Monday, March 25, 2024

Which Harry Potter Park To Visit First

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Are You Looking For More Harry Potter Locations In Yorkshire & County Durham

Harry Potter fan’s first visit to the Wizarding World – Universal Orlando Resort

Did you know that there are plenty of Harry Potter filming locations around Yorkshire and County Durham to visit?

After Goathland Station, you could head over to the city of York! Although there werent many filming locations there is The Shambles which is known as the Harry Potter Street.

After, I would recommend heading to the Yorkshire Dales to visit Malham Cove that featured in the Deathly Hallows.

Also, you may be surprised to know that Durham Cathedral was a filming location for Hogwarts too. You can walk around their cloisters to feel like youre walking to potions class and see the quad where Ron throws up slugs!

The Shambles, York

Treat Yourself To An Interactive Wand

Although they can be a bit on the pricier side, the Interactive Wands are WORTH IT for Harry Potter fans since they unlock an entirely unique experience in the Wizarding World! Both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley have their own separate Interactive Wand locations with various spells that cause magic to happen with moving items, bright lights, and more!

Once youve purchased an Interactive Wand, you will receive a map to show you exactly where the magical areas are located. And you might want to solemnly swear youre up to no good, because the Interactive Wands can be used time and time again !

Want to journey with us to conquer ALL the Interactive Wand spots in the park? Watch our video below!

Tip #1: Catch One Of The Live Shows

While the rides take the spotlight during any visit to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, theres a lot more to experience and explore. The live shows are one of them!

Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley offer live performances daily taken straight from the Harry Potter books and films. Three shows take place in Diagon Alley and two in Hogsmeade. Make sure to catch at least one of them while enjoying a delicious Butterbeer or Fishy Green Ale.

Diagon Alley Shows :

  • Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees
  • The Tales of Beedle the Bard: The Tale of Three Brothers
  • The Tales of Beedle the Bard: The Fountain of Fair Fortune

Hogsmeade Shows :

  • Triwizard Spirit Rally

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Universal Orlando Resort Parking And Getting To The Parks

If youre traveling to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and not within walking distance of the parks, then youll need to pay for parking and enter through Universal CityWalk. This area of Universal Orlando Resort includes shops, restaurants, and more all available without the need for a park ticket. In fact, Universal CityWalk is one of the best places to visit if youre just looking for something fun to do. That said, you can find Harry Potter merchandise in the gift shops, pizza places, specialty shops, and restaurants, you will want to make time for. Check out the Universal CityWalk map for a list of the places to peruse. Once youve taken in CityWalk, you can venture to either of the two parks ahead Universal Studios Florida, or Islands of Adventure.

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Shopping Our Harry Potter World Tips

13 Things to do with Teen at Wizarding World of Harry Potter

If you have time, quickly stop in all of the shops, since each shop has something unique. Each shop is beautifully Harry Potter themed, with everything from the Owl Post where you can buy stationary, quills and ink to Borgin and Burkes in Knockturn Alley where you can dabble in dark arts merchandise.

Our favorite shop in Diagon Alley was Weasleys Wizard Wheezes novelty joke shop run by the Weasley twins Fred and George. Youll find fantastic jokes and magical stuff like Pigmy Puffs, U-No-Poo pills and Puking Pastilles.

Sugarplums Sweetshop was another favorite, with the inventive Bertie Botts Every-Flavour Beans , and fun treats like Cauldron cakes and Exploding BonBons.

In Hogsmeade, our favorite shop was Honeydukes sweets shop. It was one of my personal favorite places in all of Hogsmeade. We found wonderful treats like chocolate frogs and exploding bonbons.

Dervish and Banges was another winner, with fun magical items like Golden Snitches, and brooms like the Nimbus Two Thousand.

If youre short on time, skip Filchs Emporium of Confiscated Goods in Hogsmeade. Filchs Emporium is more like a regular gift shop with merchandise like clothing.

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Why Not Spend A Night In Hagrids Hut

Have you ever wanted to spend a magical night in Hagrids Hut at Hogwarts? Well, now you can and its only a 20-minute drive away from Goathland!

The Groundskeepers Cottage by North Shire is the only one of its kind in the world and is a life-size hut that you can book to spend the night.

It has a living room, kitchen, Ministry of Magic bathroom, and bedroom which makes the entire place cosy. Theres even a Ford Anglia outside.

Its been set up as the perfect Potterhead retreat in the countryside. So, you can relax on the sofa, pour yourself some Butterbeer and have a Harry Potter movie night.

I recently stayed here and it was the most magical time! It is expensive but worth splurging on.

