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Harry Potter Land Universal Studios

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When To Visit The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter

How to Experience 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. Dont 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 .

Exchange Money At Gringotts

You’ll find Gringotts in Diagon Alley , but the Gringotts building itself is home to a ride. Not far away, though, you’ll find the Gringotts Money Exchange, where you can exchange your Muggle money for Gringotts bank notes.

I was slightly disappointed that you don’t get handed a bag full of galleons, but it was fun nonetheless, especially since there’s a goblin inside to interact with .

And don’t worry, this isn’t something you spend any money on. You actually exchange money for Gringotts money, and you can use the Gringotts money just about everywhere within the Universal parks.

What To Know About The Hogsmeade Shops At The Harry Potter Orlando Theme Park

There arent nearly as many shopping locations in Hogsmeade as there are in Diagon Alley, but there are more than enough to meet all your wizarding needs.

Honeydukes

Honeydukes sells many of the same treats found at Sugarplums Sweet Shop in Diagon Alley. If candy isnt your thing, go for the Butterbeer Fudge or Cauldron Cakes in the bakery case.

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Ollivanders Wand Shop

To ensure there are enough wands to go around, there are Ollivanders locations in both of the Harry Potter lands at Universal Orlando. Both locations have stacks upon stacks of interactive and non-interactive wands, and both hold wand selection ceremonies throughout the day.

Dervish and Banges

Dervish and Banges is your home for Golden Snitches, brooms, and Hogwarts clothing and accessories. Dont forget to check out the real live textbook, The Monster Book of Monsters. Luckily, its in a cage because this book bites!

Filchs Emporium of Confiscated Goods

This is another good souvenir stop where youll also find authentic-looking replica props from the Harry Potter films.

Owl Post

In addition to letter-writing supplies, you can mail letters and postcards to your friends and family with a real Hogsmeade postmark.

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Wizarding World Of Harry Potter With Toddlers

Best ride for your little children:

Flight of the Hippogriff: This is a family coaster fun for all ages. The Buckbeak animatronic is beautiful.

Hogwarts Express: Parents and children will love the laid-back immersive experience that takes you right into the pages of this magical world. It is a real-life recreated train with sophisticated special effects that transports you from Diagon Alley to Hogsmeade.

Head Straight For Diagon Alley

The Dos and Don

There are loads of worthwhile attractions at both parks. Nonetheless, skip the Flaming Moe and head straight for Diagon Alley. The level of immersion here is unlike anything else youll find at the park. Stand by the opening into the alley near the Leaky Cauldron and watch the unbridled joy that spreads across each visitor’s face as they enter. Its that stunning.

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The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter Tips

How to avoid long lines: Arriving early may help you avoid long lines during the first hour of the morning. During the day, however, the lines grow long, and purchasing Express Passes may be a better option to avoid the lines.

Take a bunch of pictures: Yes, the attractions are fun, but the incredible attention to detail is what makes The Wizarding World of Harry Potter memorable. Why not take as many pictures as possible to capture and cherish the moment forever?

Renting a locker: Some attractions that prohibit backpacks or purses offer free temporary lockers to hold your items. You can save some time and jump on another ride more quickly if you rent a locker, ride a few attractions back-to-back, then come back and pick up your items.

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 Potteris 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: Hagrids Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure which is included with all of our Universal Early Park Admission tickets!

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Can I Use Early Park Admission On My Check

If you are eligible for Early Park Admission through your hotel, you can use it each day you are checked in to the venue, including your check-in and check-out days. If you book one night at, say, Cabana Bay Beach Resort, you will get the benefit of two days with early entry: both the morning you check in and the morning you check out. We have helped many guests book one night at a resort even an economy partner hotel just for the two days worth of EPA to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Volcano Bay.

If You Want To See All Of The Harry Potter Orlando Theme Park Arrive Early And Make A Plan

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

The Hogsmeade area and Hagrids Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure often open early for Universal hotel guests as part of Universals Early Park Admission perk. If youre staying onsite or can get to the park close to opening time, your best bet is to tackle Hogsmeade early in the morning. Its not as large as Diagon Alley and can get crowded as the day wears on. If it gets too crowded, hop over to Diagon Alley and come back to Hogsmeade in the early evening.

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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 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.

Ultimate Guide To Harry Potter Wands At Universal Studios For 2022

Buying a Harry Potter wand at Universal Studios is one of the most anticipated events for all Harry Potter fans! You will feel just like the characters in the movies and books when you choose your own wand and start casting spells!

It can be overwhelming trying to decide where to buy your wand, and what type of wand to choose. You might also be confused about how the wands work in Harry Potter world and what you can do with them.

Our Ultimate Guide to Harry Potter Wands at Universal Studios shows you how easy it can be to get your own magical souvenir and start enjoying every nook and cranny throughout Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

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Best Souvenirs From Wizarding World Of Harry Potter

There are so many fun things to find within both lands of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. After all, this is a unique world of its own that you cant find many other places. So be sure to pick up these best souvenirs before you leave!

Among the souvenirs you definitely want to save money for are:

  • Harry Potter Robe
  • Postcard or Letter with Hogwarts stamp and postmark
  • Gringotts Bank Notes

The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter Strategy

The Ultimate Guide to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley ...

