Disclosure: I attended the 2017 Family Forward blogger conference at Universal Orlando Resort. I paid for my and my family’s transportation and conference admission, which included lodging at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, discounted park tickets, some meals and several special events. This post contains affiliate links.
Earlier this month, our family headed south to spend five days at the Universal Orlando Resort! We had not been to the Universal Orlando theme parks in seven years, so we were especially excited about going back to enjoy all the new attractions All three children are huge fans of all things Marvel and Harry Potter too, so when the opportunity landed in my inbox to attend the Family Forward bloggers’ conference at Universal Orlando, our entire family couldn’t wait to head to Florida!
Back in 2010, we planned a trip to Universal’s parks to experience the then-new Wizarding World of Harry Potter. We were simply blown away by the level of detail Universal put into this Hogsmeade area of the Islands Of Adventure theme park. If you’re a fan of the Harry Potter books or movies, as we are, you couldn’t help but be thrilled by walking into Harry’s world. Jut look at this photo — taken in the heat of August, but you feel like you’re in another place and time.
And Hogwarts..! Walking through the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was like stepping between the pages of the books. Universal did so much to make you feel like you were immersed in a world away from reality. The ride inside the castle is the closest thing to flying across a Quidditch pitch that Muggles like us are likely ever to experience.
Since our last visit, Universal Orlando has added a second land to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley. We were eagerly awaiting setting foot in the wizards’ shopping district from the books and films. In keeping with Harry’s “reality,” guests enter Diagon Alley is via a very nondescript-looking alley along a diagonal wall in the London area of Universal Studios Orlando theme park.
It seemed incredible to me that an entire, enormous “land” at Universal is only accessible if you’re actively looking for it! In fact, later in our trip I asked a Universal staffer how many people simply walk by this alley each day. “Oh, many,” he said. “We get lots of people who come to us saying “Where’s Harry Potter?”
Seeking out Diagon Alley is well worth your while, though. Slip through the alley, and what’s on the other side will take a Potter fan’s breath away:
Universal has captured every detail of the literary Diagon Alley. True to the books, I don’t believe there a single building built straight in here. Everything is delightfully angled and askew. We knew we’d be spending a lot of time in this place! From the larger landmarks like the Leaky Cauldron restaurant and Gringotts bank, to every shop Harry visited on his journey to become a wizard, you truly feel like you’re walking, shopping, and living in Harry’s world.
You can purchase books at Flourish & Blotts and school robes at Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions. Visit Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes, where you’ll find all kinds of Potterverse jokes, novelties, and magic tricks.
Diagon Alley is a much larger land than it initially appears to be, and taking the time to investigate staircases, doors, and hallways will reward you with all kinds of Potter-themed surprises.
Part of the fun of exploring Diagon Alley is acting as a wizard yourself! Both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley have been outfitted with numerous locations for casting spells with an authentic Wizarding World wand.
You can visit Ollivander’s wand shop in either part of the Wizarding World to purchase an interactive wand that will react with numerous locations in both halves of the Wizarding World at Universal. One lucky child will be selected during each Ollivander’s visit to partake in a wand-choosing ritual too, which is fun to watch. (Remember the magical chaos Harry caused in the movie when he purchased his first wand?)
If you’re an avid Potter fan, or if you’re traveling with children, there’s simply no way around saying this: You’re going to want a wand.
The wands are $45 each. We’d planned to budget for a single wand for all three of our children to share, and on our first night at the resort, Universal surprised all of the bloggers in attendance with gift bag that included a wand! It was great fun to have our wand along for our days spent in the Wizarding World.
Each wand comes with a map outlining all of the spells you can cast with it. Each spell involves holding the wand in front of you at arm’s length and waving it in the motions indicated by your map. There are also metal guideplates on the ground to mark spell locations throughout Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade.
Part of the fun of exploring Diagon Alley is how deeply immersive it is. There are (at least!) hundreds of references to the books and movies here.
You can visit the Gringotts wizarding bank and convert $10 and $20 bills into Gringotts runes to spend in both parks. Of course, our daughter just had to do this!
The bank is staffed by an animatronic goblin who you can converse with — his ability to answer questions in real time amazed our kids!
Explore Diagon Alley long enough, and you’ll spot a little sign directing you to Knockturn Alley, the shopping district for purveyors of the dark arts. No matter what time of day you visit Knockturn Alley, it’s always nighttime.
Again, the theming is rich with details. Any spells you cast with your magic wands are of the dark variety. With the flick of his wrist, our son afflicted a caged parakeet with an explosive case of boils.
Knockturn Alley is also home to the dark magic shop Borgin and Burkes, where you can purchase poisonous candles, magic books, and skeletons.
Again, if you’re a Potter fan, you’ll gush over the tiniest of details. Here, our boys wondered if they could use the Vanishing Cabinet in Borgin & Burkes to transport themselves to Hogwarts… and when they leaned into the cabinet, they heard the sounds of the bird that Draco Malfoy trapped inside!
