First Timer Tips for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

So you’re here looking for First Timer tips for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. You’re in the right place! We are huge Harry Potter fans over here, and we’re also Universal Annual Passholders! I (Amy) am also a certified Universal Travel Agent, so we get to keep up with all the latest news!

Harry Potter fans from all over the world have been jumping for joy ever since Universal Studios decided to open The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The first section opened as Hogsmeade over in Islands of Adventure.

It wasn’t long before Diagon Alley opened over at Universal Studios. If you have been dying to visit, you will want to check out my first timer tips for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. 

Muggle Tip, rent a car in Orlando!

You’ll definitely need a rental car if you’re flying into Orlando. I recommend renting a car from Discount USA Car Rental. Whenever I need to rent a car, I use Discount USA Car Rental, whether I fly into MCO, SFB, or even Tampa. They have the best prices, and you don’t have to pay until you pick it up!

Discount USA Rental Cars doesn’t rent flying cars or broomsticks yet, but maybe in the future. 😉 Now, let’s get to those Wizarding World tips and tricks!

Wizarding World of Harry Potter Tips for First Time Visitors

After all, knowing a few tips for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter will allow you to enjoy your visit so much more. And you will be able to experience every aspect instead of missing out on some of the fun!

First, a little background, though. Above, I mentioned the two different sections of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Each one is located in a different park. Therefore, you must make sure you have a park-to-park (Universal’s version of what Disney calls Park Hopper tickets) if you want to see it on the same day.

You can simply get tickets for a day at each theme park without a park-to-park ticket. But then you won’t be able to ride on Hogwarts Express. Trust me when I say missing this train ride is one of the worst possible scenarios when you visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter as a first timer. 

Over in Hogsmeade, which is in Universal’s Islands of Adventure, you will find the following attractions:

• Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
• Flight of the Hippogriff
• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
• Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle
• Hogwarts Express Hogsmeade Station
• Hogwarts Express

As for shows in Hogsmeade, you can attend the following:

• Frog Choir
• Triwizard Spirit Rally

Over at Diagon Alley at Universal Studios, the attractions include:

• Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
• Hogwarts Express King’s Cross Station

The shows at Diagon Alley include:

• The Tales of Beedle the Bard (my favorite!)
• Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees

Now that you know a little about what you can see and do at each of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter sections, it is time to share a few first timer tips!

First Timer Tips for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Here are 21 tips for how to get the most out of your time at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

1. Avoid the Crowds

Okay, so telling you to avoid the crowds at Universal Studios is kind of silly! It is almost always crowded when you visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter as a first timer. There are a couple of things you can do to avoid some of the people. 

I always recommend visiting the parks during less popular times of the year. Most people will be at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter during school breaks and the summer. So, choose another time for your visit and enjoy fewer crowds. 

Another option is to arrive at the park early. This will ensure you beat the rush and see some of the magic before everyone else gets there. 

You can also stay later and enjoy the emptier streets after most people have headed back to their hotel rooms.

If you want to arrive at the park earlier than everyone else, you must use this next tip for Wizarding World of Harry Potter first timers. Staying at one of Universal’s resorts may allow you to enter the parks an hour earlier than everyone else. 

You can get so much done in that one hour! 

2. Don’t Try to See Everything in One Day

One of the essential tips for Wizarding World of Harry Potter first timers is you should not attempt to see everything in one day. It simply isn’t possible! 

Yes, you can go on all the rides in both sections in one day. And yes, you can see many of the buildings and shops. However, you won’t get the whole authentic Harry Potter experience. You will also miss many things you don’t even know exist. 

3. Take Time to Listen to the Portraits

The storyline for many of the Harry Potter rides begins before you even get on. As you are standing in line, you should listen to the portraits. I prefer to go on each ride more than once. That way, I can hear more of the stories. 

This is another reason you shouldn’t try to do and see everything in one day. You wouldn’t have time to listen to these stories if you did. 

4. Ride the Hogwarts Express in Both Directions

The train ride between parks is different in each direction. So, make sure you ride it each way. If you don’t, you may not know what your friends are talking about when you get back home. 

