--- title: Marketing the Wizarding World of Harry Potter way image: https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601510953-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e20147e183cdd7970b-200wi.jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/2011/01/marketing-the-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter-way.html#maincontent) [ «  View All Posts ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog) # Marketing the Wizarding World of Harry Potter way January 12th, 2011 1 min read By [David Meerman Scott](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/author/david-meerman-scott) ![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601510953-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e20147e183cdd7970b-200wi.jpg?width=200&height=300&name=6a00d83451f23a69e20147e183cdd7970b-200wi.jpg) [![IMG_0401](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601510953-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e20147e183cdd7970b-200wi.jpg "IMG_0401")](http://freshspot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451f23a69e20147e183cdd7970b-popup) I delivered a talk at the [Mosaic AgCollege](http://www.themosaicagcollege.com/) yesterday at the[ Loews Royal Pacific Resort](http://www.loewshotels.com/en/Royal-Pacific-Resort) at Universal Orlando. Due to a blizzard in Boston, I was unable to get home today so I found myself with a rare "snow day" with no meetings planned. So I headed over to Universal Orlando Resort's new [Wizarding World of Harry Potter](http://www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/) theme park. This was exciting for me because I have been writing and speaking about the park for several years. [![IMG_0404](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601510998-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e20147e183c9ea970b-200wi.jpg "IMG_0404")](http://freshspot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451f23a69e20147e183c9ea970b-popup) Rather then spend a huge amount of money to do traditional PR and marketing to launch the park on May 31, 2007, Cindy Gordon instead chose to tell the seven most popular bloggers who write about Harry Potter. By giving a first crack at the news to blogs like [Mugglenet](http://mugglenet.com/), the news spread to become a [World Wide Rave](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0470395001/freshspotpubl-20) and 24 hours later, 350 million people had heard of the new park to be opened several years later. Read about the launch here in my ebook [The New Rules of Viral Marketing](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/documents/Viral_Marketing.pdf): How word-of-mouse spreads your ideas for free (This ebook has been downloaded more than a million times!) Wizarding World of Harry Potter is insanely popular. Not being a huge fan of crowds, I was reluctant to go so I asked the hotel staff when would be the best time to go with the fewest crowds. **Putting your best customers up front** [![IMG_0397](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601511028-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e20147e183cb79970b-200wi.jpg "IMG_0397")](http://freshspot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451f23a69e20147e183cb79970b-popup) Turns out that guests at the several hotels on the Universal Orlando Resort properties can gain entry into the parks an hour early – at 8:00 a.m. Terrific. So I headed over then and was, literally, the very first guest in the park today. I snapped a few photos to show the park with no guests. The photo at the bottom was at around noon. (Click the photos to enlarge). [![IMG_0400](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601511053-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e20148c78d39f7970c-400wi.jpg "IMG_0400")](http://freshspot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451f23a69e20148c78d39f7970c-popup) The main attraction, [Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter_and_the_Forbidden_Journey), was excellent. I rode it twice. The second time my wait was ten minutes. A few hours later, the line was more than 60 minutes. At midday, the line to gain entry into the park’s gift shop was 30 minutes! Yikes, what a business: People standing in line for the privilege to spend money. Universal Orlando Resorts knows who their best clients are. Giving the guests who stay at the hotels (who spend probably $300 a day) first crack at the popular attractions is excellent marketing. [![IMG_0402](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601511098-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e20148c78d3c7c970c-400wi.jpg "IMG_0402")](http://freshspot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451f23a69e20148c78d3c7c970c-popup) [The Grateful Dead gave their best fans the best seats in the house. ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/books_grateful-dead-marketing.htm) **What are you doing to provide something extra to your best customers?