If you know anything about me, you know that i have a strong love for harry potter. I always have! I remember reading the sorcerer’s stone the first time when my mom brought it home for all of us kids to read. It was the book that helped me fall in love with reading. It was the series that has brought me so much love and happiness. It was the fantasy series that my whole family loved and cherished.

Now enough about my love for harry potter. Lets get back to talking about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This theme park is located within the Universal Orlando resort in Florida. There are two different parks within this resort: Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. The Wizarding World has residence in both of these parks. In order to get access to both of these parks on the same day and to be able to ride the Hogwarts Express you need to have park-to-park admission (or an annual pass). This means that you need to upgrade your ticket to have this option. I would definitely suggest doing this. i think that it is worth the money and you will totally enjoy. And the Hogwarts Express connects the two HP parks – Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade.

DISCLAIMER: Before making your trip, please make sure you check out the important safety guidelines. Things are changing every day and this should help you stay up to date with everything going on. You can read them HERE.

Diagon Alley

Diagon Alley is in Universal Studios. To enter Diagon Alley, you will walk along the streets of London and look for the King’s Cross sign and Leicester Square state. Then you will enter through the hidden entrance through a brick wall that leads you out onto the cobblestone streets of the wizard’s shopping alley. This experience is so cool. I would suggest walking through once and just take it all in. Then you can walk back out and back through the entrance a second time for pictures or videos.

But! Before you enter Diagon Alley, check out the London cityscape. Number 12 Grimmauld Place is the home to the Black family (as in Sirius Black) and is also the headquarters of the order of the phoenix. Grimmauld place can be seen outside of Diagon Alley in the London area, across the lake from krustyland. Before you walk away, take a long look at the building, you may notice the black family house-elf peeking from behind the curtains on the second floor.

Harry Potter and the Escape From Gringotts

This is the main attraction and is one of the most impressive rides in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and maybe all of universal studios. It is a thrill ride that includes a heart stopping motion stimulation rollercoaster with 360 spins and 3D productions. You enter beneath the massive fire-breathing dragon at the far end of Diagon Alley and this is a show stopper. Take a second and watch the dragon for a fun surprise!

Another amazing feature that this ride has would be the whole process of waiting in line. You get to walk through Gringotts bank💰 which is the only bank in the Wizarding World. This bank is also run by goblins so when you walk through, you are ignored by the very busy goblins doing their work. My favorite part of the whole bank is looking up and seeing a huge crystal chandelier in the marble lobby. 

TIP* This ride does require you to safely put away all bags and loose items in a complimentary locker next to the ride. The lockers are very easy to use but if it is your first time, just find someone and ask them to walk you through the process. 

Dining in Diagon Alley

• Leaky Cauldron: This is a pub style restaurant that serves traditional British fare, like beef, lamb, fish & chips, and bangers & mash. They make their bread fresh daily and even import some food from the UK for more authenticity! The dining room has a lot of decorative details that make you feel like you’re in a really old pub and is quite fun! The sign outside for the leaky cauldron actually leaks from the cauldron! MAGIC!
• Fountain of Fair Fortune: I have never been here but it is the go-to taverns for butterbeer!🍻 They serve nice, cold butterbeer from the barrel tap or frozen like a slushie. It’s an indoor beverage counter but they also serve pumpkin juice, fishy green ale, otter’s fizzy orange juice, and gillywater. For those 21+ they have a few alcoholic drinks like fire whisky, wizard’s brew, dragon scale, or draught beer! TIP* Make sure to order a butterbeer in souvenir cup to bring along with you!
• Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlor: ALWAYS stop into florean fortescue’s ice-cream parlour🍦 for some dessert! Every time I visit diagon alley, the ice cream parlour seems to always have a long line. The inside looks like a traditional ice cream shop but the flavors are more than unique. Some of the most interesting flavors are: earl grey & lavender, butterbeer (YES! it is my absolute favorite), chocolate chili, and clotted cream. But if you don’t want to explore with your tastebuds, they also have vanilla or traditional sundaes.
• The Hopping Pot: This outdoor bar is where you can get ALL of the specialty drinks inside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. They also serve up chips and pasties as snacks. If you need to take a breather, they have picnic tables right outside and maybe you’ll catch a performance!
• Eternelle’s Elixir of Refreshment: In the mood for a bit of magic, this is the place to stop and get a drink! What makes this truly unique is that all you need is some gillywater (basic bottled water) and your choice of elixir (flavor).
• Sugarplum’s Sweet Shop: This sweet candy shop🍭🍬 is where you’ll find ALL the treats inspired by the Harry Potter films and books. You can purchase everything from chocolate frogs, Bertie Bott’s every flavour beans, to butterbeer fudge and cauldron cakes! Plus it is a great location to take pictures inside (and outside!).

