Best Universal Resorts Near Wizarding World Of Harry Potter
While we would love a Hotel at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, there are none, so we mere muggles must be contented with far less magical lodgings. Thankfully, Universal Orlando Resort has some perks for those staying on property at the Resort. Guests of Loews Portofino Bay, Hard Rock Hotel, and Loews Royal Pacific Resort get FREE Unlimited Express Passes and Early Admission included with their stay. If youre on a budget, you can also consider a Value resort at Universal, Universals Endless Summer Resort, which consists of Surfside Inn and Suites and Dockside Inn and Suites offers Early Admission as part of the perks included.
Visiting The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter In Orlando
At Universal Orlando, you can don your best dress robes and visit two unique places in the wizarding world: Hogsmeade at Universals Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida. While wannabe witches and wizards can walk the hallowed halls of Hogwarts at other Universal Studios theme parks throughout the world including Hollywood, Japan, and the forthcoming location in Beijing, Universal Orlando is currently the only place where Muggles can wander the crooked cobblestone streets of Diagon Alley.
What If A Ride Is Closed Or Delayed For Weather
Unfortunately, attractions do sometimes close for repairs or seasonal maintenance. On top of that, Florida weather is unpredictable, and outdoor shows and rides, such as Flight of the Hippogriff or, more especially, Hagrids Motorbike Adventure, must close during inclement weather. Should you arrive at an attraction to find that its closed, simply proceed with the other activities on your checklist and keep an eye on your app or the sign boards posted around Universal to see if the ride comes back online.
While we hope you will be able to see and do everything on offer at Universal, remember that if you miss something this trip, it will be something you can save for your next one!
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What Harry Potter World Ticket When Visiting On Separate Days
The best fit ticket for anyone looking to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter on two separate days is the Universal Orlando standard one park per day ticket. Interesting enough this ticket can actually be a great option if you are visiting Universal Orlando during peak season. The reason being is Universal will actually open both Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios for early park admission. This will allow you to experience both parks separately for early park admission during your vacation.
How To Get To The Wizarding World Harry Potter
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is one of Orlandos biggest draws, but dont head to Disney World to find it.
The area, known as Harry Potter land or Harry Potter World, is located at Univeral Orlando Resort. The themed land is split between Universals two theme parks Universal Studios Florida and Universals Island of Adventure.
Universal Studios Floridas Harry Potter land is a re-creation of Diagon Alley. Universals Islands of Adventures area is a re-creation of Hogsmeade.
You may need to know the exact address if youre plugging it into your GPS.
The address for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is 6000 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819.
- Orlando International Airport 1 Jeff Fuqua Blvd, Orlando, FL 32827
- Get on FL-528 W/FL-528 Toll W 3 min
- Continue on FL-528 W/FL-528 Toll W to Universal Blvd. Take exit 75A from I-4 E 13 min
- Continue on Universal Blvd to your destination 3 min
- Wizard World of Harry Potter 6000 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819
If youre not renting a car or taking your own, there are several different ways to get to Wizarding World. See our How to Get from Orlando Airport to Universal Studios page for more on this subject.
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Exchange Money At Gringotts
You’ll find Gringotts in Diagon Alley , but the Gringotts building itself is home to a ride. Not far away, though, you’ll find the Gringotts Money Exchange, where you can exchange your Muggle money for Gringotts bank notes.
I was slightly disappointed that you don’t get handed a bag full of galleons, but it was fun nonetheless, especially since there’s a goblin inside to interact with .
And don’t worry, this isn’t something you spend any money on. You actually exchange money for Gringotts money, and you can use the Gringotts money just about everywhere within the Universal parks.
Is Harry Potter Park At Disney
We grouped the 2 questions together because the answer is the same for both.
There is no 1 specific Harry Potter Park!
There are areas of Harry Potter that are inside Universal Studios parks .
Each of the Universal Studios parks in Orlando has a Harry Potter area, they are:
Universal Studios – There we find the Diagon Alley of Harry Potter
Island of Adventure – There you will find Hogsmeade and Hogwarts castle.