** [ David Meerman Scott ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/author/david-meerman-scott) David Meerman Scott is a business growth strategist, advisor to clever entrepreneurs who are building emerging companies, and the international bestselling author of a dozen books published in 30 languages. David’s high-energy keynote presentations, masterclasses, and virtual events educate, energize, and inspire. Connect: [mailto:david@freshspot.com](mailto:david@freshspot.com) Topics: [ Marketing Lessons from the Grateful Dead ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/marketing-lessons-from-the-grateful-dead) [ Case Studies ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/case-studies) [ Marketing ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/marketing) [ Best Practices ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/best-practices) Don't forget to share this post: ## Related Articles [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Bobby%20Weir.jpg?width=1500&height=765&name=Bobby%20Weir.jpg) ### Bobby Weir and the Music that Will Never Stop January 11th, 2026|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/bobby-weir-and-the-music-that-will-never-stop) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Jerry%20MLGD.jpg?width=1477&height=1041&name=Jerry%20MLGD.jpg) ### Why You Should Avoid Hiring Well-Rounded Employees December 8th, 2025|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/why-you-should-avoid-hiring-well-rounded-employees) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Thumb_V2.png?width=1366&height=768&name=Thumb_V2.png) ### AI Book Trailer for Marketing Lessons from the Grateful Dead November 25th, 2025|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/ai-book-trailer-for-marketing-lessons-from-the-grateful-dead) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/MLGD%20pb%20announcement.jpg?width=1900&height=1065&name=MLGD%20pb%20announcement.jpg) ### New Edition of Marketing Lessons from the Grateful Dead! November 21st, 2025|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/new-edition-of-marketing-lessons-from-the-grateful-dead) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/DMS%20Sphere.jpg?width=1500&height=1125&name=DMS%20Sphere.jpg) ### Dead & Company at Sphere Las Vegas July 22nd, 2024|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/dead-company-at-sphere-las-vegas) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Bill%20Walton%20MLGD.jpg?width=803&height=465&name=Bill%20Walton%20MLGD.jpg) ### Shine On, Dream On, Play On Bill Walton May 28th, 2024|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/shine-on-dream-on-play-on-bill-walton) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Barlow.jpg?width=1301&height=746&name=Barlow.jpg) ### Barlow: Living Life as a Modern-Day Renaissance Man Focused on Adventure October 13th, 2023|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/barlow-living-life-as-a-modern-day-renaissance-man-focused-on-adventure) [![View of the Harry Howard Hook & Ladder Company in Port Chester, NY ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Harry%20Howard%20hook%20and%20ladder%20truck.jpg?width=1500&height=934&name=Harry%20Howard%20hook%20and%20ladder%20truck.jpg) ### Port Chester Fire Department: Passionate About the Grateful Dead and the Community November 1st, 2022|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/port-chester-fire-department-passionate-about-the-grateful-dead-and-the-community) [![HubSpot CMO, Kipp Bodnar and Katie Burke, HubSpot's people and communications leader,](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Obama%20INBOUND_2022_OBAMA_BESAKOF-14_63787.jpg?width=1024&height=683&name=Obama%20INBOUND_2022_OBAMA_BESAKOF-14_63787.jpg) ### 'Show Don’t Tell' Makes HubSpot’s INBOUND22 Conference Awesome September 14th, 2022|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/show-dont-tell-inbound22) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/No%20Fun%201.jpg?width=1000&height=750&name=No%20Fun%201.jpg) ### Extreme Fandom December 1st, 2021|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/bob-weir-no-fun-guitar) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/Dead%20and%20Company.jpg) ### Creativity and Seeing Patterns September 9th, 2021|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/creativity-and-seeing-patterns) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/marketing%20wisdom%20from%20Kpop.jpeg) ### What Every Marketer Can Learn From K-Pop March 24th, 2021|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/what-every-marketer-can-learn-from-k-pop) [![IMG_1732](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/IMG_1732.jpeg) ### Fandom Events; Create Exclusive Experiences December 2nd, 2019|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/create-exclusive-experiences-for-your-most-passionate-customers) [![This Is Marketing Seth](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/This%20Is%20Marketing%20Seth.jpg) ### This Is Marketing: You Can't Be Seen Until You Learn to See November 13th, 2018|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/this-is-marketing-you-cant-be-seen-until-you-learn-to-see) [![Wolf and Jerry.jpg](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/Wolf%20and%20Jerry.jpg) ### A Legendary Guitar Goes to a Legendary Marketer June 1st, 2017|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/a-legendary-guitar-goes-to-a-legendary-marketer) [![spicers2.jpg](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/spicers2.jpg) ### World’s Largest Rock Band Is Awesome Community Engagement October 14th, 