As part of the Family Forward Universal conference, our group of 100 bloggers and their families had a private nighttime dessert party in Diagon Alley after the park closed for the night. It gave us a chance to explore this area of the park even more deeply, as well as sample the many Potter-themed treats served here.
What’s a trip to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter without a Butterbeer? This vanilla-butterscotch soft concoction is the signature drink of the Wizarding World, and sipping one is almost a rite of passage when you visit. Butterbeer isn’t the only beverage treat available though. Pumpkin Juice is another delicious drink worth trying — it tastes like pumpkin pie in a bottle!
Each menu item in the Wizarding World has origins within the Potter tales themselves. Here’s my cup of Otter’s Fizzy Orange Juice, a carbonated, tasty orange treat served with a fresh orange slice and a cinnamon-encrusted cup rim. How has no one combined cinnamon and orange juice before? It was such a bright and exciting flavor combination!
Did you know that you can’t even buy a Coke in either of the Wizarding Worlds lands? Your beverage choices are limited to things that exist in Harry’s world, not ours. The foods and beverages are largely British or items inspired by what was written and named in the books — a testament to how deeply Universal has gambled on fully immersing you into the Potterverse. It’s a gamble that’s clearly paid off — both Wizarding Worlds are wildly popular with guests, and our family visited both mutiple times over the course of our trip to make sure we got a chance to see and do everything.
Both Wizarding World lands, Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, feature candy stores that offer whimsical treats from the books and films. At Honeydukes and Sugarplums respectively, you can buy and enjoy everything from pink coconut ice to Dark Mark lollies.
Exploding bonbons, anyone?
Of course, it’s just as much fun to cast spells at night in Diagon Alley as it is in the day!
Harry Potter fans could easily spend the better part of a day in Diagon Alley — there is simply so much to see. Plus, it’s worth visiting both in the day and in the night, because the Alley takes on an even more magical transformation under a dark sky.
The dragon that protects the Gringotts Bank (and the roller-coastery-Escape From Gringotts ride inside) breathes fire, which is spectacular to see in the nighttime.
Another fun perk of having a Park-to-Park ticket between Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure is getting to ride the Hogwarts Express between the two parks. Not only does this save you a lot of walking, it also further immerses you in Harry’s world.
Board the Hogwarts Express at King’s Cross station in Universal Studios, and you’ll get to travel Harry’s own path from England to Scotland. Don’t dismiss this as “just a train ride” — it’s so much more!
For instance, if you’re a Potter fan, you know that Hogwarts students board the train by running through the brick wall between platforms 9 and 10 at King’s Cross to enter at the famed 9 3/4 platform. Did you know you can run through the wall just like a young wizard?
Once you pass through the platform, you’re greeted with the Hogwarts Express pulling into the station. Again, the attention to detail is incredibly vivid — it looks like a well-worn passenger steam train, and the station itself is a quarter-scale replica of the actual King’s Cross station in London.
Once you board the Hogwarts Express, you’ll notice that every detail from the films has been recreated in your train car, right down to the fabric on the seats and the “grime” on the windows of this well-traveled train.
As soon as the train began to roll out of the station, our daughter got choked up. She loves these stories so much, and without giving too much away, the trip to Hogsmeade from Hogwarts is a magical one. You can even lean forward and look ahead out the window and see what the train will pass next.
As you sit in your train compartment, you’ll also hear and see some familiar characters going down the train aisle — but watch out for the chocolate frogs!
It’s worth noting that the trip back to King’s Cross from Hogsmeade is a different ride with different events on the train, so of course we had to go both ways!
Our family had such a fun time at Universal Orlando Resort, and I’ve barely scratched the surface of everything there is to do here. Truly, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter lands are worth the price of admission to devoted Potter fans, but Universal is also known for its roller coasters, movie-themed attractions, water rides, and CityWalk dining and entertainment district too.
If you enjoyed reading about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort, you may enjoy reading more about our trip:
- Spending the day at Volcano Bay, Universal Orlando’s water theme park
- Universal Orlando’s VIP Experience, CityWalk fun, and Sapphire Falls Resort
Interested in an Orlando theme park vacation? Undercover Tourist is an authorized discount ticket seller for many Orlando-area theme parks and attractions! Right now they’re offering “Buy 2 days, get 2 days FREE” passes for Universal Orlando, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay — that’s $68 off gate prices!
Disclosure: I attended the 2017 Family Forward blogger conference at Universal Orlando Resort. I paid for my and my family’s transportation and conference admission, which included lodging at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, discounted park tickets, some meals and several special events. This post contains affiliate links.
Hashtags: #ReadyForUniverssal #FamilyForward
Kayla says
O M G!
I knew Universal had a Harry Potter land but I had NO idea it was this extensive. This is literally the kind of stuff they should be putting in commercials!!! WOW!
This tops my vacation plan list now =)
Coupon Maven says
Glad you enjoyed the read! We -loved- the time we spent here. It’s so much more extensive than I even covered here — it’s simply amazing. Both worlds are truly a love letter to Harry Potter fans. The smallest details are noted. We ate at the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley, and the building is multiple-stories high with exposed beams, just like it is in the books. It’s marvelous :)