Which Harry Potter World Is Better In Orlando

Marvel Super Hero Island

EVERY RIDE at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter | Universal Studios Orlando

While Disney now owns the rights to Marvel , they have continued to honour the existing Marvel contracts.

So, while Marvel Super Hero Islands is available here at Universals Islands of Adventure, for now, its unknown how long this might last.

This is one of the largest areas within Islands of Adventure and is made up of three rides

Storm Force Accelatron
Doctor Dooms Fearfall
The Incredible Hulk Coaster

Here youll also find a number of stores selling Marvel and Universal souvenirs alongside a number of dining options including Café 4 and the Captain America Diner.

Wands At The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter

Guests can purchase interactive wands at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. These work at Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. They also can be used on multiple visits.

We have had our wands that we purchased in 2018 and have used on many visits since. If you have issues with your wand, and it is not working properly, you can talk to the team members at Ollivanders Wand Shop to assist you.

There are Ollivanders locations in Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley.

You can also experience an interactive wand experience where one lucky guest will get picked by a wand.

As of writing this wands cost $63.00 each. You can purchase a standard wand or an interactive wand. Standard wands cost $55.00 and do not work at the spell stations.

If you are traveling with a large group you can share the wands. It may take a bit more time as you stop at each spell station but it will allow you to save on the cost of the wands.

There are numerous spell locations in Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. There is a map of the Wizarding World you will receive when you purchase your wand to assist you in finding the spell locations.

Tips And Things To Do At Harry Potter Universal Orlando

There are so many things to do at the Harry Potter Universal Orlando lands at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. I have listed them below so you can pick which ones are best for you.

I go into details about what our favorite things are later in this post. I have also included a sample itinerary at the end of this post to help you plan your day.

I have divided the list of things to do at The Wizarding World to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. If you only have one day and are visiting one park you can decide for yourself which one is best for your Universal Orlando vacation.

Both areas are great places to include in your visit to Universal but they both offer a different experience.

Diagon Alley feels like a secret village tucked away behind a brick wall. On our first visit we walked by the entrance completely and couldnt figure out how to visit.

Much like the Harry Potter movies guests need to pass through the brick gateway to Diagon Alley. I find Diagon Alley to feel much more immersive. You forget you are in a theme park when you visit.

Hogsmeade Village has a different feel to it. It doesnt feel quite as immersive but it does have 4 Harry Potter rides compared to the two at Diagon Alley. It also has Hogwarts Castle.

Both areas are very fun and if you are a Harry Potter fan I do not think you will be disappointed.

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What Shops Are At Islands Of Adventures Hogsmeade 2023

Honeydukes: Exploding BonBons, Chocolate Frogs, and Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans
Dervish & Banges: Magical items, broomsticks, and your Hogwarts uniform
Filchs Emporium of Confiscated Goods: Treasures seized by the surly caretaker, plus more
Owl Post: Writing equipment and a place to mail letters with a Hogsmeade postmark

Best Overall: Harry Potter And The Escape From Gringotts

From Hogsmeade to Hogwarts at Universal Orlandos Wizarding World of ...

This 4D ride brings one of the classic movie scenes to life. As the featured attraction of the Diagon Alley section of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you wont want to miss it.

What If A Ride Is Closed Or Delayed For Weather

Unfortunately, attractions do sometimes close for repairs or seasonal maintenance. On top of that, Florida weather is unpredictable, and outdoor shows and rides, such as Flight of the Hippogriff or, more especially, Hagrids Motorbike Adventure, must close during inclement weather. Should you arrive at an attraction to find that its closed, simply proceed with the other activities on your checklist and keep an eye on your app or the sign boards posted around Universal to see if the ride comes back online.

While we hope you will be able to see and do everything on offer at Universal, remember that if you miss something on this trip, it will be something you can save for your next one!

Universal Studios Diagon Alley Wand Execution

In Diagon Alley there are more options to practice your skills and perform magic. There are also many workers to assist young wizards and witches and help learn how to execute the spells. You will also get to sneak into Knock-Turn Alley with dark witches and wizards. Although it is dark, it is once again exceptional.

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Where To Buy The Must

You already know theres plenty of places to purchase wands, robes, sweets, and souvenirs in the Wizarding World, but if you want to be extra prepared you can purchase many of these items on Universals website before you even arrive at the Harry Potter theme parks.

