Have you ever wondered what it’s like to visit Harry Potter World in Orlando? It truly is a magical experience and we’re taking you along to share the best Wizarding World of Harry Potter photos and tips for visiting!
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The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Photos & Tips
Table of Contents
- Where is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter located?
- Can you see all of Harry Potter World in one day?
- How much are tickets to Harry Potter World?
- Is the Express Pass at Universal Studios worth it?
- What hotels in Universal Orlando include complimentary Express Pass and Early Access?
- Universal Studios vs. Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley vs. Hogsmeade
- What are the most popular rides at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter?
- Where are the best places to eat at Harry Potter World?
- Is Harry Potter World better in Florida or California?
- Is Harry Potter World worth it?
Where is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter located?
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is located in Orlando, Florida. While it is most often associated with Universal Studios, Harry Potter World is actually located in two different parks.
Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure are two sister parks that are located next to each other within the Universal Orlando Resort.
Universal Studios is home to Diagon Alley.
And Islands of Adventure is where you can find Hogsmeade. You can travel between the two lands via the Hogwarts Express.
Can you see all of Harry Potter World in one day?
Yes, it is possible to see all of Harry Potter World in one day.
However, if you would like to spend time exploring both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, as well as riding other rides at Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios, then I would recommend at least two days.
Since the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is spread across two different parks, you’ll need to purchase a 2-park pass.
This gives you access to both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, as well as a ride on the Hogwart’s Express.
It is actually brilliant the way they have designed the park, not only because visitors are required to purchase a ticket to both parks, but because it mirrors Harry’s experience in the book.
Start off at Universal Studios where you can wander along the crooked streets of Diagon Alley just as Harry Potter did before boarding the Hogwart’s Express at King’s Cross Station.
The train will take you to Islands of Adventure where you’ll emerge from the station into Hogsmeade and the magical wizarding world.
You’ll see the silhouette of Hogwarts Castle looming in the background and can imagine what Harry must have felt like the first time that he visited.
There really is so much to see and do, so I would recommend a two-day two-park pass.
How much are tickets to Harry Potter World?
In order to experience the full Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you’ll need to purchase tickets to both Universal Studios for $109 and Islands of Adventure for $109, so $218 per person for a one-day 2-park pass.
Package deals are available that give discounted rates for multi-day tickets. The current promotion offers 2 days free with the purchase of a 2-day 2-park pass.
They also offer package deals with discounted rates to Volcano Bay, Universal’s water park.
Unlike Disney World, advanced park reservations are not required.
Tickets are slightly more expensive at the gate and it will save time to purchase them online in advance, but you do not need to worry about the tickets selling out or making park reservations.
I would actually recommend waiting to purchase your tickets only a day or so in advance so that you can keep an eye on the weather.
Many of the rides at both parks are located outside so they will shut down if it is raining or lightning. If heavy rain is in the forecast for the day you are planning to go, you may want to adjust your schedule.
I would also use this crowd calendar to determine the best time to visit with fewer crowds and cheaper tickets.
Is the Express Pass at Universal Studios worth it?
If you’ve ever visited Disney World or Disneyland, then you’re familiar with the Lightning Lane Pass and the now-retired Fast Pass.
The Express Pass is Universal’s equivalent to the Lightning Lane Pass, but there are a few differences.
First of all, the Express Pass is quite a bit more expensive. The Universal Express Pass is an additional $80 per ticket, and the Universal Express Unlimited Pass is an additional $110 per ticket.
However, unlike the Lightning Lane Pass, there are no timed reservations.
The Universal Express Pass allows you to go in the Express line one time per ride in both parks.
The Universal Express Unlimited Pass allows you to go in the Express line as many times as you would like in both parks.
Most of the popular rides have an Express line, however, not all of them do.
The most popular ride, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, does not have an express line. Click the previous link for a list of participating rides.
In our experience, the Express line was always relatively short and it was possible to ride more than twice the amount of rides by using the pass.
During peak season, it is not uncommon for wait times to exceed 2 hours, so it may be worth considering.
What hotels in Universal Orlando include complimentary Express Pass and Early Access?
If you are looking to save money, Universal offers a huge perk for staying at one of its resorts.
Guests staying at any one of the Universal Resort Hotels receive Early Access which allows you to get into the park an hour before it opens.
Several of the hotels also offer complimentary Universal Express Unlimited Passes.
Complimentary transportation from the hotel to the park is also included for guests. This definitely helps save time as well as the cost and hassle of parking.
The nightly hotel rates are not too unreasonable, considering the money and time you are saving with these perks.
