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Complete Guide to Planning a Trip to Harry Potter Universal Orlando

This page is your complete guide to planning a trip to Harry Potter World in 2024!  You’ll find that there is so much to do in Universal Orlando at Harry Potter World! With incredible restaurants, shops, and attractions that bring you right into the Harry Potter Universe, it truly feels like you’re in another world. For now, guests can enjoy two Universal Studios Harry Potter-themed lands themed after Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade Village.

We hope you find this post helpful! Our goal at The Park Prodigy has always been to help you save time and money on your next Universal Orlando vacation!  If you are planning a trip to Universal Orlando be sure to check out our   discounted multi-day Universal Orlando tickets  and  Universal Orlando vacation package deals   which include  EARLY PARK ADMISSION  to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

So if you’re planning a trip to Universal Studios Harry Potter World  read on!

SPECIAL NOTE: If you need help picking the best time to visit Universal Orlando for your next vacation be sure to check out our Universal crowd calendar!

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Planning a Trip to Harry Potter World at Universal Orlando

While there is so much involved with planning a trip to Harry Potter World , the most important thing is to remember to have fun and feel the magic! And that’s why we have created this guide to the best way to visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter! Including all of our tips and tricks for using Harry Potter early park admission tickets to get on the most popular rides with very little wait!

The Basics of Your Harry Potter Trip:

Universal Orlando captivates Harry Potter fans with magical experiences in both of its parks (and soon be the third park Epic Universe). Universal Studios Florida hosts Diagon Alley, featuring magical shops and the Escape from Gringotts ride. Over at Islands of Adventure, visitors can explore Hogsmeade Village and Hogwarts Castle. Additionally,  a third Harry Potter-themed land at the forthcoming EPIC Universe , potentially themed around the Ministry of Magic. Universal promises a fulfilling adventure for every Potterhead, blending existing enchantments with the anticipation of new attractions.

Choosing Your Universal Park for Harry Potter:

• Universal Studios Florida : Explore Diagon Alley, featuring the Escape from Gringotts ride.
• Islands of Adventure : Wander through Hogsmeade Village and visit Hogwarts Castle.
• Coming Soon : A third Harry Potter-themed land at EPIC Universe, themed around the Ministry of Magic in 2025.

How Many Days Do You Need to Plan at Harry Potter World?

Two days at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter will also allow families to enjoy some of the other experiences such as the Harry Potter interactive wands and all of the fun-themed shops. Taking your time will allow your family to take everything in and bring the magic of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter home. Especially if you’re planning on visiting both Harry Potter-themed lands between the parks!

Related Page: Discount Wizarding World of Harry Potter Tickets

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade

The original and first land of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is Hogsmeade . Hogsmeade is located in Universal Islands of Adventure, and you will want to head right over to this section as soon as the park opens. For the fastest entrance to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is to go to the right as soon as you enter the park and take a left once you hit Seuss Landing.

For fans of the books and movies you will recognize Hogsmeade as the charming town covering in snow, and home to the famous butterbeer! You will also find some of the best attractions, stores, and restaurants in all of Universal Orlando.

You can also find the newest and coolest Harry Potter World attraction in Hogsmeade: Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure which is included with all of our Universal Early Park Admission tickets! 

Related Page: Early Park Admission Universal Tickets

Hogsmeade – Wizarding World of Harry Potter Attractions

In Universal Orlando’s Hogsmeade, part of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, visitors can immerse themselves in magical adventures through several iconic rides:

• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey : Dive into the heart of Hogwarts castle for a unique ride that simulates flying on a broomstick, exploring various scenes from the Harry Potter series. Once the park’s most popular attraction, it’s located inside Hogwarts castle, offering an immersive experience into the Wizarding World.
• Flight of the Hippogriff : A family-friendly roller coaster that provides a fun, albeit brief, experience suitable for all ages. Positioned near the Forbidden Journey and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, it’s a gentle ride with a usually short wait time, perfect for early park visits.
• Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure : Venture into the Forbidden Forest beyond Hogwarts on this exhilarating coaster. Encounter some of the series’ rarest magical creatures on a ride that has swiftly become a fan favorite for its depth of immersion and thrill, turning even the most loyal Disney fans into Universal enthusiasts.
• Hogwarts Express : Essential for park-to-park ticket holders, this train not only offers a unique experience with different scenarios in each direction between Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley but also serves as a rapid transit system connecting the two Harry Potter worlds. Riding the Hogwarts Express is a must for any Harry Potter fan, offering a magical journey complete with views of Platform 9 ¾.

Each attraction offers its own unique slice of the Harry Potter universe, from the spellbinding interior of Hogwarts castle to the whimsical journey aboard the Hogwarts Express, ensuring visitors a magical experience unmatched anywhere else.

Related Page: Complete Guide to all Harry Potter Rides

Guide to Harry Potter World Hogsmeade Shops

In our opinion one of the coolest aspects of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is how much attention to detail went into everything. This couldn’t be more true for the shops located in Hogsmeade as they are right out of the books and movies. Here is a list of the shopping things to do at Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

What are all of the Harry Potter Universal Shops in Hogsmeade?

• Ollivander’s Wand Shop : Step into the place where every wizard and witch finds their perfect wand companion.
• Honeydukes : Satisfy your sweet tooth with magical candies and confections.
• Dervish & Bangs : A must-visit for all your magical souvenirs and themed merchandise.
• Zonko’s Joke Shop : Dive into the whimsical world of wizarding pranks and discover some of the most enchanting merchandise and souvenirs Orlando’s Harry Potter World has to offer.
• Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods : A unique collection of items that tell tales of mischievous Hogwarts students.
• Owl Post : Send your loved ones an official postcard from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and let them in on the magic!

For those venturing into Orlando’s Harry Potter World, these Hogsmeade shops offer a magical immersion unlike any other

Related post:  Our Guide to Hogsmeade Village at Universal Studios

Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade Restaurants 2024

A Universal Orlando Harry Potter land would not be complete without dining options for witches and wizards to try some British fare. Perhaps, you’d even fancy a butterbeer , which comes in many different shapes and sizes throughout the lands. No matter what you’re craving, Hogsmeade has something for you with one of the food carts or restaurants.

What are the Universal Orlando Harry Potter restaurants in Hogsmeade?

The three broomsticks.

• Butterbeer stand
• Fresh fruit and snacks stand

The main restaurant in Hogsmeade offers up a variety of classic British food inspired by the books and movies. The Three Broomsticks serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and begin serving guests around 9:30 AM. This restaurant is a must do whenever we plan a trip to Harry Potter World. 

This bar serves up classic drink choices such as pumpkin juice, butterbeer, and other grown up drinks. One of our best tips is heading to Hog’s Head to get your butterbeer. You’ll typically have a shorter wait than at any of the carts outside!

Butterbeer Stand

You can also grab your favorite butterbeer drink at various stands throughout Hogsmeade. This classic drink comes in two varieties of cold butterbeer and frozen butterbeer!

For a additional information on the restaurants be sure to check out our Complete Guide to Dining at Harry Potter World! 

Diagon Alley at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter 2024

The second land added to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is Diagon Alley (located in Universal Studios). If you are entering from the front of the park walk straight until you hit the Revenge of the Mummy attraction and make a right, then continue until you see the Knight Bus. The area outside of Diagon Alley is themed to fill like London, and you will need to make your way through the brick wall until it opens up as Diagon Alley.

Be prepared especially if you are a die hard Harry Potter fan as the attention to detail is unmatched in Diagon Alley. You will be in the middle of shops and cooked buildings, as well a fire breathing dragon nestled over Gringotts Bank!

Where is Diagon Alley in Universal?

Diagon Alley is located in the back left corner of Universal Studios. Directly to the right of Kings Cross Station and to the left of the Knight bus.

Related post:  The Complete Guide to Hogsmeade vs Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando

Diagon Alley – Wizarding World of Harry Potter Attractions

So now that you have arrived you are probably wondering what are the best things to do at Harry Potter Universal Diagon Alley. As of right now, and besides the Hogwarts express there is only one ride, but it is amazing!

What is the Harry Potter ride Universal has in Diagon Alley?

• Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts

Harry Potter and the Escape of Gringotts

This one of a kind indoor rollercoaster is themed exactly like the Gringotts wizarding bank found in the books and movies. Opening in 2014 it quickly became one of the most popular attractions in Universal Studios . On the downside because it is so popular it tends to have one of the longest wait times in the parks.

That’s why we recommend Early Park Admission to our clients so much! If you take advantage of entering the park one hour earlier than other guests you can ride Harry Potter and the Escape of Gringotts and save time later on in the day!

Be sure to check out our Universal Orlando tickets page to learn how we can help you get EARLY PARK ADMISSION without staying on Universal property!

Related post:  Complete Guide to Knockturn Alley at Universal Orlando

Guide to Harry Potter World Diagon Alley Shops 2024

Although we don’t like to pick favorites, the shops in Diagon Alley are simply magical. The attention to detail that went into not only the inside of the buildings but the outside is amazing. There is also a secret for those looking in the shadows, perhaps where Death Eaters may dwell in Knockturn Alley . Guests can find this section of Diagon Alley by following signs, or even looking for the spooky, dark streets that lead there.

• Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes : A must-visit for novelty gifts, magic jokes, and pranks, with Professor Umbridge amusingly featured.
• Ollivander’s Wand Shop : Offers a magical wand selection experience in two locations, essential for every witch or wizard.
• Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions : Find all your favorite Harry Potter house apparel for a complete wizarding look.
• Quality Quidditch Supplies : The ultimate destination for Quidditch fans, offering gear, brooms, and team jerseys.
• Sugarplum’s Sweet Shop : A delightful candy shop offering whimsical and enchanting treats from the Harry Potter series.
• Magical Menagerie Shop : Adopt your own magical creature from a selection of mystical pets.
• Shutterbuttons : Create moving picture photos to capture magical memories in Diagon Alley.
• Gringotts Money Exchange : Exchange Muggle money for Wizarding currency to spend within the Wizarding World.
• Borgin & Burkes : Located in Knockturn Alley, this shop specializes in dark artifacts and sinister tales from the wizarding world.

Each shop provides a unique piece of the Harry Potter universe, from interactive experiences to memorable souvenirs

Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley Restaurants 2024

Diagon Alley offers an enchanting dining experience with a mix of one main restaurant and various smaller stalls for quick bites, all inspired by J.K. Rowling’s magical universe.

Main Dining:

• The Leaky Cauldron : The centerpiece of Diagon Alley dining, this restaurant serves traditional British fare reminiscent of the Harry Potter series. It offers breakfast until 10:30 AM, and lunch and dinner with a menu that blends comfort food with magical touches. A visit here provides an immersive experience into the wizarding world’s ambiance and flavors.

Treats and Snacks:

• Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlor : A favorite for unique ice cream flavors inspired by the Harry Potter books, including Salted Caramel Blondie, Sticky Toffee Pudding, Chocolate Chili, and, of course, Butterbeer ice cream.
• The Fountain of Fair Fortune : For a quick drink, this cart offers a selection of beverages, including pumpkin juice, butterbeer, and options for adults.

Related post:  Complete Guide to Dining at Harry Potter World

What Tickets to Buy for Harry Potter World in 2024

It is important to know if you’re planning a trip to Harry Potter World , access to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is included with any valid Universal Orlando ticket. It is important to know that, if you purchase a one day ticket ticket to Universal Studios, then your entry to Diagon Alley will be included in that ticket. If you purchase a one day ticket to Islands of Adventure, your entry to Hogsmeade will be included in that ticket.

If you want to visit both parks in the same trip, consider buying a park-to-park ticket to Universal Orlando .

What Universal ticket will I need when doing both Harry Potter Worlds on the same day?

The only ticket that will allow guests to visit both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade in the same day is the Universal Orlando park-to-park ticket. It’s important to note that this is also the only ticket which will allow guests to ride the Hogwarts express!

It’s important to note that if you are looking for the least expensive tickets will allow you to visit one theme park per day. We suggest asking these questions when deciding which ticket is the best fit for your family. Do you plan on going and exploring the other rides at each Universal theme park? If so, then you will have plenty to do while visiting one park per day. Or do you plan on spending all of your time in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter ? If so, you might be better off purchasing a Universal park-to-park ticket so you can explore both Harry Potter World lands.

Related post:   How Much Should I Budget for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter?

Planning a Harry Potter Trip FAQ

Q: Do you need park-to-park tickets for Harry Potter?

A: Very simply, if you want to ride every single Harry Potter ride at Universal Orlando yes. The reason being is the park-to-park ticket is required in order to ride the Hogwarts express between the two parks.

Q: Which Universal park is best for Harry Potter?

A: That depends on what you’re looking for when it comes to the Harry Potter universe. If you want to visit Hogwarts, then you have to visit the Universal Studios Harry Potter World in Islands of Adventure. If you want to go into the mines of Gringotts or see a fire breathing dragon, you’ll have to head to the Universal Studios Florida Harry Potter land.

When Is The Best Time To Visit Universal Orlando?

Our   Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar   is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We breakdown the park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices by day, and average temperature.

Are You Ready to Plan Your Next Universal Orlando Trip?

If you are planning a trip to Universal Orlando be sure to check out our   discounted multi-day Universal Orlando tickets  and  Universal Orlando vacation package deals  which include  EARLY PARK ADMISSION  to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

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Michael Belmont

Michael Belmont is the owner at Theparkprodigy.com, an authorized Disney and Universal travel agent. He specializes in Disney and Universal theme park tickets and vacation packages, as well as daily park plans to help optimize vacation time. Michael and The Park Prodigy have been featured on ABC’s Florida affiliate, WTFV, as well as over 10 Disney focused blogs. As owner, Michael manages The Park Prodigy blog and social media, a Disney themed podcast, and a Disney and Universal focused YouTube channel. Prior to starting The Park Prodigy, Michael was a long time Disney and Universal enthusiast, frequent visitor of the parks, and even served as a Walt Disney World Cast Member in Orlando, Florida!

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Complete Guide to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando

The Harry Potter worlds at Universal Orlando make you feel like you’re an incoming student at Hogwarts who is seeing the town, castle, and shops for the very first time. Exploring the Wizarding World of Harry Potter will leave you with a sense of déjà vu — buildings, pubs, and streets are identical to what they were in the movies, making you feel like you’ve been there before.

These highly-themed areas rank at the very top of our list of the best destinations for Harry Potter fans because they fully immerse you in the books and movies we all love. So read on for our complete guide to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando. We’ll take you through each of the Universal Orlando Harry Potter worlds — their rides, experiences, dining, and more — so you can plan ahead and make your vacation as special as possible.

Prefer to Speak With Someone? Get Free Help From Our Favorite Universal Travel Agent!

In This Article:

• Where is Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter?

Rides in Hogsmeade

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Going to the Harry Potter worlds/lands at Universal is the highlight of our family visit to the resort almost every time we go. And that’s really saying something considering we plan to visit Universal a few times each year! As a family, we’ve read all the books together and seen the movies. There is something so magical about the story and Universal found a way to bring that magic to life in a way that you must see to believe.

Where is Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter?

The Harry Potter themed worlds are located within Universal’s major theme parks — Harry Potter is not a separate theme park at Universal, and it’s not part of Disney World .

Universal has two main theme parks: Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios . A third park, Epic Universe , is under construction and due to open sometime in 2025. Each of these parks has a Harry Potter component.

• Hogsmeade — Islands of Adventure
• Diagon Alley — Universal Studios Florida
• Ministry of Magic — Epic Universe ( opening 2025 )

Each experience is different, so I don’t recommend limiting yourself to just one when you go to Universal Orlando. Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley have a huge variety of rides, experiences, and food to enjoy, so I am going to make sure I cover it all so you can plan your trip with as much knowledge as possible.

Let’s begin with the original Harry Potter themed land, Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure!

Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure

Hogsmeade is my favorite of the two Harry Potter worlds currently open at Universal. Between the sweeping views of Hogwarts castle, the world-famous rides , and the Three Broomsticks, this world has it all.

Hogsmeade was built in 2010 and was the first Wizarding World of Harry Potter developed in Universal Orlando. The resort worked hand in hand with J.K. Rowling and filmmakers to make sure that the world of Harry Potter came to life in the most realistic way possible.

The original development of the park was a pioneering move in the realm of creating immersive environments, and you can definitely understand why when you walk around the Hogsmeade and try the rides. The world is centered around Hogwarts castle, which still takes my breath away every time I walk into the park.

The park combines adventure, excitement, and magic in a surreal, immersive experience. If you haven’t been before, you might think that to enjoy Hogsmeade you’ll have to take some time away from the thrill rides of Islands of Adventure. Thankfully that’s not the case!

Hogsmeade has some amazing rides for you and your family to try when you visit — so to my dads out there, make sure you don’t drink too much butterbeer right at the start!

Hogsmeade has great rides spread out throughout the land, and it even has one of the most highly-rated roller coasters in the world. The Harry Potter rides here are:

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

• Hagrid’s Magical Creature Motorbike Adventure

Flight of the Hippogriff

Hogwarts express.

These rides combine the unbelievable surroundings of the castle and town of Hogsmeade, life-like interactions and visuals, and great storytelling to curate an interactive theme park experience that you will never forget.

This ride is not a typical roller coaster. A combination of a twisting/turning track, along with robot arm mounted vehicles, makes you feel like you are completely immersed in the Harry Potter Universe. Forbidden Journey has incredibly high-quality special effects that really help seal the illusion.

On the ride you flash around Hogwarts and you get to see a bit of every part of the castle grounds. Last time my son and I were on it, I remember seeing the Whomping Willow, flying directly through a Quidditch match, zooming through the forbidden forest, and more.

You get to see all the parts of the castle grounds that you will remember from the movie. I’ve heard the ride called a “Harry Potter highlight reel,” and I don’t disagree!

In terms of roller coaster thrill, this ride is definitely in between Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure and the Flight of the Hippogriff, but I’d still say that this ride is great for kids of all ages as long as they meet the height requirement .

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure

The ride is a journey from start to finish. The story starts while you are waiting in line, where you can see bits of Hagrid’s work as he has cared for hundreds of magical creatures throughout the years. There are writings on the walls from past Hogwarts students and even parts of Hagrid’s nursery to be seen.

Once you get closer to the start of the ride, you can begin to hear the sound of a motorbike revving. I have ridden tons of roller coasters in my life, but that sound gets my heart pumping every time with excitement as I wait for the ride to begin.

After you sit down on your motorbike/sidecar and ride begins, you are fired out of the landing bay. Immediately you start flying through the sky, passing the rooftops of Hogsmeade, zooming around parts of the castle, past a lake, and then toward the Forbidden Forest. You really feel like you’re on Hagrid’s motorbike!

It truly is a must-try when you’re in Universal Orlando. One thing to keep in mind is that this ride often has the longest lines in Hogsmeade, and sometimes even in all of Islands of Adventure. So plan ahead when you want to visit to come during a busier time because the ride is excluded from Universal’s Express Pass because of its popularity!

After Hagrid’s, the Flight of the Hippogriff is a way to take a calmer flight around the grounds of Hogwarts. The ride is definitely on the shorter side and isn’t as fast as Hagrid’s, so it’s a great ride for younger kids !

In the line for the ride you can see an interpretation of Hagrid’s home, including the pumpkin patch, his hut, and more. As the name hints, the ride is supposed to mimic flying on a hippogriff’s back around Hogwarts castle. Just like when Harry rode Buckbeak in the Prisoner of Azkaban , you will be soaring through the grounds, in between buildings, and enjoying some of the amazing views.

There are a few really fun drops and turns, but I do have to admit that the ride is a little short and sweet for my liking.

Again, while this isn’t the most thrilling ride in the park, it still has some great views and is particularly good for kids.

You will remember from the Harry Potter books that the Hogwarts Express is the train that takes the students to and from Hogwarts. And thanks to the magic of Universal, you and your family can ride it! The Hogwarts Express is a unique attraction in that it is both a themed entertainment ride and a practical form of transportation.

Hogwarts Express serves as a way to get between the Harry Potter areas in Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida. It’s really the best way to connect between Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. Because the attraction takes you from one theme park to another, you must have the Park-to-Park pass to ride it. I absolutely recommend getting this pass — not only for the chance to ride the Hogwarts Express, but also because it gives significantly more mobility for your day in Universal at only a slightly higher price point.

We love to dedicate a whole day to just Harry Potter and we always get the Park-to-Park pass to do that. We normally start the day in Hogsmeade and then hop on the Hogwarts Express to Diagon Alley in the afternoon.

The Hogwarts Express itself is a special ride, and while on the surface it may appear a bit simple, it’s one of my favorite rides at Universal .

When you board the train in Hogsmeade, you will be traveling toward London’s Kings Cross station. The train journey itself uses life-like visual effects that tell a story around your car as you move. You’ll see some impressive scenery and a few Harry Potter characters through the (video) windows of the train. Meanwhile, shadows of others walking in the train’s corridors will pass by the frosted glass windows of your compartment. The train cars are practically identical to how they were portrayed in the movies, so you’re going to feel as if you just stepped into the movies and novels that you’ve loved for decades.

Tip: Make sure to ride the train in both directions — it’s a different experience each way!

Ollivanders Wand Shop

Getting your own wand is a truly magical experience that makes you feel like you’re an incoming first year student at Hogwarts. When my family and I went to Ollivanders , my wife and I didn’t get wands but Ben went through the entire experience, smiling ear to ear the whole time.

Small groups are ushered into the shop and one lucky witch or wizard is selected by the Wandkeeper to participate in an interactive presentation. Of course, pairing the wand with the wizard can be tricky — it doesn’t always go quite right the first or second time.

Luckily, the Wandkeeper is an expert and everything always seems to work out in the end. (Frugal wizards will be pleased to learn that you’re not obligated to purchase the wand, even if you’re chosen to participate).

Everyone then makes their way into a separate sales area to view their own wand options in a more traditional “retail” environment.

Note: if you’ll allow me to step “outside of the magic” for just a moment here — there are Ollivanders wand shops in both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. While Ollivanders at Hogsmeade is probably the most intimate and movie-accurate of the Ollivanders experiences, it’s not necessarily the most practical due to the cramped size of the shop. If you’re going with a larger group, are visiting during peak season, or are simply interested in shopping for a wand, I’d suggest opting for the experience at Diagon Alley / Universal Studios instead. You’ll likely have less of a wait (if any), and a bit more breathing room.

The Frog Choir is a great way to take a break from the rides and enjoy a good show. The performance lasts about 10 minutes, so it won’t take up too much of your time while you’re in the park. I’ve seen the show a few times, and I’ll admit that once you have stood and watched it once or twice, that’s usually enough (though I don’t mind sort of bopping along as I pass by).

You’ll get to hear some great songs inspired by Harry Potter, performed in a catchy a cappella style. The highlight of the performance is Something Wicked This Way Comes , as featured in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban .

It’s a great way to see a moment from the Harry Potter books brought to life. Although, the show itself is tough to compare to any of the world class rides that are right next door.

I’d say that the Frog Choir is particularly good for kids who will find the extra magic in the experience by thinking back to seeing the choir’s performance in the Harry Potter movies.

This show happens several times a day in Hogsmeade, so check the app or ask a Team Member when you should stop by!

Triwizard Spirit Rally

The Triwizard Spirit Rally alternates throughout the day with the Frog Choir, so if you stick around by the stage in Hogsmeade you can see one show after the other! Like the Frog Choir, this is a quick show — a bit under ten minutes — that will put a smile on your face. The show features the different schools that visited Hogwarts for the Triwizard tournament in the Goblet of Fire .

You will get to see the Beauxbatons students spinning and dancing as the Durmstrang students show off their martial arts staff skills, just like in the movie when the schools enter the Great Hall for the first time.

I prefer this show to the Frog choir just because there is a bit more action, and my kids agree!

Because these shows alternate several times a day on the same stage, I wouldn’t worry about planning ahead to see them. You will likely just pass by them at some point while you are in the park!

Nighttime Lights

Depending on the time of year, you might be able to catch a Nighttime lights show at Hogwarts Castle. Unfortunately, there is no set published schedule for these shows, but they always occur after dark at Hogwarts Castle. Keep an eye on the Universal website when it gets close to your vacation date, because they will start to update show times a few days in advance of when they occur.

Universal originally started this light show as a part of their Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter program, but the show can also happen on select dates throughout the entirety of the year, usually during peak periods. The show lights up Hogwarts castle with brilliant displays on its walls along with lights in the sky. The light show tells a story, and without giving away too many details, you will see some of your favorite moments from Harry Potter.

The show has the feel of a fireworks display, but instead of just fireworks it has amazing graphics, music, and more. Although, the show still typically ends with a few fireworks for good measure!

This certainly isn’t something to plan your entire vacation around, but once you plan your trip keep an eye on Universal’s schedule so you can catch a show once you are there.

There are two main places to dine in Hogsmeade: the Hog’s Head or the Three Broomsticks. If these names sound familiar, it’s because both of these taverns are faithful recreations from the Harry Potter books!

Three Broomsticks

The Three Broomsticks is my favorite place to eat during my Harry Potter themed day. I remember the tavern very clearly from the movies, so it was a surreal experience to walk into a building I had never been in before, but felt like I had been there dozens of times. Once I was in, I could order a Butterbeer just like Harry, Ron, and Hermione did when they were students at Hogwarts.

Image © Universal

One of the main reasons I love coming to the Three Broomsticks is it saves our family a bit of money, while giving us a great experience at the same time. Feeding a family of four at Universal can get expensive and the Three Broomsticks is definitely more cost-effective than the average restaurant in Universal Orlando.

One thing that really surprised me when I went is that Butterbeer is actually good!

The flavor of this non-alcoholic drink is really hard to describe — Universal says it’s “reminiscent of shortbread and butterscotch” — but my kids and I both loved it. The tavern also has some great salads, pies, desserts, and more so you and your family can have a full lunch or dinner here after some rides.

Hog’s Head

Hog’s Head is in the back of the Three Broomsticks, and it is definitely more of a bar than a restaurant. Although it’s technically a bar, it’s still very family friendly. Parents could grab a beer or a glass of wine while the kids enjoy some classic drinks from Harry Potter such as Pumpkin Juice or Butterbeer.

Between drinks, snacks, and meals, there is plenty available to spend your entire day in Hogsmeade, or in both Harry Potter worlds with a park-to-park pass (which is what I would recommend).

Get Free Help Planning Your Trip to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

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Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida

Diagon Alley

Diagon Alley opened in 2014 at Universal Studios Florida, just a few years after Hogsmeade had opened at Islands of Adventure. Diagon Alley expands the Harry Potter experience at Universal Orlando Resort by adding locations such as Gringotts, the Leaky Cauldron, and Knockturn Alley.

To reach Diagon Alley, you’ll first head to the London section of Universal Studios, passing by well known Wizarding World landmarks such as King’s Cross Station and 12 Grimmauld Place. From there, look for the opening in the giant brick wall and head inside. Diagon Alley is well-hidden from mere Muggles — you’ll have to really look for it!

Diagon Alley has fewer rides than Hogsmeade, but the quality certainly makes up for the lower quantity!

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is a thrill ride that incorporates surreal special effects, amazing designs, and a killer roller coaster to make one of the best rides in the park .

My daughter Ava was too young to ride this one the last time I was in Diagon Alley, so I went with Ben to give it a try. It was his first time on Escape From Gringotts and I think he was more impressed with this ride than any other in the park. He saw the Harry Potter films recently so he clearly remembered the scene when Harry, Ron, and Hermione try to steal the Sword of Gryffindor from Bellatrix Lestrange’s vault.

Like many of the other rides in Universal, the experience for Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts really begins while you are still in line. When you are waiting in line, you are standing in an exact replica of the Gringotts main hall. And when I say exact, I really mean exact! The lobby is identical to what you see in the movie when Harry, Ron, and Hermione are walking down the line of goblins to the main teller so they can try to bluff their way into the vaults.

The grand hallway is filled with animated goblins counting coins, taking notes, and suspiciously starting you down as you walk along — and they are just the first of many life-like animations you will see along the way. Once you get to the end of the hallway, the head teller will sometimes talk to you and instruct you where to go next as you make your way to the start of the ride. They might even “pull you aside” and have you take a security ID photo using a retro film camera.