2016|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/worlds-largest-rock-band-is-awesome-community-engagement) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/board_shorts.jpg) ### What Gift Will You Give Yourself? March 28th, 2016|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/what-gift-will-you-give-yourself) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/Miley_Cyrus.jpg) ### Business lessons from the Brilliant Miley Cyrus December 9th, 2015|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/business-lessons-from-the-brilliant-miley-cyrus) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/Trey_with_book.jpg) ### The Sharing More Than Selling Rule July 14th, 2015|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/the-sharing-more-than-selling-rule) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/Jay_closing_photo.jpg) ### The Grateful Dead Celebrate 50 Years and Say Fare Thee Well to the Tribe July 6th, 2015|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/the-grateful-dead-celebrate-50-years-and-says-fare-the-well-to-the-tribe) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/dead50logo.jpg) ### Make it Free: Fifty Years of Content Marketing Grateful Dead Style July 2nd, 2015|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/make-it-free-fifty-years-of-content-marketing-grateful-dead-style) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/Dead50_Santa_Clara.jpg) ### Team Building Lessons from the Grateful Dead June 29th, 2015|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/team-building-lessons-from-the-grateful-dead) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hub/413105/file-1927542817.jpg) ### Grain Surfboards Builds Success by Following the Grateful Dead October 22nd, 2014|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/grain-surfboards-builds-success-by-following-the-grateful-dead) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1604816917-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e201b7c6caa37d970b-400wi.jpg) ### Giving things away for free to build your network and grow your business August 12th, 2014|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/2014/08/giving-things-away-for-free-to-build-your-network-and-grow-your-business.html) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "David Meerman Scott", "url" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/author/david-meerman-scott" }, "datePublished" : "2011-01-12T15:45:15.000Z", "headline" : "Marketing the Wizarding World of Harry Potter way", "image" : [ "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601510953-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e20147e183cdd7970b-200wi.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/2011/01/marketing-the-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter-way.html", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/_Assets/Logo/david-meerman-scott.png" }, "name" : "David Meerman Scott" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/#person", "@type" : "Person", "description" : "Marketing and sales visionary, international bestselling author of 12 books, keynote speaker in 47 countries, and advisor to emerging companies.", "email" : "mailto:David@DavidMeermanScott.com", "image" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/DMS-Homepage-Featured.jpg", "jobTitle" : [ "Keynote Speaker", "Author", "Business Growth Strategist", "Marketing Advisor" ], "knowsAbout" : [ "Content Marketing", "Fandom Marketing", "Newsjacking", "Real-Time Marketing", "Public Relations", "Sales Strategy", "Business Growth" ], "name" : "David Meerman Scott", "sameAs" : [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Meerman_Scott", "https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmeermanscott", "https://x.com/dmscott", "https://www.instagram.com/dmscott/" ], "url" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/#website", "@type" : "WebSite", "author" : { "@id" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/#person" }, "name" : "David Meerman Scott", "potentialAction" : { "@type" : "SearchAction", "query-input" : "required name=search_term_string", "target" : { "@type" : "EntryPoint", "urlTemplate" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/search?q={search_term_string}" } }, "url" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "David Meerman Scott", "url" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/author/david-meerman-scott" }, "dateCreated" : "2014-09-10T23:05:12", "datePublished" : "2011-01-12T10:45:15-0500", "description" : "", "headline" : "Marketing the Wizarding World of Harry Potter way", "image" : [ "http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/413105/file-1601510953-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e20147e183cdd7970b-200wi.jpg" ], "inLanguage" : "en-us", "keywords" : [ "Marketing Lessons from the Grateful Dead", "Case Studies", "Marketing", "Best Practices" ], "learningResourceType" : "article", "name" : "Marketing the Wizarding World of Harry Potter way", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://413105.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/413105/_Assets/Logo/david-meerman-scott.png" }, "name" : "Freshspot Marketing LLC" }, "timeRequired" : "1 minutes", "url" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/2011/01/marketing-the-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter-way.html" } ```