As two girls who grew up on Harry Potter books and dreaming of visiting Walt Disney World one day, we were very excited when the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened in 2010. It took us seven years to get there for the first time, but it was worth the wait!
Here’s your ultimate guide and everything you need to know about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Where is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter?
There are two Wizarding Worlds – one in California and one in Orlando, Florida. This guide is all about the one located in Universal Studios, Florida.
It’s around 30 minutes away from Disney Springs.
Buying Your Tickets
Universal Orlando has two parks, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. So which park has the Wizarding World of Harry Potter? Well, the answer is both. This is important because it means you need a Park-to-Park ticket. If you want to see all of the Wizarding World and ride the Hogwarts Express, you must buy a 2-park ticket.
A park-to-park ticket for the day costs around $164 for adults (10+) and $159 for children under 10 but it can vary with the time of year so check out their ticket page. Gate prices can be higher than online prices so it’s better to book your tickets in advance.
IMPORTANT: If you want to ride the Hogwarts Express and see all of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you must buy a 2-park ticket that allows travel between parks.
Before You Go
Trip Planning
Plan Your Day: Even if you don’t plan the day meticulously, you should at least plan which park you want to start with. Check the opening times for both parks and decide where you want to go first. When we’ve been in September, Universal Studios opened half an hour before Universal’s Island of Adventure, so when we arrived we headed straight for Gringott’s!
What to Wear: One of my favourite things about Disney and Universal is getting to geek out with your clothing! And everyone does it! Check out our guide on what to wear in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Travelling: Depending on how far away you live from Orlando, there’s going to be some travelling involved. If you have a long journey, check out out list of Harry Potter podcasts!
The Countdown: You’re excited about your trip and it’s not coming fast enough – we get it! We put together a list of Harry Potter things you can do while counting down the days to your Harry Potter adventure!
Universal Orlando Opening Times
The opening times for Universal can change depending on the season but the parks normally open at 9 am. Closing times may vary – for example, parks close for Halloween Horror Nights at 5 pm.
You can view up to date information on their website.
Top Tip: Arrive before opening time to hit the park at its quietest! We entered Universal Studios as it opened and headed straight to Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts and we barely had to queue!
How to get to Universal Orlando
By Uber or Taxi
This is the method we use because we find it easiest. We’ve never had a problem with being picked up by Uber on Disney property, and there’s a designated guest drop-off area at Universal. These designated areas make pick up and drop off super easy.
When using a ride-share company like Uber, you will be dropped off on the fifth floor of the north parking garage in the Jurassic Park section. From there, you head to the main transportation hub and head through security and into the park. Everything is well sign-posted and it’s easy to find your way!
Taxi’s use the drop-off area beside the transportation hub. This is also the drop-off point for buses, including Universal’s own transport system. From here, you head up the escalator or elevator and up to the security checkpoint. You can catch a taxi back to your hotel from here too.
By Bus
Getting to Universal by bus will vary a lot depending on where you are staying. If you’re staying on Disney property, this is the longest and most difficult option if you don’t know the area or the transport system as there is no direct bus. It is the cheapest though!
Lynx: You can get up-to-date information on the Lynx routes and prices here. They have a line which drops you off at the parking garage of Universal Studios. Single-ride fares are $2 and all-day passes are $4.50.
Top Tip: If you’re transferring between buses ask the operator for a transfer! You can transfer between 2 buses within 90 minutes for your $2 fare.
I-Ride Trolley: The I-Ride trolley is another way to get around International Drive but it doesn’t go to Universal Studios. One option is to get the green line to the G4 stop, it’s about a 20-minute walk from there. Check out its route here (Universal is at the top on Universal Blvd.). I-Ride costs $2 for an adult single ride, $1 for a child with a paying adult and $0.25 for senior citizens. They also do passes for consecutive days starting at $6 for a one-day pass – you can buy these online, they are not sold on the trolleys. Drivers also don’t carry cash and so the exact change is needed.