Once the ride is about to start you put on your 3D goggles and take a seat in the carriages which are reminiscent of those in the film. Right at the start of the ride you have some quick turns and big drops, and then all of a sudden the ride will stop and you will be met with a super high definition screen.

As you continue on with the ride you will see real-life holograms of Ron, Hermione, and Harry as you all run from the dragon together. Its really hard to appreciate just how similar it is to what we have all seen on the screen without trying it yourself. This is a must try if you are going to the Harry Potter worlds throughout Universal.

As mentioned earlier in this article, the Hogwarts Express travels back and forth between Diagon Alley at Universal Studios and Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure.

Here on the Diagon Alley side, you’ll actually need to make your way back out of the brick walls and onto the streets of “London” to enter King’s Cross station. There, you’ll be able to spot fellow travelers actually walking through the brick wall (thanks to a clever Pepper’s Ghost illusion) to reach Platform 9¾.

You’ll pass through too, and then hop aboard the train.

On your journey to Hogwarts, you’ll spot soaring owls and perhaps a flying motorbike just outside the “window” of your train. As the streets of London give way to the countryside, you’ll truly feel that you’re on your way to your first year at Hogwarts. Just watch out for Dementors!

The scenery on this journey is different from the trip going the other direction, so make sure to ride the train both ways!

And remember — you’ll need a Park-to-Park pass because you’re traveling between theme parks. It’s a worthy purchase because it lets you try Hagrid’s Magical Creature Motorbike Adventure, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, Flight of the Hippogriff, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and more — all in the same day! Also keep in mind, the rides in the Harry Potter world are only a small part of the total experience of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando, and there is so much more to enjoy while you are there!

Diagon Alley may be a bit short on rides, but it’s certainly not lacking for experiences. There’s so much to see and do in the way of live entertainment and interactive activities, that this is a fantastic place to simply while away a few hours. Heck, I could spend all day in here and never really get bored! The fire-breathing dragon alone is worth starting at for quite some time!

Knockturn Alley

This sketchy side street is where dirty deeds get done in the Wizarding World. It’s always nighttime inside this covered (and air-conditioned!) walkway, so it’s a huge relief from the blazing Florida heat .

Stop in at Borgin and Burkes to marvel at the oddities assembled there, and perhaps make your own Dark Arts purchase. If you’re buying an interactive wand , you’ll also find some spell locations here. Some of them are even “secret” spells, but they’ll show up in glow-in-the-dark ink on your wand map. And you can always be on the lookout for medallions embedded in the ground, showing you the correct wand maneuvers.

Knockturn Alley is well-hidden. The primary entrance is a tunnel alongside a towering stack of cauldrons just to the right of the Leaky Cauldron restaurant. Another entrance is located to the left of Diagon Alley’s restrooms, directly underneath a giant window full of chandeliers.

Ollivanders

Just like in Hogsmeade, you can walk into Ollivanders at Diagon Alley to get a personalized wand from the Master Wand Craftsman himself. The overall feel of this shop is the same as in Hogsmeade so I won’t rehash all of the details again (if you missed the section on Ollivanders, scroll up and you can read more about it under the Hogsmeade Experiences section). This location does, however, have a higher capacity than the Hogsmeade version, and I find it is a bit more leisurely of an experience, especially if you really want to take the time to “shop” for your wand.

You might remember the Knight Bus as the slim, double decker bus that Harry rides, speeding through London traffic and bending time along the way. Located just outside Diagon Alley on the streets of London, the Knight Bus here is just a prop. So while you won’t get to ride it, it’s still cool to peek inside and perhaps take a photo. You will get to see the little shrunken head hanging at the front of the bus, the cots, and even a chandelier. While it’s definitely not the main attraction in the park, it’s another cool way that Universal brings the magic of Harry Potter to life!

Gringotts Money Exchange

While you are in Gringotts you can actually interact with the Goblins, and this is something my youngest, Ava, was able to get involved in. You can exchange real money for Gringotts money when you speak with the bank tellers.

For all the parents out there, I know that the idea of trading real money for fake money is not the most exciting concept. But thankfully, the Gringotts money can be used for purchases all throughout Diagon Alley! So, you can take your Galleons and purchase a wand, some Hogwarts merchandise, candy, and more.

Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees

Like in Hogsmeade, you can see two shows while in Diagon Alley. The first is a singing production that performs wizard-themed songs. Celestina Warbeck doesn’t actually “appear” in the original books, but she’s certainly mentioned a few times throughout. Universal claims that this group is Molly Weasley’s favorite band, so there you go!

You will get to hear performances of “never-before-heard” songs such as ‘A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love’, ‘You Charmed the Heart Right Out of Me’, and ‘You Stole My Cauldron But You Can’t Have My Heart’. The performance really adds to the atmosphere of Diagon Alley and is a great way to take a break from the rides and shops.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard

The Tales of Beedle the Bard is where Harry and his friends first learn about the Deathly Hallows in the book series. In Diagon Alley, you will have a chance to watch these stories performed live on a stage in Universal Studios. The actors use props, puppets, and great sets to bring the story to life. This event is great for kids of all ages, and like the singing performance, is a great way to relax for a bit in between rides and other experiences.

Leaky Cauldron

Jaimie and I love to grab food at the Leaky Cauldron when we’re in Diagon Alley, and it is definitely our favorite place to eat in the park.

This restaurant in Diagon Alley may look run down and old (as it was designed to be), but the food is great. You can get food here all day, and generally it’s good pub food that you would expect to be able to get in any bar in London. For example, last time I went I ordered a Beef, Lamb & Guinness Stew and a Butterbeer. The Leaky Cauldron is also reasonably priced so you won’t have to spend too many Galleons to visit!

Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour

Wizard and Muggle worlds combine with Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour, where you can get a classic scoop or soft-served swirl of ice cream. Flavors range from the mundane to some great Harry Potter themed flavors. Depending on the menu-of-the-moment, you might find flavors such as:

• Granny Smith
• Earl Grey and Lavender
• Chocolate Chili
• Sticky Toffee Pudding
• Salted Caramel Blondie
• Chocolate and Raspberry
• Orange Marmalade

Get it in a waffle cone or opt for the souvenir glass. You can also get refreshments like Pumpkin juice, teas, ciders, and more.

Eternelle’s Elixir of Refreshment

One great thing about Diagon Alley is that you will have no shortage of dining experiences. Eternelle’s is a small beverage stand where you can purchase a variety of ‘potions’ and ‘elixirs’. While these drinks look like potions, they still taste great and they make you feel like you are in Snape’s potion class drinking something mysterious that was just made for you. A few of the elixirs you can try may include:

• Fire Protection Potion
• Babbling Beverage
• Draught of Peace
• Elixir to Induce Euphoria

The Fountain of Fair Fortune

The Fountain of Fair Fortune was named after one of the tales in the Tales of Beedle the Bard. Here you can get drinks like Frozen Butterbeer, Pumpkin Juice, Butterbeer, Gillywater, and more. There’s also an extremely limited snack menu (mainly bags of chips and some soft-serve ice cream).

The Hopping Pot

Like the Fountain of Fair Fortune, The Hopping Pot is a quick service location with beverages and snacks. You can get all the same drinks as the Fountain of Fair Fortune and more, including Otter’s Fizzy Orange Juice, Peachtree Fizzing Tea, Fishy Green Ale, and more. The snack menu is also a bit more robust than Fountain of Fair Fortune’s, with the addition of several “pasties” (hand pies) such as Shepherd’s Pie, beef, or chicken.

Accio Vacation! Start Planning Your Trip Today

Universal’s Epic Universe is Universal’s third major theme park, currently under construction and scheduled to open sometime in the 2025. We’re still awaiting most of the major details about the park, but we do know for certain that it will be home to a third Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

This section of the park will include nods to the 1920s Paris setting of the Fantastic Beasts books/films, along with elements of the Ministry of Magic. Universal hasn’t officially released any ride details, but it’s widely believed that you’ll go on an immersive adventure within the walls of the Ministry of Magic .

It’s a safe bet there will also be plenty of live entertainment (possibly a dedicated stage show), tempting food, and of course shopping to be found.

Is it worth delaying your trip to Universal to wait for Epic Universe to open? Probably not. There are already two amazing Harry Potter Worlds at Universal — you can enjoy them right away and save Epic Universe a later visit!

Want a Heads Up When Epic Universe is Ready To Book?

Universal Orlando’s Harry Potter worlds are some of my favorite parts of the entire resort. Both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley are unique and fun experiences, and these two areas alone are worth a trip to Universal Orlando. And I can’t wait to see how the new addition at Epic Universe turns out!

People have varying opinions about which Harry Potter World is their favorite, but I always say that when you visit you need to see both. Getting the Park-to-Park pass ensures that you can see all the best sights, rides, and experiences in both parks, and it allows you to ride the Hogwarts Express which is one of my favorite parts of the resort.

Even if you aren’t a Harry Potter fan, you must visit these themed areas when you are in Universal. Although, if you haven’t seen any of the movies yet, I’d recommend watching a few before you go because it will make the visit that much more special!

Ready to book your trip? You don’t need a flying Ford Anglia, a handful of Floo Powder, or the Hogwarts Express — all you need is  The Vacationeer !

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Your BEST Wizarding World of Harry Potter Itinerary (How to Do it in a Day)

Are you looking for the best Wizarding World of Harry Potter itinerary for your upcoming trip?

Witches and wizards, if you’re heading to Universal Orlando Resort to brush up on your magic and be immersed in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, then look no further.

From Diagon Alley and the darker Knockturn Alley to Hogsmeade I’m covering everything you need to do if you only have one day at the two Universal theme parks.

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY  DISCLOSURE  FOR MORE INFO.  Which means if you click on certain links, I may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you.

Morning: Start at Hogsmeade (Universal’s Islands of Adventure)

To start, you’re going to want to ensure that you have a ticket that allows you to go to both theme parks in one day because the train from Platform 9 3/4 will leave without you if you don’t have a ticket.

The first thing you should do after getting to Universal Orlando Resort is head straight for Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

This is where you’ll find The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hogsmeade.

Here there are three attractions, and the Hogwarts Express that will take you between the two Harry Potter-themed lands at Universal Orlando Resort.

Ride Hagrid’s Magical Creature Motorbike Adventure

To start, hop on the newest Harry Potter attraction, Hagrid’s Magical Creature Motorbike Adventure.

The thrilling rollercoaster takes you on a tour of the Forbidden Forest with Hagrid as your guide.

Throughout the ride you’ll spot plenty of magical creatures like Hippogriffs, unicorns, and centaurs.

The line for this attraction does get long very quickly , so getting here right when the park opens is the best bet for the shortest wait time.

Cheat Sheet: Universal Orlando Resort Height Requirements (2024 Guide)

Visit Hogwarts Castle then Ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

After whizzing through the forest, take a tour of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry before getting on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.

This high-flying attraction takes you through the school to iconic moments from the movies like a quidditch match, through the Forbidden Forest, and coming face-to-face with the villains from the movies.

One thing to note about this attraction: if you have any sort of motion sickness you definitely should not ride .

You can still go through the queue if you’re traveling with friends or family to see the moving photos and the precise detail of the castle, then exit just before boarding.

Ride Flight of the Hippogriff

By now it should be close to 11:00 a.m. If you’re traveling with smaller kids then hop on Flight of the Hippogriff, which is a family-friendly roller coaster just in view of Hogwarts Castle.

The coaster is short but has a few fun drops that kids will like.

Top 10 Fun Things to Do at Universal Orlando for Adults (2024)

Relax and Explore The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hogsmeade

If you’re traveling solo, make your way through the shops, listen to the Hogwarts Frog Choir, and explore the storefronts to see what types of goodies are available to pick up later.

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Afternoon: Take the Hogwarts Express Train to Diagon Alley (Universal Studios Florida)

Hop onboard the Hogwarts Express to Universal Studios Florida and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley.

Here, you’ll find one attraction, plenty of shops, our favorite ice cream shop, and a decent spot for lunch.

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Have Lunch at the Leaky Cauldron

Once you’ve gotten off the train make your way to the Leaky Cauldron. This is themed after the pub and inn of the same name from the Harry Potter series.

The casual eatery is serving up British staples like fish and chips, Shepard’s pie, and more.

After ordering, you’ll be taken to a table and just a few minutes later your food will show up. Take time to really enjoy your lunch because you’re only halfway through the day.

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Shop at Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes

After lunch, take a gander around some of the shops in Diagon Alley.

One of my favorites is Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, which looks exactly like it did in the movie, complete with moving toys and an adorable entryway.

Take a Stroll Down Knockturn Alley

Be sure to make your way to the dimly lit Knockturn Alley, where you may come face-to-face with a Death Eater, or you can buy a curious dark relic from Borgin and Burkes.

Ride Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts

When you’re done browning around, get in line for the premier attraction in this area, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts.

The 3-D roller coaster attraction takes you through the depths of the wizard bank before trying to break free due to the presence of Voldemort and his motley band of Death Eaters.

In the process, you’ll also attempt to free the dragon that’s been held in the bank’s basement for years.

5 BEST Attractions at Islands of Adventure for Solo Travelers

Tour London

Make your way through the winding streets of Diagon Alley and out to London.

This is where the immersiveness of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter somewhat ends because you can see other parts of Universal Studios Florida .

However, you’ll want to step out to see the Knight Bus and say hello to Kreecher the house elf.

You can find the Knight Bus just outside the station for the Hogwarts Express, and Kreecher peers through the window of Number 12 Grimmauld Place every few minutes.

AVOID the Universal Orlando Wait Times with Express Pass: Is it worth it in 2024?

Enjoy a Harry Potter Sweet Treat

After seeing London, make your way back to Diagon Alley for an ice cream cone at Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour.

Here you can get just about any flavor you can think of as either hard-pack ice cream or soft-serve ice cream.

My favorites are butterbeer, sticky toffee pudding, and earl grey and lavender.

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Explore the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley

This is your time to enjoy the wonderful shops, visit Ollivander to possibly be chosen for a wand, watch the Tales of Beedle the Bard, and listen to Celestina Warbeck!

5 BEST Wizarding World of Harry Potter Rides (Ranked for 2024)

Evening: Hop on the Train and Go Back to Hogwarts (Islands of Adventure)

As the sun sets, get back on the Hogwarts Express and make your way back to Hogsmeade.

Depending on the line, the train can take a long time in the evening, but it’s worth it because the theme of the ride is different going both directions, and you’ll want to experience both.

Eat at the Three Broomsticks

Once in Hogsmeade, grab a snack at the Three Broomsticks or a drink at the Hog’s Head Pub.

If you want the real Harry Potter experience , you’ll dine at the Three Broomsticks then get a butterbeer from one of the many carts around the area.

Watch the Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle (Temporarily Postponed)

When darkness falls, be sure to get close to Hogwarts Castle so you can watch The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle.

The projection show is filled with favorite Harry Potter characters, exciting music, and school house pride.

This really is the best way to end your day at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

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3 Pro Tips for Your Wizarding World of Harry Potter Itinerary

Now that you have your own personalize Wizard World of Harry Potter Itinerary, let’s go through a few tips for your trip.

1. Skip Ollivanders

If you really want a wizard wand, consider getting it from one of the merchandise carts versus going to Ollivanders.

Adults are rarely chosen to take part in the show, and the line to get in here can be very long.

Read NEXT: 7 AMAZING Things I Can’t Wait to Do at Universal Epic Universe in 2025!

2. Try ALL the Butterbeer!

Butterbeer comes in a variety of items, from frozen and hot beverages, fudge and ice cream. Be sure to try them all before leaving the park.

3. Dress Like a Hogwarts Student

Wearing those wizarding robes always look fun, especially since you can show off your house colors, but they are incredibly hot.

A better way to show off your house pride is to dress in those colors in a more theme-park-friendly way, like a t-shirt and comfortable shorts.

For a no obligation, FREE Universal Vacation Quote, you can fill out the form with  The Park Prodigy by Clicking HERE!

My Final Thoughts on Your Wizarding World of Harry Potter Itinerary

And there you have it!

I hope you enjoyed this full touring plan for your next Wizarding World of Harry Potter adventure.

Do you think this Wizarding World of Harry Potter itinerary is doable in only one day? Did I leave something out? Leave your comment below!

Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!

About the Author

Megan is a theme park expert and frequent traveler to magical places. She covers all things Disney and Universal and runs marathons for fun.

She thinks you can tell a lot about someone by the name of their signature lipstick, and hers is NARS Dragon Girl.

UP NEXT: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Guide YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU NEEDED

(Original Article Date: January 10, 2022/Updated by Editor on February 23, 2024)

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First Time Tips for Visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

EDITOR’S NOTE: This blog was originally published in April of 2021 and then underwent extensive updates and editing in August of 2023 to remain current and relevant.

You’re heading to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter !

I remember the first time I knew I was going to be able to go to Hogwarts and try a Butterbeer just like Harry Potter. I was overflowing with excitement, which only increased ten-fold when I found myself finally walking under the arches into Hogsmeade village. I’m pretty sure I stood there for a good chunk of time staring and taking it all in before finally making a mad dash to get everything done in a matter of hours.

Planning on how best to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter for the first time can be daunting. With two lands that span across two theme parks — Hogsmeade in Universal Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida — and tons of things to do, eat, drink, and see in each, you can easily find yourself missing out on some of the incredible details and experiences.

Here’s a list of planning tips and can’t-miss experiences you’ll want to check out before your upcoming visit to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort .

Don’t Try Doing It All in One Day

If you have one day to spend in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter , you can get the majority of things done, while enjoying the rest of the theme park attractions. But, if you truly want to get the full wizarding world experience without feeling rushed, I recommend dedicating a day in Hogsmeade (Islands of Adventure) and a day in Diagon Alley (Universal Studios).

Remember to Pack Your Robe and Wand

It’s not every day you can wander the streets of Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley like a real witch or wizard. Make sure to add your robe, wand, and any other Harry Potter apparel or accessories to your packing list for some real epic pics. If you want to get your gear during your visit, there are many shops to check out throughout the wizarding world .

Arrive Early and Stay Late

Try to get there first thing in the morning for fewer crowds. (If you’re staying at a Universal hotel , definitely take advantage of the Early Park Admission perk!) On the flipside, if the theme parks are open later, try to stay until nighttime. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is absolutely breath-taking at night.

Ride the Hogwarts Express Both Ways

Hop aboard the Hogwarts Express and travel back and forth between Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. Make sure to take it both ways as each way has a different experience . (You’ll need a park-to-park ticket in order to ride the Hogwarts Express.)

Don’t Miss Diagon Alley

The entrance to Diagon Alley is cleverly disguised as a brick wall in the London area, just like it’s described as in the films and books. Believe it or not, some people (like my brother’s friends) walk right by it!

Try All Six Types of Butterbeer Treats

You’re probably familiar with Butterbeer, the frothy drink from the films and books that is reminiscent of butterscotch and shortbread. But, did you know there are six different Butterbeer treats you can try in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, like soft-serve ice cream and fudge?

Dairy-free Butterbeer is now available at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Don’t Skip the Queues

Typically, I’m all for getting through queues quickly, but the ride queues in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter are ones you don’t want to miss. You get to see the iconic rooms and details inside Hogwarts castle and Gringotts bank, and even pass through Platform 9 ¾ on your way to ride the Hogwarts Express.

See All the Shows

A choir of singing frogs AND a theater troupe who performs with puppets? What more could you want. There are five live shows —  two in Hogsmeade and three in Diagon Alley —  you can see perform daily. (Check the Universal Orlando Resort App for show times.)

Ride Both the Sidecar and Motorbike

There are two ways to ride on Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure , and each seat gives you a unique experience. I’ll take it one step further and say I’ve heard riding at night is, and I quote, “life-changing.”

Don’t Miss Out on Magical Experiences

Make time for some of the more lesser-known experiences like sending a letter with a Hogsmeade stamp, mixing your own elixirs , chatting with a goblin , or creating your very own moving pictures at Shutterbutton’s .

Check Out Knockturn Alley

You may be too distracted by the fire-breathing dragon atop Gringotts bank when you first enter Diagon Alley and walk right by Knockturn Alley . Put your brave face on and wander into this shadowy alleyway, which gives you a taste of Dark Magic in the wizarding world.

Treat Yourself to More Than One Wizarding Treat

Chocolate Frogs, Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavour Beans, Sugar Quills, Pumpkin Pasties, and more. Nab a few of your favorite wizarding world sweets before you leave and enjoy them while reminiscing about your trip after you get back home.

Don’t Forget Your Interactive Wand Map

If you treat yourself to an interactive wand , don’t forget about the map! Each wand comes with a map that shows where you can cast spells throughout Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. Don’t be like me wandering around aimlessly searching the ground for bronze spell markers because you forgot it.

Explore the Shop Windows

Your attention may be pulled toward the rides or getting a Butterbeer, but make sure to take some time to do some “window” shopping. There are incredible details in each shop window that bring the magic to life right before your eyes.

Don’t Miss Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Coming to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter any time of the year is quite magical, but coming during the holidays… it’s a whole ‘nother experience you won’t want to miss. Need more convincing? Two words: hot Butterbeer.

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Denielle Ricci

Associate Editor, Discover Universal Blog. Wannabe foodie. HHN fanatic. Book worm. Travel nut. Galaxy defender.

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From Butterbeer to magic wands: Everything you need to know about Universal Orlando's Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Editor's Note

A visit to Universal Orlando to see The Wizarding World of Harry Potter had been on my wish list for a while. Suspension of disbelief takes place here every day. Visitors don wizarding robes, grab interactive wands and — at least for a day or two — pretend that they are following in the footsteps of Hermione, Ron and Harry, truly inhabiting the magical world of "Harry Potter."

There are families racing from ride to ride in Hogwarts-style robes and Harry Potter-style glasses. We witnessed the engagement of two fans right in front of Hogwarts Castle. We might even have wondered for a minute or two what it would be like to be able to cast spells and brew potions.

If this sounds like your cup of frozen Butterbeer, here's what you need to know to make the trip to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando a success.

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When to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

There is no bad time to visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, just times of the year when it may be more crowded or pretty darn hot. Don't overly stress over the choice of dates. Just check expected crowd levels at calendars like the ones from Undercover Tourist and TouringPlans.com and then use some strategies — like skip-the-line passes, VIP tours and early starts — to evade crowds if you need to (more on that later).

Related: Choosing the best Universal Orlando hotel for your trip

How to see more of The Wizarding World in less time

I won't lie to you. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter gets very crowded.

We visited Universal at what is a slower time of year and the attractions in Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley were still jammed. If you want to see as much of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter as possible in the shortest amount of time, there are some strategies you probably need to employ.

First, you can use Universal's Express Pass . This is a skip-the-line pass that works on most attractions at Universal's two theme parks. This includes within The Wizarding World, with the exception of Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.

There are three ways to get an Express Pass. The easiest way is to book one of Universal's on-site Premier hotels. If you stay at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel , Hard Rock Hotel or Loews Royal Pacific Resort , you'll get a free Express Pass Unlimited to use throughout your visit. If you have a Premier-level Universal annual pass , you're entitled to Express Pass access beginning at 4 p.m.

Otherwise, you can purchase Express Passes:

• Universal Express: Prices start at $79.99 per person per day for one park and $89.99 for two parks and go up to almost double that amount. This pass lets you skip the regular line one time per participating ride at both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure theme parks.
• Universal Express Unlimited: Prices start at $109.99 per person per day for one park and $119.99 for two parks, though prices vary quite a bit from day to day. An Unlimited pass lets you skip the regular lines at participating rides as many times as you want at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.

Be aware that the list of participating rides and attractions is subject to change, so check with Universal Orlando's website before you purchase an Express Pass to make sure the rides you're most interested in are included.

The best strategy to ensure you do as much as possible within the World of Harry Potter, short of a VIP tour, is to rope-drop Hagrid's at the park's opening and then use your Express Pass for all the other attractions.

Speaking of VIP tours, there are two to choose from. You can book a small-group or private VIP experience at Universal. The price, while not cheap, packages together walk-on ride access during the tour, Express Passes and a dinner credit to use after the tour ends.

The small-group VIP tour starts at less than $200 per person while the private tour costs a few thousand dollars for the day. These tours will get you on rides like Hargrids that otherwise don't have short-cut access.

Related: How to get the most out of 1 day at Universal Orlando

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley

If you are staying at any of the on-site Universal hotels , you can get into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter one hour earlier than general admission.

Which park opens early varies by day and sometimes both parks open early. The front desk agent should give you this information at check-in or you can check the Universal Orlando website for the most up-to-date information.

No matter which park is opening early, plan to arrive at the front gates at least 15 - 30 minutes before the Early Park Admission opening time. It's the only way to beat the crowds and make the most of your extra time.

Only certain attractions open during Early Park Admission, but this typically includes all of the Wizarding World attractions. The ones you will most likely want to knock out are Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at Islands of Adventure and Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts at Universal Studios Florida.

For Hagrid's, head to Islands of Adventure, take a right after passing through Port of Entry and head toward Seuss Landing. Universal team members will be on hand to scan your hotel keycard and allow you to go deeper into the park. Continue through Seuss Landing to The Lost Continent and you should see team members directing you toward the start of the line for Hagrid's.

If Escape from Gringotts is first on your list, walk straight through Production Central and turn right when you reach the New York section of the park (in front of the Revenge of the Mummy attraction). Continue on until you see a replica of King's Cross Station on your left.

Be careful not to overshoot and walk past the somewhat hidden entrance to Diagon Alley. When you see an opening in a brick wall, you know you've found it.

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts

Once you've entered Diagon Alley, walk straight to Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts indoor steel roller coaster ride. You can't miss it; it's the building with the fire-breathing dragon perched on the roof.

Tip: Find any wizard or witch working in Diagon Alley and ask when the dragon will breathe fire next. The schedule is sporadic so asking is your best bet. Also, when you hear a low growl, that's your signal that this Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon is about to spew some fire.

There are free and paid lockers to the right of the line so you can stash your belongings before the ride.

Children must be 42 inches to ride; be sure your party meets that requirement so you don't get to the head of the line only to be turned away. There is also a "child swap" room where parents can take turns alternating riding or waiting with kiddos not tall enough (or ready) to ride.

There is also a test seat in front of the building where you can confirm whether or not the seating configuration will work for your body style.

Wait times can get long for this ride, but it does have an Express Pass line throughout most of the day. There's also a lot to look at while in line since you'll snake through the Gringotts bank lobby and see a multitude of goblins at work. The four chandeliers that hang inside the bank's lobby are made up of 62,000 individual crystals.

There is a photo opportunity in the line as you pass through Gringotts "security." You can purchase the photo after the ride if you'd like (this photo has been unavailable since the park reopened after a brief closure due to COVID-19).

This attraction was once The Wizarding World's flagship attraction, but it's been eclipsed by Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (both of which can be found in Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure). What's neat about Escape from Gringotts is the motion-based 3D projections that make you feel as if you're interacting with characters like Bill Weasley and the goblin Blordak.

Related: TPG's complete guide to Universal Orlando

Ollivanders

After exiting the Gringotts ride, you're just across from Ollivanders, so get in line to see the show that depicts how a wand chooses its wizard, if this type of show appeals to you.

It's a very personal process. One lucky guest is picked from the audience and the wizard in residence facilitates the wand choosing. After the show, you're escorted next door to the wand shop where they'll box up the wand for you to take home … assuming you want to spend the $50 or so for the wand, which is optional. You can also forgo the wand that was chosen for you and pick out a replica of your favorite wizard's wand.

If you weren't lucky enough to be chosen for the show, you can pick out and purchase your own wand.

Go for an interactive wand that helps you make magic — literally — at many locations in both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. Standard, non-interactive wands are also available if you are looking to save a little cash or your kids are too young to know the difference.

