How Long Does It Take To Do The Harry Potter Exhibit At The Franklin Institute
This depends on the time and crowds. With us going at 6:30pm with two children, we spent exactly one hour in the exhibit with minimal lines. We arrived 20 minutes before our tickets, were towards the front of the line that formed, and we were allowed in at 6:25pm. I heard the weekends are packed, so I would plan on more time during the busier hours.
While most of the exhibit was easy to get through with almost no lines, we did occasionally have to wait about 5 minutes for some photos. The museum did do a great job with pacing the crowds during our time there.
Getting There & Tickets
The Franklin Institute is located at the intersection of 20th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. On-site parking is limited, but there are a few garages in the surrounding area.
Tickets to Harry Potter: The Exhibition are in high demand, with both daytime and evening tickets available. Daytime admission includes a timed ticket to Harry Potter: The Exhibition, as well as regular museum admission. Evening admission includes a timed ticket to Harry Potter: The Exhibition only.
To avoid busier times, weekday visits between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. are encouraged. Those interested in a weekend visit should purchase tickets well in advance in order to secure their preferred day and time.
Timed tickets can be purchased online through the Franklin Institutes website.
Photo by S. Ramones for Visit Philadelphia
Battle For The House Cup
Make sure you use the wristband you were given upon entry. Find the golden snitch on each display, then wave your wrist over it before you complete one of the magical tasks asked of you during the visit. Once the task has been completed, whether that be casting a spell or preparing a potion, you earn points for your house.
Are you Ravenclaw with a Hufflepuff friend? Make your visit into a competition, and towards the end you can actually try out your magic with a friendly battle.
You May Like: How Long Are Each Of The Harry Potter Movies
Harry Potter: The Exhibition At The Franklin Institute
The world premiere of Harry Potter: The Exhibition opened at The Franklin Institute on February 18, and the first weekend for this one-of-a-kind interactive experience saw sold-out success.
Anticipation has been growing for months. In just 15 weeks this exhibition has exceeded presales for every exhibition at The Franklin Institute since 2007. All indications show that Harry Potter: The Exhibition will be one of, if not the most popular exhibition in the history of The Franklin Institute and the city of Philadelphia, Larry Dubinski, President and CEO of The Franklin Institute, said.
Just months after fans celebrated the 20-year anniversary of the first Harry Potter movies release with the Return to Hogwarts HBO Max special, fans can now step into what Dubinski refers to as, the most comprehensive touring exhibition ever presented about the Wizarding World.
Harry Potter: The Exhibition, which makes its world debut in Philadelphia through September 18, was created and developed by Imagine Exhibitions in partnership with Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment, in association with EMC Presents.
I am a Philly boy born and raised, and I have to say when I was growing up The Franklin Institute was my go-to place So we are thrilled to be launching Harry Potter: The Exhibition here, van Roden said.
Tom Zaller, President and CEO of Imagine Exhibitions, discussed what can be expected of Harry Potter: The Exhibition.
‘harry Potter: The Exhibition’ Tickets Are Now On Sale For Philadelphia Premiere
Harry Potter rather famously got a chance to compete in the Triwizard Tournament even though he was underage and never put his name in the Goblet of Fire.
He became one of four young wizards to vie for the cup, the glory of their school and a thousand Galleon.
The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia can’t offer you that, exactly. But the Science Museum is offering a chance to be one of the first four people to tour the world premiere of “Harry Potter: The Exhibition” when it comes to Philadelphia next year.
The exhibit, created by Imagine Exhibitions in partnership with Warner Bros., comes as the first “Harry Potter” film marks its 20th anniversary.
Tickets are now on sale for the show, which opens Feb. 18 and announces itself as “the most comprehensive touring exhibition ever presented about the Wizarding World.”
Come explore with us:
It is highly recommended that fans of Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny reserve their tickets early for this timed-entry event. At press time, more than 20,000 tickets had been sold within hours of their release.
“Harry Potter” will take Wizards and Muggles alike behind the scenes, where they can get up close to memorable characters, settings and moments from the books and films and the larger world created by author J.K. Rowling, including more recent works such as “Fantastic Beasts” and “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.”
From there, they will select their Hogwarts house and wand and explore the show on a personalized journey.
Recommended Reading: When Was Draco Malfoy Born
Toasting The Wizarding World
If you’re over 21 and can’t get enough of Harry Potter, this beer’s for you. Rather, beers.
Evil Genius Beer Company, the Fishtown and Philadelphia-based brewing company, celebrates “Harry Potter: The Exhibition” and the return of in-person events with a special new exclusive beer, cocktails, a new running club, a drag brunch and a block party.
The brewery is releasing a glitter beer, Spoiler Alert: It’s LeviOSa, not LevioSA, at 6% ABV.
Evil Genius also will debut two new specialty-theme cocktails with Throwing Snowballs at Voldemort and Defrosting Broomsticks .
Hogwarts Running Club’s Harry Potter 0.5K, a charity fundraiser, will take place on Saturday, March 12. The runners will wear Hogwarts house colors and race around the block on foot, broom or owl. Tickets include a swag bag and proceeds support Trans Lifeline.