By Car
If you’re driving to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter then the address is 6000 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819. As you get closer to the Universal Resort it is important that you follow the signage for parking.
Top Tip: Each parking section is named after a Universal character. Take a photo of your section so you remember at the end of the day – the car parks are huge!
There is also accessible parking. Just ask the attendant at the toll plaza when you pay for your parking.
Regular parking costs $30 or $40 for RV’s and buses. Parking is free after 6 pm except for Halloween Horror Nights and during other events. For the latest info check out their website.
Prime parking costs $50-$60 and gives you a spot closer to the entrance of CityWalk. Honestly? It’s not worth it in my opinion as you might only save a few minutes walk. The extra $20-$30 could be spent on other cool things in the park – it would buy you three Butterbeers!
Information can be found on the official website for driving and parking here.
Universal Studios: Diagon Alley & London
Diagon Alley is in the Universal Studios park – you can find a map here. Head through the Universal Studios entrance and keep going straight. The Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket will be on your left, it’s a large red rollercoaster. When you get to the top turn right and head in a straight line past the lake and you’ll arrive in London! The first thing you’ll see is King Cross Station.
Rides
Aside from the Hogwarts Express which takes you over to Hogsmeade in the other park, there’s only one Harry Potter ride in Diagon Alley – Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts.
Harry Potter and the Escape From Gringotts
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is a roller coaster adventure deep within the vaults of the famous Wizarding bank. You’ll board a minecart and face Voldemort and Bellatrix as you race along the steel track.
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is a family roller coaster, but if you’re a nervous rider, check out the guide we made especially for anxious riders – is Escape From Gringotts scary?
Shops
As you walk up the cobbled streets of Diagon Alley there are plenty of colourful shop fronts.
Borgin & Burkes
It’s a creepy shop. He’s a creepy bloke.
– Ron
If you’re looking for some Dark magic, you’ll find the antique shop established by Mr Borgin and Mr Burke in Knockturn Alley. You can browse dangerous magical items such as the Hand of Glory and Tom Riddle’s diary. As you might have guessed, Borgin & Burkes sells merchandise relating to Voldemort and the Death Eaters.
Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions
If you’re looking for something to wear, Madam Malkin’s has you covered. They sell everything from Hogwarts uniforms to Hermione’s Yule Ball gown.
Magical Menagerie
If you’re anything like Hermione, you’ll go in for an owl, but come out with a cat. Magical Menagerie is where you will find a range of magical creatures and pets. In this case, the shop sells a range of cute stuffed animals.
Ollivanders
Vinewood with a dragon heart-strong core? Or perhaps willow with a core of unicorn hair? Ollivanders have been makers of fine wands since 382 BC. The walls are stacked high with wand boxes, and there is plenty to choose from. You can purchase wand replicas of your favourite character or go for a more unique wand suited to you. This is where you can also buy the Interactive wand that works at certain spots around the Wizarding World. There’s also an interactive experience where you can watch a wand choose a wizard picked out from the crowd!
Quality Quidditch Supplies
If you’re a Quidditch fan then Quality Quidditch Supplies has everything you need to support your favourite team. There are hats, t-shirts and even pennants to hang on your wall. As well as team apparel you can also buy Quidditch supplies such as brooms, Bludger bats and Quaffles!
Scribbulus
If you’re anything like me, you love a stationary shop. Scribbulus has all the writing supplies a witch or wizard could need. This includes inkwells, feather quills and parchment! There are also more modern writing tools such as pens, notebooks and journals.
Sugarplum’s Sweetshop
Sugarplum’s Sweetshop is home to all your favourite Harry Potter sweet treats. There are chocolate frogs, Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavour Beans and Exploding Bons Bons. As well as sweets and chocolate, there’s a selection of cakes including Cauldron Cake and Pumpkin Cake.
