Wizarding World Of Harry Potter Guide For Your First Visit
Visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Orlando for the First Time can be confusing! Between the planning and choosing what to do, see and eat, there is enough to fill at least one day, if not two! Here is your first-timers guide to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
If this is your First Visit to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, there is a lot to learn! Because its about so much more than just showing up with your wizard robes. If youre hoping to take in all the magic of Wizarding World then settle in, and take notes. Butterbeer, Ollivanders Wand Shop, and the Frog Choir await!
Where Is The Real Diagon Alley
The real Diagon Alley is located inside the Universal Studios Florida theme park.
But if youre a Harry Potter purist, then according to the books Diagon Alley is accessible from London through the Leaky Cauldron, which is on Charing Cross Road.
The Leaky Cauldron is a location that is only seen by wizards and is located between a bookshop and a record shop.
There are also two contenders for the REAL Diagon Alley in the real world.
Diagon Alley Oi Fun Facts
With the success of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hogsmeade, an expansion of the property was almost inevitable and, indeed, as soon as Hogsmeade was open, the rumors began to circulate. Many assumed that any new addition would continue to creep into the Lost Continent area at Islands of Adventure however, it wasnt until December 6, 2011 that Universal officially announced that the planned expansion would actually come to Universal Studios Florida, just days after the permanent closure of the popular Jaws ride was announced. Progress on this parcel of land was painstakingly slow, as the demolition and infill of the Jaws lagoon took several months, complicated by both weather and the fickle nature of Central Floridas permeable soils, before construction could even begin.
In May of 2013, almost everything was made official: Diagon Alley was, indeed, the theme for the new land, and it would come replete with the Hogwarts Express attraction, which would transport guests between parks to visit both sides of the Wizarding World. An opening year of 2014 was even dropped as part of the announcement.
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Shops In Diagon Alley
- Globus Mundi- A Wizarding Travel Agency, Hogwarts Express merchandise, travel accessories.
- Gringotts Money Exchange- Gringotts banknotes, and souvenirs
- London Taxi Hut Store souvenirs, Hogwarts uniforms, apparel, costumes.
- Madam Malkins Robes wizarding robes for all occasions. Uniforms, scarves, cardigans, hats, and jewelry.
- Magical Menagerie Magical creatures of all kinds. Hedwig, ferrets, pygmy puffs, ad plush.
- Ollivanders Wand Shop wands, character wands, and interactive wands.
- Owl Post a post office meant for sending gifts back home. Stationery, quills, seals, ink, stamps.
- Quality Quidditch Supplies Quidditch brooms, nitches, apparel, and more.
- Scribbulus authentic Harry Potter writing supplies, journals, pens, parchment.
- Sugarplums Sweet Shop Bertie Botts Beans, Cauldron Cakes, Butterbeer fudge, and more can be found here.
- Wands by Gregorovitch. Wands, interactive wands, and character wands.
- Weasleys Wizard Wheezes Novelty joke shop, tricks and toys, games, and novelties.
- Wiseacres Wizarding Equipment collectibles, wizarding supplies, crystal balls, moon charts, apparel.
Does Universal Hollywood Have Diagon Alley
Universal Hollywood currently does not have a Diagon Alley section. You can still experience the Hogsmeade adventure in the Hollywood park!
You all have read and watch my many countless trips to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley, that I thought it would be great to give you the best guide to the Harry Potter inspired section of Universal Studios.
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Attention Muggles: Board The Train At Platform 9 3/4 Immediately
Diagon Alley in all its glory, minus the bright Orlando sun.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Orlando is overflowing with magic, and muggles, today.
The recreation of Hogsmeade and the Hogwarts Castle was already a hit with young and old fans of the Potter books and films , but now Universal Orlando has opened a recreation of Diagon Alley, the town center of the wizarding world.
