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.
Dont Look At Your Phone Ever
Are those flying broomsticks near the ceiling in Hogsmeade shops? Is Crookshanks sleeping on a shelf in the Magical Menagerie? Is that Nagini in the window? Is the music referencing very specific movie moments based on where youre standing? Yes, yes, yes, and yes.
Seriously, dont look down. Theres something worth seeing wherever you are: silhouettes of characters having conversations in the windows, moving portraits, newspapers with moving pictures. If you spent too much time staring at your phone and taking pictures, you just might miss something amazing.
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!
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Visit Both Theme Parks
In order to get the full experience of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you must visit both Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida theme parks. And youll need at least two days at Universal to see all of it.
The rides and shops of Diagon Alley are located in the Islands of Adventure. Hogsmeade and Hogwarts Castle are located in Universal Studios Florida.
These areas are connected via a short train ride called the Hogwarts Express which travels between the two parks. Access to Hogwarts Express is available only to those who buy the park-to-park tickets.
Another way to travel between the parks is via the Universal City Walk. This area of Universal Orlando is the shopping, dining, and entertainment district. While Universal City Walk is accessible without a ticket, you will need a park-to-park ticket to travel between the two parks.
What Harry Potter World Ticket When Visiting On Separate Days
The best fit ticket for anyone looking to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter on two separate days is the Universal Orlando standard one park per day ticket. Interesting enough this ticket can actually be a great option if you are visiting Universal Orlando during peak season. The reason being is Universal will actually open both Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios for early park admission. This will allow you to experience both parks separately for early park admission during your vacation.
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If I Use Early Park Admission Do I Still Have To Get To The Park Early
Yes, we cant stress this enough! In the case of Diagon Alley, and with the intention of riding Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, we recommend that you get to the turnstiles at least 30 minutes before Early Park Admission starts. Universal occasionally begins to let guests into the park a little before the official opening time, and you dont want to be at the back of the pack, especially if youre trying to hit a headliner first thing.
Whats The Difference Between The Wizarding Worlds In Orlando And Hollywood
While just as magical, Universal Studios Hollywoods version of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter only features the Hogsmeade area and is significantly smaller than the Harry Potter world in Orlando. Theres still plenty of shopping, you can dine at Three Broomsticks, get a drink at Hogs Head, and ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Flight of the Hippogriff at the Hollywood park, though.
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Ride The Hogwarts Express In Both Directions
As long as were on the topic: ride the Hogwarts Express in both directions. This magical train is more than just transportation between parks: Youll pass through a pillar to enter Platform 9¾ and the sights you’ll see are different in both directions, making it well worth riding twice, even if you dont have to.
Madam Malkins Robes For All Occasions
Pop into this shop to find everything you need for your very own Hogwarts uniform as well as formal attire like Hermiones Yule ball gown. The raised area with dresses and outfits on display adds to the elegant ambiance. Inside you will also find a fashionably sensitive mirror in the middle of the store that doesnt hesitate to speak its mind. It will give you advice when you stand in front of it to try things on. Ask a witch or wizard working in Madame Malkins about the items in the case to the left of the cash-register . You might find some intriguing pieces with a tale of their own.
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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.
Hogwarts Express Kings Cross Station
This train station is just near the Diagon Alley entrance and features a neat trick you can capture from the top landing, of someone walking through the doorway beyond as they disappear. Lines are typically long at this station, so have your phone, or camera, ready at the top landing if you hope to grab a photo of it happening.
