Entertainment In The Wizarding World At Universal Studios Hollywood
On the Hogsmeade stage, you will find some entertainment throughout your visit. Some of the Hogwarts choir students perform with their large croaking frogs. Ribbit, ribbit! The show can vary during the holidays.
You can also cheer on the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students as they get the crowd excited for the Triwizard Tournament. After each performance, you can take photos with the singers and dancers.
Be sure to check the show times for these shows early in the day. The times appear at the USHWaitTimes site under “Music.” You can always ask a team member in The Wizarding World for show times. That site and the Universal Studios Hollywood app are a good source to check ride and Ollivanders wait times, as well.
During certain seasons, mostly summer and the Christmas season at Universal Studios Hollywood, there is a nighttime show at the castle once the sun sets. With music, projection and lights, it’s pure magic. The theme of the show varies per season.
There are many other magical surprises and hidden gems waiting for you in Hogsmeade. We dont want to spoil all of them. But if you are a true Harry Potter fan like we are, you will appreciate all of the storied details in the store windows and the magical folk working in the shops.
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Hoppy planning!
Harry Potter Land Shops Universal Orlando Florida Vs California
Double, double toil and trouble! Looking for a cauldron, magical creature or your very own wand from the famous Ollivander? Both Universal Studios Harry Potter Worlds offer a variety of shops to get all of your witch-y needs! But which shops are better California or Florida? Lets compare Wizarding World shops in Florida and California.
For Visitors With Disabilities
Guests with special needs can go to guest services and ask for an Attraction Assistance Pass. Its a paper pass that lets you go through the express lane, or get a return time if the current wait is more than 45 minutes.The guest services team members dont ask for a diagnosis they ask why queuing is difficult. You need to explain what could happen if you stand in line for long periods of time.
You can call ahead to request an AAP or just get it at the park when you arrive. The pass allows six people on the pass, so your whole family can ride together.
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Universal Studios Hollywood Harry Potter Restaurants
- The Three Broomsticks Head on into the rustic tavern for a quick service meal of shepherds pie, fish & chips or even The Great Feast. Inside the theming has beautiful cast-iron chandeliers, exposed wooden beams and the normal wizarding trinkets youd find laying about.
- Hogs Head Located on the backside of The Three Broomsticks, this pub offers Pumpkin Juice, Butterbeer, specialty drinks, wine, spirits and brews.
Get Ready For The Ultimate Universal Studios Experience
You’ll get the most out of your visit when you reserve accommodations at The Garland one of the most guest-friendly hotels near Universal Studios Los Angeles.
Beginning on March 4, 2022, and in accordance with government guidelines, guests will no longer be required to wear facial coverings, or show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test when visiting Universal Studios Hollywood. Facial coverings continue to be strongly recommended while indoors.
For questions about your visit to the park, please visit our FAQs and before your visit review our Important Safety Guidelines.
Thank you for your support and patience as the operations at Universal Studios Hollywood evolves to address the latest policies. We look forward to seeing you soon.
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Mechanical Issues Stall Rides At Universal Studios
by: Travis Schlepp, additional reporting by Sam Bader
Posted: Apr 7, 2022 / 06:15 PM PDT
Riders were stuck on the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride at Universal Studios Hollywood on Thursday, April 7, 2022.
by: Travis Schlepp, additional reporting by Sam Bader
Posted: Apr 7, 2022 / 06:15 PM PDT
Nearly a dozen people were stuck on two theme park rides at Universal Studios Hollywood Thursday afternoon after the rides encountered mechanical issues.
Los Angeles County firefighters responded to the theme park in Universal City around 3:45 p.m. after 11 people became stuck on the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride within the Wizarding World Of Harry Potter section of the park, officials said.
First responders and park workers were able to slowly get riders off the theme park ride, which takes riders along an indoor track that Universal says features sudden tilting, turning and jarring action, and abrupt multi-directional motion that turns you on your back.
County Fire also confirmed that there was an additional mechanical issue affecting Transformers: The Ride 3D in the lower portion of the park that left riders stranded.
The exact type of mechanical issue is unclear at this time, but a power outage was reported in the area at the time. There have not yet been any reports of injuries related to the stalled rides.
The New Wizarding World Of Harry Potter In Hollywoodin Pictures
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Managing Your Time In The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter At Universal Studios Hollywood
You do not have a time turner, so you’ll need to be smart about your time management, especially if you want to explore other parts of Universal Studios Hollywood. Try to arrive right at park opening, which is how you’ll find the shortest lines of the day at any theme park. We love skipping the lines!