Pop into Leaky Cauldron pub, have a wand choose you at Ollivander’s wand shop, buy a gag gift at Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, check out the Quality Quidditch Supplies or if you’re interested in the Dark Arts, walk down the sinister Knockturn Alley. You can also walk into the Gringotts bank and open a bank account. And by “open an account”, we mean take a tumbling ride down into the cavernous money vaults staffed by goblins.
Ambling through the snow-capped village of Hogsmeade and flying through the Hogwarts Castle are non-negotiable must-sees , but Diagon Alley has even more places from Harry Potter world to explore. And the effects are pretty bad-ass. This isn’t the theme park you grew up with. And thank goodness for that. #Epcotinthe80s
Now, here’s what you need to know:
What to Eat: The Leaky Cauldron promises a “traditional British meal in rustic surroundings” which means cottage pie, fish and chips, bangers and mash. It’s a nice change from a cheeseburger, for sure. The kids menu features the predictable mac n’ cheese but everyone can imbibe in Butterbeer.
Guide To Diagon Alley In The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter At Universal Studios Florida
Welcome, Harry, to Diagon Alley. Heres where you get your quills and your ink, and over there all your bits and bobs for doing your wizardry. Rubeus Hagrid, Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone
Just like Diagon Alley was one of Harry Potters first glimpses of the Wizarding World, working the VIP Preview for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida was one of my first experiences as a team member at Universal Orlando Resort. Ill never forget the moment I first passed through the bricks and saw the iconic street all aglow!
Theres so much to see and do here, from the thrilling ride beneath Gringotts Wizarding Bank, to the Wizarding Worlds most famous shops. You wont want to miss a thing, so heres everything you need to know.
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Harry Potter Diagon Alley Lego Set
If you cant make it to the real Diagon Alley, just recreate your own with the Lego set.
You can build all of the top locations featured inside Diagon Alley such as Gringotts Bank, Ollivanders Wand Shop, Flourish and Blotts, Quality Quidditch Supplies and Weasleys Wizard Wheezes, plus a Mr. Ollivander mini-figure with a wand.
You can findthe Diagon Alley Lego set here!
I hope you enjoyed this Wizarding World of Harry Potter guide, the Diagon Alley edition.
My hopes are that I was able to answer your questions with the tips, itinerary and secrets laid out in this article.
If this is your first time going, then feel free to ask me any questions about Diagon Alley and Ill be sure to answer them for you.
Whats your favorite thing to do inside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley? Let me know in the comments section below!
Wizarding World Of Harry Potter Diagon Alley
Top choice
in Universal Studios
Diagon Alley, lined with magical shops selling robes, Quidditch supplies, wands, brooms and more, leads to the massive Gringotts Bank, home to one of Universal Studio’s multisensory thrill rides, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. To get here, you must walk through Muggles’ London at Universal Studios or, if you have a park-to-park ticket, ride the Hogswarts Express from Islands of Adventure’s Hogsmeade to King’s Cross Station.
Grab some bangers and mash at the Leaky Cauldron, a scoop of quirky wizarding-themed ice cream at Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlor and wander down the ‘darkest of dark places,’ Knockturn Alley, to pick up tools of the Dark Arts at Borgin and Burkes.
Given the creative spirit and success of Islands of Adventure’s Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley is theme-park magic at its best. Lines and crowds are insane stay at a Universal Orlando Resort so you can enter Diagon Alley one hour before the park opens to the general public.
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Diagon Alley Details So Far
- Located at Universal Studios theme park
- Connects to Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure via the Hogwarts Express. A Park-to-Park ticket will be required for Guests looking to travel between London and Hogsmeade.
- The Leaky Cauldron Restaurant will be available for Guests looking for a new Harry Potter themed dining experience. The Three Broomsticks will remain over at Hogsmeade.
- A new signature attraction at Diagon Alley will be based on Gringotts Bank
- Diagon Alley expansion is scheduled to open Summer 2014. Date TBD.
Book your Harry Potter and Universal Orlando package or theme park tickets today!
