Hogwarts Express Hogsmeade Station
When youre 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
What Is The Best Way To Do Harry Potter World
Everyone has their own way that they enjoy exploring the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, however below are some of the best tips and tricks we have learned over the years to get the most out of your day. As youll see there is so much more to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter than just rides and having a solid game plan is key to seeing everything these two lands has to offer.
- Always use Early Park Admission
- Start out at Islands of Adventure over Universal Studios Florida if only visiting for one day
- Always start with Hagrids Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
- Upgrade to the Park-to-Park ticket to ride the Hogwarts Express
- Be sure to ride the Hogwarts Express both ways
- Dont forget about the interactive wands
- Make sure you leave room for a Butter Beer
- Be sure to make a visit to Knockturn Alley in Diagon Alley
What To Consider When Planning A Day At Harry Potter World
- Will you use Harry Potter early park admission?
- Which Harry Potter rides will you go on?
- Should you upgrade to the Universal express pass combo ticket?
- Will you have lunch or dinner at The Leaky Cauldron or The Three Broomsticks
- Will you buy a Harry Potter wand or robe?
Now of course every family is different so there might be a few additions or deductions to this list. However we have found this is the best place to start when planning the perfect day at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Below is also additional information on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter basics for your next trip!
Read Also: What Harry Potter Characters Should Look Like
How Much Are Universal Studios Hollywood Tickets
The cost of park admission depends on various factors, including when and where you purchase your tickets and what kind of pass and benefits you want. However, you can save money when you book discounted tickets in advance instead of purchasing your ticket at the front gate. Gate pricing currently breaks down as follows:
- California Resident 1-Day: around $159/ticket
- 1-Day General Admission: around $159/ticket
- Universal Express: around $399/ticket
- VIP Experience: around $519/ticket
Visiting The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter In Orlando
At Universal Orlando, you can don your best dress robes and visit two unique places in the wizarding world: Hogsmeade at Universals Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida. While wannabe witches and wizards can walk the hallowed halls of Hogwarts at other Universal Studios theme parks throughout the world including Hollywood, Japan, and the forthcoming location in Beijing, Universal Orlando is currently the only place where Muggles can wander the crooked cobblestone streets of Diagon Alley.
Also Check: Is Harry Potter Married In Real Life
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 couldnt 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:
Dine Out Enjoy A Drink And Go Shopping
You cant truly say youve seen Hogsmeade until youve had a meal at the Three Broomsticks or grabbed a drink at the Hogs Head bar next door .
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.
You can also buy British favorites like fish n chips, beef pasties, smoked turkey legs and shepherds 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 is $7.99, while pumpkin juice and pumpkin fizz are $4.99. Two draught beers on tap are Hogs Head Brew and Dragon Scale .
Three Broomsticks also serves breakfast daily until 10:30 a.m.
When youre 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 Botts 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 as well as owl-themed souvenirs.
Get your Hogwarts uniforms and robes, Sneakoscopes, Quaffles and Golden Snitches at Dervish and Banges.
Read Also: How Old Was Emma Watson In Harry Potter 5
Can You Just Visit The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter At Universal Orlando
If youre looking to save money on a trip to Universal Studios or are only interested in Harry Potter, then you may be wondering if you can just buy tickets to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and not to the entire Universal Studios theme park.
Sadly, you are unable to buy tickets for just the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Instead, youll need tickets to both Universal Studios Florida & Islands of Adventure to experience both Diagon Alley & Hogsmeade which make the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at the Universal Studios Orlando Resort.
This means to experience everything Harry Potter at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter youll need a two-park ticket.
This can either come in a one-day park-to-park ticket, which will allow you admission into both Universal Studios Florida for London and Diagon Alley and Islands of Adventure for Hogsmeade.
Alternatively, this could also come in the form of a two-day, two-park ticket which will give you admission to one park on one day, and the other park on the next.
Which way around you do the parks are totally up to you, and park-to-park admission can be added on as an extra so you can move between both parks on both days either via the entertainment centre CityWalk or on the Hogwarts Express.
How Can You Get Free Parking
Platinum Annual Pass and Gold Annual Pass holders receive free parking before 6 p.m. All other guests are usually required to pay for parking. However, right now, self-parking is free and valet parking is unavailable.
Normally, before 5 p.m., general parking costs $30, preferred parking is $50, front gate parking is $70, and valet parking is $25 for the first two hours. All parking rates are reduced if you arrive after 5 p.m.
Recommended Reading: What Color Eyes Does Harry Potter Have
Universal’s Islands Of Adventure
| Pharos Lighthouse with the park’s logo at its entrance |
| Location |
|---|
| May 28, 1999 23 years ago |
| Owner |
| Islands with myths, legends, dinosaurs, cartoons, superheroes, children’s stories, and Universal franchises |
| Slogan |
|
|
|
Universal’s Islands of Adventure , originally called Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida. It opened on May 28, 1999, along with CityWalk, as part of an expansion that converted Universal Studios Florida into the Universal Orlando Resort. The resort’s slogan Vacation Like You Mean It was introduced in 2013.
