Diagon Alley: Attractions Shopping And Places To Eat
Diagon Alley has fewer rides than Hogsmeade, but many more stores and eateries, as well as the famous Knight Bus.
Harry Potter Rides Orlando
- Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. This is the most famous attraction of Diagon Alley and consists of a roller coaster in the dark with 3D effects. It doesnt have any major descents and you wont be upside down, so dont worry if youre not a roller coaster type its an attraction for everyone even though its quite eventful.
Places to eat
- Leaky Cauldron. The Leaky Cauldron is where Harry stayed during the summer when he escaped from the Dursleys. There are no rooms to stay in here in Orlando, but you can always order something from the menu.
- Eternelles Elixir of Refreshment. This is a small kiosk that sells, as you might guess from the name, magical elixirs to drink.
- The Fountain of Fair Fortune. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Among the latter, butterbeer.
- Florean Fortescues Ice-Cream Parlour. The ice-cream parlor of Diagon Alley appeared in many books in the saga.
- The Hopping Pot. Many drinks, including the inevitable butterbeer!
Shopping
- Borgin and Burkes is a store selling dark magic items.
- Madam Malkins Robes for All Occasions. This is where Harry purchased his first uniform.
- Weasleys Wizard Wheezes. Weasleys Wizard Wheezes is the name of the Weasley brothers store. Colorful and two-story, it sells products of all kinds, from games to food.
Other stores:
- Wands by Gregorovitch
- Wiseacres Wizarding Equipment
Watford Junction To The Studios:
Once you arrive at Watford Junction, exit the train station and cross the parking lot to bus stop 4 on the far side of the parking lot.
There are posters for the studio tour at the bus stop, so you will know you are at the right one. Chances are there will also be someone dressed as a wizard
This bus will take you directly to the studio tour.
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Do you have to pay for the shuttle? According to the website, you do have to pay for the shuttle to the studios. However, you do not have to pay to get on the shuttle. There is simply a tip jar if you would like to leave something for your driver. You doneeda valid studio tour ticket to get on the shuttle.
The shuttle bus from Watford Junction rail station to the studios.
The Best Time To Visit Harry Potter World
Orlando has certain peak seasons and low seasons. Usually going when school is in session is going to be less crowded! This is not always an option so I have found that the Undercovertourist has a great Orlando Crowd Calendar.
This calendar can really help you know the best time to go! We have used it many times!
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Florean Fortescues Ice Cream Parlor
This is one of my favorite treat spots in all of Universal Studios. Guests can snack on different ice cream flavors inspired by the Harry Potter books and movies.
You can pick from Salted Caramel Blondie, Sticky Toffee Pudding, Chocolate Chili, Early Grey and Lavender, Chocolate and Raspberry, Granny Smith, and clothed Cream. Oh and of course Butterbeer!
The Fountain of Fair Fortune: A cart carrying a variety of different beverages from pumpkin juice, butterbeer and adult beverages.
For a additional information on the restaurants be sure to check out our Complete Guide to Dining at Harry Potter World!
Where To Buy Harry Potter Studio Tour Tickets
If you are making your own way to the Harry Potter studios, you have to buy your ticket in advance from the official website. You cannot turn up without a ticket, and tickets are not for sale on site.
Tickets go on sale well in advance, but despite the site having capacity for up to 6,000 people a day, they tend to sell out far in advance, so you will want to plan as far ahead as possible.
The summer months, weekends, and school holidays are the busiest days of the year for the Studio so we recommend that you book as far in advance as you can if you are visiting over those periods.
Weekdays often have better availability, so if you are flexible, look at different days of the week to maximise your chances of getting a ticket.
Tickets are for timed entry, which helps the studios manage visitor numbers throughout the day. Whilst there is no limit to how long you can stay after you enter, you do need to enter the attraction at the time you book. There is a little bit of flexibility in this, but its best not to show up hours later than your time to avoid disappointment.
The WB Studios Tour folks recommend you arrive at the site at least 20 minutes before your ticket time so you can go through the security checks.