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Where To Buy The Must
You already know theres plenty of places to purchase wands, robes, sweets, and souvenirs in the Wizarding World, but if you want to be extra prepared you can purchase many of these items on Universals website before you even arrive at the Harry Potter theme parks.
You can also get them in your hotel, at the large souvenir stores at the entrance to both Universals Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida, or at the Universal Studios Store at CityWalk. The biggest benefit to buying your merch outside of the park areas is that youll have more time to experience the rides and appreciate the attention to detail that went into making the areas feel like Harry Potters world. Window shopping and browsing is more fun than standing in line, anyway.
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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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.
Hogwarts Express Hogsmeade Station
When youre ready to leave this part of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, walk through the arch toward Hogsmeade Station and get in line for the Hogwarts Express.
The train will take you back to London at Universal Studios. The experience is a bit different in each direction, so be sure to hop on even if you rode the train from London to Hogsmeade earlier in the day.
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What Is Early Park Admission
Guests with Early Park Admission have the benefit of entering either Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure and, additionally, Volcano Bay an hour before the parks open to the general public. For most of the year, this early-entry period at the theme parks starts at 8:00 am, meaning everyone else will be allowed in around 9:00 am. During the busier seasons, Universal may open one or more of the parks an hour before that, with EPA starting at 7:00 am and allowing other guests in at 8:00. And during the peak season, Universal may opt to have EPA at both theme parks simultaneously.
Even with Early Park Admission, we recommend arriving at the turnstiles 30 minutes before the gates open, although you may want to get there 45 minutes or a full hour beforehand if youre heading to one of the most popular rides or if youre visiting during a busy period.
Take A Break And See A Show
After enjoying the rides, it might be a good time to see one of the shows staged in Hogsmeade throughout the day.
When we visited, we saw the Frog Choir and the Triwizard Spirit Rally. The stage is small but we never had trouble getting a close-up spot as long as we arrived a few minutes before showtime. Check the paper guide given out at the park entrance or the Universal Orlando app for showtimes.
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Buy An Interactive Wand
Don’t think this one is just for kids! If you’re going to go to Ollivander’s to get a wand of your own, be sure to get the interactive version!
Throughout both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, there are interactive shop windows, fountains, and statues where you can wave your wand and bring something to life.
It was so fun to watch faces of both kids AND adults light up when they made something move or made a fountain spring to life with the correct flick of a wand.
I didn’t know about this feature of the parks before arriving the first time , but thought it was genius and a fantastic way to make people feel like they were really part of the magical world.
Once I got a wand of my own, it only made the Harry Potter parks feel more magical. I had so much fun following my map to all the spots where I could cast a spell and cause it to rain or make a feather float. So. Much. FUN.
What About Hagrids Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
With the runaway success of the newest family coaster in the Wizarding World, Hagrids Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is not only regularly reaching capacity early in the day but is also requiring some extra maintenance to keep it running smoothly. The best way to find out what is happening with Hagrid on the day of your visit is to use the official Universal Orlando app for your smartphone, which will list the current wait time, whether the line is at capacity, or if its virtual queue has been activated in which case, you can get a spot in the virtual line right on your phone. You can even set an alert to be notified when the ride opens!
If you are intent on riding Hagrids Motorbike Adventure, our best advice is to try to keep an eye on what is happening every day via the app for a few days before your trip sometimes, the coaster opens later on in the afternoons. If the attraction is opening with the park, go straight there on your Islands of Adventure morning conversely, if you are okay with skipping Hagrid, proceed through our plan as follows.
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Wizarding World Of Harry Potter Cost
How much does it cost to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter? Here are the items to consider in your Wizarding World Budget.
- Wizarding World Tickets- Park to Park. $100- $170/per person, per day.
- Parking Fees at Universal Orlando Resort. $27-$30/per day
- Express Passes. $80- $100/ per person, per day.
- Resort Lodging. $90- $400/ night. Explore Hotels.
- Food and Drinks. $15- $25/ per person, per meal.
- Souvenirs and Misc.