Also on March 12, Evil Genius will host the Evil Genius Block Party: The Lab Turns 5 from noon to 6 p.m.
For details, visit www.evilgeniusbeer.com.
Is The Harry Potter Exhibit At The Franklin Institute Good For Kids
Yes, but it is better for older kids. My oldest daughter is a few weeks shy of 8 and loves Harry Potter. She loved the whole experience and wants to go again ASAP . My youngest is soon to be 5 and has seen the movies. She found it fun, but couldn’t fully participate in several interactive pieces. My youngest also found parts of the exhibit like the Forbidden Forest section scary. Most of the exhibit is dark, and that section has some spook sound effects.
I know many parents of younger kids are reading the books with their children now. The exhibit includes experiences from the entire franchise. If you are not watching the movies until you finish the books, you may want to wait. While there are no spoilers, your children may not understand many of the references, scenes, or props. Chamber of Secrets, Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix, and the Half-Blood Prince all have their own photo opportunities. There is also an interactive element referencing the final showdown between Voldemort and Harry from the final film.
You May Like: What Does The Sorcerer’s Stone Do In Harry Potter
Where To Start Your Visit Of Harry Potter: The Exhibition
Start your visit by taking your photo with the 20-foot high marble statue of Benjamin Franklin in the beautiful lobby of the museum its a tradition. Then, continue to the Harry Potter exhibition which is located on the first floor, and accessible in the back left corner. There is only one way through the exhibit, and your first stop will be to board the Hogwarts Express.
After you go through the Harry Potter exhibition, there are still four floors of the museum to visit, so make the most of your time and check them all out.
The #1 Piece Of Advice Before Visiting Harry Potter: The Exhibition
Plan to spend a few hours walking around the exhibit. With so many other attractions in the area, it may be tempting to try to see them all in a day. However, while you can get through the Harry Potter exhibition itself in 60 to 90 minutes, the entire Franklin Institute is worth a visit. Exhibits explore human anatomy, mechanics, space, and more. Visitors can even walk inside of a giant anatomically correct heart.
Recommended Reading: Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince Full Movie
Basic Information For You Harry Potter Experience:
If you are looking to explore in the Franklin Institute before your Harry Potter Experience, come at least 2 hours before your time. There is no VIP line although there is a VIP experience. You will be told where to meet-by the Harry Potter sign when its time. Wear comfortable shoes. My son was there from 11-4:30 and it was nothing but pure walking.
You can not eat or drink inside of the exhibit. However there are plenty of lunchroom space, and the Eatery for you to eat and enjoy. Also many parents packed their kids lunch. I didnt because I expected to come in and go right into the Harry Potter Experience and that wasnt the case. My son and I had snacks and lunch while there. The price for food was comparable to any other experience we went to. The food was fine. The Franklin Institute is 3 floors of exploration. You wont get bored. Hand sanitizer is located all through the exhibit. Use them.
Is The Harry Potter Exhibition At The Franklin Institute Accessible
The space is wheelchair, stroller, and crutches accessible. Several interactive pieces, like the Quidditch game and Divination Class, may be difficult in a wheelchair. Many photo opportunities do seem to involve being able to get out of a chair and into another or on the floor .
The exhibit is pretty dark at times, but a smooth and flat floor. We went at 6:30pm on a weeknight and it was not very crowded. If I was bringing a stroller or had a guest in a wheelchair or crutches, I would try to avoid the crowded times. I do not remember seeing anywhere to sit during the exhibit.
Read Also: What Does Stupefy Do In Harry Potter
Is The Harry Potter Exhibit Worth It
Below are my top six pros and cons of the Harry Potter exhibit, to help you determine if it’s worth it for you.
Pros:
- Laid out well to disperse crowds in each setting
- Staff was well prepared to manage crowds
- Fun community atmosphere of excited fans
- Feels immersive and interactive with elements of technology and magic
- Covers most of the important plots, settings, plots, and characters
- Designed to please both adults and children
Cons:
- Expensive for a family or group visit
- Hard to get tickets due to popularity
- Non-refundable and non-transferable tickets
- May be crowded, depending on when you go
- Parking may be difficult, depending on when you go
- No rides or amusements like you would find at Universal Studios in Florida
The Harry Potter exhibit was worth it for me. I really enjoy seeing movie memorabilia in person, and I did feel like they were placed in a really interactive, impressive, very crowd-controlled environment. I thought that the price was fair, nearly everything I wanted to see was there, and the community of museum staff and guests maintained a fun and polite atmosphere.
Beyond the memorabilia, each guest receives a “golden snitch” wristband, by which you set up a profile with your favorite Hogwarts house, Patronus, and wand. You then scan this wristband throughout the exhibit to take photos and engage in other magical tasks, like casting spells! This element really takes the Harry Potter exhibition to the next level, especially for kids.
Gryffindors And Boggarts And Quaffles Oh My: Harry Potter Launches At The Franklin Institute
- By February 19, 2022
The world premiere of a new Harry Potter exhibition is now open at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.
