Monday, March 25, 2024

What Harry Potter Attractions Are At Universal Studios

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Eat At The Three Broomsticks Or The Leaky Cauldron

Top Six Harry Potter Attractions at Universal Studios Florida

Lines for butterbeer can be nearly as long as the rides. If youre going to eat in the park, know that you can get a butterbeer with your meal at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade or the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley. Also, the level of detail inside these locations is wonderful and makes up for how much the fish and chips costs.

Also, you might expect the actual beers to be crap. Thats reasonable. While the park wont disclose who brews the beer for them, the beers are exclusive and actually good. You wont be disappointed you skipped the Stella and went for the Dragon Scale Red Ale.

Harry Potter And The Forbidden Journey Is Still A Classic But The Visuals Feel A Bit Dated And You’re Prone To Get The Most Dizzy On This One

Ride length: Four minutes and six secondsWait time when I rode: 45 minutes/under 20 minutes for express ticket holders

Forbidden Journey was my favorite “Harry Potter” ride for the longest time, but as you get older, the tossing and turning of the vehicle may leave you a bit dizzy and disoriented.

While riding the “Potter” rides back-to-back, it’s easy to see how aged the graphics in the ride video have become, especially when compared to those on 2014’s newer Escape from Gringotts ride, which also uses video screens. The latter’s graphics are crisper and clearer. Still, the ride’s animatronic dragon and Dementors still frighten me every time I ride. There’s also nothing quite like walking through a real-life Hogwarts castle for the first time. The length of the ride and detailed ride queue make up for any qualms on the actual ride.

Queue grade: A

What’s not to love? Universal built the Hogwarts castle and brought the hallways to life. More than that, there are real moving and speaking portraits in the castle, just like in the films and books. Dumbledore, Ron, Hermione, and Harry all appear so the ride queue never feels boring. There’s always something to look at.

Get There Super Early

Youre on vacation. You dont want to set an alarm. Thats understandable. But if you want a couple of rides on Escape From Gringotts, beat the crowds and arrive early to enjoy shorter lines during the park’s morning hours.

If seeing the sunrise isnt your jam, theres always the Express Pass, which allows you to jump to the front of lines that would otherwise require an hour-plus wait on weekdays. While it undoubtedly improves the experience, the Express Pass does make for an even more expensive trip , so know that you can still get through both parks in a single day without it.

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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.

The Amazing Adventures Of Spider

harry potter diagon alley attraction opening in july at

This ride was an incredible experience, and definitely left a mark as it was the first attraction we did in Islands of Adventure. In a similar fashion, this Marvel-inspired ride involves a motion simulator and 4-D effects, such as a spritz of water or heat from flames. You’re put into a news vehicle to get the headlines for the Daily Bugle where Peter Parker is a photographer, and given special 3-D glasses made specifically for the ride. Somewhere in the process, you cross paths with Spider-Man himself, as well as the Sinister Syndicate, a group of villains who decided to steal the Statue of Liberty! Of course, in the end Spider-Man saves the day and if you look closely, Stan Lee makes four appearances throughout the ride!

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The Park Prodigy Universal Orlando Tickets With Access To Harry Potter

Receive EARLY PARK ADMISSON to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and purchasediscounted Universal Orlando theme park tickets with The Park Prodigy! All of our tickets are the exact same tickets you receive if purchasing from Universal directly. The best part is you can combine our Universal Orlando ticket deals with any vacation package booked through our travel agency.

The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
June 18, 2010
Replaced
July 8, 2014
Replaced
Size Phase 1: 20 acres

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 first phase was officially announced for Islands of Adventure on May 31, 2007, and after a two-and-a-half-year construction period, the area officially opened to the public on June 18, 2010. The area’s flagship ride is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, which exists within a re-creation of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It takes riders on a journey through Harry Potter’s wizarding world. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter also contains Flight of the Hippogriff, a family roller coaster, and formerly included Dragon Challenge, a pair of inverted roller coasters, which was replaced in 2019 by a new roller coaster, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. The area also features a re-creation of Hogsmeade containing many gift shops and restaurants from the novels including Dervish and Banges, Honeydukes, Ollivanders, Zonko’s Joke Shop , the Three Broomsticks, and the Hog’s Head.