Shops in Diagon Alley

• Olivanders: In my opinion, this is one of the best shops to visit. It is so interactive and the experience is just amazing. The store is lined floor to ceiling and wall to wall of shelves filled with an endless amounts of magical wands. 🧙🏼‍♂️ There are two types of wands, a learner wand (basically a toy wand) or an interactive wand used to cast spells and trigger special effects throughout the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. TIP* This shop can get very busy so if you do not have enough time for the whole experience, you can check out wands by Gregorovitch, a major competitor of Ollivanders.
• Gringotts: This is a money exchange shop! Gringotts money exchange gives muggles the opportunity to exchange their muggle money for Gringotts bank notes. The gringotts bank notes can be used to pay for anything within Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. TIP* Any unused wizard money can be transferred back into U.S. currency at the guest services office.
• Knockturn Alley: This alleyway is a part of Diagon Alley but has shops that are dedicated to the dark arts including Borgin and Burkes.
• Borgin and Burkes: This is a dimly lit antique shop filled with unusual items like dark portions and cursed necklaces. Borgin and Burkes sells merchandise but it will most likely be items if you’re team LHord Voldemort or favor the death eaters.
• Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes: This colorful emporium is the novelty joke shop run by identically ingenious prankster twins Fred and George Weasley. don’t miss the dazzling display of never-ending fireworks exploding at the ceiling as you shop for all manner of mischief such as magical jokes, tricks, and toys.

this is the map to universal studios florida c/o UniversalOrlando.com

 

Hogwarts Express at Kings Cross Station

Hogsmeade is located in Islands of Adventure and you will become instantly enchanted the moment you step onto the grounds. The Village of Hogsmeade is like a picturesque town of cottages, shops, restaurants and rides! Another magical moment in islands of adventure is that the fictional castle was brought to life straight out of the movie.🏰 The size is remarkable and it is also the host to a multi-sensory ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. TIP* You can also take a VIP tour inside of the castle if you are lucky enough!

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

This is the main attraction located inside the hogwarts castle and is an epic motion simulator ride. The fun starts as soon as you enter the castle as you walk through line. You get to walk through many iconic rooms like dumbledore’s office and the potions classroom. The ride itself is similar to soarin’ at disney world but beware if you’re afraid of spiders! I don’t want to say anything else because it will spoil the ride but it is just sooo good! TIP* this ride does have free lockers inside for the riders to use.

Flight of the Hippogriff

The Flight of the Hippogriff is a family-friendly roller coaster that spirals and dives around the pumpkin patch, and then swoops past hagrid’s hut. Confused about what a hippogriff is? A hippogriff is a magical creature that has the front legs, wings, and head of a giant eagle and the body, hind legs, and tail of a horse.🦅🐎 I rode this once the first time I was there in 2010 when it first opened.

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure

This ride is the newest attraction for the wizarding world of harry potter. It goes from 0 to full speed in seconds with twists, turns, unexpected halts and a full vertical drop. If you have enough courage, grab the seat on the motorbike but keep your eyes open for unexpected surprises! I have not been back to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter since this ride has been open to the public but i have been dying to get back!

