Hidden Gems Of The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter At Universal Orlando Resort
Sup! Tad the Ravenclaw here, and Im about to put my Hogwarts house trait of wisdom to the ultimate test. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort is incredibly detailed, and it seems like every time I go, I find something that I had overlooked before. If youre a mega “Harry Potter” fan like me, Im sure youll appreciate the small nods and references to the books and films inside both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. All of these hidden gems in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter truly immerse you and bring that magical world to life!
Filchs Emporium Of Confiscated Goods
Location: Hogsmeade
Peruse items taken from students who got on the wrong side of the schools resident caretaker, Argus Filch. Youll find Hogwarts t-shirts, shoulder bags, caps, scarves, house crest banners, and stationery.
Pro Tip: Keep your eyes peeled for the Marauders Map and watch as inhabitants move about Hogwarts castle.
Harry Potter Butter Beer Locations:
- Frozen Butterbeer perfect for the hottest of days, this one is sure to cool you down.
- Cold Butterbeer carbonated and frothy if you want that classic butterbeer mustache for your Instagram photo, this is the one to get!
- Hot Butterbeer while this drink is only seasonal and becomes available during the colder months of Florida, its been described as liquid butterscotch so youre definitely going to want to try this during cool winter nights.
- Butterbeer Ice Cream Were counting this as two options because you can find it as a soft-serve option in multiple locations as well as a prepacked option at Three Broomsticks. However you get it, just get it! Ice cream and butterbeer were always meant to be best friends.
- Butterbeer Fudge Found in the sweet shops, this multi-layered fudge represents all of the deliciousness that butterbeer provides.
- Butterbeer Potted Cream A fan favorite, this pudding-like butterbeer dessert will delight your taste buds and the little pot it comes in is just so cute!!
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The Making Of Harry Potter
In March 2011, Warner Bros. announced plans to build a tourist attraction in the United Kingdom to showcase the Harry Potter film series. The Making of Harry Potter is a behind-the-scenes walking tour featuring authentic sets, costumes and props from the film series. The attraction is located at , where all eight of the Harry Potter films were made. Warner Bros. constructed two new sound stages to house and showcase the famous sets from each of the British-made productions, following a £100 million investment. It opened to the public in March 2012.
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.
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Check Out Dark Magic In Knockturn Alley
Location: Diagon Alley
Inside Knockturn Alley, you can get a taste of the dark magic in the wizarding world. Visit Borgin and Burkes for gruesome trinkets, and use your interactive wand on some secret spells that are only visible in the darkness.
Pro Tip: Try and keep your eyes peeled for all kinds of subtle, hidden details like singing shrunken heads and a wanted poster for Bellatrix Lestrange.
Which Harry Potter Park Should I Go To First
For the most authentic Harry Potter experience, head to Diagon Alley at Universal Studios firstjust like Harry did in the first book. Its a great gateway into the Wizarding World, and you can stock up on all your souvenirs and wizarding supplies at the lands many shops. Then, head to Hogsmeade for your first awe-inspiring view of Hogwarts Castle .
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Can You Do Both Harry Potter Worlds In One Day
Can the Wizarding World of Harry Potter be done in one day? Yes! But you must get a park hopper ticket. These are also called Park-to-Park tickets or 2-Park-1-Day tickets.
The reason you must get the more expensive park tickets is because there is only one part of Harry Potter world in each of Universal Orlandos two theme parks. If you get a ticket that allows entry into only one of their theme parks, you will only get to see half of the Harry Potter land in one day.
One of the biggest attractions at Wizarding World of Harry Potter is Hogwarts Express. This is the train that transports you between the two Harry Potter lands. Without a park-to-park ticket, you will not be allowed to ride this train.
If you want to ride all of the rides in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in one day, I highly suggest you get to the theme parks as early as possible and/or get a Universal Express Pass to skip the lines for the popular attractions.
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Hogsmeade can be the best place to start if you are arriving early to beat the crowds. This part of Harry Potter world has all of the major attractions, so the lines get quite long here and it gets very crowded. After exploring Hogsmeade, go to Diagon Alley where there are fewer attractions and less waiting in lines.
Where Is Harry Potter World Located
The two sections are located in the following theme parks:
- Diagon Alley is located in Universal Studios
- Hogsmeade Village is located in Islands of Adventure
Planning a trip to the Universal Orlando Harry Potter World can be a bit overwhelming. This is especially true for those who are planning to visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and have been fans sine they have been kids. While there is so much involved with planning a trip to Harry Potter World, the most important thing is to remember to have fun!
As you can imagine there are so many amazing things to do in each section, so the best way to see Harry Potter Universal Studios is to give yourself a few days. This will also allow your family to take everything in and bring the magic of Wizarding World of Harry Potter home.
