The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

 

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is made of 2 themed lands: Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. Diagon Alley is located in Universal Studios Florida Park and Hogsmeade is located in Islands of Adventure Park. You can also find majority of the same Hogsmeade park at Universal Studios Hollywood. There are a few differences there that I will note below.

In order to access both lands in the same day or ride the Hogwarts express a park to park ticket is required

Attractions

Hagrids

    The most popular ride in the parks. A fast paced roller coaster with a drop and goes backwards. I think its better at nighttime

Hogwarts Express

    Kings Cross Station side has an effect set up for "walking through platform 9 3/4" You can also buy snacks here which is fun. You aren't allowed to leave the park with alcohol but you can bring any other fun Harry Potter drink on board meaning you can enjoy a Butterbeer

Flight of the Hippogriff

    Kid perfect coaster for little ones that aren't tall enough for Hagrid's. Gets great view of Hogwarts castle. Also in Universal Hollywood

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

    Has the coolest queue before a ride you will ever see in your life. The queue featured classic things like Dumbledore's office and the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Is in the castle so of course the setting is Hogwarts. Plot follows you getting the chance to fly with Harry but of course encountering all sorts of things on the grounds such as dementors. If you are prone to motion sickness this ride may not be good for you but you can still walk through the queue just tell them before you get on so you can exit beforehand. Also in Universal Hollywood

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts

    Is set in the bank of gringotts and the plot of the ride is basically the scene in Deathly Hollows where they break into Bellatrix's vault but with Bill Weasley. You're there to set up your account with gringotts but are encountered with Bellatrix and Voldemort and then have to be saved by Bill. This ride is 4D so you do need glasses for it which can be difficult at times. It is part screen and part coaster. 

Interactive Wands

•     Can buy your favorite characters wand
•     Spell areas can be found on a Map that comes with the wand
•     You can find secret spell areas under the blacklight in Knockturn Alley which is in the Diagon Alley section.
•     More spells can be found in Diagon Alley compared to Hogsmeade
•     Universal Hollywood does have the wands too but just Hogsmeade obviously. The map there is a bit different
•     Wands can be purchased at Ollivanders which you can find in both lands or Wands by Gregorivich shop in Diagon Alley. You can also find them in Universal Studios stores and a wand cart in Hogsmeade.
•     Ollivanders features a show just like the scene in the movie where Harry first gets his wand but you may get to be the one chosen. 

Stage Shows

Hogsmeade has Triwizard Spirit Rally and Frog Choir. These are also found in Universal Hollywood. Triwizard Spirit Rally is a celebratory show for the Triwizard Tournament featuring performances by the Beauxbotans and the Durmstrang schools. Frog Choir is a choir performance by students from Hogwarts featuring frogs harmonizing with them. The frog choir does Christmas songs during the Christmas season.

Diagon Alley features Celestina Warbreck and The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Celestina Warbreck is a singer with her backup singers known as the banshees. She sings a few songs during her show. At Christmastime, she sings Christmas songs. The Tales of Beedle the Bard is is dramatic arts group putting on a performance of the tale of three brothers which is in the deathly hollows movie because its essentially the story of the deathly hollows.

Dining

The Three Broomsticks

• serves breakfast, lunch and dinner
• more American style food options such as rotisserie chicken
• breakfast offers small beverage with your meal
• vouchers can be purchased beforehand at your universal hotel. I highly recommend these for this restaurant as it does get busy and it ensures your entry as you've prepaid.

Leaky Cauldron

• serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• more British style fare
• breakfast offers small beverage with your meal
• vouchers can be purchased beforehand at your universal hotel
• I prefer eating here as its generally less crowded
• sells all the wizarding world beverages such as tongue tying lemon squash, otter's fizzy orange juice, peach tree fizzing tea, fishy green ale, all forms of butter beer, and pumpkin juice

Hopping Pot

• located in diagon alley
• sells all the wizarding world beverages such as tongue tying lemon squash, otter's fizzy orange juice, peach tree fizzing tea, fishy green ale, all forms of butter beer, and pumpkin juice
• also sells beer and some snacks
• located in dragon alley

Fountain of Fair Fortune

• sells a few beverages such as all forms of butter beer, pumpkin juice, and fishy green ale
• located in dragon alley

Hog's Head Pub

• bar located next to three broomsticks
• sells alcoholic drinks and beer including an exclusive beer to the pub 
• can get all forms of butter beer here: cold, hot. and frozen

Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor

• sells a variety of ice cream flavors from hard packed to soft serve
• topping can also be added
• can get a cup or a cone
• located in dragon alley

Shopping

• can get generic merchandise with Hogwarts houses represented
• interactive wands featured above
• magical menagerie sells plush pets featured in movies
• scribbulus sells quills
• Weasley's wizard wheezes sells joke props made by the twin brothers
• madam maulkin's sells robes like in the movies
• quality quidditch supplies sells merch related to quidditch
• honey dukes and sugarplums sells candy and treats

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