Check Out The Shows In Diagon Alley
Make sure to check out the shows in Carkitt Market they are incredible and you wont want to miss them. Listen to the magical vocal stylings of Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees. Watch the magical puppeteers perform stories from Tales of Beetle the Bard. This is one of our favorite shows and luckily both of these shows are usually scheduled within 15 minutes of each other and are located at the same stage, so you can catch them one after another. Theyre all great and are a nice break from the heat as that area is shaded.
And dont miss Knockturn Alley. You can shop at Bourgin and Bourkes, and perform spells to escape some of those crowds. Knockturn Alley is generally colder than the other areas of the Diagon Alley and is a great break from the heat too.
On your way out of Diagon Alley, stop at 12 Grimmauld Place and catch a glimpse of Kreacher peeking out the upstairs window. Hes pretty creepy and will peek out every so often when muggles are knocking at his door.
Wizarding World Of Harry Potter
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Hogsmeade is located at Universals Islands of Adventure. It is lined with snow covered shops and dining, and at the end your will find Hogwarts Castle.
Hogwarts Castle has the ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. This ride is not for the weak stomach and if you get motion sickness you want to proceed with caution.
I try to ride it before lunch because that keeps the motion sickness at bay. If you do not want to ride the attraction or have a young child with you there is an option to use child swap or walk the line to see the inside without riding the attraction. Ask the ride attendant when entering the attraction.
After riding Forbidden Journey we will ride Flight of the Hippogriff which is a kid friendly coaster that most will enjoy. Then I like to order a Butterbeer from the stand across from Hogwarts before the lines get too long.
Butterbeer comes in Frozen, Hot or Cold. I prefer the frozen and like to share it. It is very sweet! You can also purchase Butterbeer fudge and Butterbeer ice cream at both parks.
The most popular ride at Islands of Adventure is Hagrids Magical Motorbike Adventure. Lines will be very long and should be your first stop if you want to ride.
It does not have express pass options. Express Pass is a ride reservation system that allows you to skip the line. This is a purchased add-on to your ticket. Check out this post to learn more about express pass at Universal.
The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter Diagon Alley At Universal Studios Florida
Experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley as you walk the familiar streets of London, passing buskers, red telephone booths and Kings Cross Station. You will know youre close to Diagon Alley once you see the Knight Bus. Just pass through the brick archway and catch your first glimpse of this hidden magical marketplace.
Once inside, grab a cup of Butterbeer or Pumpkin Juice from iconic establishments like Leaky Cauldron, the Hopping Pot and other themed dining options, or even from a passing street vendor. Several Diagon Alley venues also have wizard-friendly eats.
Of course, its not the wizarding world without adventure, and youll find plenty of it at Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. Keep a watchful eye on the roof of Gringotts Money Exchange while youre there, though the 60-foot Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon is known to breathe fire!
Next, its time to gear up on everything youll need to make your time at Hogwarts a success. Find the perfect wand at Ollivanders, get sized for your school uniform at Madam Malkins Robes for All Occasions, prepare for the big game at Quality Quidditch Supplies, or just stock up on side-splitting gags at Weasleys Wizard Wheezes, among other shopping opportunities. And if you have the nerve to brave Knockturn Alley, Borgin and Burkes is your source for Death Eater masks and other merchandise coveted by members of House Slytherin.
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Guide To The Harry Potter Rides In Hogsmeade
Hogsmeade is the Harry Potter theme park land to visit in Orlando if youre most interested in experiencing the different Wizarding World-themed rides. There are three of them here.
Hagrids Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
The Wizarding Worlds newest ride is arguably the best of them all. Billed as a story coaster, this Harry Potter ride follows a haphazard motorbike lesson with Hagrid. Ride it twice so you can experience both the motorcycle and the sidecar.
This is the only attraction in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter that doesnt utilize Express Pass, but it does often use a virtual queue rather than a typical line. Check the Universal Orlando app or ask a Harry Potter world team member for assistance joining the virtual queue. The minimum height for Hagrids Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is 48 and, as with most of the other Wizarding World rides, child swap is available.