Assuming you've purchased an interactive wand, look for brass medallions set into the pavement in both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. These are the spots where you can cast spells and make magic. A map that plots each spot where you can cast spells is included with your wand purchase (including a few unmarked "secret wand spots"). Spells are categorized as easy, medium or hard. You also can order an interactive wand in advance of your trip or pick one up in the hotel gift shop at most on-site hotels.

Note that there is an identical Ollivanders wand experience at Hogsmeade, so feel free to skip the experience here if you'd prefer to see the show there later in your visit.

Dine at the Leaky Cauldron

If you didn't eat breakfast before heading to Diagon Alley, now may be the right time to grab a table at the atmospheric Leaky Cauldron. Breakfast is pricey, but where else can you dine among witches and wizards? Breakfast plates for adults all ring in at $17.99 and include a small beverage (yes, you can have Butterbeer for breakfast).

• Traditional Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, sausage links, black pudding, English bacon, baked beans, grilled tomato, sauteed mushrooms and breakfast potatoes.
• American Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, potatoes, crisp bacon, sausage link and a croissant.
• Pancake Breakfast: Three buttermilk pancakes, crisp bacon, sausage link and a croissant.
• Egg, Leek and Mushroom Pasty: Pastry-wrapped scrambled eggs, mushrooms and leeks served with potatoes and fruit.
• Apple Oatmeal Flan with Yogurt & Fruit.

The kids breakfast plate — traditional, pancake or American — is $12.99. Pumpkin juice will set you back $4.99.

If you're not a breakfast eater, leave this stop for lunchtime instead where you can order things like fish 'n' chips ($16.99), a ploughman's lunch (cheese, chutney, bread, pickles and Scotch egg) for two ($21.99), bangers and mash ($13.99) or a beef, lamb and Guinness stew ($15.99). Kids entrees include things like mac 'n' cheese and fish 'n' chips for $7.29. Desserts — sticky toffee pudding, Butterbeer potted cream or chocolate potted cream — shouldn't be missed.

Take in a 'Harry Potter'-themed show

While you're finishing breakfast at the Leaky Cauldron, take a look at the Universal Orlando app and find out when the shows in Diagon Alley will take place.

During our trip, we saw two shows here, including "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" — complete with puppets — and Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees. There's seating around the stage if you arrive early enough, or there's always plenty of standing room.

Gringotts Money Exchange

After the show, walk toward the Gringotts ride and you'll come upon the Gringotts Money Exchange. Go inside and don't be fooled. This isn't just a bank. Sure, there is a human clerk assisting with money exchanges here, but there is also a Gringotts goblin behind a teller's desk. Talk to him and he will interact with you. It's a neat experience — especially for curious kids.

Knockturn Alley

Knockturn Alley is dark, seedy and so well hidden that you might miss it. There are two entrances — one next to the Leaky Cauldron and one next to the Fountain of Fair Fortune.

The enclosed space is dark and a cool break from the heat. There are also five neat spots where you can use your interactive wand to cast spells. There's also a shop, Borgin and Burkes, that's oozing plenty of dark magic and a few benches where you can rest a bit before continuing your exploration of Diagon Alley right outside.

Explore the shops of Diagon Alley

Once you've tried casting spells in Knockturn Alley, go back out into the bright Orlando sun to finish exploring Diagon Alley.

Visit all the shops, and be on the lookout for a few "magic moments." Among them is a snake speaking Parseltongue in the window of the Magical Menagerie and a talking mirror in Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. Be forewarned, she isn't always complimentary of your wardrobe choices.

Related: Unlock more magic: 16 Universal Orlando secrets to know before your next trip

And maybe get an ice cream at Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream Parlour, or a Butterbeer at The Fountain of Fair Fortune or The Hopping Pot.

One word of caution: Harry Potter souvenirs are pretty expensive. You may want to set a budget with your kids before exploring the shops or explain to them why you won't be purchasing certain items. Robes — with the emblem of your house stitched on them — will set you back $125. A Gryffindor Quidditch robe replica is $150, while Hermione Granger's Yule Ball Gown in youth sizes is $99.95. Yowza. No wonder many parents bring robes from home.

Check out the Knight Bus and 12 Grimmauld Place

Once you've seen everything on Diagon Alley, leave this part of The Wizarding World through the opening in the brick wall. Directly across you'll see the Knight Bus. Here you can meet the conductor and the shrunken head that hangs at the front of the bus. Kids and adults love interacting with these two. Sit by the fountain to listen in.

Then, look across the way and you'll see a replica of a London street. Upon closer inspection, you'll see 12 Grimmauld Place, the home of Sirius Black (Harry Potter's godfather). He gifted the property to the Order of the Phoenix, which used it as a headquarters. Look up toward the second floor and you may catch a glimpse of Kreacher, the Black family house-elf, peering at you from the window.

Hogwarts Express – King's Cross Station

When you've thoroughly explored Diagon Alley and the streets of Harry Potter's London, it's time to make your way to King's Cross Station, where you'll board the Hogwarts Express and ride the train to Hogsmeade. Remember: You can only ride the Hogwarts Express if you have a Park-to-Park ticket. If you've got one-day, one-park tickets, there is no way to experience this attraction.

The wait queue is convincing and it appears as if you are waiting for a train in London. Pay attention to everything as you near the train platform. A neat mirror trick makes it look like you burst through a brick wall to reappear unharmed on Platform 9 3/4. The train whistle builds excitement, and when you see steam escaping from the locomotive, you'll know you're almost ready to board.

Eight passengers are loaded onto each car and it truly looks as if you're departing London on your way to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The ride's spectacle takes place on the train windows. Be prepared to see some Dementors on the four-minute trip to Hogsmeade. The show is slightly different on the return trip, so be sure you ride it both ways.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Hogsmeade

You'll find Hogsmeade inside the Islands of Adventure theme park. Here, you can visit both the town of Hogsmeade and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure

If you have your heart set on riding this thrill coaster, get in line as soon as you arrive in Hogsmeade. Wait times can get intense and the attraction does not accept Universal Express.

Should you miss riding at park opening, then rather than walking to the back of the park where Hagrid's is located, you can check wait times in the Universal Orlando app. You can even set wait time alerts and receive a push notification on your phone when the wait time drops below your designated limit.

This is by far the fastest ride in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It reaches speeds up to 50 mph and includes both spikes into the air and fast drops. You need to be at least 48 inches tall to experience it. You'll either ride Hagrid's motorcycle or get in the sidecar.

Either spot will make your heart pound, but I think the ride in the sidecar is a bit easier for anyone that might be nervous.

Hogwarts Castle

While we'll talk about the ride that takes place inside Hogwarts Castle next, I wanted to mention the castle itself first.

You can see Hogwarts from many distant points in Islands of Adventure. It looks magical from afar but even more impressive as you stand beneath its turrets. There is a bridge with wonderful views of the castle as you leave Jurassic Park and enter Hogsmeade. This is where you can grab that quintessential photo of the castle -- don't miss it.

We visited during the holiday season and were treated to "The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle." As the sky gets dark, the castle is lit up with projections that include scenes from the books, faux fireworks, lasers and more. It is one of those experiences where your jaw will drop and you'll feel like magic is happening. If you're visiting during the holidays, it's worth it to stick around after dark to see this unique show.

On select nights during other times of the year, Universal shows "The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle," a similar show, but without the holiday music and wintry scenes.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey was my favorite ride in all of Universal and the queue itself is filled with interesting scenes from the books.

When we visited, we zipped right through the line with our Express Passes and were disappointed that we didn't see all the neat things leading up to the ride. We decided to ride a second time and went through the normal wait line. We didn't wait that long (maybe 25 minutes) but we were able to take our time to inspect things like Professor Sprout's herbology greenhouse and Dumbledore's office with his talking portrait and the Mirror of Erised.

I was a little worried that I might not be able to ride this attraction since I'm heavyset. Universal's park guide notes that certain body types might not comfortably fit in the seat, which has a safety bar that comes over your head and shoulders to lock into place at your waistline.

For that reason, there is a pair of seats in front of Hogwarts Castle at the entrance for this ride. If you're not sure the seat will work for you, you can try it out before getting in line. If your waist is larger than 40 inches, you might not be able to ride.

There is another set of test seats about halfway through the queue and I did see two people turned away after an attendant tested them. If there's any doubt that you may not fit comfortably in the seat, try it out before waiting in line.

On this ride, you "ride a broomstick" in and around Hogwarts Castle. The attraction is a "robocoaster," where a robotic arm holds your seat above a track and you pivot in a multitude of directions. It makes you feel as if you're flying through the air and, if you are prone to motion sickness, may make you feel like you need to relieve the contents of your stomach when you disembark.

The ride is dark at times, with encounters with dangers like Aragog the spider in the Forbidden Forest, the Whomping Willow and a gang of Dementors. But you'll also screech around the Quidditch field. You must be 48 inches or taller to ride Forbidden Journey. There are lockers to the right of the castle entrance to store your belongings. Trust us, you don't want anything on your head or in your pockets during this ride.

Flight of the Hippogriff

Flight of the Hippogriff, dubbed a "family-friendly coaster," is across from the lockers at Hogwarts Castle.

The twists, turns and drops reminded me of a slightly tamer Big Thunder Mountain Railroad from Disney World's Magic Kingdom. My husband is not a fan of roller coasters and didn't want to ride this one — even if it is just a "junior" coaster — so I went alone. Plenty of little kids were riding and loving it; children have to be just 36 inches tall or taller to ride.

This ride is super quick, so I had to ride a few times to take it all in. The track is elevated so you get a nice view of Hogsmeade. The queue is neat, too, as you walk by Hagrid's Hut and on to an open area where you'll recognize the Care of Magical Creatures class site.

Related: 7 magical places every 'Harry Potter' fan should visit

Take a break and see a show

After enjoying the rides, it might be a good time to see one of the shows staged in Hogsmeade throughout the day.

When we visited, we saw the Frog Choir (a special version for the Christmas holiday) and the Triwizard Spirit Rally. The stage is small but we never had trouble getting a close-up spot as long as we arrived a few minutes before showtime. Check the paper guide given out at the park entrance or the Universal Orlando app for showtimes.

If you didn't see the "wand picks a wizard" show at the Ollivanders location at Diagon Alley in Universal Studios, you can get in line to see it here. (See the Diagon Alley section above for a full description of the experience.) After the show, shop for a wand if you don't already have one. There are some neat spots in Hogsmeade where you can cast spells with it.

Dine out, enjoy a drink and go shopping

You can't truly say you've seen Hogsmeade until you've had a meal at the Three Broomsticks or grabbed a drink at the Hog's Head bar next door (serving Butterbeer, beer and spirits).

At Three Broomsticks, many families opt for The Great Feast, which includes a salad plus a combination of rotisserie smoked chicken, spareribs, corn on the cob and roast potatoes. (A platter for four is $69.99; additional servings are $17.99.)

You can also buy British favorites like fish 'n' chips, beef pasties, smoked turkey legs and shepherd's pie, and there are soups and salads on the menu at both lunch and dinner. Kids ages 9 and younger pick from fish 'n' chips, chicken fingers, chicken legs and mac 'n' cheese — each entree is $7.49.

Nonalcoholic Butterbeer (regular or frozen) is $7.99, while pumpkin juice and pumpkin fizz are $4.99. Two draught beers on tap are Hog's Head Brew and Dragon Scale (both $9.49).

Three Broomsticks also serves breakfast daily until 10:30 a.m.

When you're ready to roll out of Three Broomsticks, get ready to do a bit of shopping. Honeydukes is a sweet shop filled with confections like Exploding Bonbons, Cauldron Cakes, Fizzing Whizzbees, Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans and Chocolate Frogs.

You can mail postcards or letters from the Owl Post, complete with an official Hogsmeade postmark. You can also purchase all kinds of writing implements (think quills and seals) as well as owl-themed souvenirs.

If you didn't ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, you would have missed Filch's Emporium of Confiscated Goods since the ride empties into this shop. This is a terrific shop if you're looking for house crest banners, T-shirts, hats or scarves.

Get your Hogwarts uniforms and robes, Sneakoscopes, Quaffles and Golden Snitches at Dervish and Banges.

Hogwarts Express – Hogsmeade Station

When you're ready to leave this part of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, walk through the arch toward Hogsmeade Station and get in line for the Hogwarts Express.

The train will take you back to "London" at Universal Studios. The experience is a bit different in each direction, so be sure to hop on — even if you rode the train from London to Hogsmeade earlier in the day.

Related: Choose the best hotel at Universal Orlando

Buying the right ticket for Harry's world

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Hogsmeade is part of Islands of Adventure while The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley can be found at Universal Studios, this is important when it comes to choosing your ticket.

Splitting this land into two sections was a brilliant move on Universal's part since it means you need to purchase the upgraded Park-to-Park admission ticket if you wish to see both parts of Harry's world on the same day.

That also means holding a Park-to-Park ticket or a Universal annual pass are the only ways you can ride the Hogwarts Express train attraction between the two lands. The Hogwarts Express is more than just a mode of transportation — it's an attraction in and of itself. Leave time to take the train in both directions because the experience is different depending on which way you're headed.

You can use single-day one-park tickets to visit each land separately, but there's no way to use those tickets to board the Hogwarts Express.

You can buy Universal tickets for one, two, three, four or five days.

Universal's website sometimes offers special promotions for multiday passes that throw in extras like a skip-the-line Express Pass, discounted admission to the Volcano Bay water park or a free day at Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure.

The least expensive tickets let you explore one park per day. Unless that's the only option on the table, for Harry Potter you really want the Park-to-Park tickets that allow you to visit both theme parks on the same day. That gives you the ultimate in flexibility and access to the Hogwarts Express.

If you plan to visit the parks for more than just a few days, or you think you may visit Universal Orlando twice or more in 12 months, consider a Universal annual pass . I never dreamed I'd become a Universal annual pass holder, but when I planned our trip, I had my eye on a special promotion that gave you an extra day in the parks when you bought a two-day pass.

I thought that was a good deal — but when I looked at pricing for a Florida resident annual pass, I found out it was only $8 per ticket more than the special promotional pass. For just a few bucks more, I went for the annual pass; now we can go back to Universal and get free admission until the pass expires.

When buying Universal tickets, look at all the combinations and prices to determine which is the best deal for your family.

Where to buy Universal tickets

You can purchase your tickets directly from Universal. Alternatively, you can buy from well-respected third-party vendors like Undercover Tourist . This can be an especially good idea right after a ticket price hike. Often, Undercover Tourist will have some tickets left over at the lower price for a few days or weeks after a ticket price increase.

Additionally, ticket purchases from Undercover Tourist typically code as travel for the purposes of earning or redeeming credit card points. Bookmark that site and comparison shop whenever you are buying tickets for Universal or other theme parks like Walt Disney World.

Related: Best credit cards to use for Universal Studios

How to use points to buy Universal tickets

Savvy parkgoers might want to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi ThankYou points to buy their Universal Orlando theme park admission. But, at least for now, this option may not be available when you search.

If you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve , you can redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal at a rate of 1.5 cents per point. Or, if you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card , you can redeem for travel through the portal at a rate of 1.25 cents per point.

Historically, Univeral Orlando tickets have often been available through the Chase travel portal at rates comparable to Universal's direct pricing. However, as of writing this article, we weren't able to find any Universal Orlando tickets bookable through the Ultimate Rewards travel portal. So, although it's worth checking, don't get your hopes up.

If you've got a stash of Citi ThankYou points , you can use them through the Citi ThankYou travel portal to redeem for activities, including tickets to select attractions and theme parks. However, as of writing, we didn't find any options to redeem for Universal Orlando tickets. This may change though, so check out the Citi ThankYou portal to review your options.

Related: How to use points to save money at Universal Orlando

What credit card to use at Universal

There is no one answer to the question: Which credit card should I use at Universal Orlando? The answer depends on how and where you purchase your theme park tickets and how that credit card codes purchases.

Data points from many travelers tell us that tickets bought at an on-site Universal hotel and charged to the hotel room have coded as "travel," but tickets and VIP tours purchased directly from Universal have coded as "entertainment."

If you know your charge will code as travel, you'll do well to use any of the best credit cards for general travel purchases , including:

• Chase Sapphire Reserve — 3 points per dollar spent.
• Chase Sapphire Preferred Card — 2 points per dollar spent.
• Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card — 2 points per dollar spent.

However, if you think your purchase will code as entertainment, you'll want to use one of the best cards for entertainment spending .

Related: Best credit cards for Disney and Universal vacations

Bottom line

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando is an incredible place to visit for muggles and wizards alike.

The rides and attractions are fantastic. It's fun to watch the daily performances that all relate to an aspect of Harry's magical world, and you must raise a pint of Butterbeer (or one of the beers specially brewed for The Wizarding World) in one of the themed establishments across the land — from the Leaky Cauldron to the Three Broomsticks to the Hog's Head and other neat spots.

To get the most out of your visit, splurge on Park-to-Park tickets and pair that with an Express Pass (might as well throw in valet parking while you are at it). Only then will you be able to get in early and (with a little magic) skip the worst of the lines. The added expense is truly worth it. If you're a "Harry Potter" fan, this is a theme park you'll want to return to again and again.

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Guide and Itinerary for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando

By Helene Sula

I'm not even going to lie, I was expecting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to be cheesy. Having traveled to many places that are the real Harry Potter locations… how could it possibly live up to the hype. Turns out, it's a magical experience that will make you feel like you're actually in Hogwarts and Diagon Alley. Save for the temperature! I've crafted your perfect guide and itinerary for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando!

If you're a fan of Harry Potter, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort is your chance to truly experience this immersive world that made these stories come alive. This guide will provide everything needed for an unforgettable journey into the exciting realm, offering itinerary suggestions on what to do and see, insider tips, as well as all essential information so you can make the most out of your visit! So grab your wand and get ready for an adventure—we guarantee a spell-binding time like no other! You can see my guide to all of the best places to travel if you love Harry Potter here !

Know Before You Go: Wizarding World of Harry Potter Tips

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Top tips are if you've never been to Universal Orlando before! First up, stay at a Universal Resort . We stayed at Cabana Bay . Not only is this a great hotel with reasonable rates and a lovely pool, this also provides shuttle access to the parks AND an hour early entrance to the parks! Really helpful as lines can get very long.

The Wizarding World is split over 2 parks . Islands of Adventure (Hogsmeade and Hogwarts) and Universal Studios (Diagon Alley). You will want a pass to both. You can get a 1 park, 2 park or 3 park pass! We did the 2 park pass here .

The Universal Express Pass was SO worth it . Look, I know it's expensive. I do. But the wait times for rides are sometimes 2 hours long. To me, time is money and this saved us so much time. We rode every single ride twice. Check it out here .

Butterbeer is AMAZING. Try every single kind (frozen, hot, or regular) but I highly recommend that you wait until after riding rides as it's really, really sweet and made me a bit sick after the interactive rides.

Download the Universal Orlando FL app ! This has maps, wait times, you can even order food!

I say skip on buying an interactive wand . It's another $60 for a wand. Yes, you can do spells with it in different areas but I just watched people do it for free. I brought in my elder wand pen and that was just fine!

Do you need Park to Park Ticket? Short answer: yep.If you're planning a one-day visit, I highly recommend choosing the park to park ticket to maximize your Wizarding World experience. Even if you're visiting for two days, getting the park to park ticket is absolutely worth it. Here's why: You'll have access to all areas of the Wizarding World and can enjoy more time in each area without worrying about having to purchase tickets for both parks!

The Hogwarts Express is a one-of-a-kind experience that alters each time you board, so it's essential to have the park to park pass in order to ride between Universal of Florida and Islands of Adventure (to/from Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley). Similarly, having such flexibility is invaluable. We continuously adjusted our plans depending on crowd levels or weather conditions without having to worry about buying extra tickets – we simply hopped parks!

Make time to just walk around. The sound track is playing as you meander the streets and the details such as the snow, the window shops, the owls, are fascinating to take a look at while you sip frozen Butterbeer.

The easiest way to enter is to head through Islands of Adventures and head right through Dr Seuss. Then you'll go through Jurassic Park and The Lost Continent to reach Hogsmeade and Hogwarts.

Venturing into the magical realm of Diagon Alley requires a little bit more planning than your typical theme park outing. At Universal Studios Park, you won't find any blatant signage that reads Wizarding World of Harry Potter – instead, the entrance is hidden in plain sight as an inconspicuous brick wall beneath large red arches – similar to those throughout London! But do not fret; if you happen to be lost amongst Muggles and unsure where exactly the enactment begins, simply look for King Cross Station on your left while keeping an eye out for The Knight Bus parked right nearby.

We spent two days at Universal's Wizarding World of Harry Potter (plus some of the other activities in the parks) and it was absolutely perfect. Especially with the Express Pass, I didn't feel rushed at all. However, if you're on a tight budget or short on time, you can do it in one day. Full itineraries below!

There are some seriously fun rides at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The most popular ones are:

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Escape from Gringotts, Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, and Flight of the Hippogriff. But there are also some other great attractions such as Hogwarts Express, Ollivanders Wand Shop and Triwizard Spirit Rally.

My favorite was definitely Escape from Gringotts, it feels like you're there in the bank on a cart! The animations were amazing and the hologram at the entrance was so cool. I could have skipped Flight of the Hippogriff, it was really short.

Both Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Escape from Gringotts and fun, even if there is a line! They are interactive as you walk through!

If you're looking for a quick bite, there are several places around the park that offer food and drinks. The Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley serves traditional British fare such as bangers & mash and fish & chips. I'm not going to lie, it was absolutely theme park food. But the hot Butterbeer made up for it!

The Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade is perfect for a sit down meal with Butterbeer and of course, a pasty. They also have a great selection of desserts like sticky toffee pudding and treacle tart!

Florean Fortescu's Ice cream parlor in Diagon Alley has delicious ice cream with inventive flavors.

The Hog's Head in Diagon Alley also serves beer and alchohol. Just don't ask for a Diet Coke like I did, it's a muggle drink so you won't find it!

The cost of admission will depend on the type of ticket you purchase. Single day tickets can range from $109 – $169 depending on the time of year and Express Passes cost an additional fee.

The cost of food and souvenirs can also add up quickly so be sure to plan your budget accordingly. 2-day 2-park passes are about $270 per person.

• Wizarding World Tickets- Park to Park. $100- $170/per person, per day.
• Express Passes: $80- $100/ per person, per day. 
• Resort Lodging: $90- $400/ night. Find Hotels.
• Food and Drinks. $15- $35/ per person, per meal.

I'd say roughly about $300-$500 per day.

I'm not even going to lie: we nailed this itinerary. We went on a Thursday and Friday and Friday was very busy. But we avoided the crowds and made the most of our time! Here's my top recommendations to ensure you have the best time.

This two-day journey to the Wizarding World was created with one goal in mind: ensuring that you hit all of your must-see highlights. With so much grandeur around every corner, it can be an intimidating environment—but this itinerary helps ensure you take full advantage!

To get the most out of your visit to the Wizarding World, make sure you explore both locations during day and night hours. You can opt for one theme park per day or go back and forth between parks with a special “park to park” pass!

Remember, if you're staying at Universal you get one hour early access to the park! I recommend starting at I slands of Adventure where Hogsmeade Village and Hogwarts are. Head straight to the bridge and get an uninhibited view of the castle! Perfect for taking photos.

Then, I suggest doing a ride. (I PROMISE I'm going to leave you plenty of time to explore, just trust me on this!). You can do Hagrid's motorbike (usually the busiest) or Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey .

Hagrid's Motorbike is a roller coaster ride filled with magical creatures. On this “story coaster” you'll see Hagrid's Hut, ride through the Forbidden Forest, see Fluffy, Cornish Pixies, and more! Let your adrenaline rush with one of the world's quickest and most thrilling roller coasters! Featuring seven launches reaching speeds up to 50 mph, this coaster is unrivaled in its exhilaration. It also features a nearly 17-foot vertical drop track – second only to another U.S.-based ride – as well as 5,053 feet of length; making it Florida's longest roller coaster!

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey makes you feel like you're in Hogwarts! You'll walk in to the castle to get through this ride. It's very dark and feels great (especially when it's hot outside!). You'll move through the portrait hall with real talking portraits! Stop and listen to what they say! Then you'll go through Dumbledore’s office, the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, the Gryffindor common room, and more! This ride is absolutely remarkable and will take you on an unforgettable journey! With its movie-style replicas and immersive videos, the single row that's attached to a large robotic arm can move in every direction – even upside down! I was truly blown away by this experience and highly suggest it.

After a ride, let's beat the crowds and go straight to the Hogwarts Express !! Instead of leisurely browsing through the Hogsmeade shops, let’s make a beeline for the Hogwarts Express and head to Diagon Alley! With often lengthy wait times in line, it's best to knock out those rides early on. The wait here can sometimes go beyond an hour which would make any outing feel dull – but don't worry as there'll still be plenty of time later on to explore every corner and hidden gems around us!

Hogsmeade Station doesn’t have any interactive line bits (like Kings Cross Station does) so just move on through and board the train.

Be sure to watch the window and the door where you entered the compartment! This is why I truly loved Harry Potter World so much, every detail was carefully planned. You feel like you're actually on the train!

The train (is a mile long journey) that takes you to King's Cross Station in London . As someone who's been to London dozens of times, they really nailed this! Head left towards the main area and don't forget to pass by a red telephone booth. If you choose to step inside, dial M-A-G-I-C for an astounding surprise! (p.s. there is a Warner Brothers Studio tour you can do in London! See my review here !)

You will encounter the giant purple Knight Bus from Prisoner of Azkaban. Speak with both the conductor in his signature purple attire, as well as converse with a talking shrunken head on board – yes it's true! Don’t miss out on getting some solo photos at the back too; this way is less crowded and gives you an opportunity to explore within bus itself.

While in London, take a peek at 12 Grimmauld Place—where you can spot the house elf Kreacher peeking out of each window. After exploring this magical location, find an arched brick wall that looks like it leads nowhere—in reality, it leads to Diagon Alley ! Make sure not to miss the opportunity for adventure and surprise around every corner as your explore these two historically captivating places.

I loved watching people' reactions as they reached Diagon Alley. It's, impressive. This is where the streets are lined with magical finds, attractions and restaurants. This is a great place for all ages! Take your time to enjoy the ambiance here and discover new shops such as Gringotts Money Exchange (where you can exchange Muggle currency for Wizarding Bank Notes), Ollivander's Wand Shop, Flourish and Blotts (where you can buy your school books), Magical Menagerie (for a pet companion) and more.

The first thing we did was walk up the street and marvel at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes decked out in orange and the many other shops. Then we headed to the Escape from Gringott's Ride . Again, this is best to avoid crowds later on. I ADORED this ride, it was my favorite for sure. You actually walk through the bank (well I skipped through because of m y Express pass, the wait was already 45 minutes) and was in awe as it looked identical to the bank from the movie! I've seen the actual set in person at the Warner Brothers Studio Tour in London , and this is an exact replica! You'll see goblins counting money! It's just amazing.

As you walk around you'll see moving newspaper clippings and even a HOLOGRAM (sorry that's wild to me) of Bill and a goblin talking before you grab a paid of 3D glasses and ride!

I could not leave Diagon Alley without trying the signature dish, lunch at The Leaky Cauldron —Fish and Chips! It wasn't the best I've ever had but it filled me up for lunch! I've been told the Simpsons area has better food options, but we wanted to stay in the Wizarding World. The Universal Orlando FL app has maps that are great to check the area, maps, and order food. We ordered from the app and skipped the line.

As you enter Diagon Alley, curve around to the left and explore a plethora of enchanting shops. At the heart of this magical street lies Gringotts Bank, which is guarded by a magnificent dragon perched atop it. Every 10 minutes it breathes fire! So don't worry if you miss a picture. Just past The Leaky Cauldron awaits an eerie path that leads diagonally towards Knockturn Alley in the back-left corner. Here, Borgin and Burkes reveal countless dark arts displays and experiences that are sure to captivate! This is a really fun area to explore and you'll even find the vanishing cabinet !

To the right of Diagon Alley is none other than Carkitt Market! Underneath its covered ceiling lies a stage for live entertainment, interactive wand experiences galore and The Hopping Pot; where you can indulge in drinks.