Here is a list of Universal hotels that offer Early Access:
- Universal’s Aventura Hotel
- Universal’s Loews Sapphire Falls Resort
- Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Here is a list of participating hotels that offer Early Access and complimentary Universal Express Unlimited Passes:
Universal Studios vs. Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley vs. Hogsmeade
If you are only planning to visit one park it can be hard to decide which park is better, Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure.
Islands of Adventure
If you wanted to spend the day at just one, I would recommend Islands of Adventure.
Islands of Adventure, as a whole, has bigger roller coasters and better rides. Kids will love the Marvel superhero theme, as well as Jurassic World.
Thrill seekers and older kids will love the Incredible Hulk Coaster, Doctor Doom’s Fearfall, and especially the Velocicoaster.
Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hogsmeade
Hogsmeade is also located at Islands of Adventure and truly captures the magic of Hogwarts.
The details in both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley are mind-blowing. You’ll feel as if you’ve really stepped into the pages of the book.
At Hogsmeade, you can drink butterbeer, eat Turkey Legs at The Three Broomsticks, pick up some Gryffindor apparel at Dervish and Bangs, and buy chocolate frogs at Honeydukes.
You can even send a letter postmarked from Hogsmeade at the Owl Post.
Once the sun goes down, the whole village glows with lights, it truly is magical.
You can even watch the nightly fireworks show at Hogwarts Castle, which is only available at Islands of Adventure.
The show runs every 20 minutes starting at dusk until the park closes.
It is convenient that they offer multipls shows so that you can be sure to catch one.
The earlier shows always draw the most crowds, but if you wait until the later shows you can snag a spot right in front of the castle without having to fight your way through the crowds.
The most popular ride in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is also found in Islands of Adventure, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.
Universal Studios
With that being said, Universal Studios and Diagon Alley are still worth a visit!
Universal Studios offers many movie-themed rides including Men In Black Alien Attack, Transformers: The Ride, E.T. Adventure Ride, and Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem.
There aren’t as many big roller coasters at Universal Studios. The majority of the rides are 3-D simulators, so if you’re prone to motion sickness then you may want to avoid these.
However, my kids loved the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit where you can choose your own song to blast through the speakers on your headrest while going on the roller coaster.
*Related Post: While you’re in Orlando, see our guide 7 Things to Do in Orlando Besides Theme Parks for more fun things to do in the area.
Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley
As you make your way to Diagon Alley in Universal Studios, you’ll discover a hidden magical world.
Here you can board the Hogwart’s Express from Platform 9 3/4 at King’s Cross Station, adopt a stuffed animal at the Magical Menagerie, exchange muggle money for bank notes at Gringott’s Bank, pick up some magic tricks at Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, and purchase your own wand at Ollivander’s Wand Shop.
The wands are interactive and can be used to cast spells all around Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade.
Here is a great blog post detailing all the different things to do in Harry Potter World.
If it is your first time visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, I would highly recommend splurging for the 2-park pass to get the full experience.
However, if you do choose to only buy a ticket for one park, then I would recommend Islands of Adventures.
What are the most popular rides at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter?
The most popular ride in the entire Wizarding World is Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure and it is located in Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure.
Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
Climb aboard a motorbike then take a thrilling roller coaster ride through the Forbidden Forest with a few surprises and cool special effects along the way.
The wait time for this ride can get up to 3-4 hours during peak season and it does not have an Express Lane.
In order to avoid this, I would recommend staying at one of Universal’s resort hotels in order to get Early Access an hour before the park opens.
You could also wait to do the ride right before the park closes. As long as you are standing in line before the park closes, you will still be able to go on the ride.
So if the park closes at 9:00 and you are in line by 8:59 then you can still get on. Although, I wouldn’t recommend cutting it quite that close!
You’ll also have a shorter wait time if you run straight to this ride as soon as the park opens.
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is also located in Hogsmeade inside Hogwarts Castle.
This motion simulator ride uses state-of-the-art technology and special effects so you’ll feel as if you are soaring high above the castle grounds on a broomstick while escaping dementors.
The ride is not suitable for those prone to motion sickness, but the castle itself is still worth walking through.
If you don’t want to go on the ride, just let the attendant know at the line entrance that you just want to do the castle tour.
You will be allowed to walk through the corridors of the castle and take in the incredible details.
Keep your eye out for the Mirror of Erised, the Sorting Hat, the Fat Lady Portrait, and many more iconic features from the book.
You’ll even walk through Dumbledore’s office as well as several different classrooms.
Once you get to the end, the ride attendant will show you the exit if you prefer to not go on the ride.
They also have a child swap room if you have children that aren’t tall enough for the ride.