Head straight to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. We know you are going to be so excited to see it all, but bear with us. Head straight to the back of the land towards the castle. Do not take too much time to explore now. You will have plenty of time for shopping and exploring later. Ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey inside the castle first thing. Do not use the Single Riders line for your first ride. If you are a huge Harry Potter fan, you’ll want to hop through the entire queue so you can take in all those cool details. That’s why you want to ride before the line builds up.
Now that that’s done, we actually recommend leaving the Wizarding World for a bit. Wait, what? Yes. You’ll thank us later. Everyone else heads to the Wizarding World, too, first thing in the morning. It gets busy in the first two hours of park opening. The shops are crowded. The lines for a wand pairing or Butterbeer are longest in the morning. Go take advantage of the short lines elsewhere in the park. We like to hop down to the Lower Lot as soon as it opens and knock those rides out while lines are short. Then, we ride the Studio Tour and make our way back to the Wizarding World.
Bonus: Did You Know There Is A Dragon In Renton
Unlike Orlando, the Wizarding World at Universal Hollywood does not have Diagon Alley with a fire-breathing dragon. But we do have a local dragon curled up atop a business building in downtown Renton . This dragon, named Erasmus, lights up at night and can even change colors. The art installation is a nod to Dungeons & Dragons, a game created in Renton.
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Universal Studios Hollywood Harry Potter Shops Hogsmeade
- Ollivanders
- Filchs Emporium of Confiscated Goods
- Wiseacres Wizarding Equipment
- Gladrags Wizardwear
Hogsmeade StationOverall, the Hogsmeade in Universal Studios Hollywood uses its space to allow more shopping for guests. You will not find Zonkos, Gladrags Wizardwear or Hogsmeade Station Shop over in Orlandos Hogsmeade.
Harry Potter World Rides Universal Florida Vs California
Soaring through the Forbidden Forest or roaming the halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Universal Studios Harry Potter rides are amazing. So, to start our Harry Potter World coast to coast comparison, lets start with what rides are offered at Hogsmeade. The Harry Potter rides in both Universal parks are mostly the same when it comes to Hogsmeade, but Orlando definitely has gotten some updates over the years. So what are the difference in rides when comparing Harry Potter World Hollywood Vs Orlando?
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Attractions In The Wizarding World In Hollywood
Youll find yourself in Hogsmeade, the snowy village where Harry and his companions go to drink beer butter . Here youll find various shops and restaurants featured in the Harry Potter series, including Ollivanders, where you can buy your magic wand.
As you walk through the streets, youll see the silhouette of Hogwarts Castle, home to the parks most popular ride, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, a 3D heart-pounding journey in which youll follow Harry as he flies on a broomstick. In front of the castle, theres another ride, Flight of the Hippogriff, a roller coaster inspired by the famous bird in the Harry Potter novels.
Which Harry Potter World Is Better Orlando Or Hollywood
So now that we have broken everything down, which Harry Potter World is better Orlando or Hollywood? And just on the rides alone we do have to go with Universal Orlando as it is home to Hagrids Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure and Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts which they do not have in California. We also love the fact that Universal Orlando offers early park admission to save time in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
However as you can see, both Universal parks offer their pros and cons depending on what youre looking for with your Harry Potter vacation. Harry Potter World in Universal Studios Hollywood is perfect if youre looking for a more concise trip. Hollywood Hogsmeade has more shops within it and only one park to explore. While that could be less of a hassle over traveling between two parks, you do miss out on quite a bit in Harry Potter Universal Studios California.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando is the full magical experience. With the addition of Universal Studios Florida Harry Potter park, traveling between Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley feels like the real deal. It is important to note that you do need separate entry tickets to both Harry Potter parks in Florida and to ride the Hogwarts Express. You may need two full days to experience all of Harry Potter Orlando, which can really add up in cost!
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Harry Potter Restaurants Universal California Vs Florida
Next, lets compare the Universal Studios Harry Potter World restaurants Florida vs California. Craving fish n chips or an ice cold butterbeer? Dont worry, you can find all sorts of delicious wizards fare at both Wizarding World locations at Universal Orlando Vs Hollywood. Both parks have incredibly themed quick service locations that are a must do for a complete Potter trip!
Harry Potter World Universal Orlando Vs Hollywood Overview
There isnt anything much better than being able to walk about the streets of Hogsmeade, drinking butterbeer feeling like youre in the Harry Potter Universe. Lucky for us, there are two different places in the U.S. where you can experience a Harry Potter theme park. There are many similarities and differences between both Universal Studios Harry Potter parks which we will cover here. The question is, which is the ultimate Harry Potter experience Universal Orlando or Universal Hollywood?