Groundskeepers Cottage North Shire

What Time Can You Get Into Harry Potter World

For a majority of the year guests, who are using Early Park Admission can get into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at 8:00 AM. And the main reason we say a majority of the year is because there are certain times when the Wizarding World of Harry Potter will actually open up earlier than that. Hopefully you can see what a huge advantage this extra time in the parks can be, especially since the Harry Potter rides thend to be some of the most popular in the parks.

So one of the first steps to planning a trip to Harry Potter is to figure out how early to arrive at Universal Studios. We always recommend arriving as early as possible to avoid long lines later on in the day. This is true even if you are spending a few days at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Typically, the Wizarding World Hours are the same as park open hours, meaning, as soon as the gates are open, guests are allowed to enter.

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Visiting The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter For The First Time

Hopefully, this guide has helped you get a handle on ALL THE THINGS you can do, see and eat at the Universal Orlando Wizarding World of Harry Potter. From Hogsmeade to Diagon Alley to the Hogwarts Express, there is so much to do. We hope you take some time to take in the magic and love it as much as we do!

Shows At Harry Potter World

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We liked the Harry Potter shows, although we were not overwhelmed.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard is a puppet show. The puppets amazing. The puppeteers amazing. At least for the parents. The kids liked it but I dont think they appreciated the artistic elements as much.

There is also a Frog Choir. We enjoyed listening to our favorite song Double Double Toil and Trouble.

And finally, there is a lights show projected on the walls of Hogwarts. We found the later show was more manageable the time of year we went, but it is still very busy. You may want to ask a worker ahead of time what place is the best to stand to see the show.

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What To Know About The Diagon Alley Shops At The Harry Potter Orlando Theme Park

There are quite a few shops in Diagon Alley and they are many of the same ones you see in the Harry Potter books and movies. Pop into a few even if you dont plan on making a purchase because the theming is so on point. Here are the shops you can visit in Diagon Alley.

Weasleys Wizard Wheezes

Fred and George Weasley are well known for their mischievous pranks. This shop has love potions, Bombtastic Bombs, and everything else you need to pull off your own practical jokes.

Madam Malkins Robes for All Occasions

Youll look like you stepped right off the pages of J.K. Rowlings books in the robes, school uniforms, and other finery available here.

Wiseacres Wizarding Equipment

Wiseacres is a great shop for souvenirs like Harry Potter T-shirts, ornaments, mugs, and glassware. The shop also carries a selection of must-have wizarding world supplies.

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Magical Menagerie

This is the place inside the Harry Potter theme park to adopt your very own unicorn, owl, or Pygmy Puff. Dont miss the large snake in the window outside the store.

Quality Quidditch Supplies

If your family is looking for an alternative to matching Hogwarts robes, why not matching Quidditch jerseys? Get them here along with other sporty paraphernalia.

Scribbulus

From parchments to journals to quills and ink, this Harry Potter theme park shop is a writers dream.

Shutterbuttons

Sugarplums Sweet Shop

Wands by Gregorovitch

Gringotts Money Exchange

Cost Of Harry Potter World Tickets

If youre wondering, just how much are tickets to Harry Potter World Orlando?, the answer is a little bit complicated. With Harry Potter lands in both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, if you want to visit the entire Wizarding World in Orlando, you cant just buy standard Universal Orlando tickets. Youll need either a 2-Park 1 Day Ticket or a multiday ticket.

If you only have 1 day at Universal Orlando and you want to go to both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, Park-to-Park access is key, as it allows you to get into both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure on the same day. 2-Park 1 Day Tickets start at $164 for adults and $159 for children ages 3 to 9.

If you have multiple days in the Wizarding World and the rest of the Universal parks, then getting a Park-to-Park ticket is nice, but not necessary. 2-Park 2-Day Tickets start at $106.50 per day for adults and $101.50 per day for children. 2-Park 2-Day Tickets start at $136.50 per day for adults and $131.50 per day for children.

In general, if youd like to spend some time in Harry Potter World as well as going on rides in the rest of the parks, especially if this is your first time visiting, wed recommend you spend at least one day each at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. If this isnt your first time to Universal Orlando and the Wizarding World, all you care about is Harry Potter World, or you simply dont have the time, then you can get by with only one day as long as you can park hop.

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Stay At A Universal Hotel

There are several advantages to purchasing a Universal Orlando Vacation Package and staying at one of Universals hotel properties.

For one, you will be much closer to the theme parks so you will have easy, through complimentary transportation or walking paths, access to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and all of Universals attractions. This is especially convenient if you do not have a car.

If you stay at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel®, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, your Universal Express passes are included and complimentary for each day of your visit, as well as priority seating at select restaurants throughout the resort.

All Universal on-site guests receive Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter one hour prior to the parks opening.

You can compare the Universal hotel perks here.