Want to get all our tips and tricks for visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter? We wrote a travel guide for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hogsmeade! We included all our tips and tricks that weve learned over the last year to make your visit to the Wizarding World as magical as possible. Be sure to check it out!
Get your Harry Potter theme park souvenirs from the official Harry Potter shop, the WB Shop!
Eyelops Owl Emporium/magical Menagerie
One of the most magical things about reading the Harry Potter books is learning about the magical creatures. Being able to have an owl as a pet at school would definitely be an exciting thing, so having magical pet shops to peruse would be one of the best things about Diagon Alley.
Eeylop’s Owl Emporium mostly sells owls and tools to take care of them. The Magical Menagerie sells many other magical pets including rats and cats. Their functions are the same: finding wizards and witches their perfect companions.
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Madam Malkins Robes For All Occasions
Madam Malkins is the second of the robe shops on Diagon Alley, and its also the most popular. This is the place where students get their uniforms for Hogwarts, and its also where wizards and witches shop for other things such as dress robes and traveling cloaks.
While it might not be filled with the most magical items, it would definitely be interesting to see all of the selection at a store like this. Plus, since clothes are a basic necessity and also say a lot about a culture, Madam Malkins is definitely a foundation store in Diagon Alley.
Wizarding World Of Harry Potter Cost
How much does it cost to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter? Here are the items to consider in your Wizarding World Budget.
- Wizarding World Tickets- Park to Park. $100- $170/per person, per day.
- Parking Fees at Universal Orlando Resort. $27-$30/per day
- Express Passes. $80- $100/ per person, per day.
- Resort Lodging. $90- $400/ night. Explore Hotels.
- Food and Drinks. $15- $25/ per person, per meal.
- Souvenirs and Misc.
We typically recommend buying your ahead of time. As well as any Harry Potter outfits, so you can save money in the shops. And if youre looking for ways to save even more money check out our Wizarding World of Harry Potter on a Budget post.
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Where Is Diagon Alley Real Life Harry Potter Streets In The Uk: Qh
If youve been wondering where is Diagon Alley? in real-life, then we have you sorted! This wizarding-inspired guide showcases various destinations across the UK where you can experience the magic and mystery, including spots which may well have inspired JK Rowling to have created the shopping street of Diagon Alley.
All ever-so-photogenic, theyre the kind of streets youll want to enjoy a coffee in, shop for unique souvenirs, or simply snap photos of! Even if you take your non-wizarding enthusiast friends, theyre sure to enjoy these unusual Harry Potter locations in England and Scotland
What Is The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter Diagon Alley
Based upon the unbridled success of Hogsmeade, the original Wizarding World of Harry Potter over in Islands of Adventure, Universal has upped the ante in every conceivable way with Diagon Alley. A nearly $450 million expansion on the site of the former Amity area , this is one of the most immersive areas of any theme park in the country, if not the world.
Masking the land from the prying eyes of outside muggles is the London waterfront, which contains authentic recreations of a number of famous British landmarks, from Wyndhams Theater to Eros Fountain. But Universals little slice of downtown London is more than just an elaborately themed facade with street performers, numerous photo-ops, the Knight Bus, food stands, and exclusive merchandise, its an attraction in and of itself.
Once through the brick-wall entrance to Diagon Alley proper, guests will find themselves immediately and totally immersed in Harrys wondrous world. There are plenty of shops to wander through and places to eat .
Just beyond Gringotts Bank is Carkitt Market, a covered arcade that features a plethora of drink stands, street vendors, and live entertainment, along with some striking architecture. Here, guests can stop to chat with a fully interactive audio-animatronic goblin who exchanges their boring old muggle money for Wizarding Bank Notes, or take in a live show, including puppet renditions of The Tales of Beedle the Bard and live soul performances of Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees.
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Florean Fortescues Ice Cream Parlour
While most of the Harry Potter shops in Diagon Alley feel distinctly magical, Florean Fortescue’s doesnt seem that much different from an ice cream shop in the Muggle world. While its not the most exciting because its a fairly regular sweet shop, it does seem like a fun place to hang out.