While Universal OrlandoHarry Potter World is much larger, you do have to buy a separate ticket for both parks to experience everything. In Orlando, Islands of Adventure has Harry Potter World, the main land, Hogsmeade. While over in Universal Studios Florida you can experience all that Diagon Alley has to offer. Diagon Alley was built in 2014 and expanded the Universal Orlando Harry Potter experience tenfold. The theming of Diagon Alley is almost identical to what you would imagine in the Harry Potter books or films. With it came the thrilling ride, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, which is an extremely popular thrill ride.
With that being said, it is an extra cost to travel between the two parks in Universal Orlando and Diagon Alley is typically very busy no matter the time of year. So, overall is Universal Studios Hollywood Harry Potter World better or Universal Orlando Harry Potter World? Youll have to continue reading to find out.
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The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter
| Hogwarts Castle, which houses Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, at Universal Studios Hollywood |
| Location |
|---|
| The Adventures of Curious George |
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a themed area at Universal Studios Hollywood theme park near Los Angeles. The area is themed to the Harry Potter media franchise, adapting elements from the film series and novels by J.K. Rowling. The attractionthe second Harry Potter-themed area to exist at a Universal resortwas designed by Universal Creative from an exclusive license with Warner Bros. Entertainment.
After the successful debut of a similarly themed area at Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Parks & Resorts announced the construction of a second Wizarding World of Harry Potter on December 6, 2011. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood officially began operation on April 7, 2016.
This attraction suspended operations on 14 March 2020 on grounds of COVID-19 pandemic.
Ride The Two Harry Potter Rides
Curious or worried about the rides? Look up point-of-view videos on YouTube for spoilers.
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a 4-D motion simulator, meaning you sit in a chair that tips you on your back and twists around while you watch a big screen and get sprayed a bit. Youre not physically careening through space, but it is dizzying. Flying on a broom looks so much easier when Harry does it. There are also dementors to watch out for, giant spiders, a dragon and the Whomping Willow.
Flight of the Hippogriff is a family-friendly roller coaster with no inversions. Its a tame and short ride as far as roller coasters go. When you pass by Hagrids hut, youll hear Fang barking inside.
Team members are serious about height requirements . Theres a chair outside the ride that you can try out to check if youll fit with the safety harness on.
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A Good Geographic Game Plan
The Wizarding World isnt the only thing in Universal Studios! Hit the two Harry Potter rides first , then take the escalators down to the lower lot. Save exploring Hogsmeade for the afternoon when wait times for rides will be much longer.
Do the three rides on the lower lot together , so you dont waste time making multiple trips up and down the long flights of escalators. Theres also a cute dinosaur-themed playground for younger kids who may not be up for the rides.
The studio tour is a must its a 60-minute tram ride through the buildings and sets where the movie-making happens. There are a few motion simulator stops and close encounters with dinosaurs and sharks.
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Of the four Wizarding World of Harry Potter locations around the globe, the one at Universal Studios Hollywood is the closest to Seattle. Lucky for us, sunny SoCal is just a 2.5-hour direct flight away a short hop to the land of butterbeer and chocolate frogs.
Universal Studios in California is sometimes maligned when compared to that neighboring iconic theme park in Anaheim . But we think a visit to Universal Studios is 100-percent worth the money if your kids are Potterheads. Its the ultimate experience for people who love all things Harry Potter.
On our recent visit, Hogwarts Castle and the village of Hogsmeade were dressed up for winter, complete with a dusting of snow on the peaked roofs. Just like third-year Hogwarts students who have their permission slips signed, you can visit Honeydukes Sweet Shop, Zonkos Joke Shop, the Owl Post and more.
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Exploring Hogsmeade In The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter At Universal Studios Hollywood
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is set in the village of Hogsmeade, the town located next to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, in the books. As soon as you enter Hogsmeade, you’ll want to have your camera ready to take all of those iconic shots. Right away, you will see many great photo opportunities, from the snow-covered shops to the Hogwarts Express and conductor to Hogwarts Castle itself. You’ll walk past the Butterbeer cart, several shops and The Three Broomsticks restaurant. You’ll stroll past Ollivanders, Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C. where you can watch a wand pairing or purchase your own interactive wand to cast spells in the Wizarding World past the stage to Hogwarts Castle and two rides at the back. It’s a lot to take in.
Now that you have the lay of the land, you can manage your day. We have a strategy that seems to work for us, kind of a Universal Studios Hollywood 1-Day Touring Plan that helps us avoid the longest lines and explore the land at the least crowded times. We’ve hopped through The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood many, many times, and our trusty plan still holds up every visit.