5. Ship All Purchases to Your Resort

As long as you are staying at one of Universal’s resort hotels, you will have the option to have all your purchases shipped directly to your resort. In my opinion, this is so much better than lugging bags around all day long. And trying to figure out what to do with them when going on the rides. 

To learn just what you’ll want to buy at Universal, check out 7 things to buy at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Plus, you won’t need to backtrack to grab your souvenirs. You can simply get them as you see them and won’t forget any must-have items. Plus, staying in a Universal Resort is just more fun!

Checking current pricing for all Universal Resorts 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.

You can also check out the ultimate guide to Universal hotels to find out which resort is best for your family!

You get free Express Passes by staying in a Premier Resort. Premier Resorts include Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Portofino Bay, and Loews Royal Pacific.

6. Utilize the Lockers While on Rides

There are single-use free lockers available at some of the rides at Universal. These lockers are free for the duration of the posted wait time. These lockers will only hold smaller bags, though. If you have larger bags, you will need to use the paid lockers. 

It is important to note that lockers are not available at every attraction. You can rent a locker for the entire day. But that brings the hassle of walking back and forth to the locker when you need something or want to put something in it. 

Don’t miss How to eat vegan at Universal Orlando for our vegan and vegetarian friends!

7. Use Single Rider Lines When Possible

If you are traveling with children, this first timer tip for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter might not work well for you. But if you have older children or are traveling with adults, I suggest taking advantage of this one!

The single rider lines are almost always shorter than the regular lines. You won’t be able to sit with other members of your group. But you will be on the ride faster, which means being able to go on the rides multiple times during your visit. 

This tip might not work as well later in the day, but you can still do it to save a little bit of time. 

8. Purchase Your Interactive Wands Early 

You shouldn’t wait until the last day of your visit to purchase your interactive wands. There are many reasons for this. First, the wand ceremony is magical. Having ‘your’ wand choose you is an experience you will love. 

Here is Kainan doing the wand ceremony on his 11th birthday!

Once you receive your wand, you will find a map inside the box. That map is filled with locations where you can do magic with your wand. Each site has a golden interactive wand symbol on the ground. Simply do the wrist movements with your wand above that symbol and then chant the appropriate spell. 

See why you can’t wait to get your interactive wand? Look at all the magical fun you would be missing out on if you do! 

9. Grab Your Favorite Harry Potter Foods in Both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley

You know you cannot leave the Wizarding World of Harry Potter without drinking a little butterbeer! What about the rest of the food, though? In my opinion, you must try it all when you are there.  You can even check out the best food at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to learn more.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are available at The Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade. And the Leaky Cauldron will be waiting for you in Diagon Alley. The ice cream at Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour is a must too! 

Oh, and in case you weren’t aware. You can do more than drink butterbeer when visiting the World of Harry Potter. There are now six different butterbeer treats.

The drinks include cold butterbeer, frozen butterbeer, and hot butterbeer. After that, you have butterbeer potted cream, butterbeer fudge, and butterbeer soft-serve ice cream. 

Pumpkin juice is an excellent Harry Potter-themed drink for those who are vegan or dairy-free!

Also, check out the NEW Vegan food at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

10. Explore Every Harry Potter Shop

You do not need to purchase something in every Harry Potter shop you come across. You should still wander through them all, though. Each shop offers a different experience. The window displays at every shop are incredible too. 

You might also enjoy: Cabana Bay vs Aventura Resort

11. Discover All the Magical Details

Magical details are everywhere in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Despite your best efforts, you will miss some of them during your visit. One of my favorite first timer tips for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is to do your best and discover as many as possible. 

If you are spending multiple days at the park, it will be much easier to spot details you missed during earlier days of your visit. 

12. Experience the Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle

The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle are not shown every night, but you should experience them if they are happening during your visit. It is best to arrive early for this event, because it gets crowded quickly. 

I mean, who wouldn’t love to watch projections light up the outside of the castle?? I think it is one of the best ways to end a magical day. 

13. Watch All the Shows

You may think you are too busy seeing everything else to stop and watch any of the shows. One of the best tips for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is to make the time to watch all the shows.

Each show offers a glimpse into Harry Potter’s world. Plus, they are the perfect way to take a break from all the walking you will be doing. 