Now that you've done all of that, it's time to explore!! Carkitt Market is host to a few extraordinary theatrical performances such as the magical Tales of Beedle the Bard and Celesina Warbeck & The Banshees.

I recommend grabbing a frozen butterbeer or a pumpkin juice and explore the many shops.

• Ride Escape from Gringotts
• Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment to check out the beautiful astronomy themed ceiling (you'll also see this as you come out of the ride Escape from Gringotts.) I got a Harry Potter Gryffindor souvenir while here.
• Ollivanders – this is a pretty expensive experience but I'm told it's quite amazing as you'll be given a wand fit for YOU. You can do this in both parks!
• Madam Malkin's Robes for all Occasions – here you can pick up your Hogwart's robes for Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff. They also have Hermione's Yule Ball dress!
• Stop by the Owl Post and send your wizarding world finds home in magical, themed packaging! Delight as you watch owls move around on occasion. But beware of the merfolk fountain at its center because it'll cast an interactive spell that launches water from every angle when used with a wand.
• Magical Menagerie is great for all the animals from the Harry Potter series.
• Wands by Gregorovitch for wands (note, this is not the same as the Ollivander's experience but the line is shorter). FYI, you'll find places to get wands throughout the park.
• Globus Mondi is the wizard travel agency
• At the Hopping Pot in Carkitt Market, you will find an array of delicious drinks such as Pumpkin Juice, Peachtree Fizzing Tea and Otters Fizzy Orange Juice. Come tantalize your taste buds!
• Here are some more shops along the cobblestone streets and crooked buildings: Quality Quidditch Supplies for all your broom and jersey needs; Sugarplum’s offering a wide array of magical candy; and Weasley's Wizard Wheezes with their joke themed merchandise. You can find love potions here as well as pygmy puffs and many candies that have interesting side effects like Puking Pastilles, Fever Fudge, and Nosebleed Nougat!
• Just check out all the window displays, they are amazing!

From here, I rode the Hogwarts Express back to Hogsmeade and Hogwarts to explore more of that area. Walking through, you'll be able to see actual advertisements from the film (it's MAGIC), numerous classic trunks including Harry's signature trunk along with Hedig, and even go THROUGH Platforms 9 and 10! To capture a video of this momentous experience, I recommended that someone stays back to record while other go through. You can spot a huge sheet of glass separating some empty space with trunks – that's your cue for taking out your cameras as it plays an essential role in replicating this magical illusion.

As you ride back you'll notice that the scene changes as you're going to Hogwarts!

• Ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey the interactive ride
• Ride Hagrid's Motorbike
• Ride Flight of the Hippogriff (If there's a long line, skip it, this ride is pretty short)
• After experiencing the thrilling adventure of Harry Potter and Forbidden Journey, you'll make your way out to Filch's Emporium of Confiscated Goods. A charming gift shop with a variety of merchandise ranging from Hogwarts house apparel to unique items like an animated Sorting Hat, wizard chess set, Tom Riddle's diary replica and Rowena Ravenclaw's crown diadem!
• Ollivander's wand experience is also here (as it was in Diagon Alley as well)

• Stop by Dervish and Banges, your one-stop shop with a wide array of wizarding supplies including Quidditch gear, robes, notebooks, and more! The star attraction here is the live Monster Book of Monsters caged in the center back – watch him move around chomping at nothing for a few minutes and you'll be entranced.
• Bursting with parcels and owls, Owl Post is the ideal place to send your recently acquired merch off in style! Furthermore, they boast an impressive array of wands for you to choose from.
• At the Gringotts Money Exchange you can turn your muggle money into Gringotts banknotes that you can use within The Wizarding World of Harry Potter! There's an interactive Goblin there!
• Carts selling Butterbeer
• Frog Choir or Triwizard Spirit Rally shows.
• The Three Broomsticks is great to walk around and explore
• Hog's Head – great if you just want drinks but still, go inside to check it out!

Overall, Hogsmeade and Hogwarts have more rides and I just loved see the castle and rooftops of Hogsmeade. Diagon Alley has more things to do and more shops.

Remember, you will have 2 days to do it all, so don't fret if you didn't get to it all!

PRO TIP: Do not be like me. Do not down a frozen Butterbeer and immediately ride another 2 rides. I actually felt so sick I went back to the hotel for a shower and 30 minute power nap. But left feeling so refreshed and ready to see the park light up at night!

This is truly such a treat and brough tears to my eyes! As the music crescendos there are fireworks, beutiful displays of the ifferent houses and so much more. It's just, amazing.

Take the train and make sure to see Diagon Alley at night! It's worth it to see everything lit up warmly in the windows. You'll notice different things and seeing the dragon breath fire at night is so cool.

We had ice cream as we walked around Diagon Alley and peeked back in to Knockturn alley.

Now, off to bed, we've got a full day tomorrow!

Now that you've seen and done nearly all of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you can go back and explore and catch things you missed! We actually had time to do some of the rides outside of Harry Potter like the Jurassic World Velocicoaster (which was AMAZING) and see the Animal Actors special. Mostly because… dogs!

Today, start at Universal Studios and in Diagon Alley. This gives you a chance to be one of the first to get to the park and can take pictures as it's not so crowded.

Then, head to the Escape from Gringotts ride to avoid the line. If you missed a ride yesterday, now's your chance to ride it today.

Explore any shops you missed. I loved exploring the Magical Menagerie. The stuffed animals reminded me of my childhood and it was so hard not to buy them all!

Now is a great time to get a souvenier if you haven't yet. Make your way to Gringotts Money Exchange and you cna turn your money into Gringotts gold that you cna use at the parks or take home as a souvenier.

Take another turn around Knockturn alley, we are saying goodbye and heading to Hogwarts and Hodsmeade.

Remember, the Hogwarts Express will have a different theme going from one park to another and is an experience in itself.

If you missed and shops or rides from yesterday, now is the perfect time to explore!

We watched the Triwizard Spirit Rally as we sipped on more Butterbeer. Yes, it really is that good.

You can have lunch at the Three Broomsticks for Shepard's pie or beef pasties. There are vegetarian optiosn available. There is even a non-dairy butter beer!

There are SO many hidden gems all around. Now is a great time to peruse arounda nd see if you can spot them!

As it gets closer to evening, the crowds start to slowly thin out and you might not have such long wait times. On the Universal app you can also get notifications for ride wait times.

Spend your last evening strolling the park and watching it slowly light up.

I had plenty of time to do everything I wanted, especially with the express pass, that I even had time to explore other areas of the park!

The only thing I really felt that was missing from the park was Dobby! There was a nod to Kreacher, but hardly anything about Dobby. And I'd love to see something from Snape too!

• Head to Islands of Adventure and to Hogwarts and Hogsmeade
• Ride Hagird's Motorbike
• Ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
• Take the Hogwarts Express to London
• Lunch at the Leaky Cauldron
• Watch a show in Diagon Alley
• Explore the shops
• Castle Illumination
• Diagon Alley at night
• Head to Universal Studios for Diagon Alley
• Take the Hogwarts Express to Hogsmeade
• Lunch at the Three Broomsticks
• Watch the Triwizard Spirit Rally
• Watch Hogsmeade light up at night

There are plenty of Easter Eggs and hidden gems all around, which makes the parks all the more fun!

Just knock on the door of 12 Grimmauld Place and Kreacher the House Elf will peak out his head!

At the red telephone booth , dial M-A-G-I-C for a special message.

Knockturn Alley is definitely a hidden gem! But amke sure to head inside Borgin & Burkes to discover the Vanishing Cabinet Malfor yses in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince! You can still hear the birds inside. Actually, Universal shared that about 90% of the props on the second level of Borgin and Burkes are from the films!

Platform 9 3/4 on your way from King's Cross Station into the Hogwarts Express and on to Hogsmeade is just so cool! Mrs. Weasley’s words here, “Best do at it a bit of run if you are nervous!” As I did!

The troll armor that hangs in an area beside the Hopping Pot was forged by a real blacksmith and took eight months to create!!

The interactive wands area magic ! I opted not to buy one but plenty of others did! You can watch them do masgic at various points throughout the parks. For example, at Slug & Jiggers Apothecary: wave your wand in the right-hand window displaying dragon dung and behold as the lid levitates autonomously while emanating a scent of fertilizer ideal for Herbology class. Moreover, “Incendio” is capable of igniting lanterns on Flimflam's Lanterns' second floor situated at Horizont Alley's end; whereas “Wingardium Leviosa” enables one to lift Scribbulus' feather quill by their window.

Hogwarts was made possible due to the Four Founders – and you can experience their presence if you wait in line for Harry Potter and theForbidden Journey. As soon as you enter, look up towards the tall ceiling of this room where they come alive before your eyes!

Make sure to drop by the Owl Post while you're in Diagon Alley! You can find quills, ink, stationery and even exclusive Harry Potter-themed stamps here. The postmark stamping is complimentary when you buy your own mail or purchase them right at the Owl Post store – just next door to Ollivanders wand shop! So make sure not to miss out on this unique opportunity of sending mail straight from one of our favorite magical worlds!

In Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment , you'll find a barometer was used twice in the Harry Potter films: in Dumbledore’s office ( Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ) and in the Room of Requirement ( Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows ).

And, of course, in the bathrooms you can head Moaning Myrtle !

There is a group on Facebook called “Universal Magic” that hides trinkets and souvenirs throughout Harry Potter world for guests to take… and I found one! So cool!

These are just a few of the hidden gems around The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Orlando. With all that's

The most important thing to bring is a sense of adventure! But you'll also want to be prepared with enough sunscreen. And don't forget to pack your wand and/or camera for all the amazing photo ops!

Here's some things I'm really glad I had at the park:

• Belt bag/fanny pack – was so nice to be hands free AND I didn't need to store anything in lockers – saves time
• Stick sunscreen – I'm a big fan of this when I travel
• Waterbottle
• Wand – I brought my own in and didn't buy one but you can buy an interactive one at Ollivander's because it's pricey. But mine was not interactive

Some other posts that you might be interested in:

Best Places to Travel if You Love Harry Potter

Full Guide Warner Brothers Harry Potter London Studio Tour

So there you have it! Your full guide to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando! I hope this itinerary helps you plan the perfect trip.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Helene Sula

I believe that one trip can change your life. It did for me. I'm a self proclaimed home body that quit her job, moved abroad, and more often than not, lives out of a carry-on bag. If I'm not traveling, I'm most likely re-reading Harry Potter or watching "Midnight in Paris" while snuggling my dogs. I'm a digital marketing expert who turned my love of travel into a full-time career. And I help others do it too.

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The ultimate guide to visiting the wizarding world of harry potter orlando.

Thank you Expedia for sponsoring this post. Book your travel on Expedia.com to save with the Add-On Advantage!

If you’re visiting Universal Studios Orlando, be sure to read this ultimate guide to visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Unlock the secrets and find out how to save money on your stay and get the most out of your time in this magical place. 

For Abbi’s 12th birthday this year, I knew I wanted to do something epic. She loves birthdays and I am not a great party planner or a fantastic celebrator of holidays. They just take SO much effort and money. I knew that I’d have to budget and plan well for this trip.

Abbi has loved Harry Potter since she was little. During our first trip to Europe, we spent hours driving through Europe listening to all the Harry Potter Books in the car. Then we would watch the movies, and when she got a little older she read the books on her own. Needless to say, we are all kind of huge nerds about Harry Potter.

She has wanted to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter for a long time. So I secretly planned a trip just for her and me! And Harry Potter World turned out to be everything we hoped for and more! Here’s is everything I wish I’d known before going.

Where is Harry Potter World?

There are actually two! One in California and one in Orlando, Florida, not far from Disney World.  We visited the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Orlando. This is the original Harry Potter land, and also the biggest. Learn more about what to do in Orlando with teens .

I bought my flights through Expedia , one of the world’s leading full-service online travel brands.  Their flight search engine was fast and efficient and I was able to find great flights from Washington DC to Orlando. I waited to book our hotels, knowing that the Expedia Add-On Advantage would be coming to me in a few days!

The Expedia Add-On Advantage is a program that offers hotel savings on select properties that are instantly unlocked up until the start of your trip. They will be sent to your email several days after you purchase a flight or package, or book a rental car.

The hotels they sent for us were killer deals! We booked a room at the Allure resort, less than a mile from Universal Studios, for only $44/night! The hotel stay needs to occur within the travel dates of the flight, car or package purchase, but the Add-On Advantage deals are always amazing.

I love the Add-On Advantage because it takes the pressure off of having to pay for the entire trip at once. I booked my flights, then booked the hotel the following week using the Expedia Add-On Advantage.

Transportation

Honestly, if you plan on just doing the parks in Orlando, I don’t recommend renting a car. A Taxi, UBER or Lyft ride from the airport will cost about $25 as well as the ride back. Most hotels have free shuttles to the parks and if you are staying close to the parks a ride there will cost about $7 each way. By the time you pay for a rental car plus parking, it ends up being more cost effective to not rent a car.

If you do rent a car, be sure the check the Expedia Add-On Advantage for awesome deals on rental cars.

We did rent a car for one day that we weren’t doing the parks to go to Daytona Beach and take a dip in the ocean. The beach is about an hour away by car and the warm water and white sand is totally worth the drive.

Tips for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

As this was my first visit, I want to share all my Wizarding World of Harry Potter tips that I wish I’d known before we went. I don’t recommend just showing up without knowing anything. These tips will save you money and help you make the most of your time.

One World, Two Parks, Massive Headache

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter consists of two separate sections of two separate theme parks. Sound confusing? That’s because it is. Instead of creating ONE “world” contained in ONE theme park, Universal Studios Harry Potter cleverly divided their most popular attractions between TWO theme parks, requiring you to purchase a park hopper ticket to see all of it. Well played Universal, well played!

The two halves of the Wizarding World are divided between Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley in Universal Studios and are connected by the Hogwarts Express, which is not only a shortcut between parks, but a ride in itself.

If you want to ride the Hogwarts Express, you MUST buy a park hopper! I made this mistake and bought tickets to spend one day in each park, but since they weren’t park-hopper tickets, we couldn’t ride the Hogwarts Express. We ended up “downgrading” our tickets to just a one-day park hopper so that we could see both parks in one day and ride the Hogwarts Express. Totally worth it by the way!

If you are coming solely to spend time in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, I suggest buying a one-day park hopper ticket, as both sections of the world can easily be thoroughly explored in one day.

Buying Tickets to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

We like to buy our theme park tickets with Getaway Today. They are a trusted company and have the best deals out there. You can also book your Universal tickets and hotel together in a vacation package, which can save you a lot of money. You can purchase Universal packages here and Universal tickets here.  

• Arrive at Universal Studios Harry Potter World before the park opens
• Start at Hogsmeade, go to Diagon Alley at noon, then go back to Hogsmeade in the evening.
• Buy an interactive wand. There will be fun little stops in both parks where you can do some of your own magic.
• Lockers are available for the Harry Potter and Gringott’s rides. They are free for the duration of the ride.
• Bring a fannypack if you can to avoid having to use the lockers as the space gets extremely crowded! Fawn Design makes my very favorite fannypack!

I’m dividing this guide into two sections: Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley

Hogsmeade (Islands of Adventure)

I recommend starting and ending your day in Hogsmeade. If you have early access because you are staying in a Universal property, this will only allow you early access to Universal Studios. Sure the half-hour extra is great, but what I’ve found is that it’s more crowded by the time the park opens. Sure, it’s great for those first 30 minutes, but so is Islands of Adventure. So ESPECIALLY if you don’t have early access, head to Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure first thing!

The park opens at 9 AM, but they let us in around 8:30. The fastest route to Harry Potter is to go to the right once you enter the park and take a sharp left when you hit Seuss Landing.

Islands of Adventure is home to Hogsmeade where you’ll find the quaint town with snow-covered pitched roofs, Hogwarts Castle and lots and lots of butterbeer!

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey: This ride inside of Hogwarts Castle is an interactive ride that will bring you on a journey through Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and on a forbidden journey as you ride along on your very own broomstick with your favorite characters. The line for this ride can get crazy. I recommend going straight here first thing in the morning. Your wait will only be the time it takes you to walk to the ride entrance.

Flight of the Hippogriff:  Don’t blink, this brief ride lasts approximately 1 minute and 6 seconds. I recommend doing this ride first thing in the morning right after Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Be sure to spot Hagrid’s cottage and Buckbeak’s nest while you’re in line.

The Hogwarts Express: Used as an amazing shortcut between Hogsmeade (Islands of Adventure) and Diagon Alley (Universal Studios), the Hogwarts Express is a ride in itself. Note: you MUST have a park-hopper ticket to ride the Hogwarts Express!  

This quick train ride will take you on a journey from Hogsmeade to King’s Cross Station, London, where you’ll make your way through Platform 9 3/4, into London, and through the brick wall to Diagon Alley. You’ll ride in your very own carriage car with several others. The cars look just like the movie. I don’t want to give away too much, but it’s worth a ride!

The best part of Hogsmeade, for me at least, is all the adorable shops! Not necessarily what’s IN the shops, but just the detail that has been put into each shop. In Hogsmeade you will find:

• Honeydukes: This adorable harry potter candy store is full of all the goodies from the Harry Potter books and films including Sugar Quills, Exploding Bon Bons, Fudge Flies, Candy Floss, U-No-Poo, Chocolate Frogs, Pepper Imps, Bertie Bots Every Flavor Bean, Fizzing Whizbees, Peppermint Toads and more.

• Olivander’s: This wand shop, owned by Olivander is where Harry Potter receives his wand (well the wand chose him really). Although the original Olivander’s was in Diagon Alley, there is one located in Hogsmeade as well. At Olivander’s you can participate in your own wand choosing ceremy, where a wand can choose you if you’re lucky enough to be picked. I recommend going right after you ride the two rides first thing in the morning to avoid a long wait. The less people in your group, the better chance you have of being chosen.Abbi was lucky enough to be chosen in the ceremony and we purchased her $55 Interactive Wand which we used all over Hogsemeade and Diagon Alley.

• Zonko’s Joke Shop: Full of fun novelty gifts and other souvenirs.
• Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods: A souvenir shop
• Dervish & Bangs: Souvenir Shop

• Owl Post: Look out for the nesting owls and the Howler! Send your own postcards to be sent by owl to friends and family with an official Hogsmeade postal stamp!

I’ll be honest, after my experience at Disneyland Paris, I was slightly worried about starving to death while at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I am not generally a fan of overpriced theme park food, but the food here was actually incredible and consisted of a legitimately British menu with items like Fish & Chips, Full English Breakfast, Bangers & Mash, Meat pies, Pasties, and Sticky Toffee Pudding. It was such a happy surprise for me and I wish I could have gone back an extra day just to try all the menu items.

• The Three Broomsticks: This is the main restaurant in Hogsmeade and offers a fantastic variety of British food. The cozy snow-capped in is decorated to look like an old tavern and it’s so well done. We came here for breakfast after doing the two rides and Olivander’s. By this time it was around 9:30 AM.

The portions are large. The two of us split the full English Breakfast which consists of eggs, bacon, sausage, blood pudding, beans, tomatoes, mushrooms and a croissant. We couldn’t even finish it. We also ordered pumpkin juice which is my new favorite thing.  SO GOOD (I actually liked it better than butterbeer)!

• Hog’s Head: At this bar, you can get classic Butterbeer, Pumpkin Juice, and other grown-up drinks.
• Neeps: These little stands in Hogsmeade will offer bottled drinks and snacks. There was a wide variety of fresh fruit, which I was so grateful for after all that Butterbeer!
• Butterbeer: There are several Butterbeer stalls in Hogsmeade where you can get cold Butterbeer or (my favorite) Frozen Butterbeer, which is like a Butterbeer Slushie. I’m still dreaming about it!

Diagon Alley

Around noon, I recommend heading to Diagon Alley. Take the Hogwarts Express, pass through Platform 9 3/4 and into King’s Cross Station. As you exit the station, you will find yourself in “London,” which is super adorable! Make your way through the brick wall that opens up to Diagon Alley. As adorable and well-done as Hogsmeade is, Diagon Alley is over the top perfection with the detail. You’ll be greeted by tall crooked buildings, and a dragon towering over the palatial Gringott’s Bank!

I recommend going to Diagon Alley during the hotter part of the day as it feels more shaded, and you can escape to “Knockturn Alley” and into near-darkness and cool bliss!

Rides (or ride, really)

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts: This is the only ride we waited in a long line for. At the busiest time of day, the wait was 45 minutes. We went a second time and did the single rider line. It was about 30 minutes. It was well worth the wait though as this was our favorite ride of the day! It incorporates all the interactive parts of the Hogwarts ride, but the movements of this one are faster and more exciting. It’s such a long wait because it’s the only ride in Diagon Alley.

The shops at Diagon Alley are so well done! They are whimsical and spooky and totally magically make you feel like you’ve been transported into another world. Pay attention to all the little details and spend a good few hours wandering the crooked streets.

• Gringott’s Money Exchange: Come here first thing to exchange your Muggle Money for Wizard currency to spend in Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade. The money comes in denominations of $10 or $20 and is an even exchange. You can make the exchange using cash or card. It’s just a fun thing to do, especially if you’re giving the kids spending money.
• Shutterbuttons: At this cute photo studio you can create your own moving pictures just like the ones in Harry Potter.
• Borgin & Burkes: This spooky shop in Knockturn Alley sells objects and oddities for the dark arts. Or really just spooky T-shirts.

• Weasleys’ Wizardly Weazes: This was Abbi’s favorite shop. Full of fun pranks, jokes, and gifts. Watch for Professor Umbridge swinging from the ceiling.
• Quality Quidditch Supplies: Find everything you’ll need to play the most popular sport of the wizarding world, Quidditch!

Madam Malkin’s Robes for all Occasions: Find all the best wizarding wardrobe essentials.

• Magical Menagerie: Come here to adopt your own furry magical friend.

Wands by Gregorovitch: The “other” wand shop and rival to Ollivander. Find interactive wands here as well.

• Sugarplum’s Sweet Shop: This cute little candy store has all the same fun Harry Potter themed candy that Honeyduke’s has.

There are plenty of great food and treats in Diagon Alley, and don’t forget the Butterbeer!

• The Leaky Cauldron: Find more traditional British fare here, such as fish & chips, meat pies, and more! Be sure to take a picture with the giant leaky cauldron.

• The Fountain of Fair Fortune: A bar carrying Butterbeer, Pumpkin Juice, and adult beverages.
• Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlor: Find magical ice cream flavors at Florean’s! Soft serve Butterbeer ice cream is a favorite, but you can get Clotted Cream, Granny Smith, Earl Grey and Lavender, Chocolate Chili, Sticky Toffee Pudding, Salted Caramel Blondie, Chocolate and Raspberry, and more.

Once you’re finished wandering Diagon Alley, hop back on the Hogwarts Express and head back to Hogsmeade. Wander the town some more then settle yourself on the bridge to Jurrasic Park to watch the light show on Hogwarts Castle.

Hopefully, this guide to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter was helpful to you. There are tons of other rides in both Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios, but we only stuck to Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. Beyond the rides, shops, and food, there are so many beautiful little details all around both parks. I hope you spend time just wandering!

Don’t forget to book your flight and car through Expedia and then book your discounted hotel through the Expedia Add-On Advantage. Check out even more Universal Studios tips.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Wanderlust Crew

2 thoughts on “ the ultimate guide to visiting the wizarding world of harry potter orlando ”.

Love it!! I tried the Earl Grey/lavender ice cream there last year and it was heavenly. I can’t wait to go back next month and have some more.

Yum! I love their ice cream flavors!

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Two Sisters Abroad

two sisters exploring the world

11 Essential Tips for Visiting Harry Potter World in Orlando

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Florida is such a fun and exciting place to visit! But planning a trip to Harry Potter World can be stressful! That’s where this guide comes in – it will share all of the best tips for Harry Potter World and as well as our best tips and tricks for planning your amazing vacation!

Sound good?

Let’s get right into the Harry Potter World tips! 

Tips for Visiting Harry Potter World

Buy park hopper passes.

There are two different areas of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and they are located in two separate parks. Diagon Alley is located in Universal Studios, and Hogsmeade and Hogwarts Castle is in Island of Adventure. 

The Hogwarts Express train runs back and forth between the two parks, but you can only ride it if you get park hopper passes . 

Park hopper passes are a little more expensive, but are definitely worth it for the Hogwarts Express. 

If you’re visiting Universal Studios for multiple days, you can save money by just getting park hopper passes for one day in order to be able to ride the Hogwarts Express. 

Don’t get Express Passes the First Day

If you’re visiting on a weekday and you have more than one day to spend at Harry Potter World, I don’t recommend getting Express Passes on the first day. 

This is for two main reasons. One, they’re very expensive – an extra $79.99 – $109.99 per person, per day. 

Second, on weekdays, the lines for rides aren’t always super long, especially in the morning. 

For example, on a Friday morning in both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, I never waited more than 20 minutes to get on a ride. Personally, it was fine with me to wait 15-20 minutes for a ride instead of spending an extra $100. 

If you find that the park is very busy on your first day, visit all of the shops and restaurants and buy Express Passes for the next day, so you can easily go on all the rides. 

Visit for at Least Two Days

While it is possible to see both sections of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in just one day, it will feel a little rushed – especially if you want to go on all the rides. 

Because of this, I recommend spending at least two days at the park. Personally, I think two days is the perfect amount of time, but someone who loves going on rides will probably enjoy spending 3+ days between the parks.

Visit in the Colder Months

Florida, and Orlando specifically, gets extremely hot and humid during the summer. Because of this, I recommend visiting in the fall or winter when it’s more mild. 

Standing in line when it’s 90 degrees, sunny and humid is not super enjoyable – and it will definitely make your time at the park a little less pleasant. 

Even during the winter months you’ll have temperatures in the 70s, which personally I think is perfect for visiting a theme park.

Download the Universal App

When you enter the park you can grab a paper map to find your way around, but an easier option is to download the Universal App. 

The app is really great, as in addition to having a digital map, it also tells you wait times at rides and attractions. This is a great way to plan your stops and see which rides you should visit when! 

The app also tells you what time various shows begin, which is very helpful!

Head to the Most Popular Rides First Thing in the Morning

In order to get the shortest wait times, I recommend heading to the most popular rides first thing in the morning. 

If you’re staying in a Universal Studios Hotel, you get to enter Island of Adventure Park (Harry Potter World: Hogsmeade) an hour early. 

In Hogsmeade you’ll find the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride (in Hogwarts Castle), Flight of the Hippogriff and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. 

If you go to Universal Studios first, home of Diagon Alley, head directly to the Escape from Gringotts ride. This is the most popular attraction in Diagon Alley, and the line can get long quickly.

Stay at an On-Site Hotel

As mentioned above, staying at a Universal Studios on-site hotel has certain perks. For example, you get to enter Island of Adventure (Harry Potter World: Hogsmeade) an hour before the park officially opens. 

Additionally, each of the on-site hotels offers free transportation to the parks, either by shuttle or water taxi. The transportation options are fantastic, and make getting to the park super easy. 

Lastly, the more luxury accommodations, such as Loews Portofino Bay Hotel , Loews Royal Pacific Resort and the Hard Rock Hotel , provide guests with free, unlimited Express Passes for each day they are in the park. 

During my most recent stay, I stayed at Universal Endless Summer: Surfside Resort . This is the most budget friendly of the hotels offered  – along with its sister hotel across the street: Universal Endless Summer: Dockside Resort . 

Although Universal Endless Summer: Surfside Resort is considered a “value” option, it was very clean, comfortable and well decorated! Additionally, it’s only 5 minutes by free-shuttle to the park entrance. 

I definitely recommend this hotel to anyone visiting Universal Studios. It’s great for families, couples and groups of friends. 

Click here for Universal Endless Summer: Surfside Resort rates and to book! 

You Can Share a Wand

When visiting Harry Potter World, part of the fun is getting a wand from Olivander’s shop. There are so many to choose from and it’s such a unique experience. 

Around both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade you will be able to use your wand to perform spells, and they’re honestly pretty cool! You can make water shoot from fountains, flowers bloom, and make a music box play – just to name a few. 