Flight of the Hippogriff
This kid-size coaster has a minimum height requirement of only 36, but its thrilling for kids of all ages . Its a very quick ride and the wait to board through the normal queue can stretch for hours on busy days. With an Express Pass, though, you can often do the ride as many times as you want with very little waiting.
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
You cant miss the entrance to this Harry Potter ride because its actually inside Hogwarts Castle, which towers over the Hogsmeade area from on high in true Wizarding World fashion.
Get The Park To Park Pass At Universal Studios
This is really non negotiable. The only way to see all of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in one day is to have the park to park pass. If you dont, youre going to miss one of the parks, its that simple. You will need a park to park ticket to ride the train between Hogsmeade Station and Kings Cross Station.
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Tips For Riding The Hogwarts Express At Universal Orlando
The Hogwarts Express connects the two theme park areas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Because it technically takes you from one of Universals parks to the other, youll need a Park-to-Park ticket to ride the train. While the ride itself lasts less than five minutes, the lines can also grow pretty long as the day wears on, but a Universal Express pass will cut your wait time drastically.
You can board the train at Hogsmeade Station in Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure or Kings Cross Station in the London area of Universal Studios Florida. Each train cars windows are not actually windows, but screens that make you feel as if youre actually making the same journey Harry did to and from school. Because of this, the experience is a bit different in both directions, but both have scenery, characters, and magical creatures from the films. Take the train both directions if you can.
Harry Potter Film Locations Guided Tour + Thames Boat Cruise
- This 2.5 hour guided tour guarantees to amuse and inspire Potterheads of all ages as you explore several iconic film locations, immortalized by the 8 series Harry Potter franchise.
- Take a stroll on the real Diagon Alley, purchase your first wand, take great photos at Platform 9 ¾, visit Daniel Radcliffe’s School, the 900-year-old Clink Prison and so much more!
- Live your wizarding dreams with immersive and interactive commentary provided by your fellow Harry Potter enthusiast guide, as well as quizzes and your own sorting ceremony.
- End your tour with a Thames Boat Cruise and cross under the bridge that was destroyed by the Death Eaters in “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.”
- This guided tour is available in a variety of languages, i.e. English, French, German and Italian.
- Infants aged 3 years and below do not require a ticket for this tour.
- This tour cannot be canceled, amended or rescheduled.
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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.
Amount Of Time To Spend In The Wizarding World In Hollywood
Half a day is more than enough to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, while a full day allows you to enjoy the entire park. Depending on the time of visit, you may find it convenient to use the Express Pass, which allows you to skip the lines at individual attractions. For more information on this topic, read these tips on the best time of day and time of the year to visit Universal Studios.
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What To Know About The Hogsmeade Shops At The Harry Potter Orlando Theme Park
There arent nearly as many shopping locations in Hogsmeade as there are in Diagon Alley, but there are more than enough to meet all your wizarding needs.
Honeydukes
Honeydukes sells many of the same treats found at Sugarplums Sweet Shop in Diagon Alley. If candy isnt your thing, go for the Butterbeer Fudge or Cauldron Cakes in the bakery case.
Ollivanders Wand Shop
To ensure there are enough wands to go around, there are Ollivanders locations in both of the Harry Potter lands at Universal Orlando. Both locations have stacks upon stacks of interactive and non-interactive wands, and both hold wand selection ceremonies throughout the day.
Dervish and Banges
Dervish and Banges is your home for Golden Snitches, brooms, and Hogwarts clothing and accessories. Dont forget to check out the real live textbook, The Monster Book of Monsters. Luckily, its in a cage because this book bites!
Filchs Emporium of Confiscated Goods
This is another good souvenir stop where youll also find authentic-looking replica props from the Harry Potter films.
Owl Post
In addition to letter-writing supplies, you can mail letters and postcards to your friends and family with a real Hogsmeade postmark.
A Celebration Of Harry Potter
A Celebration of Harry Potter is an annual celebration a which typically occurs at Universal Studios Orlando some time in January and usually runs for three days. It includes question and answer sessions with participating members of the Harry Potter cast, special panels, demonstrations, and the incredible Celebration of Harry Potter Expo. In 2016, the collection of ‘Wizarding Schools’ was unveiled by Evanna Lynch on behalf of Pottermore.