We typically recommend buying your ahead of time. As well as any Harry Potter outfits, so you can save money in the shops. And if youre looking for ways to save even more money check out our Wizarding World of Harry Potter on a Budget post.
Diagon Alley At The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter 2022
The second land added to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is Diagon Alley . If you are entering from the front of the park walk straight until you hit the Revenge of the Mummu attraction and make a right, then continue until you see the Knight Bus. The area outside of Diagon Alley is themed to fill like London, and you will need to make your way through the brick wall until it opens up as Diagon Alley.
Be prepared especially if you are a die hard Harry Potter fan as the attention to detail is unmatched in Diagon Alley. You will be in the middle of shops and cooked buildings, as well a fire breathing dragon nestled over Gringotts Bank!
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Arrive Early To Have The Best Experience With The Interactive Wand Spots
Once you have your interactive wand from Ollivanders or Gregorovitch, open the box and youll find a map inside. The map marks the magical wand spots in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade where you can test your wizardry. Each spot is marked by a golden medallion on the ground that shows which direction to move your wand and what spell to recite.
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There are also hidden wand spots you wont see on the map. To find them, ask a witch or wizard working in the area if they can point you in the right direction . Team Members can also give you a few pointers if youre having trouble casting spells. If even that doesnt work, your wand may be faulty and you can get a free repair at Ollivanders.
What you really need to know about the interactive wands and wand spots, though, is that they quickly become crowded and overwhelming on a busy day . If casting spells is tops on your kids list of activities , make it a priority to arrive early to the Harry Potter lands and get your spellcasting in before the crowds really fill in . Nothing will make your magical experience feel less magical than waiting in line to cast a spell, and unlike the Harry Potter rides, there are no Express Passes for the wand spots.
A Celebration Of Harry Potter
For a weekend every January, Universal hosts A Celebration of Harry Potter. It’s the ultimate fan experience in the parks. Guests will join other diehard Potter fans for three days of panels, demonstrations, exhibits, and cast Q& A sessions in Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley.
In 2018, Harry Potter film cast members like James and Oliver Phelps Stanislav Yanevski , and Bonnie Wright will join fans in all the Potter mania. For anyone who really loves the books and the films, this may be one of the best times of the year to visit.
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Restaurants In Diagon Alley
Diagon Alley consists of the main restaurant, The Leaky Cauldron, and a variety of smaller eateries, and carts.
Offering quick service dining, The Leaky Cauldron offers classic English foods, like Cottage Pie, Fishermans Pie, a full English Breakfast, and more. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, there are minimal plant-based dishes here. Check out the Leaky Cauldron Menu.
And if youre looking for a sweet treat then the Florean Fortescues Ice Cream Parlour should be on your list. This restaurant serves up unique ice cream flavors you would expect to find in the world of Harry Potter. Chocolate chili, sticky toffee pudding, and lavender are on the menu. Choose your favorites before you visit on the Florean Fortescues Ice Cream Parlour Menu.
Home to the Gillywater, and four specialty elixirs, this is a stop to make for the true Harry Potter fan. Eternelles Elixir of Refreshment includes Fire Protection Potion, Babbling Beverage, Draught of Peace, and Elixir to Induce Euphoria.
Fishy Green Ale, Wizards Brew, and Dragon Scale can be found at Fountain of Fair Fortune, and you can also grab Butterbeer Ice Cream here if you dont want to wait in line at Florean Fortescues.
The Hopping Pot is found in the Carkitt Market and serves up Pumpkin Juice, Peachtree Fizzing Tea, Otters Fizzy Orange Juice, and more.
Know The Height Requirements
Much of the Wizarding World is made up of shops, dining, and a lot of really fun, immersive Potter theming. The marquee Harry Potter rides are incredible, but you’ll save yourself time and possibly your children’s tears if you know the height requirements for the rides before you go.
Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure
- Forbidden Journey: minimum 48 inches
- Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure: minimum 48 inches
- Flight of the Hippogriff: minimum 36 inches
Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida
- Escape from Gringotts: minimum 42 inches
Hogwarts Express : No minimum height
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