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is extremely popular in both Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando. If Harry Potter is a priority for you you should prioritize your morning around this land! It will get busier as the day goes on and if you decide to go here first thing in the morning you can enjoy the land without bumping into other guests and really take in the details.

Universal Orlando Harry Potter Strategy

The Hogwarts Express is a must-see attraction. The train is how you get between the two parks within The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley to Hogsmeade. Guests must have a park to park ticket in order to enjoy the attraction. Now dont make this mistake if you want to avoid riding without a long line! If you wait until the mid afternoon right when it would make sense to park hop you might end up with an extremely long line for the experience. On my visit to Universal Orlando my longest line with the Express Pass was actually for the Hogwarts Express because we went right at 2PM when the rest of the crowd was park hopping. Even if there’s a long line, it’s worth the ride. Plus the ride will be different each direction so make sure you ride it twice!

Entrance to Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando

Universal Studios Hollywood Harry Potter Strategy

Ollivander’s Wand Experience

This advice applies to both Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando!

Each interactive wand comes with a wand map with the spells and locations

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Planning A Trip To Universal Studios Harry Potter World 2022

There is no doubt that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter has quickly become one of the most popular destinations in all of Orlando. But with this increased popularity can sometimes come increased lines, and families left overwhelmed trying to figure out which rides to go on and when. 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 thats 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!

Where To Buy Harry Potter Wands

There are four main places to buy Harry Potter wands at Universal Studios Orlando Resort. They are:

  • Ollivanders Wand Shop in Diagon Alley
  • Ollivanders Wand Shop in Hogsmeade
  • Wands by Gregorovitch in Diagon Alley
  • Wand cart on the way to Hogwarts

There are additional places to buy wands outside of Harry Potter lands, such as the gift shops at the front of each of the theme parks, as well as the large Universal Studios merchandise shop in CityWalk. Some official Universal hotels have gift shops where you can purchases wands.

You can also buy official wands on the Universal Studios store online.

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What Harry Potter World Ticket When Visiting On The Same Day

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

Its 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 Page: Discount Harry Potter Early Park Admission Tickets

Check Out The Knight Bus And 12 Grimmauld Place

Wizarding World of Harry Potter Land Tour 2021 | Universal Studios Hollywood | Hogwarts Castle

Once youve seen everything on Diagon Alley, leave this part of The Wizarding World through the opening in the brick wall. Directly across youll 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 youll see a replica of a London street. Upon closer inspection, youll see 12 Grimmauld Place, the home of Sirius Black . 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.

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Ride The Indoor Rides

There aren’t a *ton* of rides in the Harry Potter parks in fact, there’s only ONE in Diagon Alley and 3 in Hogsmeade. Meaning it’s pretty easy to ride them all if you want to. My personal favorites? It was the innovative indoor rides that really blew me away.

The Forbidden Journey, located inside Hogwarts Castle in Hogsmeade , is a grown-up motion simulation ride in which you feel like you’re following Harry around on a broomstick, dodging dragons and dementors.

And the Escape From Gringotts ride in Diagon Alley is a mixture of an indoor roller coaster and a 3-D ride where you get chased by Voldemort and Bellatrix through the vaults. Both were unlike any ride I’ve ever been on before!

*Be warned: The Forbidden Journey ride made me feel a bit sick, so if you’re prone to motion sickness, I’d definitely take some Dramamine for this one!*

And, pro tip: don’t be scared by wait times. Wait times of up to 30 minutes will seem like nothing once you get inside, because the lines have you winding your way through Hogwarts and Gringotts respectively, complete with talking photos, animatronic goblins, and some appearances by Harry Potter characters.

The first time we went on the Forbidden Journey the line was only 10 minutes long and I felt like we actually missed out on part of the experience because we went through the line so fast!

There’s also a kid-friendly coaster in Hogsmeade , and the new Hagrids Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure in the same area of the park.

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.

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The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Hogwarts Castle, which houses Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, at Universal’s Islands of Adventure
Theme
June 18, 2010
Replaced
July 8, 2014
Replaced

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a themed area spanning two theme parksIslands of Adventure and Universal Studios Floridaat the Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida. The area is themed to the Harry Potter media franchise, adapting elements from the film series and novels by J. K. Rowling. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was designed by Universal Creative from an exclusive license with Warner Bros. Entertainment.

The second phase was initially announced on December 6, 2011, as a significant expansion of the existing Wizarding World of Harry Potter. On May 8, 2013, it was officially announced that a substantial portion of phase two would be constructed in the adjacent Universal Studios Florida theme park with a full scale working replica of the Hogwarts Express taking guests between the two lands. This phase’s flagship ride is Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, a 3D dark ride/simulator based on Gringotts Bank, the wizarding bank that appears in the book and film series. Its design is similar to Transformers: The Ride and the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man rides but built on a roller coaster track. The remaining features are themed around London and Diagon Alley. Diagon Alley officially opened on July 8, 2014.

Harry Potter And The Forbidden Journey

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (With images)

The original Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction and still one of the most popular rides in Hogsmeade! Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is located inside of Hogwarts castle and is a one of a kind ride which will allow you to experience the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry on your very own broomstick. This used to be the most popular attraction with the longest line in the parks however they have not been as bad ever since Hagrids Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure opened last year.

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