Information to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Common Orlando

A go to to Common Orlando to expertise The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is on most Potterheads’ journey want lists.

Right here, followers don wizarding robes (even within the Florida warmth), wave interactive wands to work magic spells and fake that they’re following within the footsteps of Hermione, Ron and Harry. They’ll additionally take pleasure in some epic themed rides, fill their tummies with butterbeer and pub favorites, and wander the streets of Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, immersing themselves inside the magical world of “Harry Potter.”

Common divides its Harry Potter points of interest throughout two parks. You will discover the land of Harry’s magical London in Diagon Alley at Common Studios Florida, whereas Hogsmeade — the place you will discover the well-known Hogwarts Citadel, Hagrid’s hut and the Three Broomsticks pub — is about inside Common Islands of Journey. The Hogwarts Specific practice journey will carry you between the 2 parks, however provided that you have bought a Park-to-Park ticket for the day.

If this appears like your cup of frozen (or sizzling) butterbeer, know that even the very best spells cannot zap away the lengthy strains for Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorcycle Journey or show you how to select between a one- or two-park ticket. Nevertheless, TPG’s theme park specialists might help you out with some magical suggestions for the proper go to.

Here is what it’s essential to find out about every of the Harry Potter-themed lands, your ticket choices and our greatest recommendation to make the journey to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Common Orlando successful.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley

Learn how to get to Diagon Alley

Diagon Alley is positioned at Common Studios Florida, so you will want a ticket to this park to go to. To get there, stroll straight by Manufacturing Central and switch proper while you attain the New York part of the park (in entrance of the Revenge of the Mummy attraction). Proceed on till you see a reproduction of King’s Cross Station in your left.

Watch out to not overshoot and stroll previous the considerably hidden entrance to Diagon Alley. There isn’t a signal, however while you see a gap in a brick wall, you have discovered it.

Diagon Alley rides: Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts

As soon as you have entered Diagon Alley, stroll straight to Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts indoor metal curler coaster journey. You’ll be able to’t miss it; it is the constructing with the fire-breathing dragon perched on the roof. It is also the one journey discovered inside Diagon Alley.

Tip: While you hear a low growl, that is your sign that the Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon is about to spew some hearth. The dragon doesn’t carry out on a schedule, however spend an affordable period of time in Diagon Alley and you will note its fireworks.

There are free and paid lockers to the appropriate of the road so you may stash your belongings earlier than the journey.

Kids have to be 42 inches to journey; be certain your social gathering meets that requirement so you do not get to the top of the road solely to be turned away. There may be additionally a “baby swap” room the place mother and father can take turns alternating using or ready with kiddos not tall sufficient (or prepared) to journey. Let the group member on the journey entrance know that you just plan to make use of baby swap and they’ll instruct you on the protocol.

There may be additionally a take a look at seat in entrance of the constructing the place you may verify whether or not or not the seating configuration will work to your physique fashion.

Wait instances can get lengthy for this journey, however it does have an Specific Go line all through a lot of the day. There’s additionally so much to have a look at whereas in line since you will snake by the Gringotts Financial institution foyer and see a mess of goblins at work. The 4 chandeliers that hold contained in the financial institution’s foyer are made up of 62,000 particular person crystals.

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What’s neat about Escape from Gringotts is the motion-based 3D projections that make you are feeling as in case you’re interacting with characters like Invoice Weasley and the goblin Blordak.

Diagon Alley reveals and points of interest: Ollivanders and Knockturn Alley

After exiting the Gringotts journey, you are simply throughout from Ollivanders Wand Store, the place you may get in line to see the present that depicts how a wand chooses its wizard. Word that there’s an an identical Ollivanders wand expertise at Hogsmeade, so be happy to skip the expertise right here in case you’d want to see the present there later in your go to.

Through the present, one visitor is picked from the viewers, and the wizard in residence facilitates the wand selecting. The visitor then has the choice of buying the wand (or one other of their selecting) on the wand store subsequent door.

For those who weren’t fortunate sufficient to be chosen for the present, you may pick and buy your individual wand. Interactive wands presently price a minimal of $65. You can also order an interactive wand prematurely of your journey or decide one up within the lodge present store at most on-site motels.

