The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Location:

• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is located at Universal Orlando Resort.

• Universal Orlando Resort contains two theme parks – Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure.  The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is in the Islands of Adventure park.

• For the most dramatic viewing, enter The Wizarding World of Harry Potter from its main entrance (not from the Jurassic Park bridge). The main entrance is located around the bend from Seuss Landing. You’ll be immediately captivated by the Hogwarts Express and a breathtaking view of Hogsmeade Village.  The Hogwarts castle rises from the distance.

Tickets and Timing:

• You do not need special tickets for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  Purchasing tickets to Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park will give you access to the Harry Potter area.

• Buy your admission tickets in advance on Universal’s website and bring the printed tickets with you.  This will save you a considerable amount of time at the entry turnstiles.

• Unfortunately, Express Passes that allow you to skip the regular lines at many popular attractions throughout the park are not currently valid for the most popular one in the Harry Potter area – The Forbidden Journey.  You can, however, use it for the Dragon Challenge dueling coaster.

• Consider a 2-day Park-To-Park admission ticket.  This will allow you back and forth entry to both Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park and Universal Studios Florida theme park each day. Head to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter first thing in the morning on day one, spending the morning and afternoon on the rides.  Then head over to Universal Studios Florida or other parts of Islands of Adventure for the remainder of the day.  On day two, plan to visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter after 4:00 pm.  The crowds are much smaller and the windows of Hogsmeade Village glow magically at night.

• Staying at an on-site hotel property will allow you early entry to the Islands of Adventure, getting you into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter one hour before the general public.

Rides:

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter contains the following three rides:

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey:

• This is the crown jewel of the featured rides.  The line to get on the ride is just as exciting as the ride itself because you are queued through the corridors of Hogwarts castle!  Along the way, you’ll see replicas of the Gryffindor Common Room, Dumbledore’s Study, and even talking portraits.

• You’ll want this to be the first of the rides you hit because the line is exceptionally long – plan for at least an hour or longer during peak periods like school vacation week.  The ride is not a roller coaster.  Rather, it’s a simulated experience that makes you feel as though you are flying through the castle grounds on a broomstick with Harry and the gang while being chased by a ferocious dragon. You’ll encounter the Whomping Willow, a spooky dementor, and even an angry acromantula (fans of the series know what these are).  Keep in mind that the ride is dark and younger children may be scared by the dementor or spider portion.

• Single riders jump to the front of this line. Consider riding apart from your party if you want to experience this ride more than one time. When you jump to the front of the line, you also miss out on some portions of the castle along the way.

• As with many popular rides, you are directed to exit through the gift shop. Known as Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods, this gift shop is jam packed with movie mementos. You’ll find an assortment of options – from Hogwarts House apparel (are you a Gryffindor or Slytherin?), to the Marauders Map, to Rita Skeeter’s quill.

• You must be 48” inches tall to ride.

The Dragon Challenge:

• This ride is a roller coaster and happens to be a revamped one at that.  It was previously featured at the park under a different name, but they’ve now jazzed it up with dragons to make it Harry Potter-themed.

• This is actually two roller coasters, side-by-side.  Each coaster is a different dragon – choose from the Chinese Fireball or the Hungarian Horntail – “competing” with each other to see who finishes first. Each “dragon” is a different ride experience.

• If you ride later in the evening, the lines for this ride are typically much shorter and you can usually ride each dragon without much wait. Compare which track you like better.

• You must be 54” inches tall to ride. It is best for teenagers/adults or mature pre-teens who enjoy the excitement of a roller coaster.

Flight of the Hippogriff:

• This ride is considered a roller coaster, but it’s a mini one that’s suitable for children.  You’ll board the Hippogriff and follow Hagrid’s instructions.  Then you’re off to experience a Hippogriff flight that brings you around Hagrid’s Hut and garden.

• There are two people to a bench and a lap bar, so a young child can easily ride next to an adult.

• You must be 36” inches tall to ride.

Parking:

• Regular car parking is $15.  Preferred car, bus, and RV parking is $20.

• Take a picture of your parking location with your cell phone camera.  After a butterbeer induced sugar-coma, you won’t be able to recall where your car is located.

• Many hotels offer free shuttle service to/from the park, which is a nice perk. Ask about whether your hotel offers this service upon reservation.

Accommodations:

• If you book a hotel at one of Universal’s on-site properties, you’ll get early access to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  Early access allows you to enter the Harry Potter area one hour before the park opens to the general public.  If you are able to swing the additional cost of an on-site property and enjoy this perk, we recommend that you head immediately for the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride.  Then proceed to Olivanders wand shop.  Those are the two biggest lines that you can cut your wait time at considerably.

• Oftentimes, on-site properties also offer guests a free Universal Express Pass, which jumps you to the front of many popular lines throughout the theme parks (Forbidden Journey Ride not included).