That being said, the wands are expensive, at $60 each. I recommend picking out one wand per group, and sharing it to perform the spells. 

It might be a little less special to not have your own wand, but you realistically won’t use it again when you leave the park.

Try the Fun Treats – But They’re Not All Great

The most exciting part of Harry Potter World, for me, is all of the fun wizarding treats (especially the butterbeer!) 

I made it my personal mission to try as many of the treats as possible, and many were very good! However, some were also super disappointing. 

Check out my full post about the Best Treats and Butterbeer Snacks to Eat at Harry Potter World !

But as a quick preview: 

• Definitely have lunch at the Leaky Cauldron or the Three Broomsticks
• Have butterbeer ice cream from Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour 
• Drink butterbeer at the Hogshead 
• Have a Fizzy Orange Juice at the Hopping Pot

Eat Lunch Early (or late) to Miss the Lunch-Rush 

The service at both the Leaky Caldron and the Three Broomsticks is relatively quick, likely due to the semi-limited menu. However, the lines get very long around 12pm. 

In order to avoid waiting in line for lunch, I recommend going early, around 11am, or later in the day, after 3pm. 

The food at these restaurants isn’t gourmet or life changing, but it’s such a fun experience to eat at both. I definitely recommend making time for it!

Check Out All the Shops

I could spend all day at Harry Potter World walking around and checking out all of the fun and unique shops. A few of my favorites are definitely Sugarplum’s Sweet Shop (Diagon Alley), Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes (Diagon Alley) and Honeydukes (Hogsmeade.) All of these are candy/sweet shops – so I think it’s pretty clear what my favorite kind of store is! 

However, in addition to the fun candy shops, there are also lots of souvenirs you can buy, including wands, robes and other collectables. 

Many of the shops in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade sell similar items, but each shop has its own unique souvenirs. I recommend checking out all of the shops first, and then going back to buy your favorite items. 

PRO TIP: When purchasing items in Universal Studios and Island of Adventure, ask for them to be “sent to the front of the park.” This means that your purchases will be sent to City Walk (where you exit the park) and will be waiting for you after you leave the park for the day! 

I highly, highly recommend this option! It makes it so much easier not to have to carry tons of bags around the park with you. 

If you’re staying at an on-site hotel, and are staying for multiple days, you will also have the option to have your purchases sent directly to the hotel’s front desk! This is another fantastic option, and something to absolutely take advantage of. 

When planning a trip to Harry Potter World, one of my biggest tips is to save room in your suitcase! I really didn’t plan on buying anything – but I ended up with lots of candy, a wand and souvenirs for friends. Trust me, you’ll definitely purchase things as well!

Quick Harry Potter World Tips and Facts to Know

• Universal Studios: Diagon Alley 
• Island of Adventure: Hogsmeade 
• Get tickets in advance, and keep the QR codes on your phone 
• You have early access to Island of Adventure (8am) if you’re staying at an on-site hotel 
• The parks close at varying times throughout the year, from 6pm onwards 
• City Walk is open very late, it closes between midnight and 2am

Harry Potter World FAQ

• I highly recommend staying in one of the Universal Studios on-site hotels as they come with many perks, like early park entry! There are tons of options to fit many budgets . 
• Ticket prices range depending on the number of days you’re visiting the park. The more days you visit the park, the less expensive daily tickets become. Click here for prices and ticket packages. 
• Diagon Alley, in Universal Studios, in my opinion is slightly better than Hogsmeade in Island of Adventure. This is because it’s less compact, and there are more shops and places to eat. Hogwarts Castle is located in Hogsmeade though, and there are more rides in this part of the park, so it does come down to personal preference. 
• You don’t need specific tickets for Harry Potter World, as they are parts of other parks. 
• As mentioned above, I recommend park hopper tickets so you can move between parks on the Hogwarts Express. 
• You can only take the Hogwarts Express if you have park hopper tickets, as it moves between parks. 
• I recommend spending at least two days in the parks, visiting both parks on both days.

Other posts to check out for planning a trip to Harry Potter World:

• The Ultimate Universal Studios Photo Spots and Instagram Guide
• The Best Treats and Butterbeer Snacks at Universal Studios, Harry Potter World

Note: This post includes affiliate links. Read our disclosure  here .

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13 comments.

Love Harry Potter. We went to Universal and Island of Adventures back in 2014, months before the Hogwarts Expressed opened. Gutted!

Wow! Didn’t realized this place exist in Orlando! I’m a huge Harry Potter fan! Looks like I know where to go next! Thanks for your article.

Harry Potter World is sooo fun! Thanks for all this helpful trip planning information!

I consider myself a HP world expert but had never heard of sending your purchases to the front! Such a great tip so that you don’t have to carry things around

I absolutely agree with getting to the popular rides in the am and staying two days! Great tips!

I live in Orlando and Harry Potter World has easily become one of my favorite places! Great article.

This was so helpful! Excited to visit HP world soon!

Great guide for Harry Potter World. I haven’t been to the Orlando parks since I was a child, but this looks like a fun place for a Harry Potter fan!

Totally worth it to get the park hopper pass – the Hogwarts Express is a can’t-miss for any Harry Potter fan! Also the suggestion to have your meals at the off hours is a great tip – we found that gave us the best chance to actually enjoy the food and not feel rushed. Thanks for this great post.

Oh my gosh I’ve wanted to go to Harry Potter World for so long! It looks incredible. Your tips like not getting an express pass for weekdays and downloading the app are genius – I didn’t know about these things before. Thank you!

Wow! This looks like such a fun park. I imagine that the rides are amazing. I’ve read all the books and seen all of the movies and the scenes would lend themselves to very imaginative rides. And, I too, would love the Butterbeer.

I am a big Harry Potter fan and I have visited the London studios. I must say that after reading your article, I will definitely visit the Orlando one when I’ll be nearby. It looks amazing!!!

I am a huge #potterhead this looks like such fun! I’ve only been to the London studio tours and that is small scale compared to this, definitely visiting Orlando for the sole purpose of HP World in my lifetime haha!

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Harry Potter World Tips and Itinerary

Due to the global pandemic, travel looks different right now depending on where you're going from/to. Please check for travel restrictions and adhere to all local guidelines before planning a trip to any destination you may read about on this site.  Please note: this post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase something by clicking the links, I will get a small compensation, at no extra cost to you.

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Ever since the first Wizarding World was built way back in 2010, I’ve been itching to visit. I absolutely love the books and movies and honestly, just the whole universe. Finally, over 10 years later, I got an opportunity to speak at a conference in Orlando for my PhD work (a great way to travel as a student ) and knew this was the magical moment I’ve been waiting for.

I spent two days soaking in all of the magic so I want to share a realistic 2 day Wizarding World itinerary packed with Harry Potter world tips. This Wizarding World guide is meant for first timers looking to pack in the magic and who are visiting the Universal Parks for Harry Potter. And don’t worry, I’ve since become a Universal Orlando Annual Passholder and have visited countless times, so I’m confident this itinerary is a good one!

First, let me answer some Wizarding World FAQ’s that I certainly had before visiting and some that I’ve seen while doing some research for this post. If you’re new here or a long-time reader, you know I like to plan all my trips in detail so no question is unanswered.

Where in Universal Orlando is Harry Potter World?

As an LA native , I was a bit overwhelmed when planning this trip because our Universal Studios in Hollywood is only one park…but Orlando has three!

Harry Potter world is (mischievously) split up between two parks – Universal of Florida and Islands of Adventure. You’ll find Diagon Alley and London in Universal of Florida and Hogsmeade Village and Hogwarts in Islands of Adventure.

The last Universal park is Volcano Bay (a water park) and you won’t find any Harry Potter stuff there.

Is a park hopper really necessary?

If you’re visiting for only one day, then yes, you definitely want a park hopper. This way you can hit up both areas of the Wizarding World.

If you’re visiting for 2 days, it’s really up to you but here’s why I would still say yes to getting a park hopper.

First, you can only ride the Hogwarts Express with a park hopper because it travels between Universal of Florida and Islands of Adventure (to/from Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley). This train is an experience in and of itself that changes each direction so you want to be able to ride it both ways.

Second, having the flexibility of a park hopper is really priceless. We bounced back and forth regularly depending on crowd levels and weather and we couldn’t have done that without the park hopper.

For example, on our first day, we started in Hogsmeade but because it started raining a TON the outdoor rides closed. So we jumped over to Universal of Florida to ride some of their indoor rides like the Fast and the Furious, Jimmy Fallon’s Race through New York, and more!

Related read >> How many days do you need for your Universal Orlando vacation

Where is Hogwarts?

Hogwarts is located behind Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure, which makes sense given Hogsmeade is the spot where Hogwarts students had field trips to.

Similarly, the London section of Harry Potter World is located outside Diagon Alley, which again makes sense given that’s where Diagon Alley is located…hidden in London.

Is the wait time for Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure really worth it?

Look, I felt the exact same way. There’s no way a 90+ minute wait time can be worth it. I mean how can it?

Hate to burst your confidence bubble, but holy cow is it worth it!

This ride is TOP TIER. I would honesty put it on the same level as Rise of the Resistance in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge .

The premise is that you’re riding on Hagrid’s motorcycle where one person is on the bike and the other person is in the sidecar.

I won’t give too much away so I don’t spoil it, but if you like roller coasters and thrill rides, I urge you to prioritize this ride. You won’t regret it! ( signed someone who stubbornly waited in line for 90 minutes ).

How late can you park hop in Universal Orlando?

On our final day as the sun was setting counting down the minutes until the parks closed, we were in Hogsmeade on the Hogwarts Express trying to go see Diagon Alley at night. Unfortunately, the train had technical difficulties so we had to get off.

We decided to book it over to the neighboring park instead of waiting for the train. But with less than an hour to park closing, I was worried they had a cut off time for park hopping…meaning they wouldn’t admit people past a certain time.

Well, thankfully I was wrong. I’m happy to report that you can enter the park even minutes before it closes.

All this to say, don’t be afraid to park hop late in the day.

Which rides are in which parks?

Hogsmeade (Islands of Adventure) has Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and Flight of the Hippogriff.

Diagon Alley (Universal Studios Florida) has Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts.

Both parks have the Hogwarts Express which travels to and from each park.

What should I bring to the parks?

I’m a big fan of day bags when it comes to theme parks. Here’s what you absolutely need:

• park ticket
• sunglasses (or some Luna Lovegood spectrospecs sunglasses )
• water bottle
• medications

And here are some non-essentials that I like to bring:

• anti-friction stick
• hand sanitizer
• external battery and charger ( this one has both built in)

And of course, be sure to leave room for all the Wizarding World souvenirs you’re bringing home with you.

2-day Wizarding World Itinerary

The purpose of this 2-day itinerary to the Wizarding World is to help you structure your days and make sure you tick off the major to-do’s. There is so much packed into this world that it’s (rightfully) overwhelming.

There are a couple general things to keep in mind as you read this itinerary.

First, one of the most important parts to exploring the Wizarding World is visiting both sites in the day and night. You can either stick to one park a day or you can jump around with a park hopper.

Second, I’ll be discussing an itinerary as if you do have a park hopper and will be riding the Hogwarts Express each way. I’ll share some tips for accomplishing the parks without a park hopper at the end.

So aside from the rides, shops, and food, the main experiences we want to check off here are:

• Hogwarts express from Diagon Alley (Kings Cross Station) to Hogsmeade Village
• Hogwarts Express from Hogsmeade Village to Diagon Alley (Kings Cross Station)
• Diagon Alley during the day
• Diagon Alley at night
• Hogsmeade Village during the day
• Hogsmeade Village at night

Day 1 at Harry Potter World

Early morning at islands of adventure.

We’re going to start at Islands of Adventure where Hogsmeade Village and Hogwarts are.

You want to get to the park as early as possible.

*If you’re staying on site and have an early hour access, head to Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventures first.

If you don’t have the early hour, I’d avoid Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure at the start. For each day we visited, by the time the general public could get into the park, the wait time for Hagrid’s was already 2 hours. It will come down over the course of the day, so just wait it out. Tips on monitoring the wait time at the end.

Instead, head to Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. This ride has a short wait at the start of the day typically under 40 minutes, which is pretty good considering it can get up to 75 minutes or longer.

I absolutely loved this ride and you’ll find that the line doesn’t feel as long because the queue takes you through Hogwarts including Dumbledore’s office, the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, the Gryffindor common room, and more!

!Spoilers for the ride!

This ride is so unique! Combining replica sets from the movies with immersive videos, you sit in a single row that is attached to a large mechanical arm that can move you in all directions, even upside down! I absolutely loved this ride and highly recommend.

One tip for this ride, is that you truly cannot see anyone in your party when riding because of the seats and restraints. So, don’t be afraid to jump in the single rider line for a much shorter queue. It’s located just within Hogwarts – you’ll spot a sign pointing to the left.

After this ride, you can easily hop on Flight of the Hippogriff, a small, outdoor roller coaster.

I personally skipped this ride, because it didn’t seem to offer any special “Harry Potter” experience. It really just seemed like another little roller coaster.

Less Crowded Photo Opp of Hogwarts

At this point, head to the path toward the Jurassic Park area to snap some photos with Hogwarts castle. The wooden bridge here gets SUPER crowded as the day goes on so morning is the best time! Plus, the light will be working in your favor illuminating Hogwarts perfectly and not creating harsh shadows on your face.

Hogwarts Express to Diagon Alley

Head back into Hogsmeade Village and instead of looking in all the shops now, go straight to the Hogwarts Express to ride it to Diagon Alley.

I know this maybe feels rushed and all over the place, but it’s really best to knock out the rides and experiences with long wait times early in the day. The Hogwarts Express can get to be over an hour wait and the line is pretty drab making the long wait frustrating.

I promise we’ll have lots of time to peek into every nook and cranny!

Anyway, to Diagon Alley!

Hogsmeade Station doesn’t have any interactive line bits (like Kings Cross Station does) so just move on through and board the train.

Be sure to watch the window and the door where you entered the compartment. I won’t spoil anything, but it’s a fun ride.

Exploring London

Now that you’ve arrived at King’s Cross Station head out to London. This is a great section with lots of little details.

First take a left toward the main area and pass a red telephone booth. You may notice a line because if you go inside and dial M-A-G-I-C something happens! Again, I won’t spoil, but it’s worth waiting a few minutes for.

Next you’ll likely notice the large, purple Knight Bus, from the Prisoner of Azkaban. At the front, you’ll find a conductor in the purple getup and cap and next to him, a talking shrunken head. You can interact with them both.

Don’t forget to go to the back of the bus where you can get a less crowded photo op and actually look inside the bus!

Also in London, you’ll find 12 Grimmauld Place (house of Black and base of the Order of the Phoenix) where in the window above, you’ll notice Kreacher the house elf peeking out every now and again.

Once you’ve had your fill of London, find the brick archway that looks like it leads to a wall. You can walk around the wall and boom, you’re in Diagon Alley!

Lunch break!

If food is calling, I recommend the Leaky Cauldron or even holding off on Diagon Alley to stop by Springfield (The Simpsons area) for lunch.

At the Leaky Cauldron, you’ll find typical English fare like fish n chips, bangers and mash, and various stews and savory pies. They even have vegan stew and pasty pie!

At Duff Brewery, you can sample Duff beer from the Simpsons and have a corn dog for lunch. There is some nice seating along the edge of the lake making this spot a serene break from the Harry Potter world crowds.

Fully exploring Diagon Alley

A quick word on the areas of Diagon Alley so we can get properly oriented.

The main stretch is Diagon Alley itself, it curves around to the left with more shops and interactive wand experiences. You’ll find the Leaky Cauldron immediately to the left upon entering and lots of shops to explore with Gringotts Bank (and the dragon atop) in the center.

Just past the Leaky Cauldron is a dark archway that passes diagonally to the back left end of Diagon Alley. This very dark path is actually Knockturn Alley where you’ll find Borgin and Burkes and other dark arts displays and experiences.

Now to the right of Diagon Alley is Carkitt Market, a covered shopping center with a stage for live performances, lots of interactive wand experiences, and the Hopping Pot where you can get drinks.

The Universal Orlando FL app has maps that are your best friend here.

In Diagon Alley, first head to The Hopping Pot to the right around Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes (the bright orange building with huge man in the windows) at the edge of Carkitt Market.

Grab your first butterbeer here, or try some of the specialty draught beer Wizard’s Brew (stout) or Dragon Scale (lager).

For butterbeer, I highly HIGHLY recommend the hot butterbeer. It was easily our favorite one of the bunch no matter how hot the Florida days got. The next best was frozen butterbeer, then the regular cold.

Once you have your beverage, it’s the perfect time to peruse the shops and take in the ambience. You’ll hear lots of Harry Potter music playing providing a soundtrack to your experience. Feel free to hit the Spotify play button at the top of this post to get in the right head space while you’re planning now!

Head inside Gringotts Money Exchange to turn your muggle money into Gringotts bank notes. These are themed and act as gift certificates with a barcode that works throughout both parks. However, they also make for a great (and cheap) souvenir.

You can exchange $10 or $20.

Step inside Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment to check out the beautiful astronomy themed ceiling at the top right corner of Carkitt Market. My Ravenclaw heart was very happy in there.

You’ll find the cute wizard travel agency called Globus Mondi with themed luggage tags and other items. I loved the shop window here with lots of travel-themed flyers.

Owl Post is a kiosk that will mail your wizarding world purchases back home in themed wrapping. The tower is fun to watch as the owls move on occasion. Also watch out for the merfolk fountain in the middle of this area because the interactive wand experience casts a spell making water shoot out.

Around this corner is Wands by Gregorovitch. If you want a wand quickly without the crowds, this is a good spot to stop.

The Jellied Eel shop is right next door, a typically uncrowded photo opp.

In Diagon Alley itself, visit Quality Quidditch Supplies for brooms and jerseys, Sugarplum’s for all the wizarding candy, and my favorite, Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes for joke themed fare. You can buy love potions, pygmy puffs, and lots of candy with interesting side-effects like Puking Pastilles, Fever Fudge, and Nosebleed Nougat. These shops are at the beginning and right-hand side of Diagon Alley.

In the main alley, visit Ollivanders for their wand experience and shop. I actually did the experience at the Ollivander’s in Hogsmeade and was still moved to tears (literally)…so I don’t think it matters which location you visit for this.

Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions stocks every wizard outfit including full house robes, Hermione’s Yule Ball dress, and lots of house accessories like ties, headbands, and bags. And yes, you can purchase them all!

Shutterbutton’s is a photography studio where they’ll edit your photograph into moving pictures as a souvenir.

Catch the dragon atop Gringotts Bank spew fire every 10 minutes. Beware that the crowds will be very distracted and will take up the middle of every walkway, so just watch your surroundings. It is very loud and impossible to miss.

*Caution, small kids frequently get scared by this guy. I had a little fellow cling to my leg thinking I was his mom when the dragon went off, so if you have little ones, give them a bit of a warning or something.

Don’t forget to visit Knockturn Alley! This little section can go unnoticed if you aren’t looking for it. There’s an archway next to the Leaky Cauldron and another across from the bathrooms (next to the Potions window display).

Go through to see more interactive wand displays and Borgin and Burkes. This dark arts shop has lots of interesting merchandise but even if you aren’t planning to buy a Wizard World souvenir, check out the Vanishing Cabinet that you may remember from Half-Blood Prince and the displays, some of which rattle and make noise.

Note that it is INCREDIBLY dark in this area. It honestly helps to walk in then let your eyes adjust for a few minutes so you can actually see all the details. And come back at night so your eyes are already adjusted to darkness.

There are a couple shows you can catch in Carkitt Market as well including the Tales of Beedle the Bard or Celesina Warbeck and the Banshees. We caught both and I preferred the music by Celestina rather than the stage show of the Tales of Beedle the Bard. But, go for yourself and find out!

Once you’ve had your fill (impossible, I know), you can wander out of Diagon Alley and explore the rest of the park. We’ll be returning at night.

Universal Studios of Florida has a lot of small rides and many of them are screen based including Jimmy Fallon’s Race through New York and the Fast and the Furious. Check out the Men in Black ride, E.T., the Simpsons rides, Revenge of the Mummy, which was unfortunately closed while I visited, and more.

Dinner and night time at Diagon Alley

Once the sun starts to set, grab dinner before heading back to Diagon Alley to experience it at night. If you didn’t eat at the Leaky Cauldron earlier, dinner here is a great option! Alternatively, grab dinner at one of the many options in the San Francisco or New York sections before returning to the Wizarding World. Louie’s Italian Restaurant has vegetarian options and Richter’s Burger Co has a Beyond burger.

Now that it’s dark, time to explore Diagon Alley again! You might be saying, why? We literally just did that.

Trust me when I say, the magic reignites at night. The shop windows are beautiful at night. Certain things light up at night that you won’t see otherwise…like a lamp shop that only illuminates at night.

The dragon is spectacular at night. Knockturn Alley isn’t such a harsh contrast for your eyes in comparison to the daytime sunlight so you’ll probably actually be able to see everything at night.

Not to mention that as the park closes, Diagon Alley clears out. Carkitt Market is so magical at night when it’s empty. You can really take your time in the shops, observing all the details of the window displays and listen to the music.

I also recommend grabbing some butterbeer ice cream from Florean Flortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour to pair with your nighttime experience. In addition to butterbeer, they also have lots of unique flavors like toffee apple, chocolate chili, salted carmel blondie, and earl grey & lavender.

That concludes Day 1! You might be thinking, ummm…Alanna…you missed like a TON of things to do , even in Diagon Alley.

I promise it’s intentional.

Day 2 at the Wizarding World

Today, we’ll be doing the reverse of the first day. That is…starting in one park then taking the Hogwarts Express to the other and spending the remainder of the day there.

Escape from Gringotts

Let’s start in Diagon Alley in Universal Studios of Florida. We’re going to hop on Escape from Gringotts to start the day. This is the one ride in Diagon Alley and probably the one glaring thing we didn’t do yesterday.

The queue for this ride is just as detailed as the others. You’ll go inside Gringotts including the parts you don’t see in the movies.

This is a 4D ride with glasses, so as a regular seeing glasses-wearer myself, I recommend holding onto the 4D glasses while you ride. Because ya girl lost hers. Bellatrix sent our cart flying around a curve and off my 4D glasses went flying into the abyss. Oops. Don’t be like me…hang onto those puppies if you’re wearing them over your actual seeing glasses.

Hogwarts Express from King’s Cross Station

Once you’ve checked off this ride, wave goodbye to Diagon Alley because we’re headed to Hogsmeade Village.

Work your way out of Diagon Alley to London and over to King’s Cross Station where you’ll ride the Hogwarts Express to Hogsmeade Village. Hopefully it’s still early enough that the line hasn’t built up yet.

The queue itself is much more interesting than that in Hogsmeade Village.

You’ll see actual advertisements that are in the films, lots of vintage trunks including Harry’s, and you’ll even be able to “run through platforms 9 and 10” to get to 9 ¾. This works great for a video opp. To do it well, I recommend having someone stay back to record the video while everyone else proceeds through.

You can spot this moment when there looks to be a big sheet of glass randomly in the middle of some trunks and empty space. That’s actually key to the magic (read: illusion), so that’s your sign to take out your camera.

Hop on the Hogwarts Express and similarly to before, be sure to watch the window and compartment door. I personally thought this direction was a more fun experience, but they’re both worth the ride at least once.

Take in Hogsmeade Village

Welcome back to Hogsmeade Village!

We were here yesterday but only briefly, so now we can finally explore in detail. Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is the big to-do. I have some tips below on how to be notified when the wait is on the lower end. At any point if you get a notification throughout this part of the itinerary, hop in the line.

I was convinced that this ride was not going to be worth the wait. We waited almost 90 minutes! As we moved through the (just as beautiful and ornate) queue, I literally kept thinking, this is ridiculous, why are we wasting our time, there’s no way this is worth this wait.

…but then I rode it. And I would wait again right now if given the opportunity.

There are few rides that are god-tier. Rise of the Resistance in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is the only that comes to mind immediately and now Hagrid’s. I don’t mean to hype it up into oblivion, but I recommend holding your judgement and refraining from spoilers, then trusting that it’s an incredible ride.

I won’t spoil it but just know that if you like roller coasters this is about to be a new favorite.

Moving on, there are numerous shops here to explore and each is beautiful even if you don’t plan to purchase anything.

Honeydukes is first up on the left. This is the premier sweet shop full of Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Bean, Chocolate Frogs, handmade candies and sweets, and more! It’s a beautiful shop and very photogenic.

I walked out with a metal tin chocolate frog that came with 5 (!!) wizard trading cards, of which you actually can get a variety. They also sell cheaper chocolate frogs in paper packaging, also with trading cards.

Opposite Honeydukes is Dervish and Banges, a general store with lots of wizarding supplies and tools like Quidditch gear, robes, notebooks, and more. The highlight of this shop is a live Monster Book of Monsters in a cage in the center back. Watch him for a bit and he’ll move around chomping at nothing.

Owl Post is similar to that in Diagon Alley where you can ship your purchased merch home in themed packaging. They have an assortment of wands for purchase here too.

Ollivander’s is toward the back of Hogsmeade Village at the end of the shop row. You can attend a wand selection ceremony here just as you can in Diagon Alley, but it’s likely less crowded.

Outside Ollivander’s is a wand cart if you’re looking to shop wands in Hogsmeade Village with fewer crowds.

Lastly, is Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods with more prop replicas and merch, the idea here is that Professor Filch has confiscated these items so it’s fun to look around with that in mind.

Be sure to stop by one of the two butterbeer carts to take some photos and satisfy your butterbeer fix.

Attend a show at the stage toward the back of the Frog Choir or Triwizard Spirit Rally. Both are very fun and engaging. Check Universal Orlando app or map for updated show times.

Lunch options in Hogsmeade

When it’s time for a meal, the restaurant here is the Three Broomsticks. They have English food similar to the Leaky Cauldron, but with less options in my opinion. I enjoyed the potato and leek soup after getting utterly soaked in the rain. More on the fickle weather at the end in the Tips section.

You can get butterbeer, themed drinks, and beer here as well. However, if you’re in need of just a drink, stop in Hog’s Head right next door for quicker drink-only service.

Venturing to Islands of Adventure

While you wait for sunset, now is a good time to explore the rest of the park. The Jurassic Park area is right next door where you can ride the VelociCoaster, the River Cruise, and explore the Discovery Center, which is also a nice quiet area to sit and admire the view of the park’s lake.

I recommend trying the Jurassic World Isla Nublar IPA, a fruity IPA that was so refreshing! I seriously hate beer (and I’ve tried A LOT), but I could have probably actually drank this one!

The rest of the park, really warrants more time because there are lots of other involved worlds and rides like the Hulk in Marvel Super Hero Island and Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls, a fast water ride in Toon Lagoon.

On the opposite end of Hogsmeade, you can wander through The Lost Continent and ride Posideon’s Fury and explore Seuss Landing, a very fun themed area even for adults…the Cat in the Hat ride is a trip!

Hogsmeade lit up

Once the sun starts to set, head back to Hogsmeade where you’ll notice all the fun shop windows that come to life at night.

Similarly to Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade starts to clear out at night although it is more popular here at night because there is a nighttime light show on Hogwarts. To catch it with the best view, head to the bridge between Hogsmeade and Jurassic Park well before the show starts. It happens a few times at night, so don’t fret if you miss the first showing.

I also recommend hopping on Harry Potter and Forbidden Journey again while people are busy watching the show. The wait times can be very short at night.

That concludes the Wizarding World itinerary, but keep reading for tips to maximize your experience and have the best time!

Tips for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Recommended plan of attack for rides.

I’ve given my full itinerary, but in case you’re looking for just a plan of attack to get on the rides, I recommend jumping on Harry Potter and Forbidden Journey in the morning, first thing. Then Flight of the Hippogriff, followed by Escape from Gringotts. I’d split up the rides between the early morning and late at night.

As for Hagrid’s, I recommend setting up a wait time notification and squeezing it in whenever there’s an opportunity.

And don’t forget to count the Hogwarts Express in your rides, if you have a park hopper.