Wands by Gregorovitch
If you don’t fancy a wand from Ollivanders, you can always follow in the footsteps of Victor Krum and buy your wand at Wands by Gregorovitch. Like Ollivanders, the shop sells a range of wands from character replica wands to Interactive Wands.
Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes
Whether you’re looking for puking pastilles or Pygmy Puffs there’s only one place to go – Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes! Packed full of Fred and George’s unique inventions, you can buy everything from Skiving Snackboxes to Decoy Detonators. Who wouldn’t want their kid to go home with a really loud horn?
Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment
If you’re looking to represent your Hogwarts house, Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment has everything from t-shirts to hats. Whether you want to drink your morning coffee from a Hufflepuff mug or need a Gryffindor bag to carry all your new Harry Potter merch, this shop has you covered!
Places to Eat & Drink
If you want to add a touch of Harry Potter to lunch or just stop for a quick refreshment, Diagon Alley provides you with plenty of choices.
Eternelle’s Elixir of Refreshment
Eternelle’s Elixir of Refreshment is a small kiosk which sells a range of tasty Elixirs. There are four flavours to choose from – Fire Protection Potion, Draught of Peace, Babbling Beverage, and Elixir to Induce Euphoria. These elixirs are added to water to make a colourful and fruity-flavoured drink. The kiosk also sells Gillywater separately for an additional cost.
Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour
Follow in the footsteps of Harry, Ron and Hermione and eat strawberry-and-peanut-butter ice cream as you stroll through Diagon Alley. Florean Fortescue’s sells both soft serve and hard pack ice cream and has a range of exciting flavours such as Butterbeer, Granny Smith and Orange Marmalade. If you’d prefer a cold drink, they sell a range of beverages including Pumpkin Juice and cider. If you’re feeling peckish, they also sell a range of pastries and sweet treats in the morning.
Leaky Cauldron
Fill up on some traditional British cuisine in the popular wizarding pub. There’s no House Leaky Soup or House Soup Leaky on the menu, but with fish and chips, toad in the hole and fisherman’s pie on offer, there’s plenty to choose from.
The Fountain of Fair Fortune
The Fountain of Fair Fortune is based on one of the fairytales that appear in The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Here in Diagon Alley, they serve various alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Beverages include Butterbeer, Fishy Green Ale and drinks similar to the elixirs at Eternelle’s Elixir of Refreshment. If you’re looking for something alcoholic they serve draught beer and Fire Whisky!
The Hopping Pot
Another reference to The Tales of Beedle the Bard, The Hopping Pot was a cauldron used by a wizard to brew potions for muggles. The Hopping Pot in Diagon Alley brews drinks for its muggles such as hot Butterbeer and Peachtree Fizzing Tea. There’s a wide range of drinks, including alcoholic drinks, and they even sell beef pasties and chips!
Other Things To Do
Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees
Watch Molly Weasley’s favourite singer perform live on stage in Carkitt Market! Based on Welsh singer Shirley Bassey, the Singing Sorceress performs regularly throughout the day. The famous Gryffindor performs some of her most famous hits, including A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love.
The Tales of Beedle the Bard
Gather round for a retelling of two famous fairytales by Beedle the Bard. The Wizarding Academy of Dramatic Arts takes to the stage to perform The Fountain of Fair Fortune and The Tale of the Three Brothers using puppetry.
Trade Your Currency in Gringotts
The Goblins over in Gringotts Bank will trade your $10 and $20 bills for Gringotts banknotes! These can be used in the shops in both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. If you have any left at the end of your stay, you can transfer them back at Guest Services.
The Knight Bus
Peer through the windows of the famous triple-decker bus and see what it’s inside! The bus is actually one of two prop buses used in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban! Don’t forget to take a photo of you standing in front of the famous purple bus!
12 Grimmauld Place
Stand outside the home of the Black family and look out for Kreacher peering through the curtain! Number 12 is easy to spot in the row of terraced houses, as it’s a slightly different colour!