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Universal Studios Hollywood Announces Return Of Harry Potter And Grinchmas Holiday Events

Even though it isnt Halloween yet, it is not too early to start planning for other holiday festivities! That is what Universal Studios Hollywood is doing, as they have announced the return of their annual holiday events Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Grinchmas.. The Wizarding…

Gringotts Does Special Currency Exchanges

Harry Potter Ride – Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure – Universal Orlando

If you want to immerse yourself even more fully in the Harry Potter universe, you can exchange your U.S. money for Gringotts bank notes in $10 and $20 denominations. These bank notes are valid for purchases in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade shops and restaurants, and you can swap them back for U.S. currency at the end of your visit.

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Secure Internet For Your Entire Trip

Although several places in Orlando have free Wi-Fi, the connection is not always good and mainly, in several situations where you will be moving from one place to another we recommend that you have internet to use gps on your cell phone for example.

We recommend that you travel with an international cell phone chip to have the best connection and internet throughout your trip and of course, with our indication you still get a discount on this super need for your trip!

Just use the discount coupon: partiudisneyparks in your buying international travel chip here and receive the chip in your home before your trip!

Hogsmeade Wizarding World Of Harry Potter Attractions

So now that you have arrived you are probably wondering what are the best things to do in Hogsmeade! You will want to be sure to include these rides in your Wizarding World of Harry Potter Itinerary.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey: 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.

Flight of the Hippogriff: This family friendly ride is short but sweet. This kid friendly roller coaster is located directly between the Forbidden Journey and Hagrids Motorbike Adventure. The line for this ride is usually short so no need to make it a priority during Universal early park admission.

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Escape From Gringotts Has The Best Ride Queue Of The Potter Rides And Is A Bit Darker Than The Other Rides

Ride length: Five minutesWait time when I rode: 20 minutes.

The first time I rode Escape from Gringotts in 2014, I was left wanting a little more from the ride. I guess I was expecting something closer to the actual adventure in the books where fans would be following Harry through the bank vaults. Instead, you’re on a tour with one of the Weasley brothers while Harry, Hermione, and Ron happen to be breaking in as well. What timing?!

Years later, the ride is much better than I remember with a welcome addition of Voldemort, who doesn’t appear on any other ride . Escape from Gringotts is the most high-stakes ride in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. A drop in the coaster and some illusions make you feel like you’re free falling at points. The only downside? If you’re not a fan of 3D glasses, you do have to wear them on this ride.

Queue grade: A+

This is easily the best ride queue at either Universal Park in Florida. When the ride queue is long, you have to wait outside, but when you are finally let indoors you’re welcomed into the Gringott’s bank with working goblins and real chandeliers. It’s gorgeous and so unexpectedly breathtaking that you’ll probably be convinced for a moment that you’re actually at the wizarding bank.

Christmas In The Wizarding World

Harry Potter Attraction Universal Studios Editorial Stock ...

Christmas in the Wizarding World is another annual event where both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley are decorated for the holiday season.

In addition to festive decorations and hot Butterbeer, Universal offers a number of holiday themed shows including The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle, The Frog Choir Christmas Carols and Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees with a holiday themed show.

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Buy Tickets In Advance And Go To Both Parks

The deluge of options at Universal Studios can be panic-inducing. There are multiple parks, and each requires its own ticket. Harry Potter attractions are split between two parksUniversal Studios and Islands of Adventuremeaning that you’ll need to buy two tickets to see it all, a double-whammy that starts at $115. And beyond the steep price, you know what super-sucks? You’ll absolutely want to visit both.

At Universal Studios, youll find Diagon Alley, the Escape From Gringotts ride, and a fire-breathing dragon that sits atop Gringotts Wizarding Bank. Over at Islands of Adventure, you can stroll through Hogsmeade, catch street performances , and ogle the massive Hogwarts Castle. This is also where youll find the Flight of the Hippogriff coaster, the Forbidden Journey ride, and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, the newest Wizarding World ride.

The two parks are connected by the Hogwarts Express, which you can only ride if you have the two-park pass. If you love rides and can only visit one park, Islands of Adventures might be the way to go. But Gringott’s is a great ride, and Diagon Alley is a wildly impressive setting.