You’ll improve your Wizarding World expertise in case you spring for an interactive wand that helps you make “magic” at many areas in each Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. Search for brass medallions set into the pavement that mark the spots the place you may forged spells and make magic. A map that plots every spot the place you may forged spells is included together with your wand buy (together with a number of unmarked “secret wand spots”).

Wands are reusable and Ollivanders workers will fortunately “re-magic” your dying wand without cost if it will get scratched or damaged. Meaning you may deliver again a wand from a earlier Common Studios go to or borrow one from a good friend to save cash.

Normal, non-interactive wands are additionally obtainable in case you are trying to save a bit money or your children are too younger to know the distinction.

Different reveals in Diagon Alley happen on an out of doors stage within the Carkitt Market space. Exhibits embrace “The Tales of Beedle the Bard” — full with puppets — and Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees (track and dance). Discover a close by bench or simply sit or stand on the bottom by the stage.

From the stage, stroll towards the Gringotts journey and you will stumble upon the Gringotts Cash Trade. Go inside (it is a retailer) and you may chat with the Gringotts goblin standing behind a teller’s desk. It is a neat expertise — particularly for curious children. It’s also possible to alternate muggle cash for Gringotts financial institution notes that can be utilized to make purchases inside Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, and at choose areas elsewhere at Common.

One other easy-to-miss attraction in Diagon Alley is Knockturn Alley. It is darkish, feels seedy and is so nicely hidden that you just would possibly miss it. There are two entrances — one subsequent to the Leaky Cauldron and one subsequent to the Fountain of Honest Fortune.

The enclosed area is darkish and a cool break from the warmth. It additionally has a number of enjoyable spots the place you should utilize your interactive wand to forged spells; do not miss them. The store right here, Borgin and Burkes, oozes darkish magic and is the place you should purchase souvenirs paying homage to Loss of life Eaters and the darkish arts.

Diagon Alley eating places: The Leaky Cauldron

Considered one of Harry’s first stops in magical London is The Leaky Cauldron, and it may be one among yours, too. The Diagon Alley pub is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, in addition to a refreshing butterbeer (common, frozen or sizzling). Strains to get in will be lengthy, however you may place orders on the Common app to hurry up service.

Breakfast is expensive, however the place else are you able to dine amongst witches and wizards? Breakfast plates for adults all ring in at $18.99 and embrace a small beverage (sure, you may have butterbeer for breakfast). The children breakfast plate is $13.49. You’ll be able to select choices like an English-style “Conventional Breakfast” with scrambled eggs, sausage, black pudding, English bacon and baked beans or go for the extra American pancakes.

The lunch and dinner menu is filled with pub favorites, akin to fish ‘n’ chips ($17.99), bangers and mash ($16.99) or a beef, lamb and Guinness stew ($17.99). Youngsters entrees embrace issues like mac ‘n’ cheese and fish ‘n’ chips for $8.29. Desserts — akin to sticky toffee pudding and butterbeer potted cream — should not be missed.

Different Diagon Alley spots to get a refreshment embrace Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour, the place you may attempt butterbeer-flavored soft-serve or sticky toffee pudding ice cream. It’s also possible to seize a drink at The Fountain of Honest Fortune or The Hopping Pot.

Purchasing in Diagon Alley

Purchasing choices are plentiful in Diagon Alley. Together with the proper memento, be alert for a number of “magic moments.” Amongst them is a snake talking Parseltongue within the window of the Magical Menagerie and a speaking mirror in Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Events. Be forewarned, she is not all the time complimentary of your wardrobe decisions.

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One phrase of warning: Harry Potter souvenirs are fairly costly. You would possibly wish to set a finances together with your children earlier than exploring the retailers or clarify to them why you will not be buying sure objects.

Outlets in Diagon Alley embrace Borgin and Burkes for extra sinister souvenirs, Ollivanders for wands, High quality Quidditch Provides to help your favourite groups and Sugarplum’s Sweetshop for impulse buys of Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott’s Each-Flavour Beans.

Harry Potter points of interest exterior Diagon Alley

As soon as you have seen every thing on Diagon Alley, go away this a part of The Wizarding World by the opening within the brick wall. Immediately throughout you will see the Knight Bus. Right here you may meet the conductor and the shrunken head that hangs on the entrance of the bus. Youngsters and adults love interacting with these two. Sit by the fountain to hear in and be prepared for fun.