Dining in Hogsmeade

• Hog’s Head: this is a dark and aged pub is a fun experience for those looking for a little something extra in their beverages. it is a full service bar with specialty drinks, wines, spirits and more. they even have an exclusive brew to this bar, a red scottish ale called hog’s head bred. the bartender will also serve you “the hog’s bite” which is cider topped with the hog’s head brew. of course they always serve butterbeer and a fire whiskey for the witches and wizards of age. fun fact: this bar is owned by aberforth dumbledore, the younger brother of albus dumbledore.Three Broomsticks: you can grab a table at the three broomsticks for breakfast, lunch or dinner. it serves british cuisine in a snow-covered inn and pub that looks old and rustic. even though it is a quick service counter style, it has an extensive menu and is believe to be the best counter service restaurant in the whole park. the rotisserie chicken and fish and chips are delicious!

Shops in Hogsmeade

• Dervish and Banges: This shop is your go-to for wizarding school supplies and equipment. You can get everything from Hogwarts robes and sweaters to golden snitches and flying broomsticks.Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods: This gift shop is inside the Hogwarts castle and is also the exit to the forbidden journey ride. It can get quite busy with riders leaving the ride but it sells supplies and apparel.Honeydukes: This is probably my favorite spot because I have such a sweet tooth! This is a candy store designed to look just like the Honeydukes sweet shop in the movies! With mint green walls and a pink spiral staircase, this shop truly stands out against all the aged & dark pubs and shops. You can find all the candies from the movies from bertie bott’s every flavour beans, to chocolate frogs. They also have traditional treats like candies, fudge and rice crispy treats.Owl Post: If you want to send a personal note or postcard, you can drop them off at the owl post. Everything is sent from Hogsmeade and stamped with a special owl post postmark. Or you can pick up your Hogwarts acceptance letter for your favorite wizard! You’ll be able to buy writing utensils, stationery and toys after the adorable and reliable owl, Hedwig.🦉Ollivanders: If you find a long line at ollivanders in diagon alley, don’t worry you can also pick up your magic wand at the ollivanders in hogsmeade!🧙🏼‍♂️💫

this is the map to universal studios florida c/o UniversalOrlando.com

 

The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle

The best way to end a fun-filled day is by watching the gorgeous projection and light show at the Hogwarts Castle! This happens on certain days at nighttime (check your park map for the most current times). My favorite place to watch is right on the bridge. The show is narrated by the sorting hat, a familiar voice from the films. We were in complete awe as we listened to the magical music of Harry Potter and watched the projection lights wrap around the castle. The finale ends with an epic display of fireworks.🎆

Extra Tips

• Wear good walking shoes, because you’ll be walking and standing on your feet in lines a lot. like a lot.
• It is best to arrive as early as possible and hit the most popular rides first thing. 
• If you can, I would suggest staying on property. You can take advantage of the perks like early park admission, pool hopping, free transportation to the theme parks and Universal’s Citywalk, and for those staying at Portofino Bay, Hard Rock Hotel, and Royal Pacific Resort, you’ll receive free unlimited express passes and priority seating at select restaurants! The express passes come in handy with the popular rides!
• Don’t be afraid to dress up! Especially if you are a big HP fan like i am! Wear all the gear and have fun with it… you won’t be the only one.
• Don’t skip out on the shops. They really put a lot of hard work and dedication into these shops and you are definitely going to want to enjoy them.
• The interactive wands are very fun! If you have children or are an adult that is a big fan, buying an interactive wand can be very enjoyable! There is a map to follow around and you can use your wand to make your own magic throughout the park.
• Try everything BUTTERBEER! Make sure you have a butterbeer… whether it is cold, hot or frozen… you are going to want to enjoy it. There is also an amazing butterbeer soft serve at Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlor that is just amazing!
• Yeah early entrance is great but there’s also something magical about visiting Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley after dark. I promise it’s worth it! Plus, if you stay right up until closing time, you’ll have the places almost all to yourself!

Thank you so much for coming along on this journey with me to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. for more tips like this one, be sure you check out all of my travel diary here: TRAVEL You can also check out some of my favorite pictures on PINTEREST. If you have any other questions, comments or tips I forgot, leave a comment below!

xo, Kerri