If you cant buy a ticket from the official site, dont worry, you still have lots of options.
Deluxe Tours can be booked directly with the Studios, subject to availability, on the official site here.
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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!
Plan Your Days Around Crowds
Just realized most of my tips center around staying away from lots of people Im not a mean person, I promise.
If at all possible get Early Access to the parks. This lets you in by 8am when the parks typically open at 9am.
The only way to get Early Access though is by booking a vacation package with a Universal partner hotel, staying at a Universal Studios Resort hotel, or if you have a Preferred or Premier Annual Pass.
If you cant get early access, then get to the parking deck by 8:30am and get in as soon as you can. Hit the rides or attractions that are #1 on your list first and then eat lunch around 11 11:30am.
The crowds really swarm the park during the middle of the day so youll want to be prepared for that. If you can swing it I would get the Express Pass you can read more about that in my general Universal Studios tips.
Express Passes are expensive but worth it . A couple hours before the park closes the crowds will start to thin out again. If you missed anything at the beginning of the day you can go back and get in pretty easily now.
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How To Get To Harry Potter Studios
The Warner Bros Studio Tour is one of the most magical experiences in all of London, regardless of whether or not youre a regular Muggle or a true Potterhead.
Except its not in London. The studio where the movies were filmed is, in fact, located 20 miles outside of Central London in the English county of Hertfordshire.
So what is the best way to get to Harry Potter Studios? Lets take a look at three of the best ways to get there. Weve also included a handy price comparison table at the end so that you can easily see how much each option costs.
Top Tip: Arrive Early
Try really hard to be at the theme park when it opens. Lines get longer as the day wears on, so first thing in the morning is your very best chance of riding the marquee rides with little-to-no wait times.To get the earliest start possible, consider staying in one of the excellent Universal Orlando resorts. On many days, guests at these resorts get early admittance to one or both parks. In late August, for example, this means visitors enter Islands of Adventure at 8 a.m. and start enjoying the park when it is virtually empty.
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Advantages Of Express Unlimited
So should you get it? Well, when we went we knew we had limited time. We live far away, and we realized the cost to travel back out to Orlando to go to Universal is expensive, and perhaps by more fully utilizing our time while in Orlando, we could save overall.
If we spent a week at Universal, we probably could have been fine without the pass.
How To Get Tickets For The Harry Potter Experience Plus How Much Are They
All tours take place during night-time hours, starting at 4:40 pm with last entry at 9:45 pm.
Tickets start at £24 per person, with prices depending on what day and time you book. Entry is free for children under five.
Tickets can be purchased via the booking platform Fever, where you will also find information about group bundles for a minimum of eight people.
Large group booking options are also available for groups of 30 or more and they can include services such as a tour guide and photographer. These packages can be booked directly via the website.
Upon booking, visitors are also invited to donate £3.95 to plant a tree as part of the Give a Tree, Grow a Forest initiative.
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Where Is Harry Potter World
Traveling to and finding Harry Potter World London, is an adventure in itself. The studio is located 20 miles outside of central London in a place called Watford.
Most visitors dont want to hire a car and attempt to drive on the wrong side of the road and on top of that try to navigate the biggest car park in Britain, more commonly known as the M25.
With this in mind, I have put together a list of ways to get to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter leaving you plenty of time to explore and enjoy the Making of Harry Potter, London.
Remember To Pack Your Robe And Wand
Its not every day you can wander the streets of Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley like a real witch or wizard. Make sure to add your robe, wand, and any other Harry Potter apparel or accessories to your packing list for some real epic pics. If you want to get your gear during your visit, there are many shops to check out throughout the wizarding world.
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Where To Get Harry Potter Souvenirs
The Shop That Must Not Be Named, in the York Shambles.
There are so many places to get Harry Potter souvenirs throughout the UK, that I wasnt sure if I should buy something at the studio tour, or wait until I went to the gift shop at Kings Cross Station , or wait until I got to the Shambles in York, where it would just be so much cooler to buy a wand!