How to set up wait time notifications on the Universal FL app

First, you obviously need to download the app. Then select the ride via the “Rides” or “Map” page.

Once you’re on the ride’s page, scroll down and under “More Details” you’ll see “Wait Time Alert”.

Tap that to set an alert when the wait time reaches the shown number of minutes. To change that number swipe up or down on the number itself.

Then, instead of tapping the “Notify Me” text at the bottom (which is super misleading), you actually need to tap the “Set” button in the top right corner.

Now when the wait time drops at or below that time, you’ll get a notification. Then, you can book it over to that ride! This is great for Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure so you aren’t waiting longer than necessary.

I recommend setting it to:

• 60 minutes for Hagrid’s
• 35 minutes for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
• 30 minutes for Flight of the Hippogrifff 45 minutes for Escape from Gringotts

Locker lowdown

For some of the rides within Universal, you cannot bring any loose items on. This is the case with Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure, and Escape from Gringotts. They truly won’t let you proceed in the line until you’ve stowed your belongings in a locker.

So, there are lockers near those rides and throughout the parks at various attractions. There are two sizes: a standard-sized locker, which is 16.9 in x 14 in x 5.5 in and a large locker, which is 16.9 in x 13 in x 12 in.

You can use the standard size locker for free while you ride or up to 30 minutes. After the 30 minutes, it’s $3 for each additional 30 minutes. However, I did find that they were more generous on the free time based on the wait times of the rides.

The large lockers are only available for a fee. It’s $2 for 30 minutes then $3 for each 30 minutes after.

The maximum for each locker is $20 but there is no in and out privileges. So once you open the locker, the time starts over again. If you want daily lockers, there are some throughout the parks separate from the small collection by the rides.

To use the lockers, you need to scan your park ticket. You’ll need it to open the locker once you’re done on the ride as well, so be sure you don’t lock your ticket inside (or your phone with your ticket on it) !

A note on the sizes, if you have a fanny pack or something smaller, you can easily use the standard size lockers. However, if you have a larger purse that’s over 5 inches wide (like a Loungefly mini backpack ), you won’t be able to fit it inside the standard locker, so you’ll need to pay for a large locker.

How to experience the Wizarding World without a park hopper

I’ve mentioned above that I truly think a park hopper is worth the price for the Wizarding World. It’s incredibly convenient to travel on the Hogwarts Express between parks and it gives you way more flexibility if the weather throws a wrench in your itinerary.

Either way though, you’re going to need 2 days to see both areas of Harry Potter World.

However, if you don’t have a park hopper, I still recommend waiting for sunset to see each park during the day and at night.

In the morning, head to Escape from Gringotts or Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey then spend the rest of the day in that park making sure you return at night.

Tips for the fickle Florida weather

Look, Orlando weather has a mind of its own. It goes through every season daily it seems. It can be hot, humid, and sunny one minute and pouring rain the next. Seriously, this happens all the time.

But what does that mean for your itinerary? First, outdoor rides will close due to weather. That includes Flight of the Hippogriff and Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure. When that happens, the wait times for the other two indoor rides increases dramatically.

My tip here is to keep an eye on your weather app and look at predicted hourly weather. If rain is predicted in the next hour, I’d jump onto the indoor rides ASAP to avoid the rain crowd rush.

Not to mention, be sure to pack for Florida weather including rain gear. I like my Chaco’s for waterproof/quick drying park shoes.

Another tip is to invest in ponchos. Yes, I know they look tacky. But it rains A LOT in Florida.

When we visited, we were waiting outside in line for the Three Broomsticks and it started pouring (read: torrential downpour soaking us through our shoes). It was miserable. Like truly. The employee wouldn’t let us line up under the roof so we just got drenched. Our shoes were squishing for the rest of the day.

How could this misery been avoided? Ponchos. Yes, our shoes may have still gotten wet but it could have helped! Hot butterbeer to the rescue!

Finally, if the weather is predicting rain for one of the two days you plan to visit, I recommend dedicating that day to Universal Studios of Florida NOT Islands of Adventure.

There are more shops and covered areas in Diagon Alley like the entirety of Knockturn Alley and Carkitt Market. The one ride is indoors and many of the rides in the rest of the park are indoors. You may not see the dragon breathe fire, but that’s why park hoppers are so nice! You could try again another day.

Where can I get breakfast?

In case you missed it, when the park opened we booked it straight to the rides. So what about breakfast?

I’m a self-proclaimed hobbit and I don’t skip meals so breakfast has not been forgotten.

Instead, here’s a strategy. If you can eat at your hotel before heading to the park, that’s the best option. A full meal to give you energy to get to the Wizarding World quickly and with purpose.

You can also bring small snacks into the park so while you’re waiting in your first line, you can keep your snack outside of the locker to bring it with you.

If you’d rather wait on breakfast, do a ride first, then get breakfast at the Three Broomsticks or the Leaky Cauldron where they have full breakfast options like oatmeal, pancakes, bacon, eggs, the works!

We also enjoyed Cinnabon at the entrance to Islands of Adventure where we stopped after our first ride of the morning. Definitely more walking this way and could delay your timing for the Hogwarts Express to beat the lines but hey, a girls gotta eat!

Check out these other posts for planning your Universal Orlando trip:

• Guide to determining how many days in Universal Orlando is right for you
• Top snacks in Universal Orlando to try
• Best Harry Potter World souvenirs (that aren’t too expensive)
• 9 of the closest beaches to Universal Orlando for a beach break
• Ultimate guide to Halloween Horror Nights for first timers to the fog

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• Get Your Guide  – Check out Get Your Guide for a one-stop-shop for booking travel activities.
• Booking.com  – This is my favorite hotel search aggregator, specifically for reading reviews. On Booking.com , the reviews can be searched for keywords like WiFi, breakfast, pool, amenities, etc.! So helpful!
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Alanna Koritzke

Recent PhD graduate and hyper-planner of Periodic Adventures, my goal is to share travel inspiration, budget tips, detailed guides, and fun travel stories!

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WOW! SO MUCH FUN. THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE INFO. THIS IS DEFINITELY ON MY BUCKET LIST!

It really was SO MUCH FUN!

Elena Pappalardo

What a fantastically detailed and fabulous guide! Hagrid’s Motorbike adventure sounds amazing!

Thank you so much Elena! It was such an incredible ride!

I used your itinerary and had the absolute BEST time with my 10-year-old son! Thank you for all the details. This made our first visit just as magical as the books and made for a lifetime of memories for both of us.

I am genuinely SO HAPPY to hear that! I’m so glad you both had a wonderful, magical time!

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Tips for Visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

For Harry Potter fans, a trip to Universal Orlando Resort tops their list of vacation destinations. Potterheads have been wowed by the immersive theming of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter , which spans Universal Orlando's two theme parks. It includes Hogsmeade at the Islands of Adventure and  Diagon Alley  at Universal Studios Florida. You must by a  Park-to-Park ticket  or Annual Pass to be able to visit both parts of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, as well as access the Hogwarts Express.

Guests can travel between the two areas on the  Hogwarts Express , a full-scale replica of the train that appears in the film series.

At Islands of Adventure, Hogwarts Castle towers over Hogsmeade village, and inside the castle is the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride. You can also ride the Dragon Challenge dual roller coaster and the small-but-fun Flight of the Hippogriff. You can buy chocolate frogs in Honeydukes, or robes in Dervish and Banges.

At Universal Studios, a section of Potter's London has been recreated in Diagon Alley, an impeccably detailed street featuring shops, dining experiences, and a marquee ride called Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts . 

Top Tip: Arrive Early

Try really hard to be at the theme park when it opens. Lines get longer as the day wears on, so first thing in the morning is your very best chance of riding the marquee rides (Escape from Gringotts and Forbidden Journey) with little-to-no wait times. To get the earliest start possible, consider staying in one of the excellent Universal Orlando resorts. On many days, guests at these resorts get early admittance to one or both parks. In late August, for example, this means visitors enter Islands of Adventure at 8 a.m. and start enjoying the park when it is virtually empty. 

Know the Height Requirements

Much of the Wizarding World is made up of shops, dining, and a lot of really fun, immersive Potter theming . The marquee Harry Potter rides are incredible, but you'll save yourself time and possibly your children's tears if you know the height requirements for the rides before you go. 

Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure

• Forbidden Journey: minimum 48 inches
• Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure: minimum 48 inches
• Flight of the Hippogriff: minimum 36 inches

Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida

• Escape from Gringotts: minimum 42 inches

Hogwarts Express (transportation between the two parks): No minimum height

Don't Make it All About the Rides

Yes, the rides are wonderful, but it's the mind-blowing attention to detail that really makes the Wizarding World a beloved place for Potter fans. Two amazing details not to overlook:

• People really disappear through Platform 9 3/4 .  If you're taking the Hogwarts Express from  King's Cross Station , it's easy to miss one of the coolest special effects if you don't know where to look. Stand a bit back from the entrance to the tunnel leading to the train. The people in line ahead will appear to pass through a solid brick wall to Platform 9 3/4. Note: you can't see the effect as you walk through the tunnel, but those in line behind you will see it.
• There's a magic phone booth outside the train station. The red phone box outside of King's Cross Station makes for a great photo op, but few tourists will actually try to use the phone. If you dial MAGIC (62442), you'll be patched through to the Ministry of Magic.

How to Avoid Long Lines

Arriving early is your best bet to avoid lines for at least the first hour in the morning. But as the day progresses, crowds get bigger and lines get longer.

Another strategy is to visit Universal Orlando during one of the less crowded times of the year .

Normally, guests have three ways to bypass lines at Universal Orlando theme parks:

• Stay at a Universal Orlando Resort to gain complimentary Universal Express fast-track passes to popular rides
• Buy a Universal Express Plus Pass
• Take a VIP tour (at a premium price)

The Universal Express pass is now accepted for Harry Potter rides. You can skip the regular lines at most of your favorite rides and attractions, including both lands of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

The regular line can be quite long (especially later in the day). But there are a few ways you might shorten your wait time.

• Check to see if there are two lines, one for guests who need to store stuff in a locker before riding, and the other for those who can go directly to the ride. The no-locker lines move much more quickly. (This means, however, that you must visit the park without a day bag, which is next to impossible.)
• Look for single-rider lines, which move quickly. Note that you may not be able to ride with family members, so this is a better option if you have older kids. Also, at Forbidden Journey, you may miss the pre-ride tour of Hogwarts Castle, which is a highlight.

This brings up a key point about the line for the Forbidden Journey: once inside the castle, the line is an enjoyable experience as it's essentially a tour of Hogwarts with fun details such as talking portraits, special-effects appearances by Dumbledore and other characters, and a filmed introduction to the ride that features Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

Where to Buy a Wand

Many Harry Potter fans rush to Ollivanders to buy a wand, only to find a long line simply to enter the shop. This line leads to a one-person live performance inside the small shop where only a few dozen people at a time can fit, hence the slow-moving queue.

Ollivanders is a beautifully themed little shop, in which a costumed keeper picks one child from the audience for wand selection. A nice little performance ensues, as the wand chooses the child, not the reverse. This is a well-done vignette, but wait times can be lengthy. If your time is limited, ask yourself whether this is a must-do.

You can also buy wands from carts positioned outside Hogwarts Castle and in Diagon Alley or, to save even more time, you can buy interactive wands online from the Universal store before leaving home.

Where to Buy Souvenirs

As for souvenir shopping, guests at the Harry Potter theme park should definitely visit all the shops you'll find familiar from the books:

• Honeydukes and Sugarplum's Sweet Shop for candy
• Owl Post, where you can send mail
• Dervish and Banges which is crammed with robes, Gryffindor scarves, Ravenclaw t-shirts and all manner of merchandise for sale, and also has delightful details such as a caged biting book

Note, however, that all of these shops are small and can get very crowded. For an alternative, try shopping at Filch's Emporium of Confiscated Goods, in the lower regions of Hogwarts Castle: a much bigger store with some different merchandise. Some Harry Potter merchandise is also available at the large Port of Entry shop near the entrance/exit for Islands of Adventure; however, not all items can be bought there. Wands, for instance, are only available in the Harry Potter theme park itself.

Where to Eat

There are several places to eat in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

In Hogsmeade, The Three Broomsticks is a rustic English tavern where you can sample signature drinks—butterbeer, pumpkin juice, pear cider—along with a special Potter-themed menu including fish and chips, shepherd's pie, soup, salads, plus desserts such as apple pie and chocolate trifle. There's also a children's menu with favorites such as mac and cheese, fish and chips, and chicken fingers. Also inside the Three Broomsticks is Hog's Head, where grownups can try a special Harry Potter alcoholic brew. The outdoor eating area behind The Three Broomsticks is a quieter area to rest and sit down for a rest. If some members of your party want to ride coasters, others can relax in this area which can be reached without walking through the restaurant.

In Diagon Alley, the Leaky Cauldron is a quaint pub serving a menu of traditional British food including cottage pie, fish and chips, and bangers and mash, in addition to butterbeer and other signature drinks. There's also a children's menu with staples such as chicken fingers and mac and cheese.

Also in Diagon Alley, you can pop into Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream Parlour for scoops or soft-serve ice cream in flavors that run the gamut from the usual to the interesting. In the morning hours, continental breakfast items and pastries are available along with bottled pumpkin juice, teas, and water.

Stay Until Dusk

Toward the end of summer, the Islands of Adventure theme park closes at 8 p.m. (In higher attendance periods, the parks will stay open later, and night visits to theme parks are highly recommended.) Still, the 8 p.m. closing will give you the chance to be in the Harry Potter theme park area at dusk. The crowds dwindle a bit and your children can ride the coasters umpteen times in a row, and shops like Honeydukes look inviting, with lights on inside, and are less crowded. Meanwhile, Hogwarts Castle, looming high on its perch and illuminated within, looks nothing short of magical.

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Islands of Adventure: The Complete Guide

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Diagon Alley at Harry Potter World: The Complete Guide

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Best Times to Visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort

Whether you're looking for deals, great weather, or a break from the crowds, here's when to go.

Since 1971, Travel + Leisure editors have followed one mission: to inform, inspire, and guide travelers to have deeper, more meaningful experiences. T+L's editors have traveled to countries all over the world, having flown, sailed, road tripped, and taken the train countless miles. They've visited small towns and big cities, hidden gems and popular destinations, beaches and mountains, and everything in between. With a breadth of knowledge about destinations around the globe, air travel, cruises, hotels, food and drinks, outdoor adventure, and more, they are able to take their real-world experience and provide readers with tried-and-tested trip ideas, in-depth intel, and inspiration at every point of a journey.

So you didn't get an acceptance letter from Hogwarts on your 11th birthday. That's a shame, but you can still walk its majestic corridors and shop for treasures on Diagon Alley at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort (as well as other Universal Studios locations around the world). Deciding whether you should go is the easy part — a better question is when ?

Crowds, weather, and prices fluctuate throughout the year. Here's a glance at the tourist seasons.

• High Seasons: May through August, late October, and Thanksgiving through New Year's Day
• Shoulder Seasons: March through April, September through mid-October, and most of November
• Low Season: January through February

Visiting during the busy periods means waiting in long lines and paying high prices. Then again, some of the events that draw big crowds — namely those celebrating Halloween and Christmas — also make the attractions extra special. Here's when to visit "Harry Potter World" depending on the kind of trip you want.

Best Times to Visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter for Smaller Crowds

One thing about Universal Orlando is that it stays busy throughout much of the year. Not long after the spring breakers withdraw, the summer crowd comes, then the Halloween crowd, and then the Christmas and New Year crowd. January and February are about the only times when the resort is pretty quiet.

After the holidays are over, visitors are treated to shorter lines at the best Universal Orlando rides and more bargains, especially because ticket prices tend to surge during the busy season. If winter travel isn't your thing but you still want to avoid peak times, visit during the shoulder periods: March, April, and September as well as the earlier weeks of October and November (excluding spring break, Halloween, and Thanksgiving).

Whatever time of year you go, remember that crowds wax on the weekends and wane mid-week. The time of day also matters, with crowds reaching their peak at the hottest time of the day, about noon to 3 p.m. (so, there are two good reasons to take a break at this time). The resort is quietest first thing in the morning. You can even get in before the gates open with early admission, available for an extra fee or free to guests of any Universal Orlando Resort hotel. With this perk, you'll get to see Diagon Alley an hour before the other parkgoers get access.

Best Times to Visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter for Good Weather

If you don't like heat, humidity, and afternoon thunderstorms daily, then avoid Orlando in the summer. Weather is another reason to go during the shoulder season — particularly September and October, when the high temperatures cool to around the mid-80s, as opposed to the 90s, and the daily rains tail off. Orlando continues to get drier and cooler throughout the fall and winter, although daily highs rarely drop below a still-comfortable 72 degrees and the sky remains bright and sunny. By April, it's in the 80s again but still relatively dry. Spring is another great time to visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter for good weather.

Best Times to Visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter for Lower Prices

Visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Florida is always going to cost you a ticket to Universal Orlando Resort. Harry Potter attractions are spread over two parks, Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, and experiencing both parks requires a park-to-park ticket, which costs more than a single-park ticket. With the former, all Harry Potter attractions and activities are included and you're welcome aboard the Hogwarts Express, which travels between the two parks.

The price of park tickets depends on the time of year. The least expensive months are usually January and most of February, excluding the days surrounding the New Year, winter break, and Valentine's Day. Other inexpensive times include the beginning of March and many weekdays through September and October. Keep in mind, however, that Halloween Horror Nights draw big crowds — especially on weekends during the months-long event and as Halloween gets closer.

Best Times to Visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter for Events

Events are certainly not the quietest times to explore The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but they're most definitely among the most fun. The two biggest events take place around Halloween and Christmas.

Diagon Alley becomes a cesspit of Death Eaters during Halloween Horror Nights. You can celebrate the season with thrill rides featuring lifelike dragons and by dabbling in the Dark Arts in the Harry Potter lands of the resort; however, the most popular event is perhaps Christmas in The Wizarding World . Unlike the ticketed Halloween Horror Nights event, this wintry celebration is entirely accessible with a park-to-park ticket.

Any Potterhead knows Hogwarts is most nostalgic over the holidays, and Universal Orlando's version of the castle encapsulates that feeling with lights, decor, and fireworks. Diagon Alley is also bedecked, and the Butterbeer is ever-so-warming. Of course, the parks are busy and surge pricing is typically in play over the holidays. Go as early in the season as possible for a quieter experience.

Worst Time to Visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

The worst time to visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is arguably the peak of summer, when the climate is hot and sticky, the crowds are at their thickest, and prices are at their highest. You'll probably pay more to get into the parks and to travel to Orlando and stay in or near the resort during this time. There aren't many events that make the high season special, either, and most parts of The Wizarding World are best enjoyed during fall and winter — seasons largely associated with the beloved books and movies.

Planning Away

Plan A Trip To Harry Potter World – The Best Harry Potter Vacation!

Are you ready to plan a trip to Harry Potter World? The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Orlando is AMAZING !

You are in the right place if you want to learn how to plan a trip to Harry Potter World! 

In this post, we are going to give you some Harry Potter theme park trip tips.  These will include deals on Harry Potter World, the best Harry Potter rides in both parks, as well as an overview of what is in each park.  You will be a Harry Potter World vacation planner in no time! 

Let's make a Harry Potter World itinerary for your visit to Harry Potter World! 

Harry Potter World is amazing! There is so much to see and do! If you are a Harry Potter fan this is going to be a dream come true. Even if you are not a big fan, you can still have a great time.

Harry Potter planning can be a little overwhelming!  I am going to show you step by step the best way to get the best deals and how to Plan a trip to Universal Studios Florida – Harry Potter World.

Let's plan the best Harry Potter vacation ever! 

If you want to save this information for later be sure to Pin this to Pinterest.

This post may contain affiliate links that will give me a commission at no additional charge to you. 

1. Where is Harry Potter World?

In this post, we are going to focus on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando. There are Universal locations with Harry Potter World in California, Japan, Beijing, Singapore, and a stand-alone attraction in Australia.

London also has the Harry Potter Studios which is more of an amazing museum and not associated with the Universal Theme Parks.

Harry Potter Universal Orlando is the best! 

Plan a Harry Potter World Vacation at Universal Studios Florida

Planning a trip to Harry Potter world is exciting but there is a lot of things to consider before you book your trip.  I am going to answer some of the questions I had the first time I went.

2. How Many Days Should I Attend the Wizarding World of Harry Potter?

How big of a Harry Potter fan are you?  This will help you determine how long you will want to spend at the Harry Potter park in Florida. 

While you could ride all the rides and explore the Harry Potter areas in both Universal parks in one day, that does not give you much time to peruse the shops, eat in the Harry Potter-themed restaurants, and take in the shows.  

Plus, one day would definitely not give you enough time to enjoy the rest of Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. 

Hot Tip for Harry Potter World Universal Studios

To be honest the more days you stay at Universal the more affordable it is.  There are often promotions such as buy 2 days get 2 free.  FOUR DAYS would be plenty of time to enjoy all that both parks have to offer.  

Our Experience at Harry Potter World

Just a thought, when we first asked the question, “How long does it take to do Harry Potter World?” We were told that we could do Harry Potter world and the rest of Universal Studios in one day.  We found this to be false! (We even had front-of-the-line passes, and it was not on a peak day.) I feel like two or three days would be much better.

3. The Best Time to Visit Harry Potter World

Orlando has certain peak seasons and low seasons.  Usually going when school is in session is going to be less crowded! This is not always an option so I have found that the Undercovertourist has a great Orlando Crowd Calendar . 

This calendar can really help you know the best time to a Harry Potter vacation!  We have used it many times! 

Least Expensive Times to Go to Harry Potter World

If you are looking for the cheapest times to visit Harry Potter World, January, February, and September offer lower rates on hotel prices, and usually, there will be PROMOTIONS for ticket prices and overall deals for Harry Potter World.

Best Time to Go for Lower Crowds and Nice Weather.

April and May are great times to go because traditionally crowds are lower (except during Spring Break)  and the weather is nice. So you get the benefits of low-season crowds and nice weather.

With that said, we have been at Christmas time and in the heat of summer, and both times we had a great time without crowds.

4. Do I Need to Purchase Tickets to Both Parks to Experience Harry Potter World?

Unfortunately, the answer is YES.  

Universal Orlando has two theme parks right next to each other: Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios. (Universal Orlando also has a water park, but as of yet does not have a boat emerging from a lake (Harry Potter Book 4) or a dragon ride that has you jump into water! ( Harry Potter Book 7)

Park-To-Park Pass

Both parks have Harry Potter World attractions. And you can’t just go to one park one day, and the second another if you want the whole experience. You will need a 2-park pass, which allows you to go to both parks in one day, in order to ride the Hogwarts Express between parks.

Islands of Adventure – Hogsmeade

This is where it all started. You will find the true Hogwarts Orlando experience with the Castle here, as well as Hogsmeade.   Hogsmeade, The Forbidden Journey (located in the castle), Hagrid's Magical Creature Motorbike Ride (the newest ride), and the Flight of the Hippogriff are the rides located at Islands of Adventure.  These are the best rides at Islands of Adventure in my book! 

There are also shops and food (The Three Broomsticks) located at Hogsmeade. 

Universal Studios – Diagon Alley

The Harry Potter World area at the other park, Universal Studios, is themed around Gringotts Bank, Knockturn Alley, and Diagon Alley. I love the theming! To enter the area, you go through a brick wall. We actually couldn’t immediately find the way in. It’s like entering a new world!

This area also has shops and food (The Leaky Cauldron). There is one ride, and it’s a good one: Escape from Gringotts. 

Hogwarts Express 

The only way to ride the Hogwarts Express is to have a 2-park pass. So if this is your first time to Harry Potter World I suggest getting a 2-Park pass so you can experience the Hogwarts Express.  

5. How Much Should I Budget for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter?

Universal Studios is not cheap.  Like I said earlier the longer you stay the more affordable it is.  

The first time we went we got a $1,500 Harry Potter vacation package which included a one-night stay at Cabana Bay, tickets for 5 people, fast passes, and the dining plan.  I thought that was expensive but we had planned and anticipated the cost ahead of time.  

Universal has deals for Harry Potter World depending on the time of year The B2G2 deal is the best! 

Prices for Harry Potter Orlando tickets are different on each day of the week. Orlando Harry Potter tickets can become more expensive during holidays and high seasons. 

$115 is the starting price for both Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios for a one-day pass .

Discount Tickets 

We found that Sams Club /Costco had great discount tickets if you are planning on staying at least 3 days.

Does it Cost Extra to Go to Harry Potter World?

No , your admission to Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure gives you access to Harry Potter World.

6. Should I Get a Vacation Package at Universal Studios Florida?  

Do you want to get into the park an hour early?  Then a Harry Potter vacation package may be the way to go. 

Personally, with little kids, it can be draining to go early unless you plan to take a break later in the day. But if you can do it, it’s worth getting a head start to both beat the crowds and, for many parts of the year, to beat the heat!

What Does a Vacation Package Include?

A Harry Potter vacation package includes hotel, tickets, early park admission, and extra benefits associated with staying on the property. You can also add a dining plan and front-of-the-line passes.

Deciding if you want a Harry Potter vacation package does play a big role in your Harry Potter planning because if you decide to stay onsite it allows you to get into Harry Potter World an hour earlier  which gives you more time to play.

GetAwayToday

Getawaytoday is a great company to work with.  They book Harry Potter vacation packages. Often times they run fabulous promotions. In fact, I have a Harry Potter World coupon code that will save you a little more if you book with them. Coupon Code: Planaway10

7. Should I Stay at a Universal Orlando Hotel?

Universal has eight on-site hotel rooms.  There are also lots of hotels located all around Universal Orlando. 

 I am not going to go into detail about each hotel located on-site only the benefits associated with staying onsite and how that will affect your planning a Harry Potter vacation.  

On-site Benefits for Your Harry Potter Vacation

Early Entrance to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

This benefit is so worth it!  Especially, if you are going during a really busy time of year. 

We really wanted to do the Ollivanders Wand Shop first thing and getting to the park early was great because our daughter was chosen to be the one who got to get a wand. Also, riding the rides before the lines get long is amazing! 

Transportation to Harry Potter World

Image Courtesy of youtube

Staying on the resort allows you to easily get transportation to all the parks without having to drive your car, park it, and commute to the park.  It is so nice to walk right out of your hotel room and jump on a bus.

Once you get off the bus at the parks, there is an escalator going up, and then moving walkways. The moving walkways went a long way, and you can look out in both directions as the sides were not enclosed. It helped build up the anticipation for us!

There are also water taxis that run starting 30 minutes before the early hours start.

If you want to drive, parking starts at $25 but is free after 6:00 pm except during Halloween time.

Express Unlimited Pass

This pass is a benefit if you stay at a premier hotel.  We wanted to stay at a premier hotel but our family was too big. The main reason was to get this pass for free.

We value our time and the patience it takes to wait in long lines with little kids.  We were happy to know that we could add those passes to our Harry Potter vacation package.

Our Experience on Booking A Harry Potter Vacation Package

We thought Cabana Bay Beach Resort was a great family option.  The room we received was very large and could easily fit a family of six in it! We loved the lobby and arcade.  Being able to get to the park early made it worth it for us to stay on-site.

8. Should I Get an Express Unlimited Pass (Skip the Line Pass)

This pass is a benefit if you stay at a premier hotel.  Like I said early, we wanted to stay at a premier hotel but our family was too big. The main reason was to get this pass for free. 

Advantages of Express Unlimited

So should you get it? Well, when we went we knew we had limited time. We live far away, and we realized the cost to travel back out to Orlando to go to Universal is expensive, and perhaps by more fully utilizing our time while in Orlando, we could save overall.

If we spent a week at Universal, we probably could have been fine without the pass.

The Disadvantage of Express Unlimited

There was also one other downside to the pass. You move through the queues extremely fast.  Some of the queues are themed.  I almost wanted to get out of the line at one point so I could wait in line and walk slowly through Hogwarts Orlando castle to take it all in.