• On-site properties offering early admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter include the following.  Keep in mind that you will still need to purchase an admission ticket to Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

Food:

The Three Broomsticks:

• The highlight of the village is The Three Broomsticks, a cafeteria-like establishment serving traditional British fare.  Think shepherd’s pie, fish n’ chips, and turkey legs. Prices range from $10 – $15 per person.  A kid’s menu featuring items like chicken fingers and mac n’ cheese is also available. Frozen and traditional (non-alcoholic) Butterbeer are “on tap” and pumpkin juice may be purchased by the bottle.

• To say that The Three Broomsticks gets packed for lunch is very much an understatement.  Lines can be 2+ hours long!  We recommend eating an early lunch (we walked right in at 11:00 am!) or an early dinner (3:30 pm – 4:30 pm).  By noon, the line is already deep and growing.

• If you are only interested in the butterbeer or pumpkin juice and not a full meal, you don’t need to wait in The Three Broomstick’s line.  There is a cart adjacent to The Three Broomsticks that serves the frozen and traditional varieties of butterbeer.  Which is better is a matter of personal taste, but no matter which you choose it’s exceptionally sweet.

The Hog’s Head Pub:

• The Hog’s Head Pub is located in the back of The Three Broomsticks. And yes, there is a Hog’s Head on the wall! This is a legitimate pub that serves beer and mixed drinks to patrons of age. You’ll need to stand in line at The Three Broomsticks to enter, so there is no bypassing that. But once you’re in you can grab a seat at the counter and enjoy.

Other Dining Options:

•  While The Three Broomsticks is the only dining establishment in the Harry Potter area, other parts of Islands of Adventure have restaurants and carts in which to purchase a meal.  In fact, Mythos Restaurant is located just steps beyond the Harry Potter area and has a reputation for serving the best theme park food nationwide!

• Meal packages are available on the Universal Studios website.  These packages include all-you-can-eat lunch and dinner at participating locations throughout the park for one set price.  The packages do not include beverages – there is another package for that.  The Three Broomsticks and Hog’s Head Pub are not participating locations, but other locations throughout Islands of Adventure are.  This deal is worth it if you eat enough to get a value (small and picky eaters should skip it). If you choose to take advantage of the meal deal, buy your package at the park as you head inside. There are staff members hocking them from the parking lot to the entrance and we found them to be a few dollars cheaper than the online prices.

•  There are no soft drinks available throughout the Harry Potter area.

Shopping:

• The shops in the Hogsmeade are very small, so long lines form at the entrance.  Some of the lines rival those of the rides.  While you may not choose to purchase anything, the experience of being in a shop that previously existed only in your imagination is thrilling enough.

• Many of the shops in Hogsmeade are just for window displays, meaning that you can’t actually go into them.  You’ll pass by places like Gladrags, where Hermione’s Yule Ball dress hangs in the window and a shop called Potages, boasting “cauldrons of all sizes”.

• Do your shopping towards the end of your experience. Storing items all day in a locker costs $20. However, if you are staying at an on-site hotel, be sure to take advantage of complimentary delivery of your merchandise straight to your hotel room.

• The most popular shops (i.e. longest lines) are the following.  Plan to visit them quickly first thing in the morning or in the evening before the park closes.

Ollivanders:

•  The line to get into this shop is exceptionally long. Small groups of about 15 at a time enter the shop and are entertained by a reenactment of the Ollivanders scene from the first movie.  Then a wand “picks” a single person from the group – usually a child.  Because let’s face it, what parent can say no to the purchase when the wand picked your child? All others may purchase wands of their choice, but the wand won’t actually pick you.  Fair warning: this shop is certainly entertaining for children, but adults may find it a bit lame.

• This is not the only place to buy a wand. These same wands are available in a cart outside Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods (adjacent to Hogwarts castle), the Owl Post, and gift shops.

Honeydukes: 

•  Ah, chocolate frogs (with a collectable wizard card, naturally) and Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans. This is the sugary goodness that dreams are made of! This colorful shop is a feast for the eyes (and stomach) and totally worth the wait if the line appears to be less than 30 minutes long.

• Be careful purchasing those chocolate frogs in the morning though.  The Florida sun may melt them!

Zonko’s:

• This memorable joke shop features recognizable items from the series, including Extendable Ears and Sneakoscopes, but it also has traditional novelty items as well.  This is another colorful shop that will have you running around, holding items up, and yelling things like “Look, it’s U-No-Poo!”.  Totally worth the wait if the line appears to be less than 30 minutes long. Otherwise, head back later in the evening.

There are two other dedicated gift shops and an Owl Post Office in the park :

Owl Post:

• Purchase Harry Potter postcards and have them inked for free with a Hogsmeade postmark!  Bring your own stamps though – they charge a premium for them here.

Dervish & Banges:

• Dervish & Banges has you covered with all of the “supplies” you’ll need if attending Hogwarts. There’s the dangerous Monster Book of Monsters, house robes, and the necessary Quidditch equipment.

• There’s also a mailbox for mailing the postcards purchased and postmarked at the Owl Post next door.

Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods:

• This shop is located on the ground level of The Forbidden Journey ride. It’s by far the largest of the gift shops, but gets packed because it’s constantly being filled by people who are exiting the ride. You can access the shop without taking the ride ahead of time though. Just be prepared for crowded aisles.