So to help you decide, Im reviewing the shops at the studio tour, as well as listing out ALL of the other locations I found where you can buy HP souvenirs, and if theyre worth waiting for.
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P.S. There are more HP shops than the ones listed here. You can literally find one everywhere you turn.
Hagrids Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
Fly deep into the wilds of the Forbidden Forest, beyond the grounds of Hogwarts castle, on a thrilling roller coaster ride that plunges into the paths of some of the wizarding worlds rarest magical creatures. To be honest, I have been a Walt Disney World annual pass holder for years and this ride single handedly convinced me to purchase a Universal annual pass. ITS THAT GOOD! It is a must when youre figuring out what to do at Universal Studios Harry Potter.
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What Will I See At The Harry Potter Museum In London
The Studio is sometimes referred as the Harry Potter Museum, since you will see many items used in the movie. The Harry Potter Museum is built inside the Warner Brothers Studio in London. You will delve into the world of Harry Potter and discover the magic hidden behind the most successful film series of all time. You can wander through some of the films most famous sets and you can see the costumes on display.
Perfect for family fun as well as for wizardry lovers, this behind-the-scenes walking tour takes you to:
- Stroll down Diagon Alley
- Past the shop of Ollivanders Wand Shop
- Flourish and Blotts
- Check out Harrys Nimbus 2000
- Hop on Hagridss Motorcycle
- Step into the actual Great Hall
- The Gryffindor common room
- Try the popular beverage Butterbeer
Our Harry Potter Studio Tour Review And Experience
Now for the fun stuff! Although, if you want your visit to be a surprise, you might want to skip this section, as you now have everything you need to know in order to visit.
Still, if you want an idea of what to expect from your visit, read on, and well share our own experiences of visiting the Harry Potter Studios!
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How To Get Cheap Tickets For Harry Potter World
As we have been discussing, guests can simply shop around for the best Universal Orlando ticket discounts. This will give you a ton of flexibility when trying to find the best deals to the Wizarding World of harry Potter. Historically Universal will also always have the cheapest ticket prices during slower times of year. These tend to be the months when kids are back at school or coming right after school breaks.
How Long Do You Need For The Harry Potter Studios Tour
It took us about 3.5 hours to go through the tour. You could easily stay longer, especially if you get the digital guides.
I would say allow for at least four hours. They do allow for that amount of time with their last ticket allocation entry time before closing. Once you enter the studios, you arent on a time limit so can stay as long as you like!
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How To Get Tickets To Harry Potter Studios Park In London
Visiting the Harry Potter Studios Park if you are a fan of the saga is one of the dreams you can fulfil during your trip to London by buying your tickets online and in advance. To do this you will need to book a date and time to visit the Warner Bros. studios.
If you are sure you want to include this attraction in your agenda, it is best to book your tickets as soon as possible to ensure your place in a specific time slot as capacity is limited. With thousands of visitors from all corners of the globe visiting the Harry Potter Studios Park every day, it is one of London‘s most popular tourist attractions, which means tickets fly out like magic!
That said, to discover Harry Potter Studios Park you can get your tickets in a number of ways: either on a guided tour of Harry Potter Studios Park with transfer or on your own.
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!
Related Page: Early Park Admission Universal Tickets
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How To Get To The Harry Potter Studio Tour
You have two major options for getting to the Harry Potter Studio Tour you can take a tour which includes your transport, or you can make your own way there using either public transport or a car.
Well go through both of these options so you can make the right decision as to which is going to be best for you.
Is It Possible That The Tickets Become Available Again In The Next Days
Yes, it is possible and it happens quite frequently, especially on weekdays. It happens because people can cancel their visits and it might happen up to a few days in advance . If you do not find anything available now, we recommend keeping looking during the next days to see if something comes back again on resale. A good idea is always to check TourScanner, so you make sure to see if something becomes available on one of the several websites that offer the tickets on resale.
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