You can also get them in your hotel, at the large souvenir stores at the entrance to both Universals Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida, or at the Universal Studios Store at CityWalk. The biggest benefit to buying your merch outside of the park areas is that youll have more time to experience the rides and appreciate the attention to detail that went into making the areas feel like Harry Potters world. Window shopping and browsing is more fun than standing in line, anyway.

Universal’s Mobile App Was Definitely Less Helpful

Is It Possible to Do Everything in Harry Potter World in ONE Day?

Universal’s mobile app left much to be desired.

I mainly relied on it for park hours and show times because many of the attraction wait times on the app were inaccurate.

The app is essential if you’re looking to book any of the attractions using the virtual-line system. But since those rides can change throughout the day, the process can be frustrating and confusing for first-time users.

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Should I Go To Diagon Alley Or Hogsmeade First

Hogsmeade should definitely be your first destination. Not only does it have more rides, but it also has the most popular rides. In order to beat the rush, you should get there as soon as possible and check it off your list!

However, if you want to do it the way Harry first did it, then you should start in Diagon Alley.

Why a Universal Orlando Annual Pass Should be Your Next Big Purchase!

Can You Meet Harry Potter At Harry Potter Land In Universal

No there are not Harry Potter characters walking around the area and there is no meet and greet for specific characters.

Guests can meet the knight bus driver, the train conductor, the frog choir students, and during the Halloween season dementors.

Harry Potter at Universal Studios Orlando is an amazing addition to the theme parks.

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The Character Interactions At Disney Are Still Fairly Limited

Character interactions were still limited at Disney with the pandemic restrictions, which might be a deal breaker for families with kids.

Popular characters were still scattered around the parks, but they passed guests at a distance or drove by in what Disney calls “character cavalcades” .

This could potentially lead to an awkward and upsetting experience for a child looking to run up and hug Mickey or Minnie.

List Of Best Things To Do At Harry Potter Universal Studios

Watch the fire-breathing dragon on top of Gringotts Bank
Stroll along the steets of Diagon Alley and stop to look at the shop windows
Ride Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
Take the Hogwarts Express from Kings Cross Station to Hogsmeade Station
Explore Knockturn Alley for Harry Potter Dark Arts shops. There are a interactive wand stops here.
Walk through Platform 9 3/4 at the Kings Cross Station
Watch for Kreacher in London Window
Meet the Knight Bus Driver in London
Watch interactive wand experience at Ollivanders. You do not need to purchase wand to watch show.
Eat at the Leaky Cauldron for traditional British Food. Offers Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, and mobile ordering.
Florean Fortescues Ice-Cream Parlour- Try Butterbeer Ice Cream!
Watch Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees
Watch The Tales of Beedle the Bard
Exchange your Muggle money for Gringotts Money at the Gringotts Money Exchange. Guests can use this money at both Wizarding World Parks. The money can be exchanged back to US dollars at the end of your day.
Use your wand and spell casting skills at the 11 locations at Diagon Alley and 5 locations at Knockturn Alley.
Visit Weasleys Wizard Wheezes shop.

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Q: Where Can You Buy A Wand In Harry Potter World Orlando

A: There are a few kiosks scattered around both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. But if you want the true experience, head to Ollivanders Wand Shop in both parks for a one of a kind wand buying experience.

And heres some good news: both parks serve Butterbeer! If tasting Harrys favorite drink is high on your list, youll be able to buy one at either park. And its non-alcoholic, so the kids can try it, too.

Which Universal Park Is Better For Harry Potter

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If you are thinking of visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort you need to know what each park offers so that you can decide how to plan your vacation.

Which Universal Park is better for Harry Potter?

There are two Harry Potter-themed lands at the Universal Orlando Resort based on locations from the books/movies:

Diagon Alley, located at Universal Studios park
Hogsmeade, located at Islands of Adventure.

Each park is linked by the Hogwarts Express attraction which you can travel on to enter the other park.

You do need a ticket for each of the Universal Orlando parks if you want to visit both of the areas of Wizarding World.

Both Wizarding World theme parks are amazing, but say you could only visit one, which should you go for?

Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, so lets compare them category by category and see which one stands out as the best so you can see which Universal Park has the best Harry Potter experience.

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Halloween In The Wizarding World

Lastly , the Halloween season also makes for a magical visit to the Wizarding World. Although the Harry Potter parks dont go through much of a spooky transformation, Universals main Halloween event, Halloween Horror Nights, yields a special Harry Potter-related opportunity.