Since you want to see everything, its worth buying tickets in advance. Youll save a few dollars by doing so, and you can get a calendar view of admission prices, which vary by day. You’ll typically save money by going early in the week.

Jurassic World The Ride

Universal Studios Hollywood

Its a compelling dark ride / water ride that takes boatloads of passengers past animatronic dinosaurs and into a real version of Jurassic World. Its also a shoot-the-chutes thrill ride with a heart-in-your-throat tall, steep, and fast finale down a flume. Riders get soaked from the plume the boat creates in the splashdown pool.

When this attraction first opened in 1996, it was themed to the Jurassic Park franchise. It closed in 2018 to be transformed into the Jurassic World ride, which debuted in 2019. The two versions are essentially the same in that what is supposed to be a calm tour of a dinosaur park goes horribly wrong, calamity ensues, and there is a big drop at the end. The revamped attractions opening aquarium scene, which features an underwater Mosasaurus, is quite different than its predecessor.

In 2021, Universal added new elements to the ride, including a gargantuan, animatronic Indominus Rex, which battles with an equally large Tyrannosaurus Rex.

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The Hogwarts Express Takes You From King’s Cross Station In London To Hogsmeade Or Back To Diagon Alley On A Magical Train Ride That Transports You To Platform 9 3/4

Ride length: Four minutesWait time when I rode: With the express pass it took us no more than 10 minutes to get onboard the train.

I wasn’t sure whether or not I should include the short train ride that transfers you from one Universal theme park to another on our list. However, after chatting it through with the hosts of MuggleCast, we decided we had to include the Hogwarts Express on here.

The Hogwarts Express includes a very detailed queue to walk through, there often is a wait time , and you receive two different experiences on the train depending on whether or not you’re traveling from Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade. Each ride has a different video for you to watch on the Hogwarts Express depending on which way you travel.

It’s important to note that you can only ride the train if you have a ticket which allows you to enter both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, but it’s well worth the extra money for a chance to ride in one of the train cars. Not only does it feel like you’re on the real Hogwarts Express, but you get to hear Ron, Harry, and Hermione as they travel past your train car.

Part of the queue experience is waiting for the train to roll in, but that’s OK. If you board from Hogsmeade outside of Islands of Adventures’ Hogsmeade it gives you the perfect chance to capture video of the train entering or leaving the station. You’re also given the opportunity to step aside after disembarking at King’s Cross Station at Universal Studios to capture this moment.

The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter Hogsmeade

13 Best Things of the Wizarding of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Orlando

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.

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The Upstairs Window Of 12 Grimmauld Place

Our first hidden gem from the Wizarding World can be found just outside the entrance of Diagon Alley. As you enter the land, one of the first things you will see is a row of houses which at first glance dont really look like anything out of the ordinary. However, if you take a second to look a little closer you might just notice a couple of things that make things a lot more interesting.

Firstly, one of the houses is actually 12 Grimmauld Place, which Harry Potter fans will know as the address of Sirius Black, the once perceived villain turned hero and Harrys own godfather. Secondly, and the real hidden gem here, if you look at the second floor window of the house, you should see a house-elf peek out every couple of minutes. This is Kreacher, the resident house elf of 12 Grimmauld Place. This may require some patience but in our opinion, it is a real novelty and nice touch by Universal.

When Is The Best Time To Visit The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter

The truth is there really isnt a bad time to visit Harry Potter World especially when you are with your family. But on the flip side waiting in long lines is a bigger disappointment than Neville Longbottom in herbology class.

One of the best ways to visit Harry Potter World is to plan around the crowds. Luckily ourUniversal Orlando Crowd Calendarbreaks down the expected crowds, average temperature, and even theme park ticket prices. We find that the least crowded times of year tend to be early fall and right after New Years Eve!

If you prefer a few great dates we have outlined them below.

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Transformers: The Ride 3d

This 3D simulator with lots of technology, presents the most anticipated battle of the moment.

The leader of the Decepticons, Megatron, carried the war to Orlando in order to enslave humans. You will need to team up with Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and other Autobots in order to defeat the Decepticons.

With screens almost 20 meters high, 3D projections are very real! It doesn’t really look like you’re experiencing a simulator.

Children from 1.02 m can venture into this battle.

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