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Wizarding World of Harry Potter Tips

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (sometimes called Harry Potter World) is one of the biggest attractions at Universal Orlando.

If you’re a Harry Potter fan, you might spend most of your time at Universal immersed in the Harry Potter universe.

Even if you’re just a Muggle looking for some great rides or tasty treats, you’re going to love visiting Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. Get the most out of your trip with these 25 Wizarding World of Harry Potter tips.

If you’re visiting Universal Orlando for the first time, check out 20 things to know before visiting Universal Orlando.

Do I need a rental car in Orlando?

I like to get around as needed while on vacation, so I like to rent a car. I recommend renting a car from Discount USA Car Rental. They offer the best rates available whether you’re flying into Orlando or Sanford.

Sadly, they do not have flying cars, but you don’t pay until arrival, so if you find a flying car elsewhere, you can cancel at any time.  

Please note that I am keeping this list of Wizarding World of Harry Potter tips updated as often as possible for 2021.

1. Make sure to have the park-to-park tickets

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is split between Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. (Nice one, Universal, well played!)

Multi-day packages offer the best deals, and you’ll want multiple days to explore the two (or three if you choose to visit Volcano Bay) parks, especially during the busier times of the year.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is split into Diagon Alley (Universal Studios) and Hogsmeade (Islands of Adventure.) 

The Hogwarts Express runs between the two parks and is the easiest way to get between them, and also an adventure in itself!

I highly recommend buying your tickets through Undercover Tourist. There are many really scammy sites out there, so make sure you’re booking through an approved partner (like Undercover Tourist.)

2. Arrive Early

There are several reasons to arrive early, most importantly, because the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is located at the very back of both parks.

It does take a while to get back there, and you’ll want to arrive as quickly as possible to take advantage of the shorter lines (more on that later.)

Another reason to arrive early is the chance of being chosen as the “First Family.” When my oldest son and I visited Universal for his 11th birthday, we were at the very front of the Islands of Adventure line.

We were asked if we’d like to participate in the opening ceremony, and my son was able to announce the park’s opening!

That also meant that we were the very first people to be let inside, and we were given a free photo pass for the three days that we were there, for all three parks. I didn’t even know about this until we were chosen!

3. Carefully choose which side to enter

If you want the full experience of walking through London to Diagon Alley, enter through Universal Orlando.

If you’d rather skip the experience and get right to the rides, enter through Hogsmeade. If you have early park admission, go to whichever park is open first! 

Staying in a Universal resort will I’ve you early park access; you can check current pricing for all Universal Resorts on Expedia here: 

• Hard Rock Hotel
• Loews Portofino Bay
• Loews Royal Pacific
• Aventura Hotel
• Loews Sapphire Falls Resort
• Cabana Bay Beach Resort
• Universal Endless Summer Resorts – Dockside Inn and Suites and Seaside Inn and Suites.

Since the opening of Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure, Islands of Adventure fills up almost immediately. However, you can almost always walk right on to Flight of the Hippogriff or The Forbidden Journey. 

4. Don’t miss the wand ceremony at Ollivanders

In both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, you can visit Ollivanders shop and watch a wand ceremony. You may even get chosen to participate!

My oldest was selected for the wand ceremony on his 11th birthday. How fitting!

Since the reopening of Universal in 2020, the wand ceremony is only done with your party, so you’re guaranteed that someone in your group will be chosen. 

During normal times: 

If you want more of a chance of being chosen. 1) Be a kid. 2) Wear a robe or at least Harry Potter clothes. 3) Wear your birthday pin. That’s what we did, and it worked. 🙂

5. Get an interactive wand

Even if you aren’t chosen for the wand ceremony, get an interactive wand!  They are about $50 and probably the best value souvenir that you can buy at Universal.

You can use the wand to cast “spells” in both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, and it’s so much fun!

There are even secret spell areas that aren’t marked, so pay close attention to the map that comes with your interactive wand. Don’t miss this post about the secrets of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

6. Try a butterbeer or specialty beverage

There are several Butterbeer varieties (regular, frozen, hot, ice cream), so choose one or try them all! If you have an intolerance or do not eat dairy, don’t worry – you still have options!

The Butterbeer itself does not have dairy in it, but the topping does, and they will not serve it without it. However, Pumpkin Juice and several other drinks are all dairy-free. We love Pumpkin Juice.

Although you can purchase pumpkin juice in a bottle, it’s cheaper to purchase the “draft” version at The Hopping Pot.