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Phase : Islands Of Adventure
Construction of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter began seven months after the official announcement, in January 2008. By July, the Flying Unicorn and Enchanted Oak Tavern were closed. The Flying Unicorn then began an almost two-year refurbishment which transformed it into the Flight of the Hippogriff. The Enchanted Oak Tavern was later demolished. A bridge was built to connect The Lost Continent with Jurassic Park allowing guests to avoid the construction zone that was to become the Wizarding World. Construction progressed with the Hogwarts Castle slowly taking shape. By September 2008, the Dueling Dragons entrance was moved to Jurassic Park to make room for construction of Hogsmeade. One month later, the old entrance was demolished. By September 2009, the top shell of Hogwarts Castle was completed. On September 15, an announcement was made detailing what was going to be included in the Wizarding World. In early 2010, Universal increased its marketing of the area, which included newspaper advertisements, billboards and television commercials. The Dueling Dragons were closed for some maintenance before being transformed into the Dragon Challenge. Construction was completed by June 1, 2010, when the area began soft openings.
Sing Along With Celestina Warbeck And The Banshees
As a singer myself, I love seeing a wizarding legend performing some of her greatest hits including A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love and You Charmed The Heart Right Out Of Me. If you watch close to the stage, you may even get picked to be a part of the show! During the Holidays at Universal, you can catch a fun, seasonal performance.
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Visiting The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter For The First Time
Hopefully, this guide has helped you get a handle on ALL THE THINGS you can do, see and eat at the Universal Orlando Wizarding World of Harry Potter. From Hogsmeade to Diagon Alley to the Hogwarts Express, there is so much to do. We hope you take some time to take in the magic and love it as much as we do!
Visit The Parks At Night
Lastly, early park entry is great, but there’s also something magical about visiting Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley after dark.
This won’t be possible every night , but be sure to check the opening hours of each park for every day of your trip to see if you can catch either of these parks after dark.
I promise it’s worth it!
You can read Stephen’s post about our weekend here.
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How Many Days Do You Need To Plan At Harry Potter World
Another popular question we receive, is how many days should I plan at Harry Potter World? And as you can imagine there are so many amazing things to do in each section, you should give yourself at least two days to experience everything the Wizarding World of Harry Potter has to offer. Thats not saying that you cant see a ton of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in one day, however we find the best way to see Harry Potter in Universal Studios is to not feel rushed. As even guests who purchase the Universal park-to-park ticket to ride the Hogwarts Express will want to ride the train twice as the attraction is different going both ways.
Two days at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter will also allow families to enjoy some of the other experiences such as the Harry Potter interactive wands and also all of the fun themed shops. Taking your time will allow your family to take everything in and bring the magic of Wizarding World of Harry Potter home.
The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter Hogsmeade At Universal’s Islands Of Adventure
Its the one-and-only, all-wizarding village of Hogsmeade, and youll only find it at Universals Islands of Adventure! The main attraction here is Hogwarts castle, which comes to majestic life on select evenings for The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle spectacular.
Looming over Hogsmeade, Hogwarts also features Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, an attraction that will take you soaring high above the castle grounds. For more airborne adventures, hop aboard the family-friendly Flight of the Hippogriff roller coaster, which youll find at Hagrids hut.
Speaking of Hagrid, he takes center stage in Hagrids Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. Sending you deep into the Forbidden Forest for up-close encounters with a menagerie of wondrous creatures, this innovative attraction combines state-of-the-art coaster technology and gripping storytelling for one of Universal Orlando Resorts most incredible experiences yet!
High Street a popular hangout for Hogwarts students and professors alike is brimming with enchanted shops. Send magical mail to family and friends at Owl Post, load up on sweets at Honeydukes, or get your very own Sneakoscope at Dervish and Banges, among other arcane retailers.
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Where To Eat In The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter
As fans of the books, we knew we wanted to eat at either The Three Broomsticks or The Leaky Cauldron. Both serve cafeteria style British food if there is such a thing. Since I cant have gluten, they had a chef come over to ensure the food I was ordering is safe which was a nice touch. I personally love that it was efficient and organized, and staff help your family find a table so youre not standing there holding heavy trays with kids running around your feet. The atmosphere was exactly as you would hope if youre a Potterhead.
Theres a bakery/ ice cream shop in Diagon Alley, The Hogs Head Pub in Hogsmeade, plenty of places that sell Butterbeer, and Honeydukes for sweets too. You wont go hungry in either park!
