Wizarding World of Harry Potter Tips

If you came here today looking for Wizarding World of Harry Potter tips, you’re in the right place!

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (sometimes wrongly 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 in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade.

Even if you’re just a Muggle looking for great rides or snacks, you’ll love visiting Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley.

Do I need a rental car in Orlando?

If you decide to rent a car for your Orlando vacation, I recommend renting one from Discount USA Car Rental. They offer the best rates available, free cancelation, and you don’t have to pay anything until you pick it up!

Planning a Universal Vacation? I’ll be your Travel Agent!

Before we get started, let me introduce myself. My name is Amy, and I’m a Universal travel agent, a travel blogger, and a Universal Orlando Annual Passholder. I’d love to share my knowledge and help you plan an epic Universal Orlando vacation. Contact me today to learn more.

Now, let’s get to the 25 Wizarding World of Harry Potter tips.

If you only have one day, check out how to do the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in one day.

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

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is split between Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. (Nice one, Universal, well played!) As of the opening of Epic Universe, it will be split into three parts, including the Ministry of Magic at Epic!

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

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is in Diagon Alley (Universal Studios) and Hogsmeade (Islands of Adventure.) The Hogwarts Express runs between the two parks. It is the easiest way to get between them and is an adventure in itself!

As a Universal travel agent, I’ve had several clients who had no idea you needed park-to-park tickets to ride the Hogwarts Express. Don’t miss out on this experience!

2. Arrive Early

There are several reasons to arrive early. Most importantly, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is included in early park admission and is located at the 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.” Years ago, when my oldest son and I visited Universal for his 11th birthday, we were at the 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 all three parks for the three days we were there.

3. Carefully choose which side to enter

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

If you’d rather skip the experience and go 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 give you early park access, and booking with a travel agent will too. Here are the current Universal hotels:

• 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 has been incredibly busy. If the line is already long when you arrive, head to Flight of the Hippogriff or the Forbidden Journey, where you may be able to walk right on.

4. Don’t miss the wand ceremony at Ollivanders

In both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, you can visit Ollivander’s wand 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, and my daughter was chosen when she was 11 too.

If you want more of a chance of being chosen. 1) Be a kid close to 11 years old. 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 souvenir 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 are vegan or dairy-free, there’s even a vegan version too!

Pumpkin Juice and several other drinks are all dairy-free too.

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 ride in both directions.

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 watch someone else and have someone film you walking through.

9. Buy your house gear in advance

You can buy robes in the park. The robes are of good quality, but they are still quite expensive.

If you’d like to save some money, I would suggest buying most of your house gear in advance and purchasing 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 Wizarding World robes on Amazon.

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

10. Adopt a Pygmy Puff

You can adopt a Pygmy Puff at Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes. We love the experience. They are cute little pink or purple stuffed animals. You can buy three different sizes: keychain, regular size, and jumbo.

They will also do a naming ceremony if you choose to do that (we have), 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 and low wait times, especially just before the park closes.

12. Get the PhotoPass

I used not to get a PhotoPass because, as a photographer-turned-travel blogger, I thought I would take photos myself. That said, I’m not always in them, and getting a photo pass at least once a year is now a family tradition.

13. Don’t miss the queues

Even if you’re lucky enough to walk straight through the queues, 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. You can also ask to walk through without riding.

The queue details 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

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

The kids love Honeydukes, which sells 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! Or, they can take weird photos in it like my kids do.

16. Say “hello” to Stan Shunpike

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

Make sure to interact with him (and the shrunken head!) and take a few photos.

17. Stay in a Universal Hotel

I would recommend staying in a Universal Hotel. The experience is 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. Check out the best Universal hotels here.

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 the resorts, no matter which one you’re staying, and enjoy the restaurants or spas at any other resort. The only exception is that you cannot pool hop if staying at Endless Summer Dockside and Surfside.

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.

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, such as a birthday, honeymoon, anniversary, etc., 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

The Leaky Cauldron and Three Broomsticks are top-rated lunch or dinner options.

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

You might enjoy eating vegan at Universal if you’re vegan or have allergies or dietary restrictions.

22. Buy the Express Pass

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

If you visit the parks during a slower time of year, you may be able to save that money for souvenirs or other purchases.

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 beforehand (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 and the best bags for Universal Studios.

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 occasionally.

25. Moaning Myrtle

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

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.

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

Did this Wizarding World of Harry Potter Tips help you? If they did, or if you have any Wizarding World of Harry Potter Tips of your own, please let me know in the comments!

I’d love to help you plan your Universal Orlando vacation, contact me today to get started.

More Universal Travel Tips:

We have lots more Universal travel tips on the blog. Check them out!

• What to pack for Universal Studios (and what to wear at Universal)
• All the Universal Orlando Hotel Types explained
• How to visit the entire Wizarding World of Harry Potter in one day
• A complete list of rides at Universal Orlando
• 20 Pro Tips for Universal Orlando
• How to Eat at Universal on a Budget
• Endless Summer Surfside Inn and Suites Review

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