owns the rights and has licensed them to Universal for theme park attractions.
4. Who Owns the Harry Potter Rights?
Answer: The rights are distributed as follows:
- Warner Bros. owns the movie rights.
- J.K. Rowling owns the intellectual property rights to books and movies.
- The Scholastic Company owns the USA publishing rights.
- Bloomsbury Publishing owns the UK publishing rights.
- Universal Studios owns the theme park rights under license from Warner Bros.
- NBCUniversal has exclusive TV rights for the films through April 2025.
5. Could Disney Have Bought Harry Potter?
Answer: Yes, Disney could have bought the rights, but they didn't. Scholastic acquired the book rights for $105,000 in a bidding war.
6. Is Warner Bros. Owned by Disney?
Answer: No, Warner Bros. is a separate film studio owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, which also owns HBO, CNN, and other business units.
7. Is Harry Potter on Disney+?
Answer: No, Harry Potter is not on Disney+ because it is not a Disney movie. The films can be found on Peaco*ck (NBCUniversal) and HBO Max.
8. Does Disney Own Fantastic Beasts?
Answer: No, Fantastic Beasts, like the Harry Potter franchise, is owned by Warner Bros.
In essence, the intricate web of rights and ownership surrounding Harry Potter involves multiple entities, with Warner Bros. at the helm, shaping how this beloved franchise is experienced across various platforms.
