10 Must Do Attractions and Activities at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter @UniversalORL #UniversalOrlando

Calling all Harry Potter fans! When you make the pilgrimage to Universal Orlando, arriving at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is like stepping into the pages of the book or onto the set of the movie. Incredible! I promise you’ll love every second of your visit.  My entire family is wild for all things Harry Potter, so we’ve created a list of our top 10 Must Do Attractions and Activities at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter below so you don’t skip any must do!

10 Must Do Attractions and Activities at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

10 Must Do Activities and Attractions at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter #universalorlando #harrypotter

Besides the below tips, you should also check out our TOP 10 Must Do’s at Diagon Alley listed here too

10 Must Do Attractions and Activities at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Here’s a list of 10 of our favorite must do attractions and activities at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. These aren’t listed in any particular order but if your a real Harry Potter fan we definitely recommend you make time to do everything on our list.

1. Check out the Hogwarts Express.

This is located almost immediately upon your entrance to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter right after  you walk through the gates. You’ll be able to take in a view of all of Hogsmeade and of course you’ll see the grand Hogwarts castle in the distance. Snap a photo with the conductor and in Summer 2014, you’ll actually be able to board the Hogwarts Express and ride it back and forth between Hogsmead and the new Diagon Alley located at Universal Studios.

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2. Take in the majestic views of the Hogwarts castle

It truly is fantastic and magnificent. Viewing the castle from different angles make it seem even more grand and impressive. Honestly, it looks so real it’s hard to believe we can’t actually sign and enroll for Hogwarts right then and there on our visit!

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Enjoy the view of Hogsmeade as you look out at Hogwarts in the distance.

Hogwarts and Hogsmeade Photos

3. Drink Butter Beer 

Tip: Our favorite is the FROZEN Butter Beer. To avoid the lines at the Butter Beer carts, we highly recommend you either pop into the PUB to buy a mug of Butter Beer or order it when you sit down to eat at The Three Broomsticks. Delicious!  Sips of this make every childhood dream come true!

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4. Ride the Flight of the Hippogriff 

While on this super quick and easy mini roller coaster, be sure to look out for Hagrid’s cabin when your soaring on the ride.  (The Height requirement is only 36 inches so I promise this ride won’t scare you!)

You can read Kenzie’s review of the Flight of the Hippogriff on her blog, One Kid’s Life here.

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5. Visit Honeydukes Candy Shop. Treat yourself to the purchase of some super yummy sweets. Plus, you MUST buy Every Flavor Beans. You’ll all have a blast with these.  The kids will be captivated since these beans really are every flavor – from delicious to disgusting – think earthworm and earwax flavored jellybeans!

Kenzie and Kyle obsess over Honeydukes and I don’t blame them. It is so crazy cool and just like the books & movies it is INSANE. My favorite treats are the Peppermint Toads, Kenzie loves the Chocolate Frogs and Kyle adores the Every Flavor Beans.

Honeydukes Store Front

If you are excited about Honeydukes, check out Honeydukes Candy Shop at Wizarding World of Harry Potter Review here. 

6. Ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey 

This has to be one of the most innovative and best theme park attractions ever. Like seriously EVER in the history of the world! Really and truly, I’ve never been on any kind of ride like Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey! This ride is located in the Hogwarts Castle.

The ride starts in the Great Hall, where Hermione enchants the bench you are sitting on and then you are off on a thrilling adventure through the Hogwarts Castle that will take you literally into Harry’s World as you’ll feel as if you are flying Harry’s broomstick as you chase dragons, race away from spiders, Dementors, whomping willows, and more! We love it!

The height requirement is 48 inches – luckily Kyle squeaked in at age 6 standing very tall. He loved it!

Hogwarts candles Great Hall

TIP: If you think the ride might be too “thrilling” for you or you get very motion sick, you can still take a walking tour of the castle so you can see Dumbledore’s office, the Hall of Portraits, and the sorting hat along with other famous Harry Potter artifacts.