Harry spent a lot of time studying here during the summer before his third year at Hogwarts. Plus, Florean Fortescue seemed like a nice man, and he would often give Harry free sundaes while he studied. It’s one of the locations actively operating at Universal Studios, complete with a variety of wizarding world flavors, like butterbeer ice cream.
Shops Of Diagon Alley:
To explore each store, follow the links in the Related Entries factbox:
- Apothecary potion ingredients
- Dark Arts establishments dark items
- Eeylops Owl Emporium owls & related merchandise
- Florean Fortescues Ice Cream Parlour ice cream
- Flourish and Blotts books
- Gambol and Japes joke items
- Gringotts Wizarding Bank
- Madam Malkins Robes for All Occasions robes
- Madam Primpernelles Beautifying Potions beauty products
- Magical Menagerie pets & related items
- Obscurus Books publisher
- Potages Cauldron Shop cauldrons
- Quality Quidditch Supplies brooms & other Quidditch-related items
- second hand robe shop robes
- stationery store writing supplies
- Twilfitt and Tattings robes
- Weasleys Wizard Wheezes joke items
- WhizzHard Books publisher
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The Case For Hogsmeade
In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, a new realm of opportunities opened up to Hogwarts students: access to the neighbouring village of Hogsmeade. Described as looking like a Christmas card due to its abundance of snow, the village was awash with pubs, thatched houses, tea shops, joke shops and beyond and even includes its own tourist attraction in the supposedly haunted Shrieking Shack. See? Already that sounds pretty brilliant.
Although wed already become quite accustomed with the joyful hustle and bustle of Diagon Alley, discovering Hogsmeade was even more intriguing. We associated Diagon Alley with getting back to school, picking up books and supplies and the like, while Hogsmeade was designed as a break from school, a chance for students to unwind and properly start feeling more independent. After all, the trip was only available to third-year Hogwarts students and beyond getting to go to Hogsmeade was like a dream for the younger pupils.
While Hogwarts students were more likely go to Diagon Alley with their parents or families, Hogsmeade was altogether the cooler option to go with your friends, or even go on dates. It is altogether quirkier, more interesting and more varied than Diagon Alley, and served as an important location for many key moments in the Harry Potter series.
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From Magic Wands To Butterbeer
Diagon Alley is a re-creation of the magical shopping district where Harry Potter and other wizards shopped for magic wands and other essentials. The expansion was created in the space previously dedicated to the Jaws ride at Universal Studios and features a wide range of shops and eateries made famous in the Harry Potter series. Guests can purchase everything from interactive wands that initiate special effects, to Butterbeer-flavored ice cream.
The book and film series captured the hearts of millions and now, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is the only place in the world where the wonder, excitement and adventure comes to life. Where else can you ride on a dragon, eat exploding candy and experience wizard Magic?
An Immersive Theme Park Experience
From the entrance to Hogsmeade, with the Hogwarts Express billowing steam and whistling its arrival, through each shop and attraction, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort is a one-of-a-kind, fully immersive theme park experience and the only place in the world that brings the magic of Harry Potter to life. Guests can explore some of the most significant and familiar locations from the books and films and find themselves in the heart of the excitement. Harrys journeys will become their own.
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Cast Spells With Interactive Wands
With a wave of your wand and the proper incantation, you can cast spells in over a dozen locations in Diagon Alley. Find the locations on the map that comes with your Interactive Wand purchase. Knockturn Alley spell-locations are illuminated on the sinister street.
PRO TIP: While youre at it, embrace your inner Weasley twin and convince an unsuspecting friend to stand under the umbrella above the restroom entrance in Horizont Alley while you use your Interactive Wand to cast Meteolojinx.And to make it up to them, I recommend trying your hand at Incendio to illuminate the dazzling Flimflam Lanterns near Knockturn Alley.