The show is projected to be the most popular exhibition at the Franklin Institute, ever. The first weekend is already sold out through pre-sale tickets. The Franklin hopes the show will help reignite the tourism economy.
Harry Potter: The Exhibition was developed in partnership with Warner Brothers, which released all of the films of the Harry Potter franchise, aka the Wizarding World. The immersive exhibition features props and costumes from the films, and puts visitors inside rooms and key scenes from the Wizarding World.
We think of them as celebratory rooms. Theyre not exactly what the rooms would be like, but the right ingredients are there, said Tom Zaller, president of Imagine Exhibitions, which created the show.
The Philadelphia Theatre Company opens the Tony-winning Broadway show about all-Black prep school gospel choir.
7 months ago
Zaller then named key elements of the exhibition, many of which may only be familiar to fans of Potter.
We have a Defense Against the Dark Arts with a Boggart cabinet, so you can touch that screen and do a Riddikulus charm, he said. The Gryffindor sword, we have the Triwizard tournament cup. You touch a boot and you Portkey. You go through a Floo network, you see Dolores Umbridges office. You throw a quaffle into a Quidditch. Youre in Hagrids Hut. Theres a lot.
Don’t Miss: Which Harry Potter House Are You
The Best Time To Visit The Harry Potter: The Exhibition
The best time to visit the Harry Potter: The Exhibition is during the week, but with the timed tickets, youll find the crowd to be well-paced. Day and evening tickets are available, but know that the price is the same no matter what time you go. To see the entire museum, it is $43 for an adult ticket and $30 for a childrens ticket. For just the Harry Potter exhibition, it is $30 each, and all tickets are timed. Tickets can be purchased on the Franklin Institutes website. You can also give the gift of the Harry Potter experience.
Note that between May 1 and September 11, 2022, if you book your getaway to Philadelphia via the Visit Philly Overnight Hotel Package, you get two untimed tickets to the Harry Potter exhibition.
Exhibit Closes Sept 18
“Harry Potter: The Exhibition” enters its final four weeks at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, closing on Sunday, Sept. 18, after a record-breaking seven-month world premiere run. To date, the blockbuster exhibition has attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors, placing it among the Institutes top highest-attended exhibitions of all timeand the highest since 2007. Following an unprecedented ticket presale, the much-anticipated exhibition made its world debut at The Franklin Institute on Feb. 18, drawing visitors from across all 50 states, four U.S. territories, and 45 countriesincluding Australia, Japan, and Thailand.The all-new behind-the-scenes exhibition celebrates the iconic moments, characters, settings, and beasts as seen in the films and stories of “Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts,” and the expanded Wizarding World, including Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, through beautifully crafted environments that honor many of the unforgettable moments fans and audiences have loved for more than two decades.
Other items that may interest you
Don’t Miss: Why Did Dumbledore Have To Die
Interactive Elements At The Harry Potter Exhibition At The Franklin Institute
There are several interactive elements at the Harry Potter exhibit at the Franklin Institute that can feel magical. Each visitor receives a magical snitch bracelet that allows you to interact with things throughout the exhibition. You fill out information at the beginning of the exhibition, and scan your bracelet throughout. This includes things like: seeing your name appear on the Marauder’s Map, seeing your fortune in a crystal ball in the Divination Class, seeing a memory come up when you reach the pensive, and even casting a patronus of your own.
Much like the rest of the Franklin Institute, a lot of the interactive spaces do require reading and sometimes lifting of small kids. I say this because my four year old is both small and unable to read, so she didn’t get much out of it. My oldest loved these and it felt magical to her.
My daughters’ favorite part was the Quidditch portion where you could throw a quaffle through a hoop. A note for parents, this is pretty much a board walk throwing game and the hoops are high. My daughters did have fun, but it was built with adults and older kids in mind. They did not make any of the shots.
The final interactive piece was the biggest hit. Wands are set up for the epic battle between Harry and Voldemort. The screen in the background had the wands magic colliding in that final showdown.
The Comprehensive Interactive Beyond
In just one month, the Wizarding World experience has sold tickets to people from all 50 U.S. states.
Love Philly? Sign up for the free Billy Penn newsletter to get everything you need to know about Philadelphia, every day.
People only show up on the Marauders Map after they set foot on the grounds of Hogwarts or these days, into the Franklin Institute.
The Philadelphia institution is hosting the world premiere of Harry Potter: The Exhibition, which debuted in February and will run through September, when it departs to tour the globe. The show appears to have lived up to expectations as a hit, according to Franklin Institute spokesperson Stefanie Santo.
In just one month, the exhibit has welcomed people from all 50 states, D.C., three U.S. territories, and 19 countries. About 13% of tickets so far were bought by Philly locals.
Exact sales figures arent typically shared, Santo said, but she did note that the show is on track for the record books as one of, if not the most successful exhibition of all time at the museum, which was founded in 1824.
The exhibit is definitely comprehensive. I say that as someone who has a full shelf dedicated to Harry Potter books and items, and has watched the movies over and over and over again. The show leaves very little of the Wizarding World unexplored .
Read Also: What’s The Last Harry Potter Movie