Islands of Adventure is modeled after a journey of exploration, where guests embark on an adventure to visit a variety of themed islands. Initially, the park featured six islands. A seventh, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, was added in 2010, themed to the highly successful Harry Potter franchise. It was Universal’s largest investment since the resort’s founding in 1990. The expansion led to a significant increase in attendance, and in 2013, Islands of Adventure ranked seventh domestically and eleventh internationally after hosting approximately 8.1 million guests. The eighth island, Skull Island, opened on July 13, 2016, and is themed to the King Kong franchise.
Universal Orlando Discounts And Deals
9/21/22
If youre looking for Universal Orlando discounts, this is the right place! Universal Orlando includes two major theme parks: Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, plus a beautiful water park: Volcano Bay. You can easily spend two or more days exploring them. Fortunately, there are many, many Universal discounts and special offers, which change constantly. On this page youll find Universal Orlando ticket discounts, special deals on Universal Orlando hotels, advice about saving money on meals and merchandise at Universal Orlando and lots more!
Universal Orlando is building a new theme park scheduled to open in Summer 2025: Universals Epic Universe.
All offers are subject to change without notice. Always call ahead and confirm before driving out of your way to take advantage of a particular offer!
Jump to:
Recommended Reading: Which Harry Potter Movie Should I Watch
What To Know While Planning A Visit To The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter
We have found that families who have the best experience at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter always have a great plan going into their Universal Orlando trip. This includes knowing exactly how to use all of our Harry Potter early park admission tickets , which rides their family will want to go on, if they plan to have meals inside of Harry Potter World, and what they plan to do with their free time! Below are some of the most important things families should consider when planning a day at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!
The Harry Potter Studios In Leavesden
The filming of all eight Harry Potter films took 10 years in total to make. The studios in Leavesden was the place where all magic happened. Thousands of props, sets, and costumes were made and collected at Leavesden. When the filming came to an end, the majority of the items were put on display for Potter fans to experience. It is breathtaking to see all the hard work and incredible detail that went into producing the Potter movies. You can walk through the sets as if you are taking part in the film, and it is very exciting.
The props that you see are the very items visible on the screen in the films. There is also a fascinating section where you can learn how the animatronics work and how the special effects were added. The attraction is a walk-through tour in low lighting. There is a lot to see at Londons Harry Potter Studio Tour.
Read Also: How Old Is Harry Potter In Prisoner Of Azkaban
What Other Universal Studios Hollywood Discounts Are Available
Bring your AMEX card to the park! American Express is an official partner which means that you can use any American Express card to receive 10% off food and non-alcoholic beverage purchases of $10 or more. Youll also receive 10% off photo packages over $25 and 10% off select merchandise purchases of $75 or more.
You can also receive access to the parks American Express Lounge if you purchase VIP Experience or Universal Express tickets directly through universalstudioshollywood.com online using your American Express card.
Ive been to the lounge and its a nice air-conditioned place with bottled water, non-alcoholic drinks, and places to charge your devices. Personally, I think the savings by purchasing these Universal Studios Hollywood tickets at a discount elsewhere outweigh the lounge convenience.
Guided Tour Of The Warner Brothers Studio: The Making Of Harry Potter
- Round trip transfer in luxury coach
- Admission ticket to Warner Bros Studios
This package is one of the best Harry Potter Studio Tickets available. A dedicated tour guide will take you behind the scenes of the films. As you walk through the studios, the guide will share secrets and insider knowledge with you. You will also learn all about the amazing sets and incredible effects used in the films. Electronic headphones are provided to ensure you can hear everything the guide says. Guide groups are small, with a maximum of 15 people in a group. Return transport is by train from central London.
Also Check: De Vere House Harry Potter
What Are The Best Tickets To Buy For Harry Potter World
So now, what are the best tickets to buy when visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter? And very simply, we always recommend to buy Early Park Admission Tickets to Universal Orlando when visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Specifically because this will allow you to have your pick from three of the most popular rides in all of Universal Orlando.
Diagon Alley At The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter 2022
The second land added to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is Diagon Alley . If you are entering from the front of the park walk straight until you hit the Revenge of the Mummu 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!
You May Like: What Streaming Service Has Harry Potter
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 Universals 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 youve 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
Explore The Magic Behind The Making Of The Films
The most successful film series of all time is brought back to life at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter. Explore the magic behind the films, go behind-the-scenes and step into sets, see real costumes and marvel at ground-breaking special effects. Your price includes round-trip transport from London.
Read Also: How To Know What House Your In Harry Potter
Harry Potter And The Escape From Gringotts
Once youve entered Diagon Alley, walk straight to Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts indoor steel roller coaster ride. You cant miss it its 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, thats 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 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. Theres also a lot to look at while in line since youll snake through the Gringotts bank lobby and see a multitude of goblins at work. The four chandeliers that hang inside the banks 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 youd like .
Best Place To Get Harry Potter World Tickets
So, what is the best place to get your Harry Potter World tickets? We have found that theparkprodigy.com has the best Wizarding World of Harry Potter discount tickets. Not only will all guests who buy their tickets save some money however all guests will also receive early park admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. We think this is a huge game changer and can save families a ton of time later on in the day!
For additional vacation planning tips to Universal Orlando Resort be sure to check out our main Universal Orlando category page. And for the latest Universal vacation package deals be sure to check out our partners The Park Prodigy!
Recommended Reading: How Much Money Did Jk Rowling Make From Harry Potter