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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.
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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Guide To Harry Potter World Tickets 2022
This article is your complete guide to Harry Potter World tickets 2022! Because we all know a trip to Universal Orlando is never complete without a stop into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. However, theres no doubt that it can be confusing when trying to figure out the best Universal Orlando ticket to see everything that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter has to offer. And thats why we put together this guide on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter tickets.
So if youre ready to learn all about Harry Potter World tickets read on!
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 for 2022 in Hogsmeade: Hagrids Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure!
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You Can See Real Props Used In The Harry Potter Films
Many of the props seen throughout The Wizarding World of Harry Potter are replicas of those used in the films, but a few came to Universal directly from the movie sets. The barometer on display in Wiseacres Wizarding Equipment was seen in “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” Universal also shared in a blog post that 90 percent of the props on the second level of Borgin and Burkes are straight out of the films.
You Can Call The Ministry Of Magic
The red telephone box in the London area between Kings Cross Station and the hidden entrance to Diagon Alley is more than just clever decor. If you step inside and dial M-A-G-I-C , youll be connected directly to the Ministry of Magic. Youll hear a funny message from the Ministry and, if you have kids along for the trip, you can show them what a rotary phone is.
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Secrets Of Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World Of Harry Potter
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort brings the Harry Potter universe to life, and any world rooted in wizards, witches, and magic is bound to have a few secrets. Some, like the cleverly disguised entrance to Diagon Alley, are hidden in plain sight, while others are buried a bit deeper.
Discovering these secrets is part of the fun of visiting the Wizarding World, but were going to let you in on a few to get you started. These 11 lesser-known details will take you from mere muggle to certified wizard and ensure your next trip is just a bit more magical.
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.
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Buying The Right Ticket For Harrys World
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Hogsmeade is part of Islands of Adventure while The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley can be found at Universal Studios, this is important when it comes to choosing your ticket.
Splitting this land into two sections was a brilliant move on Universals part since it means you need to purchase the upgraded Park-to-Park admission ticket if you wish to see both parts of Harrys world on the same day.
That also means holding a Park-to-Park ticket or a Universal annual pass are the only ways you can ride the Hogwarts Express train attraction between the two lands. The Hogwarts Express is more than just a mode of transportation its an attraction in and of itself. Leave time to take the train in both directions because the experience is different depending on which way youre headed.
You can use single-day one-park tickets to visit each land separately, but theres no way to use those tickets to board the Hogwarts Express.
You can buy Universal tickets for one, two, three, four or five days.
Universals website sometimes offers special promotions for multiday passes that throw in extras like a skip-the-line Express Pass, discounted admission to the Volcano Bay water park or a free day at Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure.
When buying Universal tickets, look at all the combinations and prices to determine which is the best deal for your family.
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Guide To The Harry Potter Rides In Diagon Alley
Theres only one ride in Diagon Alley, and it sits just below that fire breathing dragon inside Gringotts Bank. But what a ride it is!
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
The conceit for this Harry Potter ride is that youre there to take a tour of Gringotts, but, as so often happens on theme park rides, things go awry. Thanks to ride vehicles that can tilt and spin, 3-D glasses, and other special effects, this Harry Potter ride is a step up from your everyday coaster. The minimum ride height is 42, but there is a child swap room where one parent can wait with anyone who is too young or doesnt want to ride.
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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!
Guide To Harry Potter World Hogsmeade Shops
In our opinion one of the coolest aspects of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is how much attention to detail went into everything. This couldnt be more true for the shops located in Hogsmeade as they are right out of the books and movies. Here is a list of the shopping things to do at Wizarding World of Harry Potter:
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The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter Ride
The Hogwarts Express: Visitors can ride Hogwarts Express as a method of transportation between Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. It takes you from one park to the other, plus it recreates the train in such a great and amazing detail.
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey: This ride takes you on a magical ride through Hogwarts as you follow Harry Potter on a broomstick flying through a Quiddich match, being chased by a dragon, and more.
Flight of the Hippogriff: A lower intensity roller coaster that is ideal for younger children. This is a thrilling ride for young magicians that will take you pretty high off the ground.
Harry Potter and Escape from Gringotts: Undoubtedly the jewel of Diagon Alley. The big fire-breathing dragon that sits atop of the Gringotts bank is a hard-to-miss landmark. Approximately every 15 minutes the Gringotts dragon roars and blows a fireball. Once inside, you see all of the elves that work hard to keep the ledgers and balance accounts. This is an amazing experience you dont want to miss!
Hagrids Magical Creatures the Motorbike Adventure: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is the latest ride in the Universal Orlando Resort. The Hagrids Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is definitely worth the wait. Experience high-speed action while riding on Hagrids magical motorbike! This is truly a unique experience.