7. Ride the Hogwarts Express both ways

The experience is different each way, so make sure to ride in both directions. The one pet peeve that I had was Hermione’s voice; it sounds nothing like the movie Hermione (Emma Watson.)

Otherwise, riding the Hogwarts Express both ways is so much fun!

8. Platform 9 3/4

Don’t miss a fun surprise when you’re going through Platform 9 3/4. You can’t see it yourself, so make sure to watch someone else.

9. Buy your house gear in advance

Yes, you can purchase them at the park, but they are quite expensive! The robes are of good quality, but they are still quite expensive.

I would suggest buying most of your house gear in advance and then purchase things like interactive wands, candy from Honeydukes, and other specialty items at the park.

The one thing that might be worth the splurge at the park is the robes. However, if you want to save a little money, there are plenty of robes to choose from on Amazon.

Make sure to check out 7 things to buy before going to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Here are some highly-rated items for much less than you’ll pay in the park (click for more houses):

10. Adopt a Pygmy Puff

My son adopted a Pygmy Puff at Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes, and we loved the experience. They are cute little pink or purple stuffed animals.

They will also do a naming ceremony if you choose to do that (we did), and it’s a lot of fun! You can also adopt a Pygmy Puff at Magical Menagerie and several other shops.

11. Stay late

If you want to head back to your hotel for lunch, a nap, or just a short break, do it in the middle of the day! The crowds are the highest mid-day, and the temperature can be brutal in the summer.

We found that the evening is even better than the morning for low crowds, especially just before the park closes.

12. Get the PhotoPass

I typically do not get a PhotoPass because, as a photographer-turned-travel-blogger, I think I will take photos myself.

However, after we were gifted the photo pass for being the honorary family, I was glad that we had it!

I do take a lot of photos, but I am rarely in them! I would highly recommend the PhotoPass; the Harry Potter photos are particularly fun.

I should note that I didn’t even bring a real camera with me, so it was very nice to have the PhotoPass!

Now with masks, I don’t recommend the PhotoPass as much. Someday, it will be worth it again. 😉

13. Don’t miss the queues

Even if you’re lucky enough to walk through the lines, make sure to go back when there is a line. Waiting in line might seem like weird advice, but the queues for most of the rides at Universal are part of the experience.

The details of the queue are particularly significant in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. There are so many small details that all true Harry Potter fans will enjoy.

14. Don’t miss the shops

At most theme parks, you might want to get out of the gift shops as quickly as possible, but they’re part of the Wizarding World experience!

My kids love Honeydukes, where they have items like Chocolate Frogs, Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans, Acid Pops, and more.

15. Call the Ministry of Magic

Don’t forget to call the Ministry of Magic from the telephone booth in London! My son had no idea how to use a rotary phone, so keep in mind, kids might need a little help. 🙂

16. Say hello to Stan Shunpike

Well, he’s not Stan but say hello to the Knight Bus driver just outside of Diagon Alley.

Make sure to interact with him (and the shrunken head!) and take a few photos. The driver told me that I had more ink than the Daily Prophet. 😂

17. Stay in a Universal Resort

I would recommend staying in a Universal Hotel. The experience is just not the same at a “regular” hotel.’ You will probably want to take a break during the day, and the shuttles run all the time from the Universal Resorts.

They do not do this at the partner hotels, which the partner hotels will not tell you! The partner hotel shuttles only run in the morning and evening, which won’t help you take an afternoon break.

Another huge reason to stay in a Universal Resort Hotel is the early entrance to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! Staying at a Universal Resort can be a considerable advantage during busy times (summer, Christmas break, etc.)

If you’re planning for any days that you won’t visit the parks (which I recommend), you can enjoy things like the lazy river at Cabana Bay.

You can also pool hop at all of the resorts, no matter which one you’re staying, and enjoy the restaurants or spas at any other resort as well.

Checking current pricing for all Universal Resorts on Expedia here: 

• Hard Rock Hotel
• Loews Portofino Bay
• Loews Royal Pacific
• Aventura Hotel
• Loews Sapphire Falls Resort
• Cabana Bay Beach Resort
• Universal Endless Summer Resorts – Dockside Inn and Suites and Seaside Inn and Suites.

18. Check out the Dark Magic in Knockturn Alley

It’s a little spooky, but don’t miss Knockturn Alley! You can even walk around Borgin and Burkes, and there are some interactive spells in Knockturn Alley too.

