Everything you need to know before visiting Harry Potter’s Wizarding World in Florida

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has become a must-see attraction at Universal Studios Orlando after nearly a decade of operation. It’s Mecca for Potter devotees. The park’s massive castle and meandering streets are nevertheless enchanting for those who don’t give a damn. And no matter what kind of guest you are, you can expect a completely immersive experience.

There’s a lot to take in for any muggle cast into the world of wizards, and your first trip can be more overwhelming than discovering your pet rat is actually an old man. Fortunately, there are many of pointers and tactics to help you explore the Wizarding World to its full potential. Here’s what you need to know.

Purchase tickets in advance and visit both parks

The abundance of choices at Universal Studios might be overwhelming. There are several parks, each with its own ticket requirement. Because the Harry Potter attractions are separated between two parks—Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure—you’ll need two tickets to experience everything, which will set you back $115. You know what super-sucks, aside from the high price? You should definitely go to both.

Diagon Alley, the Escape From Gringotts attraction, and a fire-breathing dragon that rests atop Gringotts Wizarding Bank may all be found in Universal Studios. You may meander through Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure, watch street performances (which occasionally involve the witches and wizards of Beauxbatons Academy and the Durmstrang Institute), and admire the massive Hogwarts Castle. The Flight of the Hippogriff roller coaster, the Forbidden Journey attraction, and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, the newest Wizarding World ride, are all located here.

The Hogwarts Express connects the two parks, and you may only travel it if you have a two-park pass. Islands of Adventures might be the way to go if you only have time to visit one park. However, Gringotts is a fantastic ride, and Diagon Alley is a stunning setting.

It’s advised purchasing tickets in advance if you want to see everything. You’ll save a few bucks, plus you’ll be able to see a calendar of entrance costs that fluctuate by day. Going early in the week will usually save you money.

Take the Hogwarts Express

Ride the Hogwarts Express in both ways while we’re on the subject. (Though, to get back to your car, you’d probably have to anyhow.) This fantastic train serves as more than just a mode of transit between parks: To access Platform 934, you’ll pass through a pillar, and the sights you’ll see are different in both directions, so it’s well worth riding twice even if you don’t have to.

Arrive very early

You’re on a break. You don’t want to wake up to an alarm clock. That’s very understandable. If you wish to ride Escape From Gringotts, arrive early to avoid the crowds and enjoy reduced waits during the park’s morning hours.

If viewing the sunrise isn’t your jam, there’s always the Express Pass, which allows you to jump to the front of lines that would normally require an hour-plus wait on weekdays. While the Express Pass surely enhances the experience, it does increase the cost of your vacation (especially if you’re visiting both parks), so keep in mind that you may still visit both sites in a single day without it.

Head straight for Diagon Alley

Both parks have numerous worthwhile attractions. Regardless, bypass the Flaming Moe and proceed directly to Diagon Alley. This is unlike any other attraction at the park in terms of immersion. Watch the unabashed excitement that spreads across each visitor’s face as they enter the alley near the Leaky Cauldron from the opening into the alley. It’s truly breathtaking.

Don’t look at your phone

In Hogsmeade businesses, are there flying broomsticks near the ceiling? Is Crookshanks in the Magical Menagerie asleep on a shelf? Is Nagini the one in the window? Is the music referring to specific movie moments dependent on your location? Yes, yes, and yes.

Please don’t look down. Everywhere you look, there’s something worth seeing: silhouettes of characters having conversations in the windows, moving portraits, and newspapers with moving photographs. You can miss something spectacular if you spend too much time staring at your phone and taking pictures.

Purchase a wand but skip the robes

The shops throughout the park are lovely, and there are many fantastic, enticing things for sale inside. However, being a wizard is very expensive.

Wands are one of the few toys that could be considered worthwhile. They cost about $55, but you get more than just a standard souvenir: Brass signs highlight locations where you can cast a spell and “magically” make things happen in both parks. You’re effectively purchasing an additional attraction.

The wands are entertaining, but the show at Ollivanders Wand Shop is optional. In each group, only one individual is chosen to be linked with their wand. Everyone else must only observe. Go next door to speak with one of Ollivanders’ helpers about what kind of wand you desire. You’re not losing out on much.

Although completing your Hogwarts uniform with a robe is enticing, they cost around $114, don’t get you anything special in the park (unlike wands), and you can purchase one for far less online. However, for a confidence boost, you should still visit Madam Malkin’s talking mirror.

Take as many rides as you can

The Flight of the Hippogriff isn’t particularly memorable, and it’s perhaps best suited to children. However, the other three coasters are well worth the wait. In fact, you’ll undoubtedly want to ride the Forbidden Journey and Escape From Gringotts numerous times, as both have been named among the best five dark rides in the world by the Golden Ticket awards. Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, an outdoor coaster that screams through the Forbidden Forest, is also a must-do. It’s not just the newest, but also the most exhilarating of the Harry Potter attractions.

If you want to see a performance, arrive early

Although it’s unlikely that it’s the main reason you’ve come to the Wizarding World, its street shows provide a pleasant diversion while you sip a butterbeer. However, they’re virtually always packed, so check the showtimes displayed throughout the park and arrive early.

The Triwizard Spirit Rally is pulled straight from the pages of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and it’s performed multiple times during the day, making it simple to see. Plan to end your day in Hogsmeade with Islands of Adventure’s Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts, an incredibly photographic experience. The Tales of Beedle the Bard, on the other hand, are my personal favorite. “The Tale of the Three Brothers” and “The Fountain of Fair Fortune” are performed by puppeteers, with the former resembling the Deathly Hallows movie version. It’s a refreshing change of pace at a park where King Kong-sized attractions are the norm.

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