The Hogwarts Express
The Hogwarts Express takes you between parks. The famous steam train isn’t your average train ride, and as you travel the British countryside you’ll see a host of Harry Potter characters. The train travels between King’s Cross Station in Universal Studios and Hogsmeade Station in Islands of Adventure.
Tip: Each route is a different experience! So if you want to see both, take the train both ways!
Universal’s Islands of Adventure: Hogsmeade & Hogwarts
Hogsmeade is tucked away in Universal’s Islands of Adventure. You’ll enter under an archway that reminds you to respect the spell limits and into a street of beautiful snow-topped buildings.
Rides
There are three rides on this side of the Harry Potter world, and they all centre around Hogwarts.
Flight of the Hippogriff
Flight of the Hippogriff is a junior rollercoaster suitable for the whole family. Approach your Hippogriff and go on an adventure where you’ll soar through the air and fly by Hagrid’s hut.
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Once you’ve made your way through some familiar spots in Hogwarts, you’ll find yourself flying through the air on a journey through the grounds of Hogwarts and the Forbidden Forest. You’ll come face-to-face with the Whomping Willow and a range of magical creatures on a fast-paced adventure!
For more detailed information check out our guide: Is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey scary?
Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
Another adventure into the Forbidden Forest, but this time on Sirus’ motorbike! This is the newest addition to the Wizarding World and the rollercoaster features a lot of thrills! This is Hagrid we’re talking about, so expect to see magical creatures such as the Blast-Ended Skrewt.
Shops
As you’d expect, there’s plenty of shopping to do in Hogsmeade.
Dervish and Banges
They sell that sort of thing in Dervish and Banges, magical instruments and stuff
Ron – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Dervish and Banges sell a range of Quidditch merchandise such as t-shirts, Golden Snitches and brooms like the Nimbus 2000 and the Firebolt. They also sell a range of magical items such as Omniscopes and Sneakoscopes for detecting untrustworthy people.
Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods
Apparently, Filch is a bit of an entrepreneur. Amongst the Hogwart house clothing, bags and mugs, you’ll find cases of confiscated wands, jewellery and swords.
Honeydukes
If you’re looking for a sugar quill to suck on in class or want to smoke at the mouth with some Pepper Imps, Honeydukes is the place to go. The store is packed with sweet treats such as Acid Pops and Fizzing Whizzbees. If you collect wizard trading cards, don’t forget your Chocolate Frogs!
Ollivanders
Yep, there are two Ollivanders! Like the shop over in Diagon Alley, the store sells a range of unique, replica and interactive wands!
Owl Post
As well as selling stationery such as quills, parchment and ink, you can also post letters with a special Hogsmeade postmark in this Wizarding Post Office! As it’s the Owl Post you can also buy a range of owl-themed souvenirs and gifts!
Places to Eat & Drink
Hog’s Head
You’ll be pleased to know that the Hog’s Head in Universal isn’t the dirty, dingy place encrusted with filth from the books. It’s a pleasant (and clean!) pub located at the back of the Three Broomsticks which serves wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. This includes the Hog’s Head Brew, a beer made exclusively for the Hog’s Head.
Tip: Ask your bartender about the specialty mixes. They have drinks and mixes of beer that aren’t on the menu!
Three Broomsticks
Frequented often by Harry, Ron and Hermione, the Three Broomsticks is the perfect place to relax with a Butterbeer. The one in this Harry Potter world also serves breakfast, lunch and dinner! As well as some British dishes, they also serve Rotisserie Smoked Chicken and Spareribs.
Other Things To Do
Frog Choir
The talented Frog Choir put on a show outside Hogwarts, complete with their croaking toads perched on pillows. There’s no sign of Flitwick but they do sing one of my personal favourites, Something Wicked This Way Comes!
Triwizard Spirit Rally
Students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang take the stage to perform acrobatics and dance in this Triwizard Tournament celebration.