Pro Tip: Universals Unlimited Express Pass is included from the day of check-in until the day of check-out, so you can get 2 days of Express Pass for your family for just the cost of a 1-night stay at a Premiere Resort. If youd like help planning and booking your Universal Orlando Resort vacation package, please contact the totally free Orlando vacation specialists at The Vacationeer. today!

The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter In Universal Studios Japan

Inside Harry Potter

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios Japan is best known for the replica of magical locations from the movies. These include an extremely detailed recreation of Hogwarts castle interior and exterior as well as Hogsmeade.

Before you actually see the Hogwarts castle youll be greeted by the replica of Hogwarts Express. This feature is an amazing introduction to what awaits you further into the park. This experience is made even better by friendly conductors on the site who are always happy to take photos with you to make the visit even more magical for you.

If you ever wondered what it would be like to attend Hogwarts this is the perfect place for you. The almost to-scale replica of the castle offers a realistic experience of walking through the castle. The attraction includes corridors filled with moving paintings, Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, and even Dumbledores office.

To make sure your experience is complete there is also a plethora of interesting attractions in Hogsmeade. The small section of parc includes a few different shops where you can get anything your Potterhead heart could possibly desire and two restaurants from the movies if you want to grab something to eat in the middle of your Harry Potter adventure.

Both rides are centered on different elements from the series

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Practical Tips & Getting Around

11. Download Orlando Studios Apps

Make the most of your time at the Universal Orlando Resort with 3 apps that will help you navigate the park. This isnt just part of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter tips, these apps are for the entire park and well worth downloading.

  • Wait Times: The wait times app will show you the approximate wait times for all of the rides in the Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure parks.
  • Magic Guide: Pull up a map whenever you need it, a full list of restaurants, and information about the park operating hours.
  • Universal Florida: Find out about shows and keep your park tickets handy in the wallet section.
  • Wondering how to use the apps if youre travelling without a phone plan? Well

    12. Use Free Park Wifi

    Just sign on the park wifi! The free network is called UNIVERSAL and can be accessed from anywhere in the park. Refresh ride wait times and pull up your tickets when you board the Hogwarts Express.

    13. Ride the Hogwarts Express

    Youre going to walk a lot anyways, so spare yourself the trek from Diagon Alley to Hogsmeade. When the wait for the Hogwarts express was 40 minutes, we decided to walk. It turns out that this takes about an hour. Enjoy the stroll if you like, but know that walking is not faster than the taking the train if the wait is 60 minutes or less.

    Learned the hard way for me I walked, muggle move. Heres hope these Wizarding World of Harry Potter tips can spare you some hassle!

    14. Watch the Light Show

    The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter In Islands Of Adventure Orlando

    The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios in Florida may be the most interesting Harry Potter-themed park in the world. Aside from featuring replicas from the movies which are available in all of the other Wizarding World parks, this one has a few exclusive attractions.

    The first one is Diagon Alley. The most notable set piece in this recreation of one of the most interesting parts of the wizarding world is the Gringotts bank.

    The recreation features a roller coaster ride in the dark showing the viewers around the Gringotts bank using 3D technology. The ride is also narrated by Bill Weasley.

    One of the most memorable parts of this attraction is the dragon on top of the Gringotts bank that breaths fire every now and then.

    The thing that makes this expanded set truly special is the fact that it was built farther away from the replica of the Hogwarts castle while the park was expanding. This provides the visitors with a truly unique experience of actually boarding a Hogwarts Express replica which will take them to the portion of the park which features the rest of the Wizarding World.

    The second thing which makes this park special is a ride called Hagrids Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. This rollercoaster is located in the Hogsmead part of the park.

    The ride is one of the most popular ones in the entire park and has received critical acclaim from both officials and visitors.

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    Georgian House Hotel London

    Want to spend a night at Hogwarts? Book a stay at Georgian House Hotel. They offer Harry Potter-themed rooms decorated with spell books, potions, cauldrons, trunks, and faux castle details such as stained glass windows and stone walls. To make sure you get the full Harry Potter experience, the hotel also offers a walking tour of London attractions that were featured in the Harry Potter series and The Making of Harry Potter Tour at Warner Bros. Studio London.

    Rides At The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter

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    Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

    Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey was our favorite of all the fantastic rides, shows, and experiences at Universal Orlando. I dont want to spoil too much of the surprise, but the ride felt the most like the real world out of any theme park ride Ive ever experienced. It honestly felt as if we were truly swooping through Harry Potters world on broomsticks. Even our little eight year old, who doesnt love scary rides, thought this was one of the best rides in the park.

    Because this ride is so popular, it can have longer wait times, but there are so many interesting things to see in the line as you wait that the time really flies! On the way in youll see the Defense Against the Dark Arts class room, moving paintings, the Gryffindor common room, and even Dumbledores office.

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