14. Participate in Unique Experiences

Above, I mentioned going into the wand shop and seeing which wand chooses you. Well, during your time at the park, you should participate in some of the other unique experiences. Sending postcards to family and friends with a Hogsmeade stamp is the perfect place to start.

A favorite experience is mixing your own personal elixir. To do this, you must find the Eternelle’s Elixir of Refreshment kiosk. There are four different elixirs to choose from. They include Fire Protection Potion, Babbling Beverage, Draught of Peace, and Elixir to Induce Euphoria. 

Simply add water to the elixir of your choice. Once mixed, you will have a flavorful beverage to drink. This kiosk is currently closed, but will hopefully be opening back up soon. 

15. Watch for the Fire Breathing Dragon

The dragon on top of Gringotts Bank will often growl and make other noises. If you wait around long enough though, you will also see it breathe fire. The experience is quite amazing though and worthy of capturing in pictures. 

One of the best tips for first timers at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is to do this activity at night. Once the sun goes down, the flames seem even bigger. 

16. Stop Using Muggle Money

Muggle money is cash or credit cards in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. To make your experience more authentic, I recommend purchasing Gringotts bank notes. Those bank notes can be used in both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. 

If you have any left at the end of your visit, you can turn them back into cash at Guest Services.  Although, you may want to keep a few bank notes for souvenirs. They only have $20s and $10s available, so it’s not the least expensive souvenir but certainly not the most expensive either!

17. Know the Height Requirements for Each Ride

All the rides have different height requirements. One of the best tips for visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is making sure you know the height requirements for each one. This will be especially helpful if you are traveling with younger children. 

I believe it is better to know whether or not children can go on a ride before the visit than deal with tears moments before entering the ride.

18. Walk through the Ride Queues

Even if your entire group can’t ride, it’s worth it to walk through the ride queues! When the Wizarding World of Harry Potter was designed, no details were left out! You have to walk through all of the ride queues, even if you don’t right.

Also, child swap is located within the ride queue and typically has a ride-themed movie clip playing!

You should also make sure to check out30+ Movies to watch before going to Universal. Of course, the Harry Potter movies all made the list!

Kainan wearing his Herbology shirt (get it on Amazon here!) in front of the Herbology class part of The Forbidden Journey queue.

19. Make a Phone Call to the Ministry of Magic

As a first timer, you may not know you can call the Ministry of Magic from the red phone booth near Diagon Alley. Most people think to grab a selfie in this phone booth, but hardly anyone picks up the phone to make the call. 

Simply dial 62442 and be amazed when the Ministry of Magic answers!

20. Consider the Weather Before Donning Wizard-Wear

Yes, it will be fun to wear wizard robes and other wizard-wear to explore the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Before you put those items on though, consider the weather for the day. If it is going to be hot and humid, you will end up lugging those items around with you instead of wearing them. 

I am the kind of person who would 100% wear a robe, but not when it’s 90+ degrees!

Save your arms from this extra workout and check the weather before going to the park. 

21. Pack a Portable Charger

One of the most forgotten first timer tips for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is packing a portable charger. You will be taking a lot of pictures throughout the day. Your phone will probably die from being used so much. 

If you want to avoid missing out on taking pictures later in the day, I recommend packing a portable charger. It will come in handy at some point during your visit. I use a solar charger, but any charger will do! You can also purchase a Fuel Rod Starter kit on Amazon and swap it out at the many Fuel Rod stations in the park!

First Timer Tips for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

These are all my first timer tips for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Now that you are aware of these tips, you should be able to thoroughly enjoy your time at these two areas of Universal. Don’t forget to check out even more of our Universal travel tips inluding Star Wars Land vs. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Looking for a place to stay during your Orlando vacation? Of course, I always recommend staying at an onsite Universal Resort. You can check out tours of all of them on my YouTube channel.

Perks to staying at a Universal resort include free transportation throughout the day and early park admission. The Premier Resorts (Portofino Bay, Royal Pacific, Hard Rock) also include a free Express Pass for every day of your stay.

Check the pricing for your dates here:

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

We also stayed at Marriott Cypress Harbour Villas Review near Universal and Disney and it’s a great option if you need more room! If you want an affordable room on-property with plenty of space, check out Dockside Inn and Suites Review.

Do you have any first timer tips for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter? Share them in the comments below!

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