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What Shops Are There
There are plenty of shops selling all sorts of merchandise its hard to visit and not buy lots of Harry Potter souvenirs! Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey exits into Filchs Emporium of Confiscated Goods, which sells Hogwarts clothing, replicas of movies props and Marauders Maps, while in Hogsmeade village youll find Zonkos Joke Shop and Honeydukes, where you can buy Chocolate Frogs, Peppermint Toads, Bertie Botts Every-Flavour Beans and more. Theres also Wiseacres Wizarding Equipment, which sells hourglasses, crystal balls and telescopes, and Dervish and Banges, where you can buy Hogwarts uniforms and Quidditch supplies. Visit Gladrags Wizardwear to stock up on jewellery, hats and robes, and stop by the Owl Post to buy letters and stationary.
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Is It Possible To Do Wizarding World In One Day
Yes it is totally possible to do both Wizarding World of Harry Potter in one day. How long it takes to do the Harry Potter attractions, watch the shows, and experience the rides will be different for everyone.
If you are visiting Universal for Harry Potter only, you can easily immerse yourselves in all things Harry Potter and see everything in one day.
If you are planning to do both parks and all of the Harry Potter attractions you will have to prioritize your must-see things. You may have to miss a show to ride an attraction or spend less time casting spells with your wand.
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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.
Completion Of The Series
In December 2005, Rowling stated on her web site, “2006 will be the year when I write the final book in the Harry Potter series.” Updates then followed in her chronicling the progress of , with the release date of 21 July 2007. The book itself was finished on 11 January 2007 in the , Edinburgh, where she scrawled a message on the back of a bust of . It read: “J. K. Rowling finished writing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in this room on 11 January 2007.”
Rowling herself has stated that the last chapter of the final book was completed “in something like 1990”. In June 2006, Rowling, on an appearance on the British talk show , announced that the chapter had been modified as one character “got a reprieve” and two others who previously survived the story had in fact been killed. On 28 March 2007, the cover art for the Bloomsbury Adult and Child versions and the Scholastic version were released.
In September 2012, Rowling mentioned in an interview that she might go back to make a “” of two of the existing Harry Potter books.
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The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter Hogsmeade: A History
The first slice of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was announced by Universal in May 2007, after author J.K. Rowling signed a deal to bring her popular book and film franchise to Islands of Adventure, the second theme park at Universal Orlando Resort. The new lands development and construction would be overseen by two Harry Potter movie franchise alumni Stuart Craig, the production designer of all eight installments, and Alan Gilmore, the art director for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azakaban and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire . Ground would break on the project that summer, with a scheduled opening date of late 2009.
The news could not have come at a better time for Universal between 2004 and 2007, attendance had been dropping at its resort, with many criticizing the company for not introducing new excitement after completing its Orlando expansion just a few years before . In an interview with the Orlando Sentinel, the president of Universal Orlando, Bill Davis, stated that we think is going to have a huge impact on all our constituencies: our guests, our team members, our management team everybody. This is absolutely huge. Were just thrilled and excited we were selected for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
The plans Ive seen look incredibly exciting, Rowling herself said in a prepared statement. I dont think fans of the books or films will be disappointed.
The New Wizarding World Of Harry Potter In Hollywoodin Pictures
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Do You Have To Pay Extra For The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter
No, the Harry Potter theme park areas are included in your ticket price for whichever Universal Studios park youre visiting . However, to get the full Wizarding World experience, youll need to purchase a Park-to-Park pass that includes same-day admission to both Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida. Thats because the Hogwarts Express ride connects the two parks and can only be accessed by those who have passes to both.
You should also consider splurging on a Universal Express Pass that will let you skip the long lines at the rides in Harry Potters Wizarding World in order to have the very best experience. And, you may want to consider staying at a Universal Premier hotel in order to take advantage of Universals Early Park Admission perk. Because the only thing more magical than the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is having the whole theme park practically to yourself.