Accio Tips And Tricks
More than a decade into its existence, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter has become a must-visit attraction at Universal Studios Orlando. For the Potter devout, its Mecca. For people who honestly don’t give a damn, the park’s enormous castle and winding streets are still magical. And whether you grew up alongside Harry, Ron, and Hermione or can barely pronounce petrificus totalus, it’s guaranteed to be a wildly immersive experience.
As any muggle might expect after being cast into the world of wizards, theres a lot to take in, and your first trip can be more overwhelming than discovering your pet rat is actually an old man. Fortunately, there are plenty of tips and tricks that’ll help you discover the best of the Wizarding World. Here’s what to know.
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Is There Anything Else Open In The Theme Parks Besides The Wizarding World
Yes! When Early Park Admission is at Universal Studios Florida, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem will be open to delight guests when its at Islands of Adventure, meanwhile, early attendees can hop on Jurassic World VelociCoaster . Remember that these are the attractions available in addition to all those within The Wizarding World.
Eat At Either The Leaky Cauldron Or Three Broomsticks
There’s one restaurant in each Harry Potter park . You’ll find the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley and the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade.
Both serve traditional British pub food I had a plate of mini meat and fish pies and a range of Harry Potter-inspired drinks and beers. The prices actually aren’t terrible, and it’s a fun atmospheric thing to do.
My tip? Go for lunch instead of dinner and the lines won’t be as long.
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All The Shop Windows And Facades
I mention this separately because each of the shop windows is really a treasure. They are highly themed to the stores inside and often loaded with animation such as the self knitting needles and screaming Mandrakes. Many of the storefront facades dont lead into an actual shop but are worth taking in too, like the House Elf House Placement Agency, Flourish and Blotts and my favorite the The Daily Prophet where you can hear the wizard reporters inside working away. There are also a few fun Easter eggs to be found. For example the area that is now Diagon Alley occupies what was once the ride Jaws. In the window at Mr. Mullpeppers Apothecary, youll find a set of sharks teeth in tribute to the retired ride.
The Ultimate Guide To The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter At Universal Orlando
From Hogsmeade to Diagon Alley, here’s everything you need to know about the Harry Potter rides, restaurants, and shops at Universal Orlando.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort consists of two immersive lands based on the Harry Potter books and films. The Diagon Alley area is located in Universal Studios Florida and Hogsmeade is located in Islands of Adventure. The two Harry Potter theme park lands are connected by the Hogwarts Express.
Both of the Harry Potter lands at Universal Studios have themed shops, rides, dining, and entertainment, and the best way to travel between the two is on the Hogwarts Express train. If you want to hop on the train or visit both lands in one day, youll need to purchase Park-to-Park tickets that include both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure for your visit.
Both Harry Potter Orlando theme park lands accept Express Passes, an add-on to your regular park ticket that lets you skip the line on many rides and attractions. You can purchase Express Passes online or inside the park, and its included as a free perk if youre staying in a Universal Premier hotel.
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Stay At A Universal Hotel
There are several advantages to purchasing a Universal Orlando Vacation Package and staying at one of Universals hotel properties.
For one, you will be much closer to the theme parks so you will have easy, through complimentary transportation or walking paths, access to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and all of Universals attractions. This is especially convenient if you do not have a car.
If you stay at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel®, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, your Universal Express passes are included and complimentary for each day of your visit, as well as priority seating at select restaurants throughout the resort.
All Universal on-site guests receive Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter one hour prior to the parks opening.
You can compare the Universal hotel perks here.
Pro Tip: Universals Unlimited Express Pass is included from the day of check-in until the day of check-out, so you can get 2 days of Express Pass for your family for just the cost of a 1-night stay at a Premiere Resort. If youd like help planning and booking your Universal Orlando Resort vacation package, please contact the totally free Orlando vacation specialists at The Vacationeer. today!