7. Check out the Goblet of Fire & the TriWizard Cup in the Line for the Dragon Challenge

Thrill seekers will LOVE this roller coasters as 2 dragons race each other – each Dragon ride is different too! While waiting in line for the Dragon Challenge, a high speed roller coaster ride, you can get up close to the Goblet of Fire and see the TriWizard Cup. I profess my kids were too short and  I was too scared to ride this attraction, but we hopped in the beginning of the queue so we could take a peek at these classic Harry Potter treasures.

As you walk into the queue you can see the TriWizard Cup, the Goblet of Fire, stroll byHagrid’s Hut and see the Flying Car that Ron & Harry famously flew in the Chamber of Secrets story.

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8.  Eat at The Three Broomsticks.

It’s delicious and makes for the perfect break in your day for lunch or dinner. No reservations required as this is a quick service setting.

We think they serve wonderful authentic “Harry Potter” food and the service and seating is extremely organized for a theme park. We love it here! We order our FROZEN Butter Beer and what we think is the best most delicious Fish and Chips ever! Kenzie also loves the Corn on the Cob!

Read our full review of the Three Broomsticks Restaurant here. 

Three Broomsticks restaurant photo

 

9. Visit Olivander’s Wand Shop – and buy a wand!

My kids LOVE the Wand experience. It’s actually a “show” where a wizard comes out and will choose one member in the audience to participate in the official wand choosing process. As you know, the WAND chooses the Wizard – it’s not the other way around! Sparks fly and my kids hope someday they’ll be chosen for the show. After the 5 minute show ends, you walk into the actual wand shop and can buy a wand if you’d like too. Of course, my kids both bought wands!

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10. Check out the Owl Post

Stop in and check out all the owls. Be sure to mail yourself or a friend a letter as it will be stamped with an authentic “Hogsmeade” postmark.

Hogsmeade Postmark

Owl Post in Hogsmeade Wizarding World of Harry Poter

 

Read On for More Tips for Visiting Diagon Alley

We think you’ll also find this post VERY helpful now that Diagon Alley is available for our favorite wizards and witches to explore. Besides the above tips, definitely check out our TOP 10 Must Do’s at Diagon Alley listed here too


Note: Thanks to Universal Orlando for providing our family with a tour and park tickets for our visit to facilitate our coverage. We paid for our food and stay at the Hard Rock Hotel.  As always, all thoughts and opinions are our own.  

54 thoughts on “10 Must Do Attractions and Activities at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter @UniversalORL #UniversalOrlando”

  1. This looks AWESOME! I LOVE your pics and recap! We have yet to read the Harry Potter series but this makes me want to dive in before our next trip to Orlando!

    • Lauryn – You must read them! The kids will love it. I read the 1st aloud to kenzie when she was in Kindergarten then let the kids watch the movie. Now, by 2nd grade she is reading them all herself. Fantastic series and visiting is a MUST DO next time you go to Florida

  2. Great tips Colleen! Interesting about the butterbeer–I usually find that the carts are faster than Three Broomsticks:) You can also get one from a traveling wench. For those who don’t want to or can’t ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, team members will also do free castle tours.

  3. I am about to go there soon right after christmas and was wondering if you did both HP parks in one day or did you break it up into 2 different days (Hogsmeade & Diagon Alley)

    • I know we’re past your trip date, but I wanted to add that we went in October. We did a half day at Universal Studios. Then returned another day and did 1/2 day at Islands of Adventure and the other 1/2 at Universal Studios. Then we returned another day for 1/2 day at Islands of Adventure. If you aren’t doing a lot of the other park rides, you could get both parks during 1 visit, but remember, Universal Studios closes earlier than Islands of Adventure (like at 5;00 compared to 7:00) at least during the fall it’s that way.

  4. We just got back- yes, the wands are cool- $50 a wand is roughly the price . Buy one per family and set the kids up to share- yes, I love the magic of it but once you leave, that is harsh.

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