Flight of the Hippogriff
The Flight of the Hippogriff is a family-friendly ride. This smaller roller coaster takes you above the Forbidden Forest, but is much tamer and not quite as intense as some of the other rides in Harry Potter World.
Harry Potter and the Escape From Gringotts
Harry Potter and the Escape From Gringotts is the most popular ride in Diagon Alley at Universal Studios.
The ride is located inside the ominous Gringotts Bank. A fire-breathing dragon hovers over the bank and sporadically breathes out fire that reaches temperatures of 3,560 degrees F!
As you enter the bank, you’ll be greeted with stately marble columns, ornate chandeliers, and goblin bank tellers.
The goblins are so life-like it’s almost unnerving!
You’ll then descend down into the dark bank vaults where you’ll board a mine cart and experience a thrilling 4D ride while being chased through the underground vaults by Voldemort, Bellatrix Lestrange, and dragons.
There is plenty to see along the way while waiting in line, but unfortunately, there is no way to exit unless you go on the ride so you can’t just take a tour like you can in the castle.
Hogwarts Express
The Hogwarts Express is also one of the most popular rides in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The train connects the two parks, so you’ll need a park hopper pass in order to ride.
The Hogsmeade Station is located in Islands of Adventure, and the King’s Cross Station is located at Universal Studios.
The Hogwarts Express is more than just a train ride between the parks, it is an immersive experience.
Once you board the train, you’ll be escorted into a small compartment that seats 8 people. During the 4-minute ride, the window of the train car will play scenes of the countryside and other fun surprises from the movie.
The film is different depending on which station you are leaving from, so be sure to ride it both ways.
If you are claustrophobic, be aware that the door to the compartment will click shut for the duration of the ride.
There is an emergency button located under the seat to open the door, but this ride can be challenging for those that get anxious in small spaces.
If you choose not to ride the train between parks, you’ll need to exit one park and walk all the way around to the entrance of the other park.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is located in the back of each park so it will take about 25 minutes to walk from Diagon Alley to Hogsmeade.
Click the link for a full list of rides at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.
Where are the best places to eat at Harry Potter World?
Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley each have one main restaurant.
The Three Broomsticks is located in Hogsmeade and serves up classic British dishes, such as fish & chips, turkey legs, and bangers & mash (sausage and mashed potatoes).
We loved the ambiance at The Three Broomsticks, it feels like you’re in an old English tavern.
However, we thought that the food was mediocre and overpriced for the portion sizes.
But you do need to order their butterbeer! The frozen butterbeer is our favorite.
The Three Broomsticks is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The Leaky Cauldron is the main restaurant in Diagon Alley and specializes in traditional pub food. You’ll find dishes such as Cottage Pie, Lamb Stew, and Sticky Toffee Pudding.
While you’re eating, take time to notice some of the artwork and decor. Many of the items were used on the movie sets or are exact replicas.
Besides the two main restaurants, there are a few other food vendors around the park.
Try butterbeer ice cream at Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour, Pumpkin Juice at Eternelle’s Elixir of Refreshment, butterbeer fudge at Sugarplums, or the Hog’s Head Brew Irish ale at Hogs Head.
And if you’re planning to visit Disney World while you’re in Orlando, check out our guide for the Best Food at Magic Kingdom.
Is Harry Potter World better in Florida or California?
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando is much bigger than the Harry Potter World in Hollywood.
Harry Potter World in Orlando is made of two different lands, Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, with the Hogwarts Express connecting the two.
Harry Potter World at Universal Studios Hollywood only has Hogsmeade, but it is very similar to Hogsmeade in Orlando.
With that being said, it is cheaper to visit Harry Potter World in Hollywood since you don’t need to buy a park hopper pass.
The details in both parks are painstakingly perfected, but if you are a big Harry Potter fan then you’ll definitely want to add the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Orlando to your bucket list!
And if you’re a Disney fan, check out our tips and tricks for visiting Disney World Magic Kingdom and Disneyland California.
Is Harry Potter World worth it?
If you have ever read the Harry Potter books or seen the movies, then you will absolutely love visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando.
They have done such an incredible job recreating the fantasyland of Harry Potter. It really will feel like you are walking the same narrow streets and stone corridors that Harry did.
However, even if you aren’t a fan of the books, you will still enjoy the thrilling rides, exploring the shops, and drinking a frosty glass of butterbeer!
The tickets are expensive, considering that you have to purchase a ticket for each park, but it is still worth visiting at least once in your life!
And keep an eye out for Univeral’s newest park, Epic Universe which is scheduled to open in 2025 and will be the biggest Universal Park in the world!
I hope these Wizarding World of Harry Potter photos and tips help inspire your trip to Universal Orlando!
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