Well, almost. I’ll be honest. I loved that ride so much, that maximizing the times I could do it was so worth it! 

Please note that the pass has variable rates, so the more crowded it is, the more you are going to have to pay.  I hope that helps your Harry Potter vacation planning!

Our Experience Using the Pass at Harry Potter World

This pass was worth it!  Standing in line with little kids sounds miserable to us.  We added it to our Harry Potter vacation package even though we did not stay at the premier hotel and did not regret that choice even a little.

9. Dining Plan at Harry Potter Universal Studios in Florida

One question I had when planning a Wizarding World of Harry Potter trip was if I should get a dining plan. 

I found that Universal Studios Florida does offer a dining plan but, I am going to save you the trouble right now and tell you it is Not Worth It !

If you are used to the Disney World Dining plan this does not compare.  We would have spent less on purchasing food than the cost of the plan.

Plus, when I would go into a store most things were not included in the plan such as sweet treats and ice cream.  I personally would not do this again!

If you are determined to get the plan, the official Universal Dining Plan is only offered if you get a Harry Potter vacation package.  There are other quick service plans that you can purchase without a vacation package.

10. Food Options at Universal Studios Harry Potter World

What is a theme park without food? Okay, you may be a die-hard that brings your own food. (Trust me, been there done that with PB&J, goldfish, and even Pop-Tarts.) And maybe Cabana Bay Beach Resort with a kitchenette is all you need.

Harry Potter World Restaurants

If you want to experience the food at Harry Potter World, you primarily have two choices for meals: The Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade, and the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley. We did not get a chance to try the Three Broomsticks. 

Leaky Cauldron

We have been to the Leaky Cauldron. It was a so-so atmosphere for us. It felt like we were in an assembly line until we got seated. The menu was okay but seemed limited.

For our kids that thrive on chicken nuggets and fries (I know, parents of the year), fish with those chips and cottage pie just didn’t do it for them.

My husband and I thought the food was okay but saw the rides and the villages and stores as the highlights. Keep that in mind in your Harry Potter planning!

11. Treats at Harry Potter World

Now we liked the treats!  Chocolate frogs, butterbeer, frozen butterbeer, hot butterbeer, and cold butterbeer. 

We tried it all, including butterbeer fudge (but did not get around to the butterbeer ice cream, if they had it when we went). All of it was wonderful!

Honey Dukes

Honey Dukes was one of my favorite stores.  There are so many fun choices of treats.  This is where the fudge is located as well as love potions, bloodsuckers, and so much more.

Different family members had different preferences, but we were really glad to try different things and share them. For Harry Potter fans, this helps you breathe in the world that you love so much.

It was one of the highlights of my Harry Potter Universal experiences.

12. Hogsmeade VS. Diagon Alley

Hogsmeade is in Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley is in Universal Studios. I have an entire article about which park, Universal Studios vs Islands of Adventure – The Wizarding World of Harry Potter park is better for the best Harry Potter vacation experience. 

What Harry Potter Park Should You Start With?

So if you only have time for one park, or you are planning what park to spend the most time in, you may be wondering which is better for Harry Potter.

Diagon Alley

Well, both have great things to offer. We found the layout of the Diagon Alley to be more immersive.

When we arrived at the park via the Hogwarts Express, we couldn’t tell at first how to enter Diagon Alley. The wall dividing the “two worlds” actually did a great job.  This is in contrast to Hogsmeade where you walk up the entrance without really anything exciting.

Interactive Harry Potter Park in Orlando

The colors of some of the buildings, the liveliness of the area, the fire-breathing dragon, Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes; all good stuff!

We did find parts of Diagon Alley too dark. It made it difficult to see what we were doing with wands.

If you want a more interactive experience the Harry Potter World in Universal Studios has more areas to use your magical wands.

Of course, the two areas boast different rides. Now with Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, we see Hogsmeade as the clear winner. (But as a personal preference, I’ve always loved Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey over Escape from Gringotts.)

If you love rides then Hogsmeade should be your choice.

13. Ollivanders Wand Shop

Interactive wand.

Ollivanders Wand Shop has two locations one in Hogsmeade and one in Diagon Alley. So no matter which park you choose you can still participate in this activity.

Get A Wand at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Orlando

Consider getting an interactive wand at Ollivander’s Wand Shop. The wand can be used at Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley in several locations.

By casting certain spells (i.e., by moving your wand certain ways as directed), you can make the items in windows, above you, and elsewhere move. It’s a great interactive experience.

14. Rides at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Hogwarts express.

As mentioned above, you need the park hopper to do the Hogwarts Express. Is it worth it? YES. We thought so!

We are fans. Sitting on the train that we’ve read about and watched in the film was pretty cool, especially the first time.

Different Experiences Each Direction

We didn’t have to wait in line too long.   You can call this a ride, but once you’ve ridden it once, it’s a transport (though you see different things out the window depending on what direction you’re going).

 Please note that you can’t use the Express Pass for the Hogwarts Express.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

Location: Island of Adventure

Walking through the Hogwarts Orlando castle is almost as exciting as going on the ride.  Every detail you can imagine went into the design of the castle.

This is my favorite ride.  It is a four-minute ride.  As you fly on a broomstick you will go on the quidditch field, through the forbidden forest, and on an incredible adventure. 

This is one of those rides that I could ride again and again. We actually rode it four times on our last visit. 

Please note that some people say they can get motion sickness but I did not experience this.

Flight of the Hippogriff

Location : Island of Adventure

The Flight of the Hippogriff is a junior coaster.  It is a very mild, short coaster.  If this is your first time in Harry Potter World then you should do it.

After that, I would not wait more than 15 minutes for this ride.  It is fun but so short.

Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure

Location : Islands of Adventure

Hagrid's ride is the newest addition to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It takes you on a journey through the forbidden forest.

I love the design. You actually hop onto Hagrid's motorbike.  You have the option to jump on the motorcycle or the side bucket seat.  I rode both and like sitting in the bucket seat better. My husband is taller and preferred sitting on the bike. 

This coaster is awesome. It has a surprise that I won't spoil but let me just say it is amazing!

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts

Location : Universal Studios

Gringotts is a highly-themed ride.  This was my daughter's favorite ride.

The most impressive part of this ride is the dragon that sits on top of the ride. It actually blows out fire! It is one of the best rides at Universal Studios . 

15. Shows at Harry Potter World

We liked the Harry Potter shows, although we were not overwhelmed.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard is a puppet show. The puppets; amazing. The puppeteers; amazing. At least for the parents. The kids liked it but I don’t think they appreciated the artistic elements as much.

There is also a Frog Choir. We enjoyed listening to our favorite song “Double Double Toil and Trouble.”

Harry Potter World Hogwarts Orlando Castle Show

And finally, there is a lights show projected on the walls of Hogwarts. We found the later show was more manageable the time of year we went, but it is still very busy. You may want to ask a worker ahead of time what place is the best to stand to see the show.

16. Harry Potter Merchandise and Souvenirs

There are some pretty fun souvenirs at Harry Potter Universal Studios.   They have pins, Luna Lovegood glasses, and of course the interactive wands.  

Should I Purchase Souvenirs at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter?

I highly recommend getting a wand because not only is it a great souvenir you can use it in both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley.  I think it is worth it.  

Other items such as shirts, mugs, and magnets. I wouldn't necessarily purchase at the park.  You can find these types of things at souvenir stores located throughout Orlando or on Amazon for a lot cheaper. 

However, if there is something you love and have not seen anywhere else then I suggest getting it. 

My Favorite Place to Buy Harry Potter Souvenirs

I loved going to HoneyDukes.  I bought some really cool Harry Potter Souvenirs for my kids.  There are so many amazing treats.  The one downside in the summer is that you can't buy anything chocolate because it will melt.  

17. Harry Potter World Itinerary

One Day at Harry Potter World Itinerary (Park 2 Park Pass)

• Reserve a Time for Ollivanders Wand Shop
• Reserve a Time for Hagrids or go on this Ride First. 
• Ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
• Ride Flight of the Hippogriff
• Spend Time Looking at the Shops
• Enjoy a Show
• Eat at Three Broomsticks
• Ride Hogwarts Express after Lunch
• Ride Gringotts
• Walk through Shops 
• Do Magic in Knockturn Alley and Other Areas.
• Head Back at Night to Watch the Hogwarts Orlando Castle Show.  

If you have only one day at Harry Potter World Universal Orlando,  it is going to be long but so fun!

If you have more time you can break your Harry Potter World itinerary into 2 days and add more shows and eat at the Leaky Cauldron as well. (Not to mention Universal has a ton of other fun rides and lands.)

Harry Potter Vacation Planning Complete!

Hopefully, this post has given you enough information to get you set for the perfect Harry Potter Vacation!  You will have a fabulous time! Universal is one of the best amusement parks in the USA ! 

Harry Potter World Universal Orlando is out of this world! I am so excited you get to visit Harry Potter World in Florida! Have so much fun! If you need help planning get in touch with Getawaytoday .  They are great! 

More Harry Potter World Universal Information

As you  plan a trip to Universal Studios Orlando  be sure to check out my other posts! The  best rides at Universal Studios,   the best rides at Volcano Bay , as well as the  best rides at Island of Adventure ,   are sure to help you plan your trip!  Plus, check out my favorite  restaurants at City Walk!  

Facebook Group

If you have any questions when planning your trip come join me in my private Facebook Group .  

This group is a place where you can ask any question about your upcoming trip and help others plan their trips.  It is also a place where I put travel deals.

I am not a travel agent. I just blog for fun.  If I see a good deal I will send it your way but you have to be in the group to see these offers!

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When we visited Harry Potter world at Universal it was so incredible. The creativity that goes behind every inch is mind blowing! A must visit for sure!!!

I agree, it is so detailed just like you would imagine as you are reading the book!

This looks so fun!! I’ve read the first couple of Harry Potter books and now I want to read them all! If I ever get to Florida, I’m adding a trip to Universal Studios to my bucket list.

I love Harry Potter! It is hard for me to not devote all my time to Disney but since we have some big Harry Potter fans we gave it a try and I would go back for sure!

All of the Harry Potter rides are so fun! A word of caution: you must stash everything in a locker before riding, which turned out to be kind of a pain.

We did the rider switch off so that’s probably why I don’t remember that!

This is such a helpful guide-not only for Harry Potter World but for visiting Universal in general. That drink you posted looks absolutely delicious!

It was so delicious, I want to go back and get more!

I’ve had a trip to Universal in the back of my mind, but my daughter really isn’t into thrill rides, so I keep putting it off. I’m afraid my husband and I would spend all day switching off riding rides. The Harry Potter stuff does look cool, though. I keep thinking maybe we’ll try it when my kid’s a teen. She’s turning 10 this summer, so maybe soon! My husband and I would love it!

Yes, We have little kids and they do have kids rides that aren’t too intense but I would totally agree that going when your kids are older is better.

Such a bummer you can’t ride the train without the two park pass. We missed out getting to do this several years ago. Hope to do that some day. We loved the frozen Butter Beer!

We love butter beer! We are always trying new recipes at home to find the perfect one!

Love Harry Potter! And love how comprehensive your posts are…you anticipate every possible question.

Thanks! I love Harry Potter too!

Never read the books, saw all the movies, I guess now it’s time to “experience” Harry Potter. Thanks for sharing all the great travel info.

Yes, you really feel like you are a Wizard or Witch! It is so fun!

I loved Harry Potter World! We went prior to reading the books but have since and I’d love to go back. Thanks for all the insider tips!

I love everything about Harry Potter World! I want to go back too!

This is some awesome step by step planning tips. I love how you cover all the small details that may get over looked our forgotten.

My husband and I love planning trips and try to remember all the little details we would have done or did that worked or did not work.

Beautifully written, with great pictures. Makes Harry Potter World very enticing. I love the pic of the bedroom.

That room would be really fun to stay in for sure!

I would love to visit Harry Potter World…I just love the books my daughters would binge watch it all the time, and your pictures remind me of the books!!

Oh yes, I love reading Harry Potter and watching the movies over and over again. It pretty much the only movie I will watch!

I am lucky enough to live in central Florida (except when it is as hot as it is right NOW) and yes this place is amazing. I love your advice about the dining plans. That is good to know. Great information!

It would be really fun to live near all the most amazing parks but I bet the summer is hot! We like to go during winter months!

This looks like such a fun place to go. Thanks for all the great info!

It is so fun!

I love Harry Potter and this is a really comprehensive guide which I so appreciate. Thank you!

Thanks! They did such an amazing job making it feel like you stepped into the book!

Being a huge HP fan, this is so up my alley, I guess I need to collect one other grown up friend that’s willing to go on the adventure with me!

I know it is a fun place to visit and totally worth it if you are a huge fan!

When we went to Harry Potter world a couple of years ago I had to drag my husband. He wasn’t convinced until we found our way through the ‘magical brick wall’ and into Diagon Ally! So Amazing! This post has so many amazing tips that I will keep locked away for when we visit again! 🙂

That is great he had a great time even without being a big fan!

The chocolate drink looked really good.

I know right!

Fellow Gryffindor fans here and we can’t wait to go thanks for the sneak peek. Always wanted to go to Florida as it is but this is like the cherry on top.

I know right! Harry Potter World is so amazing, you will love it!

Great information and your photos are awesome! I finally got to go last year (took too long considering I only live 1.5 hours away) and it was amazing. That whole area is so magical, just like the movies.

I want to go back now that they have the new ride! I’m glad you got to go!

We really need to get back there for a visit. We did only one day and NOT enough time at all. Thanks for all the info

I agree with you, so many people say you can do everything in a day and we wanted more time!

Woah, this looks like an amazing and memorable trip. My sister would love something like this!

I am one of the few who is not a fan of Harry Potter. I know, I’m sorry. I just could never get into it. BUT, your pictures make it look like I would have a lot of fun. I know my nieces would have a blast.

The rides are really cool and the snacks are good so I’m sure you would have fun even if Harry isn’t your guy!

If I ever get to Disneyland, then I will definitely be going to see the Harry Potter world, but I’m probably more likely to experience the UK version, having been in the “real” Diagon Alley and climbed the stairs used as the stairs the children stood at the first time they arrived at Hogwarts. However, the experience at Disney would be “magical”!

I was just in London and went to the Harry Potter Studios, It was awesome! Different not an amusement park but very entertaining.

Lisa, this looks so fun! I’m a big fan of HP and hope to get my family down there soon. It looks like you guys all had a great time.

It was so much fun, I just wish we had more time!

This is so on my bucket list! I am a die hard harry potter fan!

You should totally go!

I am a huge HUGE Harry Potter fan. I have made it to Universal in L.A, but not to Orlando yet. That is my next plan hopefully. So thanks for the tips. These are great!

I haven’t been to California yet!

I’m a huge Harry Potter fan! I’d love every bit of this…except the food would pose a problem. But I’m sure I could get by! Thanks for all the info.

I wasn’t a big fan of the food!

This is o our family’s bucket list. I’d love to go so bad!!! Great tips.

It is a fun family vacation for sure!

This sounds like so much fun! I think Payton would love it! Thanks!

Harry Potter World is so fun!

We loved Harry Potter World. We visited for the first time last year. We can’t wait to return! Great post!

Thanks! It is really fun!

We did this trip with our kids and it was amazing. I hadn’t watched the movies but the kids loved it so much and the details made it fun for us adults.

I am a big fan and it really is fun for adults and kids!

This is such a helpful guide. My 12 year old daughter just started reading the first Harry Potter book this week. She’s never been into it before. I have a feeling that a trip is in our future.

I just made my 11 year old read the series this summer. He wasn’t too into it until he was! He is on book 6 now. I am so happy he likes it now.

I have been to Harry Potter World once, before the add-on, and have been wanting to go back since! This post is so helpful and I will definitely use it for my next trip. Thank you!

Thanks! I love that keep adding cool things!

I really want to take my 10-year-old. She would love to see Harry Potter’s World. I love all the themed food in the park, super cool. I know she would love the caldron cake.

That is the perfect age to go! It is so detailed!

Oh, boy! Our kiddos are so into Harry Potter, and this would be their dream trip right now! Looks fantastic! Thanks for sharing all the details, we will need them…So happy you visited in 2020! Looking forward to going there soon!

I hope you get to take your kids, they will love it!

Really appreciate all the detail and tips. As a first time visitor it’s hard to know what to do and see. This would be a super fun couple of days for Harry Potter fans.

That was my hope, that if you are going for the first time that this would be helpful!

What an amazing trip! I appreciate all your tips. Can’t wait to make it out there.

It is so fun! You will love it when you go!

This is so helpful – thank you! I am pinning it so that I can re-read it when we visit Harry Potter. My daughter and I are HUGE HP fans, so we are wanting to go. Covid has delayed our plans, but hopefully we can make it in the not too distant future!

Yes, Harry Potter is so fun! You will love it when you get to go!

This is so informative, and looks so fun! I’ve seen the Harry Potter world at universal studios Hollywood, but it’s nothing like this!

It is a little bigger in Orlando.

I bet this is really popular with the kiddos!

My kids loved it! It is for a little older kids not little kids.

I would love to visit Harry Potter world. Probably without the kids so I could fully indulge.

We took our kids but this last trip was just a couples trip and it was amazing!

I’m a huge Harry Potter fan! I’d love to visit HP World…just me.

Oh yes! Harry Potter World is amazing for all ages!

I can’t wait to see this! Its been on my must see lit for a few months.. hopefully next year! Thank you for the great info!

I hope you get to go!

This is a great guide! I love HP World, especially the FROZEN butterbeer!! So delicious!!

We are huge butter beer fans. We are also making it home with different recipes. But Universal has the best so far.

How fun! I like Harry Potter and look forward to sharing this with my little one some day!

It is such a magical place!

We went to Universal Orlando a few summers back. I loved Harry Potter World and I am not even into the books or movies. The Forbidden Journey was by far the best ride there when we went. So fun walking through and visiting all the shops. Would love to go back!

It is my favorite ride too!

The last time we visited Universal Harry Potter World was only in one park, so it sounds like we need to go back! I’ve actually been considering a trip for the last few years, but we keep ending up at Disney instead!

I know how that goes! We love Disney, but Harry Potter World is the same quality as Disney Parks. I actually like the Castle Ride better than Avatar and they are similar.

Oh. My. GOSH this looks awesome! We’ve been to the WB studio in England, but have yet to see Harry Potter world!

Universal is so fun. The Castle ride is incredible!

This is such great information! This destination is totally on my bucket list I believe my kids would love it but I am a Harry Potter fan so I’m sure I’d love it even more. Thank you!

You would love just as much as your kids!

Great comprehensive post. Thanks so much. Appreciate your caution for the food plans. The park looks amazing though – all the detail. Just watched the first movie again yesterday – so this was timely to read in your post. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks, Love Harry Potter!

What a wonderful trip for Harry Potter fans. Glad to see all the masks.

They did such a great job with making everyone feel safe and still have just as much fun, just like before Covid.

What a fun trip! I’m happy they are taking precautions to make sure everyone is healthy!

They really are. I was so impressed with all the COVID precautions they had in place.

Forget the kids, I want to go!!

Exactly! It is totally for adults!

Great detailed information and lots of good tips in general! My kids love Harry Potter 🙂

Oh good! Hope it helps plan a Harry Potter trip!

Good to know that the meal plan isn’t worth it! I’m super excited to go hopefully next year!

The food plan wasn’t great! Harry Potter World was amazing!

Oh this looks like so much. My nieces love Harry Potter so I’ll have to pass this song to my sister!

Oh for sure! It is such a fun trip!

The Harry Potter series is what finally made my son find a love for reading. I wish this had existed when the boys were younger.

I love all the magic and it really is a great series.

One of our family’s favorites to watch all together. This looks like so much fun, definitely worth the trip.

For sure, I love watching the last movie over and over!

Wow, I really felt as if I was there through your photos! What an amazing place! They didn’t have Harry Potter World when my kids were young and into Harry Potter books. We all would have loved this. I’m sure I still would!!

When we went last time there were more adults than kids!

We’ve never done HP, but I know many other families that would find this magical.

Oh it is pretty cool and there is magic all around if you buy the $50 wand. HAHA

Looks like a really fun experience!

I can’t wait until we finally make it there. I just started reading my kids the first Harry Potter book. Thanks for the tips. I’ll be referring to them once we can get there!

My son is finally reading the series and is on book 6. He is 11. I want my 8 year to read book 1 before we go for Spring Break.

What a fun and iconic attraction!

It really is so cool!

my husband and I visited last year on a brief stop in Orlando and it was so fun. This post has really great info and helps for those who haven’t been able to try it yet.

Thanks, It is so fun for adults. When we went last time there were more adults than kids!

We LOVE LOVE LOVE Harry Potter World! We were so lucky to get a couple of days there in January before COVID hit. It was our third time there, and this time, we stayed onsite. Amazing! I have to say, my fave ride was Hagrid’s Motorcycle! lol… best ride ever! The kids were thrilled that they got to use their wands a second time too. Next time, we hope to hit the park in California!

When we heard they were opening in June we booked tickets and went. But it was just my husband and I so now I want to take my kids for spring break.

This looks fantastic! You sure seem to have had a good time. We wish there was a HP – themed park in India. 🙁

If life gets back to normal hopefully they will build one!

Awesome, this is such a thorough and helpful guide! I’m a big HP fan but we haven’t made it here yet. Our kids are too young, but hopefully, the husband and I can sneak away here just ourselves sometime soon!

This is a park I think older kids would like for sure. But there are kiddie areas at Universal as well just not in the Harry Potter area.

We loved visiting the HP world, was so fun! Great info for anyone going for the first time.

Thanks! It is a cool experience!

I have wanted to go here for years! Literally since they opened. I haven’t gotten there yet 🙁

It is worth a trip. I would plan to take advantage of their deals and stay longer!

Looks like a great time. Great information.

It is a really fun place!

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We took our nephews to Harry Potter World, and had an amazing time. Like you, we booked straight to Ollivander’s Wand Shop before the lines got long, and my nephew was chosen for the wand pairing ceremony. It was definitely a highlight of our visit!

That is so exciting! We love Harry Potter World!

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The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Universal’s Islands of Adventure

Skip to: Overview | Location | Attractions | Entertainment | Dining | Shopping | Fun facts | Additional services

What is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade?

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade opened in June 2010, and, from the very first day, it has delighted theme-park fans and astounded Harry Potter devotees. The sublime theming and immaculate attention to detail in this $265 million expansion of Islands of Adventure has made it one of the most immersive themed experiences in the world.

Explore the wizarding village of Hogsmeade, just outside the grounds of Hogwarts Castle, to look for that one-of-a-kind gift in the boutique shops or to stop and listen to the Frog Choir . Or you can explore Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey , then take a ride through the Forbidden Forest on Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure .

Wherever you look, you’re bound to find magic!

Where is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade located?

In Islands of Adventure .

Hogsmeade – attractions

• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

Join Ron, Harry, and Hermione on a flying adventure around Hogwarts Castle, where you’ll visit the Quidditch pitch, face down a dragon, head into the Forbidden Forest, and escape the dark Dementors. This one-of-a-kind ride system combines huge practical sets and effects with immersive screen elements for a ride that is unlike anything else in Orlando.

• Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure

A Care of Magical Creatures lesson with Hagrid goes (shockingly) awry as you ride this family coaster in either the motorbike or sidecar seats. Multiple launches have you zooming through the Forbidden Forest to encounter the flora and fauna (and more!) from the Harry Potter books and movies.

• Flight of the Hippogriff

Don’t overlook this kiddie coaster – you will miss out on a fun attraction with a lifelike Hippogriff animatronic and breathtaking views of the castle and village.

The Hogwarts Express – Hogsmeade Station

Board Hogwarts’s eponymous steam train for transportation from Hogsmeade Village to King’s Cross Station in London . (Guests must have a park-to-park ticket to ride this attraction, as it will take you out of Islands of Adventure and into Universal Studios Florida .) Once onboard, relax and enjoy the two-minute ride with scenes from the British countryside and appearances from well-loved Wizarding World characters.

Hogsmeade – entertainment

Triwizard spirit rally and the frog choir.

Throughout the day, students from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons perform in the Triwizard Spirit Rally, demonstrating the fighting prowess of the former and the delicate dances of the latter. At alternate showtimes, the students of the Hogwarts Frog Choir are joined in song by their crooning toads.

Ollivanders Wand Shop

Both an entertainment and shopping experience, Ollivanders Wand Shop is the only place to experience a magic wand “choosing” you (unless, that is, you visit the Diagon Alley branch of Ollivanders over at Universal Studios Florida). Once you’ve seen the show, look around the shop at the myriad wand selections, and don’t be afraid to quiz the helpful shopkeepers on the magical benefits of rowan versus birch.

Interactive wands and spells

Once your interactive wand has chosen you, use the included map to explore the various spell-casting spots around Hogsmeade to make a little magic of your own. If you happen to have left your map at home, check out our full guide to interactive wands and spells , complete with the location of several secret spell spots.

The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle

This projection show takes place on the face of Hogwarts Castle intermittently most nights of the year. The Sorting Hat gives each of the four Hogwarts houses its due, with accompanying music, lighting effects, and, even, some fireworks. It’s an experience not to be missed.

(Note that this production changes with the seasons, so check your show schedule to find out whether you’ll be seeing Nighttime Lights or one of its two seasonal siblings during your visit.)

Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle

Shown exclusively in the fall, Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle celebrates the spooky side of the wizarding world, with all your favorite baddies present, including Dementors, Death Eaters, spiders, snakes, and all things that go “bump” in the night.

Hogsmeade – dining

The three broomsticks and hog’s head pub (quick-service).

Hogsmeade features a quick-service restaurant, The Three Broomsticks, where you can find traditional British fare and everyone’s Wizarding World must-have: Butterbeer !

Within The Three Broomsticks is the Hog’s Head pub. There is a separate entrance to this bar between the restaurant entrance and the restrooms. As the bartender serves up specialty draft beers, fire whiskey, and Butterbeer, check out the actual head of a hog that hangs behind the bar – he may not be as stuffed as he looks!

Hogsmeade – shopping

A combination sweet shop and bakery, Honeydukes is the place to find all the treats beloved by Harry and his friends, such as Chocolate Frogs, Fizzing Whizzbees, Bertie Bott’s Every Flavoured Beans, and fresh goodies like Cauldron Cakes and Butterbeer fudge.

Dervish and Banges

Dervish and Banges is a one-stop shop for all your wizarding merchandise. You’ll find Quidditch supplies, spirit gear for your Hogwarts house, journals, stationery, books, pins, pens, toys, and more.

The Owl Post

Just outside Dervish and Banges, guests can visit the Owl Post to purchase postcards and other stationery items – and to also get their mail stamped with a unique Hogsmeade postmark. Finally, as a special bonus, witches and wizards can get any of their packages from the local shops professionally wrapped and shipped back home.

Filch’s Emporium of Confiscate d Goods

As the caretaker of Hogwarts, Argus Filch delighted in catching students red-handed with all sorts of contraband. In Filch’s Emporium, explore unique gifts available for purchase, take in the dungeon vibes, and keep an eye out for artifacts that once belonged to unlucky students.  

Hogsmeade – OI fun facts

In addition to the information offered on this page, we have so much more to share in the OI Insider’s Guide to the Wizarding World , which is packed with tons of insider tips, tricks, and secrets. And then be sure to check out the world-famous OI Wizarding World of Harry Potter touring plan , to boot!

Are there guest services available in Hogsmeade?

The only restrooms in Hogsmeade are located next to The Three Broomsticks – to the right of the entrance, if you’re facing the restaurant. The nearest family bathroom is outside Hogsmeade, in the Lost Continent area.

There are no large rental lockers in Hogsmeade, but there are small ride lockers at both Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, as these attractions do not allow bags or loose items on board.

The nearest first aid station is over in The Lost Continent.

Rental services

Strollers, wheelchairs, and ECVs are all available to rent at Hogsmeade Station, as guests come off of the Hogwarts Express .