Guests can enjoy smaller daytime crowds during their September or October visit to begin with, but they can also find a quiet haven in Diagon Alley during the nighttime festivities.

While most guests are wrapped up in the late-night Halloween Horror festivities at the Universal Studios park, Diagon Alley remains open to visitors much later than usual.

True Potter fans will relish the chance to walk the streets of this wizarding marketplace in peace and quiet.

Where Is Harry Potter World Located

FULL TOUR of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter | Universal Studios Orlando

First lets start out with the basics and that is where exactly is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter located? And guests might be surprised to learn that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is located between two parks being Diagon Alley which is located in Universal Studios Florida, and Hogsmeade Village is located in Islands of Adventure.

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Best Overall: The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter Hogsmeade

Even if youre not a huge Harry Potter fan, we dont know many people who could resist picking up their pace a little as they catch the first sight of the castle on their way to experience this bustling fantasy world brought to life in screaming color.

Discover the outer park banks with our handy Insider’s Guide to Universal Orlando Resort for more heart-pounding, intense adventures.

Fun Fact: The Lost Continent is now known by most as a walkway to get to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but it was once its own specially-themed part of the park based on famous myths.

Q: Which Park Is Hogwarts Castle In

A: Another common question we receive is, which park at Universal Orlando has Hogwarts castle? And Hogwarts castle would be at Islands of Adventure which is Hogsmeade. Theres even a ride that takes place inside Hogwarts castle, so youll actually be able to enter the hallowed halls of Harrys alma mater.

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Disney Had A Few Shows Running And I Caught The Happily Ever After Fireworks At Magic Kingdom

The restrictions shut down almost all of Disney World’s parades, shows, and nighttime spectaculars, but they’ve slowly started to reopen.

When I visited, shows were happening in all four parks, and I was able to catch a Mariachi Cobre performance at Epcot.

I also got to watch Magic Kingdom’s Happily Ever After fireworks show, which was a fun way to end my day.

Planning A Trip To Universal Studios Harry Potter 2023

Wizarding World of Harry Potter On A Budget

So now that you know what tickets to buy for Harry Potter World, lets plan your perfect Universal Studios Harry Potter Itinerary! Not everyones Harry Potter Itinerary will be the same though. Some might prefer to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in one day and others might have a full weekend. We are going to start with the basics tips for visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and then break down the best way to visit Harry Potter World based on your trip length.

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Best Ride: Harry Potter And The Forbidden Journey

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey wowed me. The journey through the queue alone is fully a part of the experience. Im an avid theme-parkerI grew up an hour from Orlando, how could I not be? I had a season pass to Universal Studios for my four years studying at nearby UCF. I have a high bar for theme park rides.

As I waited in line and wound through Hogwarts Castle, the level of detail, interaction, and care put into the experience made my inner geek smile at all the inside jokes. There are many delightfully geeky Harry Potter details. If you have kid fans with you, they will stay plenty occupied looking for the hidden details . We luckily had just 20 minute waits for each of the rides since we had Early Park Admission thanks to a shared room at the Hard Rock Hotelnone of us minded sharing beds and using the pull out couch because it meant we were able to do most of Hogsmeade before the crushing crowds.

One of the coolest parts of the Forbidden Journey ride is the holograms. The interior castle decorations have the best holographic technology Ive ever seen.

The ride itself is nothing short of innovative. Or should I just give in and say its magical? In all seriousness though, words dont do it justice except to say even the hours of queuing are worth it for the end result.

When Is The Best Time To Plan A Visit To Harry Potter World

Picking the best time to plan a visit to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter isnt too difficult. As a general rule we typically say to avoid any major school breaks whenever possible. Next we have found one the best ways to visit Harry Potter World and plan around the crowds is to use our Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar. This free tool breaks down the expected crowds, average temperature, and eventheme park ticket prices. We find that the least crowded times of year tend to be early fall and right after New Years Eve!

One of our favorite tips is also to pay attention to Universal Orlando theme park ticket pricing. Just like Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando theme park tickets now fluctuate based on the time of year you visit. So one of the easiest ways to pick the best time to visit Universal is to compare the cheapest Universal Orlando ticket prices. The cheaper the tickets the more likely it is that the parks wont be as crowded during that time of year. If you prefer a few great dates we have outlined them below.

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