Our big draw to Universal Studios Orlando revolves around the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Some background, Jon and I grew up reading the series. It was particularly impactful since we were growing up in real time just as Harry was in the books (I was his same age in the books, growing one year older as each new book came out). I remember re-reading the whole series leading up to the newest book’s release each summer.
We started our day at Islands of Adventure, the add-on park to Universal Studios’ original park, sort of like how California Adventure was Disneyland’s add-on.
We beelined it to Hogsmeade.
It was MAGICAL!
Everything was decked out to the max. There was a line outside of Ollivander’s wand shop and the inside was full of boxes of wands stacked every which way. Crowds of people explored the wand options to pick just the right one.
Though some are replicas for collectors, these wands are much more than simply accessories. There are 25 magic medallions embedded throughout Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley where you can cast your own spells, and a few unmarked locations you need to hunt for yourself.
You’ll need an interactive wand ($45) and to wave your wand in a (very specific) pattern, but it’s pretty magical to see spells cast in real life. If you don’t wave your wand in the right pattern, the spell won’t work, just like in the books!
Our first ride was Flight of the Hippogriff, inspired by Buckbeak, the magical half eagle and half horse creature from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. It was dizzying and quick. It’s been a while since I’ve left a ride feeling off-kilter, but it was a quick stopover before we entered the Hogwarts castle for the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride.
You get to explore the castle as you wait in line, seeing all sorts of items and sights you’ve read about; the painting leading to Gryffindor tower (and she talks to you), Dumbledore’s office (gadgets and gizmos galore), the Potions Room in the basement (locked, and next to the Potions Store Room), and more! It’s really no problem waiting in line when there’s so much to look at.
Once it was time to get on a flying bench, you’ve learned that a dragon has gotten loose and you accompany Harry, Hermione, and Ron as you fly through the castle, through Hogsmeade and the Whomping Willow evading enormous spiders dementors and the dragon himself. The ride used a combination of 3D and animatronics while moving in every direction on a track. It made me a bit dizzy too, but this was easier to forgive because of all the beautiful details and story line of the ride.
Once we left Hogwarts, we went to Hogsmeade station to take the Hogwarts express to Diagon Alley.
The Hogwarts Express takes you to Platform 9 and 3/4 at Kings Cross station in London where you see a telephone booth, flat facades and even parking signs!
We ate at the Leaky Cauldron, a busy tavern with plenty of British food choices. Along with butterbeer! Butterbeer tastes like a butterscotch creme soda, and is non-alcoholic. The seating consists of two long cafeteria style tables surrounded by additional seating. Food and service were prompt and tasty.
Now for the BEST ride in either Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade: Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. Similar to the ride within Hogwarts, this one had a story line that took us through another 3D + animatronics ride on a track. Similar to the plot in the book, we were evading Bellatrix and Voldemort as we made our escape from the various dangers and curses that fill the maze of vaults below ground.
Before you begin your journey, you take a photo as identification to enter the bank vaults. Then you take an elevator down for miles (marked as “deep, deeper, extremely deep, extraordinarily deep, even deeper again,” and finally at mile 9, “bottom”). A fantastic story, impressive ride, and no dizziness = the BEST!
If you dare, you can wander into Knockturn Alley, the dark sidestreets where deatheaters like to hang out and you can find cursed objects and skeletons of magical creatures on display.
We made sure to stroll through and finish our visit to Diagon Alley with ice cream from Florean Fortescue! I tried the Strawberry and Peanut Butter flavor (I can’t resist peanut butter) and Jon got Salted Caramel Blondie. Fun flavors and certainly a sweet treat, a perfect note to end our visit to Diagon Alley.