Tip: Check out the cabinet in Borgin and Burkes! You might hear something. 🙂 I’m not a dark wizard, but I enjoyed Knockturn Alley; it’s also very cool on a hot day.

19. Make some new friends

Make sure to talk to the wizards and muggles in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. They stay in character and will keep you on your toes with your Harry Potter knowledge!

You can also chat with the Goblin inside Gringott’s Money Exchange.

If you’re celebrating a special event like a birthday, honeymoon, anniversary, etc., make sure to get a pin and wear it on your lanyard.

20. Check out a show

There are several fun shows throughout the day. You can even see Celestina Warbeck (Molly Weasley’s favorite singer) and The Tale of the Three Brothers puppet show.

I have a Deathly Hallows tattoo on my arm, so of course, this was my favorite! Other shows include:

• Hogwarts Frog Choir (we love this one too!)
• Triwizard Spirit Rally
• The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts
• The Tales of Beedle the Bard (alternating between the before mentioned Tale of Three Brothers and The Fountain of Fair Fortune.)

21. Have lunch at The Leaky Cauldron or Three Broomsticks

Although the options are somewhat limited if you’re on a special diet, The Leaky Cauldron and Three Brooksticks are top-rated options for lunch or dinner.

Hint for those with food allergies or special diets, check out the official website and plan your meals ahead of time.

We found some places that were very accommodating (gluten-free, vegetarian) outside of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

You might enjoy eating vegan at Universal or how to eat gluten-free at Universal if you have allergies or dietary restrictions. 

22. Buy the Express Pass

If you’re visiting the parks on a busy day, buy the Express Pass. Important note, you cannot use the Express Pass on Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure yet.

If you’re visiting the parks during a slower time of the year, you may be able to save that money for souvenirs or something else.

Three of the Universal Resorts offer a free Express Pass for each guest, so it can be worth checking the numbers and seeing if this is doable for your family! The resorts include Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Portofino Bay, and Royal Pacific Resort.

You can read my Royal Pacific Resort tour to learn more about the Premier resorts. 

23. Bring a small bag

If you need to carry a bag for sunscreen, reusable water bottles, etc., make sure that it’s a smaller bag. Most of the rides do not allow you to bring a bag but do have free lockers.

Keep in mind that the lockers are small. Larger bags will not fit, and you’ll have to pay for a larger locker.

We used a bag similar to the one below but paid twice as much for it at Universal. Trust me, buy your bags ahead of time (refer to #9.) Click the bag below for other houses and bag options.

The Loungefly mini backpacks are the perfect size for a Universal bag.

Most of the rides also allow a 3-prong fanny pack.

I share more Universal bag ideas in my what to pack for Universal post. 

24. Say hello to Kreacher

While in London, don’t forget to check out #12 Grimmauld Place. Look up at the 2nd-floor window, and you might see Kreacher peek out from time to time.

25. Moaning Myrtle

If you use the women’s restroom at Hogsmeade, you will hear Moaning Myrtle. This shows how amazing and immersive the entire Wizarding World of Harry Potter really is!

It’s this restroom. You’re welcome. 🙂

26. Bonus Wizarding World of Harry Potter Tips

When you exit the elevator at Gringott’s, try to move to the far side of the small room. Most people will try to get in the middle for a better view of the pre-show with Bill Weasley.

Again, this bonus tip does not apply as Universal is currently not doing pre-shows, but I will leave it for the future. 

If you go all the way to the end of the room, you’ll be the first one out and move farther up in the line.

Wizarding World of Harry Potter Tips

Although I am a certified Universal Travel Advisor, I am only taking on a few clients for 2021. You can contact me if you’d like more information. I would recommend starting with my Universal travel guide if you plan to DIY your vacation!

I highly recommend buying your tickets through Undercover Tourist if you choose not to use a Travel Agent! There are many really scammy sites out there, so make sure you’re booking through an approved partner (like Undercover Tourist.)

If you plan to stay off-property or even at a Universal resort, I recommend checking out Expedia to see what is available in the Orlando area.

The best way to get Universal travel tips and the most current travel information is to sign up for my email list. I send out one weekly email with the latest news, travel deals, and more. Sign up below.

 

I had to take a picture in front of this sign!

I hope that these 25 Wizarding World of Harry Potter tips help you. Again, if you need any help planning your Universal vacation, I’d love to hear from you! Which Hogwarts house are you in? Let me know in the comments. Bonus if it’s Ravenclaw. 😉

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