We can’t have you running low on muggle funds, so there is an ATM in the hallway that leads to the back patio of The Three Broomsticks, between the restaurant and the restrooms.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade – photo gallery

• Triwizard Spirit Rally & Frog Choir
• Ollivander’s Wand Shop in Hogsmeade
• The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts
• The Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle
• The Three Broomsticks & Hog’s Head Pub (quick-service)

I visit Universal Orlando several times a year. Here are my top 10 tips for first-timers.

I’ll never forget walking out of Universal Islands of Adventure in 2022, drenched from head to toe after riding Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barge . 

It was my first trip back to Universal Orlando Resort in years, and I learned some things the hard way, which I gladly shared with fellow travelers, hoping that they’d avoid my mistakes .

Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to visit the Florida resort several times a year. And while I stand by my earlier tips, I’ve learned a few others.

Here are my top tips for first-timers visiting Universal Orlando.

1.  Stay on property

From RV parks to vacation rentals, there’s no shortage of places to stay in Central Florida, but it can pay to stay on property when visiting Universal Orlando. Not only are prices comparable to off-property hotels with Endless Summer Surfside and Dockside starting at $99 a night, but all of Universal’s resort hotels offer 30 minutes of early entry to select parks, which vary depending on time of year. 

They also provide free resort transportation, so you can get back to your room fairly quickly after a long park day or for a midday break. That free transportation can be clutch in the mornings, particularly at pricier Loews Sapphire Falls , Loews Royal Pacific , Loews Portofino Bay , and Hard Rock Hotel , which offer water taxis that drop you off closer to the parks than you can get arriving by car or bus. Cabana Bay Beach Resort and Aventura Hotel guests can walk over to Sapphire Falls for water taxis, but the extra time and steps added may make it not worth skipping the resort shuttle bus.

Walking paths are also available to the parks from every resort hotel except the Endless Summer ones. Cabana Bay guests also have a dedicated walking path to Universal’s Volcano Bay water park.

Guests staying at Royal Pacific, Portofino Bay and Hard Rock also get free Universal Express Passes , which dramatically cut waits for most rides and normally start at $79.99 per person. Free package delivery is also available to all resort hotels, if guests don’t want to lug park purchases around all day.

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2. Buy a popcorn bucket

Snacking at the parks can get expensive. Guests are welcome to bring their own snacks, but there’s one crowd-pleaser that won’t break the bank. 

A plain popcorn bucket costs a little over $12, and you can keep getting refills throughout your trip. Refills cost around $2 each, making popcorn among the cheapest, most shareable snacks on property. On our last trip, my family and I got multiple refills for the price of one pretzel with cheese dip.

3.  Bring a light, refillable water bottle

Staying hydrated is always important, particularly on hot park days. 

You can fill water bottles with free ice-cold water at any of the many Coca-Cola Freestyle machines across the property. Cups of ice water are also available for free anywhere dispensed soft drinks are sold.

Leave big double-walled stainless steel tumblers at home. Not only will they feel heavy, carrying them around all the day, but if they aren’t leak-proof, they’ll make a mess when you tip them on their sides to fit in lockers for thrill rides.

4. Bring a medium-sized bag to carry your stuff

Numerous attractions, from Jurassic World VelociCoaster to Men in Black Alien Attack , require guests to store loose articles in lockers provided for the duration of the ride. 

I previously recommended keeping most of your things together to avoid having to empty every pocket each time. That’s still true, but I want to add a caveat on size. 

The free lockers aren’t very big. They can fit a Loungefly-style mini backpack or empty popcorn bucket, if you squish them down, but they’re not large enough for packed full-size backpacks. Keep that in mind unless you want to pay for larger lockers.

5. Bring ponchos

Ponchos don’t take a lot of space and can save you from getting soaked like me on Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barge, Dudley Do-Right’s Rip Saw Falls , and Jurassic Park River Adventure .

Even if you skip water rides, ponchos are good to keep on hand for rainy park days.

6. Use single-rider lines 

Many attractions have a single-rider lane. If you’re traveling alone or don’t mind your party being split up, you can save time using the single-rider lane, if it’s open. They’re not always offered.

It doesn’t guarantee a short wait, but it’s usually shorter. On our latest trip, my middle schooler still waited at least 45 minutes for The Incredible Hulk Coaster and an hour for Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit . That was about as long as the regular standby wait for Hulk but shorter than the standby wait for Rip Ride Rockit.

The following attractions have single-rider lanes, though availability varies.

Universal Studios Florida

• E.T. Adventure
• Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
• Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
• Men in Black Alien Attack
• Revenge of the Mummy
• The Simpsons Ride
• Transformers: The Ride-3D

Universal Islands of Adventure

• Doctor Doom's Fearfall
• Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls
• Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
• Jurassic Park River Adventure
• Jurassic World VelociCoaster
• The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
• The Incredible Hulk Coaster

7. Use child swap 

If someone in your party doesn’t meet ride requirements for an attraction or simply wants to sit it out, you can ask for a child swap. It’s particularly helpful for families with young children because it allows parents and caregivers to take turns riding the ride and staying with whoever is sitting it out.

On our most recent trip, my youngest didn’t want to ride Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure , so we all waited in line together, but then she and I peeled off to a designated waiting room while my middle schooler and mother-in-law went on the ride. When they were done, my mother-in-law stayed with my youngest while I went on the ride. My middle schooler lucked out, getting to ride it twice.

Not all attractions have waiting rooms, but they all offer swaps. Just let team members know you need one.

8. Take breaks

Theme parks can be exhausting. Not only are you on your feet all day, but they can be loud, crowded and overstimulating. 

When possible, I like to plan for at least one sit-down meal in the day. This way, I can take my time and recuperate in air conditioning away from crowds. I’ll typically splurge on one table-service meal, but there are several medium-priced, quick-service restaurants across both theme parks where you can grab a lighter snack and relax.

Really, any cool spot where you can sit down works. Knockturn Alley in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida is always refreshing, though dark. Jurassic Park Discovery Center in Islands of Adventure is a great place for kids to explore while adults unwind. 

9.  Watch the shows

Rides get a lot of the love, but Universal Orlando’s live entertainment is top tier. You can find showtimes on the free resort app or simply stop to watch performances you stumble across while roaming the parks.

The only year-round shows with dedicated seating are at Universal Studios Florida: Animal Actors On Location! , The Bourne Stuntacular , and Universal Orlando’s Horror Make-Up Show, which is more funny than scary.

10. Let little ones stretch their legs

There are several play areas across both theme parks for little ones to burn off energy.

This summer, a new DreamWorks Land will open at Universal Studios Florida with a “Kung Fu Panda”-themed play area.

At Islands of Adventure, kids can explore Camp Jurassic in Jurassic Park, If I Ran a Zoo in Seuss Landing, and Me Ship, The Olive in Toon Lagoon. There are also splash pads and water features across Toon Lagoon; just make sure to either bring swimsuits or backup clothes for those.

Bonus: Don’t sleep on Volcano Bay

You’ll definitely want to pack swimsuits if you’re heading to Volcano Bay, which regularly ranks among the best water parks in the country and adds a completely different experience to vacations.

It’s themed like a tropical paradise, with plenty of trees and an iconic volcano that houses multiple water slides. The water park can get crowded, but you never spend too much time standing in line because every guest gets a Tapu Tapu wearable bracelet that lets them join one virtual queue at a time. 

Single-day tickets start at $80, which is considerably less than the $119 starting price for guests age 10 and up at Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure, but still not cheap. However, if you’re already planning to buy multi-day tickets for both theme parks, tacking on Volcano Bay is not much more.

Accommodations

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8 Must-Have Souvenirs From Harry Potter Land at Universal Orlando

The grand reveal into Diagon Alley never gets old at Universal Orlando . Whether it is your first time or hundredth time rounding the corner, it still looks amazing.

The theming in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is incredible and the amount of detail the designers put into it is astonishing. Even the stores are highly themed, and you can find lots of fantastic souvenirs on your trip.

There are two different sides to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. You can visit Diagon Alley in Universal Studios , and you can visit Hogsmeade and Hogwarts Castle in Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

Both sides have a wide array of shops with lots of great souvenirs. Today we are rounding up eight must-have souvenirs from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

You will see a lot of people in their Hogwarts robes while you are in Universal Orlando, so it is only fitting that a House Robe tops our list of must-have souvenirs.

You can find House Robes at a variety of stores. A fair warning that these are definitely not a cheap souvenir. They are also very warm, so keep that in mind during summer months. However, they are made of high-quality materials and look great.

Next up, you can’t be a true wizard without a wand! We recommend picking up an interactive wand early on in your trip, as you will be able to use it to interact with scenes throughout the land.

There is a large variety of options, and you can get the wands of pretty much any Harry Potter character. You can choose the wand from your favorite character or take a look at all the options and see which one speaks to you!

Alright, we have our robe and wand, the two biggest must-have souvenirs from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but we are just getting started. You can show-off your house pride with a luggage tag or opt for a Hogwarts luggage tag.

You can also pick-up a cozy Hogwarts blanket.  This is the perfect accessory for any Harry Potter fan’s home.

It is a knitted blanket that has the Hogwarts crest on it. It is even made from 100% cotton.

We also found this fantastic Hogwarts notebook that is perfect for writing down notes or journaling. There are also additional notebook designs if this one doesn’t quite suit your fancy.

We think this Nifler wallet is adorable! It is soft, fuzzy, and precious. We would want to buy more things just so we had an excuse to take it out, though.

You can also show-off your Hogwarts house pride with a House tumbler. Available for all four houses and a really great souvenir to remember your time in Harry Potter land while sipping on your favorite beverage.

We also think these Pygmy Puff plushies are fantastic. They are really soft and adorable. You can get them in various sizes, as well as on a pair of slippers. These are the large Pygmy Puffs.

We also thought these Metal Earth model kits would be a great souvenir. These are kits that come with all the parts you need to build these Hogwarts landmarks. You can get the Hogwarts Castle, as well as the Hogwarts Express.

There are lots of fantastic souvenirs you can find in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Make sure you keep your eyes peeled as there are lots of details in each of the stores, and you never know what you may come across!

Make sure you stay tuned to AllEars for more Universal Orlando news!

Read about the 10 unspoken rules of visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando!

Join the AllEars.net Newsletter  to get the free list ranking the Harry Potter Must-dos at Universal Orlando! Click here to get started!

What is your favorite souvenir in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter? Let us know in the comments!

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The gryffindor bangle bracelet. I never take it off

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The Best Rides At Universal's Islands of Adventure (According To a 10 year old)

Any trip to Orlando would be complete without visiting Universal Orlando Resort, which is made up of three theme parks.

In this guide, we’re going to be sharing our favorite rides from Universal’s Islands of Adventure , which is known for its thrill rides.

It has seven individually themed islands, each with its own attractions, restaurants and shops.

All the rides and attractions are based after books, movies, Marvel comics, or mythology.

As a Harry Potter fan, I was excited to visit the main Harry Potter section of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter which is located in this theme park, as well as one of the BEST rides EVER; The Incredible Hulk.

Personally, Islands of Adventure is my favourite theme park at Universal Orlando Resort.

If you’re planning a visit here and not sure which rides to go on, then this guide is for you! I’ve listed my favorite Universal Islands of Adventure rides so you can pick a few to go on during your trip.

Jurassic Park

Toon lagoon, seuss landing, the lost continent, marvel super hero island, rides at hogsmeade, islands of adventure, harry potter and the forbidden journey.

• Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure

The Hogsmeade Experience

Use child swap, be a single rider, go early and stay late, get universal express passes, meet your favorite characters, consider a meal plan, tickets for islands of adventure, where to stay at universal orlando resort, universal orlando resort videos, pin to save on pinterest, the best rides at universal’s islands of adventure.

We had the 3 day park-to-park ticket so we could move between the parks easily.

I highly recommend having that pass. It will make your day so much better, especially for experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

In Islands of Adventure, there are lots of different lands.

For example: Jurassic Park, The Lost Continent (the one we didn’t do), Marvel Super Hero Island, Port of Entry, Toon Lagoon, Suess Landing, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Here are some of our favorite rides in each land.

There wasn’t really much to do in Jurassic Park, but it was still fun.

The Jurassic Park River Adventure ride was fun though and one of our favorites.

You think it’s relaxing until you pass the giant T-Rex and other dinosaurs and do the big, 85-foot drop at the end!

Savannah didn’t know it was coming, actually – nobody knew it was coming lol, except me because I watch videos of intense rides and stuff…..

Anyway, it was so funny to see her face drop and let out a tiny scream!

She’s not into scary rides and we convinced her to come on this saying it was just a gentle float down the river, which we thought it was!! She’ll never forget that ride.

Some more attractions at Jurassic Park:

• Camp Jurassic
• Jurassic Park Discovery Centre
• Pteranodon Flyers
• The Jurassic World VelociCoaster

We didn’t spend too long in Toon Lagoon because there wasn’t much to do in this land.

The famous Skull Island: Reign of Kong ride is located between Toon Lagoon and Jurassic Park, so we rode this one on the way in.

The ride is like a safari that takes you through the story of King Kong. It’s one of the most popular rides in the park.

There was a really fun ride in Toon Lagoon called Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls.

This ride is a water ride and you get soaked!

Since there is child swap, (more information on that later) I got to go on it twice, so I got twice as wet lol!

It is about a 4-5 minute ride so it is one of the longer rides.

Be prepared for the steep drop at the end! (by the way, it’s basically the same steepness as Rip Ride Rocket Roller Coaster!)

Oh, and it was really funny because there was a people dryer right next to the ride!

More rides in Toon Lagoon:

• Me Ship, The Olive
• Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge Rat Barges

Savannah really liked Seuss Landing because there was a couple of good little rides for her so we visited this land a couple of times.

And since it is literally beside the Harry Potter section, we went here right after some epic magic. Some rides are:

• The Cat in the Hat – Savannah loved this ride!
• Caro – Seuss – ell
• If I ran the zoo
• One fish, Two fish, Red fish, Blue fish
• Oh! The stories you’ll hear!
• The High in The Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride!

I definitely recommend this land if you have a child between 2 – 7

We didn’t do The Lost Continent, but it sure looked cool.

Rides and Attractions:

• Poseidon’s Fury
• The Eighth Voyage of Sinbad Stunt Show
• The Mystic Fountain

Ok, so this is where the intense stuff begins.

First of all, it is home to my favorite roller coaster, The Incredible Hulk Coaster. This is a launch coaster and goes at high speeds; it’s soooo much fun!

The ride goes for what feels about 5 minutes, and honestly – at the end of it you just might be as green as the Hulk lol. It’s definitely the most intense ride in the park but one that everyone should go on.

It has 7 inversions and I love roller coasters that go upside down! I think it is one of the best roller coasters in Florida.

Another fun ride I recommend, is The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man.

Spider-Man is another simulator and motion sickness ride when you sit in a vehicle. The best part is when all the villains attack you and you bump up and down and stuff lol.

Some more rides:

• Doctor Doom’s Fear Fall ( i wanted to do this ride but we ran out of time. Also, you go up fast instead of down)
• Storm Force Accelatron

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Hogsmeade

The incredible Wizarding World of Harry Potter is divided into two sections: Diagon Alley is in Universal Studios Florida, while Hogsmeade and Hogwarts (my favourite section), is in Islands of Adventure.

If you don’t want to do the long walk from park to park, you can ride the awesome Hogwarts Express between the two.

Why would you not want to take this magical train trip each time?

It really feels like you are in the world of Harry Potter.

Pay close attention to the windows, as there are 3D videos shown on the journey.

What is so cool is the videos are different depending on what direction you are traveling.

For example: if you leave Hogsmeade station, Hagrid is waving goodbye. If you leave Kings Cross, it looks like you are traveling from London to Hogwarts.

The Hogwarts Castle is AMAZING (I was literally crying when I walked in lol).

We had one-hour early entry passes because we were staying at Cabana Bay Orlando Resort , so Hogswarts Castle was the first thing we experienced in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Unfortunately it wasn’t the whole Hogwarts Castle because it would take up the entire park lol.

The Harry Potter overture was playing, there was fake snow on the roof, and the castle rising up on the hill in the background.

All the shops from the book are there like Honeydukes, Zonko’s, and so much more. Universal puts so much detail into the wizarding world so it feels like you are in the books.

I felt like I was in my dream world.

Mum was crying as well. (that was from mum because she always pretends to be me when editing my posts and literally changes everything. Btw she wasn’t crying. – kalyra)

I always thought it was silly when people cried at Disney World, but now I understand.

I was overcome by the pure magic of Harry Potter and what J.K. Rowling was able to create. It was so joyful – Caz.

Where to Taste Butterbeer

Ok, if you go to Harry Potter world, I DEFINITELY recommend Butterbeer. ( yes parents, it’s alcohol-free) OMG, it’s delicious!!

I’ll never forget how excited Harry, Ron and Hermione were in the book to try butterbeer and how their first taste was the best thing they had ever tasted.

That’s how we felt after our first taste.

It’s like nothing you’ve ever tasted before and it’s incredibly delicious. How they recreated that exact reaction from the book in real life is incredible.

Butterbeer is like a creamy, butterscotch and creaming soda treat. The marshmallow frothy top is  divine.

Here are the options for your butterbeer:

• Cold ButterBeer (normal) where you can get it in Diagon Alley: Leaky Cauldron, The Hopping Pot. In Hogsmeade: Three Broomsticks, Hog’s Head Pub, and street carts.
• Frozen Butterbeer (like a slushie) You can get this item at the same places. (Mum’s favorite).
• Hot Butterbeer (my fav) In Hogsmeade: Hogs Head Pub
• Butterbeer ice-cream (yum) In Diagon Alley: Leaky Cauldron. In Hogsmeade: Three Broomsticks
• Potted Cream – Same places as the Butterbeer Ice-cream
• Butterbeer Fudge – In Diagon Alley: Sugarplum’s Sweet Shop Hogsmeade: Honeydukes.

Unfortunately, we missed the fudge and potted cream- we didn’t know about them!

Again, all of these items are non-alcoholic.

Watch our video from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter:

There are two rides at the Hogsmeade section of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

The Flight of the Hippogriff

Flight of the Hippogriff  is a great roller coaster for the younger kids. Although it’s a little wild for a beginner ride. Savannah loved this ride because she is a fan of Buckbeak in Harry Potter.

I recommend this roller coaster ride for younger kids.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden journey is one of my favourite rides ever, and one of the best rides at Islands of Adventure.

This is a motion sickness ride and simulator so if you don’t like those kinda rides then I recommend not trying this ride.

However, if you ARE fine with those kind of rides, then I DEFINITELY recommend this ride.

It’s amazing because you go around inside the Hogwarts Castle through different rooms and even in the forbidden forest and on the Quidditch pitch where you can play Quidditch with Harry and Ron.

When you first get on the journey, you can hear music and if you look up to a mirror, you can see Hermione talking to you.

The only part I don’t like in this ride is the dragon part because the dragon blows hot air on you.

The best part in my opinion is the Quidditch section and when the whomping willow is trying to attack you, and you sway to the side and it feels like you are about to go upside down because you also sway backwards.

And if your thinking, no it’s not like normal simulator rides when your in a big movie theater. You actually sit in a vehicle (each one fits 4 people) going through the castle!

Also, the queue is fantastic. I would the ride again just to go through the queue again. Since you’re in the Castle, the queue goes through rooms of the castle and it is absolutely amazing.

Some of the rooms are:

• Defence against the Dark Arts classroom (the best one because Harry, Ron and Hermione talk to you)
• Gryffindor common room, a hallway with picture’s talking and moving, and many more.

The Forbidden Journey is just fantastic and I highly recommend it.

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure

Riding Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is like zooming through the Forbidden Forest on a real magical motorbike!

You get to feel the wind in your hair as you twist and turn past all sorts of creatures like unicorns and Cornish Pixies.

And guess what? Hagrid himself guides you through the forest, showing you all these amazing animals that you’ve only read about in Harry Potter books.

The best part is when the motorbike goes super fast and you feel like you’re flying!

It’s the most exciting ride ever, and I can’t wait to go on it again.

My experience at Hogsmeade was incredible.

My dad was never really into Harry Potter but when we came here it inspired him to read the books.

If you come to Universal Studios or Islands of adventure, you have to check the out The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

Tips for Visiting Islands of Adventure

Mum put me in charge of planning a trip to Universal Orlando Resort. So I knew a lot of tips before going that would save us time and money.

We learned a few more during our visit to Islands of adventure in the Universal Orlando Resort.

Dad has written an in-depth post sharing tips for Universal Orlando Resort,  which will save you money and time.

Here are just a few of my favorite tips.

Each ride and attraction has a child swap area where one member of your party can wait with the little ones while the rest of your party rides.

Once they are off the ride, you swap places and whoever rode can stay with the kids while the adult(s) who sat out get the opportunity to enjoy the ride.

This is how I got to have so many turns on each ride. It saved me plenty of wait time to go on rides again. It was awesome.

If you are 10 years or older, then you have the option of grabbing a quicker spot as a “single rider

It’s best to hit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter either at 8 am (if you have early park admission by staying at an on-site hotel) or after 4 pm when the park clears out a bit.

Check opening hours as sometimes the park may close an hour later. It closed an hour later than normal on the Friday night we visited.

Head straight to the back of the park while people linger at the front taking photos and stopping at some of the attractions.

If you stay on-site at certain hotels you get free  Universal Express Passes  to the most popular rides and attractions, which allows you to skip to the front of the line.

If not staying on-site, you can also buy a Universal Express Pass upgrade to your admission ticket when you arrive at the park.

There are meet and greets with various characters throughout the day – including Seuss characters, Marvel Super Heroes and Spider-Man.

You can find meet-and-greet times in our park maps. Park maps are available at the front of the park and in various retail and restaurant locations

If you are planning on eating at least 2 meals at the park, then consider purchasing a Meal Plan.

You’ll save some cash as long as you eat two meals. One of the things that really impressed me about the park (besides how clean it was) is how yummy and diverse the food is!

There’s something for every age and it’s gooo-ood food!

Get your Islands of Adventure tickets and Universal Orlando tickets through our affiliate partner, Undercover Tourist, who provide authentic attraction tickets at discounted prices:

• 2 day park-to-park ticket
• 3 day park-to-park-ticket
• 4 day -park-to-park ticket

You can find Universal Orlando Resort tickets through our partner aResTravel, who can get the best priced tickets for Universal. Check for current deals here!

Staying on-site at Universal Orlando Resort helps a lot.

It can get you into the park earlier (all resorts) and give you Universal Express passes (excluding Cabana Bay and Sapphire Falls).

We stayed at Cabana Bay Beach Resort which is the closest hotel to Volcano Bay.

If you stay at a hotel at the Universal Orlando Resort, you can come and go easily back and forth depending on the day and the weather (and the mood of your children).

Here are the current Universal Resort Hotels to choose from (in order of Budget to Luxury):

• Surfside Inn and Suites ( See prices and availability on Booking.com )
• Dockside Inn and Suites ( See prices and availability on Booking.com)
• Universal s Aventura Hotel ( See prices and availability on Booking.com)
• Cabana Bay Beach Resort ( See prices and availability on Booking.com)
• Loews Sapphire Falls Resort ( See prices and availability on Booking.com  )
• Loews Royal Pacific Hotel ( See prices and availability on Booking.com  )
• Hard Rock Hotel ( See prices and availability on Booking.com  )
• Loews Portofino Bay Hotel ( See prices and availability on Booking.com )

Final Thoughts on Universal’s Islands of Adventure

Universal’s Islands of Adventure was so much fun.

It was definitely one of my favorite parks besides Volcano Bay , which is Universal Resort’s own water park.

I definitely recommend this park if you like Harry Potter, superheros, and stuff like that.

I can’t wait to go back again!

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More helpful Orlando Travel Tips

• The Ultimate Universal Orlando Itinerary: How To Have An Epic Day!
• Best Rides At Universal’s Volcano Bay Orlando Water Park (From A 10-Year Old)
• 18 Ideas For What to Do in Orlando, Florida
• Your Guide to Family Fun at Universal Studios Orlando
• Best vacation homes to rent near Disney World
• 18 Universal Orlando Tips for a Great time (Harry Potter fans rejoice)

‘Harry Potter’ Attraction Given Expiration Date, What Comes Next?

in Harry Potter

A popular attraction inspired by The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is at risk of closing permanently. What comes next?

Although British author J.K. Rowling’s divisive opinions and hateful comments continue to stir more than cauldrons among fans , The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has had a tremendous impact on the lives of millions of fans for over 20 years since the premiere of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone  in 2001 — a quarter century if you’re counting since the American release of the first book in 1998, breaking records for a children’s book by an author unknown at the time.

Related: Disney Reportedly Reboots ‘Harry Potter’ Franchise on Disney+

The franchise has since inspired eight movies, seven books, a theatrical play (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), two prequel franchises , multiple traveling experiences, and even several immersive lands at Universal Studios Hollywood,  Universal Orlando Resort , and Universal theme parks around the world — with  Universal Studios Japan taking a massive leap ahead of its international counterparts.

Perhaps the most popular theme park experiences inspired by Rowling’s franchise are Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida and Hogsmeade in Universal Islands of Adventure, which are connected by a unique recreation of the Hogwarts Express train, boarded through Platform 9 ¾, which went through a significant change last year at Universal Orlando Resort.

Related: “It Was a Waste of Money,” ‘Harry Potter’-Inspired Theme Park Disappoints

However, Universal Orlando Resort’s Hogwarts Express is not the only breathtaking train inspired by The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Or is it the other way around?

The Jacobite train is the real-life inspiration for the iconic journey to Hogwarts in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001) and throughout the franchise. The iconic trip is described as “the greatest railway journey in the world.”

The official website for the steam train states: “This 84-mile round trip takes you past a list of impressive extremes. Starting near the highest mountain in Britain, Ben Nevis, it visits Britain’s most westerly mainland railway station, Arisaig; passes close by the deepest freshwater loch in Britain, Loch Morar and the shortest river in Britain, River Morar, finally arriving next to the deepest seawater loch in Europe, Loch Nevis!”

Related: Fans Demand Immediate Closure of ‘Harry Potter’-Inspired Theme Park

Millions of Harry Potter fans have traveled to Scotland to experience the steam train trip, which has operated for over thirty years. Sadly, the attraction that became a legend after being featured in Rowling’s movie franchise is at risk of being permanently closed.

According to a statement published on the steam train’s website , the United Kingdom’s Office of Rail and Road — responsible for the economic and safety regulation of Britain’s railways — forced The Jacobite steam train to cease all operations earlier this year after not granting an exemption to operate with hinged-door carriages on the mainline — the heritage carriages for which the train is known for.

The Jacobite steam train has reportedly operated with said ORR granted exemption “for almost 20 years.” “During this time, no serious injury has been attributable to the lack of central door locking (CDL).” Sadly, after failing to receive the document, the steam train was forced to suspend its operation at the start of the season.

Regardless, West Coast Railways, which owns and operates The Jacobite, worked around the problem and recently revealed that the world-famous steam train would resume services starting Monday, April 15, 2024, after the team did “an exceptional job in getting a fleet of carriages ready to kick-start [their] 2024 season.”

West Coast Railways stated that it will continue to engage with the ORR and the Department for Transport so that the company can operate its full heritage carriages on the main line.

In the meantime, the company revealed that it will operate with a reduced capacity, contacting affected guests to provide available options and re-book their trip. Reduced capacity also means that The Jacobite is unavailable for new bookings and will likely remain until a temporary exemption is granted.

As of the publication of this article, The Jacobite steam train is scheduled to run through Friday, October 25, 2024.

Despite the years-long operation of the world-renowned steam train, the strict regulations in the United Kingdom put the real-life  Harry Potter attraction at risk of shutting down operations.

It is unclear if West Coast Railways will continue to seek the ORR-granted exemption yearly following the end of the 2024 season in October or if the company will consider other alternatives to continue its operations. A less-than-ideal alternative would be the modernization of the train to meet the strict standards set by the ORR, which would permanently alter the experience for fans of J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. However, this is purely speculative.

Have you ever taken a trip aboard the real-life Hogwarts Express in Scotland? Would you like to live this experience? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments below!