Then, look throughout the way in which, and you will see a reproduction of a London avenue. Upon nearer inspection, you will see 12 Grimmauld Place, the house of Sirius Black (Harry Potter’s godfather). He gifted the property to the Order of the Phoenix, which used it as a headquarters. Lookup towards the second flooring and also you would possibly catch a glimpse of Kreacher, the Black household house-elf, peering at you from the window.

While you’ve totally explored Diagon Alley and the streets of Harry Potter’s London, it is time to make your solution to King’s Cross Station, the place you will board the Hogwarts Specific and journey the practice to Hogsmeade. You’ll be able to solely journey the Hogwarts Specific in case you have a Park-to-Park ticket. For those who’ve received one-day, one-park tickets, there isn’t any solution to expertise this attraction, however there’s a ticket desk within the practice station the place you can also make a last-minute improve in case you so select.

The Hogwarts Specific is each an immersive expertise and precise transportation. Do not miss the neat mirror trick within the queue that makes it appear to be of us are strolling by a brick wall to entry Platform 9 3/4. While you’re able to board, eight passengers can slot in every practice compartment. Greet your fellow Hogwarts schoolmates after which flip your consideration to the home windows, the place you will watch because the practice leaves London on the way in which to Hogwarts Faculty of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Be ready to see some Dementors on the four-minute journey to Hogsmeade. The present is barely completely different on the return journey, so followers will wish to journey it each methods.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Hogsmeade

Learn how to get to Hogsmeade

You will discover Hogsmeade contained in the Islands of Journey theme park. Right here, you may go to each the city of Hogsmeade and Hogwarts Faculty of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This space has three rides, plus the Hogwarts Specific.

To get there, take a proper after passing by the Port of Entry and head towards Seuss Touchdown. Proceed by Seuss Touchdown to The Misplaced Continent and on to Hogsmeade.

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorcycle Journey

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorcycle Journey is a well-liked thrill coaster, and the attraction doesn’t settle for the Common Specific skip-the-line cross. Wait instances will be longer than an hour and generally as much as two hours or extra.

In case you have your coronary heart set on using this thrill coaster, get in line as quickly as you arrive in Hogsmeade; you need to see group members directing you towards the beginning of the road earlier than you even attain Hogsmeade from The Misplaced Continent. In case you have early park entry, you will wish to make this journey your first cease as quickly because the park opens. Have somebody maintain your spot in line whilst you put belongings within the lockers subsequent to Hogsmeade Station and the journey entrance.

That is by far the quickest journey in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It reaches speeds as much as 50 mph and consists of each spikes into the air and quick drops. It’s essential be at the least 48 inches tall to expertise it. You will both journey Hagrid’s motorbike or get within the sidecar. Both spot will make your coronary heart pound, however I feel the journey within the sidecar is a bit simpler for anybody that is perhaps nervous.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is the journey that takes you inside Hogwarts Citadel. The queue itself is full of fascinating scenes from the books; think about skipping the Specific Go line to have time to take all of it in. In case you have children who wish to see the sights however not journey the journey, you may undergo the road after which bail out earlier than boarding the journey.

On this journey, you “journey a broomstick” in and round Hogwarts Citadel. The attraction is a “robocoaster,” the place a robotic arm holds your seat above a monitor and also you pivot in a mess of instructions. It makes you are feeling as in case you’re flying by the air and, in case you are vulnerable to movement illness, would possibly make you are feeling queasy.

As well as, in case your waist is bigger than 40 inches, you may not have the ability to journey. For those who’re unsure, take a look at out the pair of seats in entrance of Hogwarts Citadel on the entrance for this journey or one other pair about midway by the queue.

The journey is darkish at instances, with encounters with risks like Aragog the spider within the Forbidden Forest, the Whomping Willow and a gang of Dementors. However you will additionally screech across the Quidditch discipline. You have to be 48 inches or taller to journey Forbidden Journey. There are lockers to the left of the fort entrance to retailer your belongings.

Hogwarts Citadel can be the important thing picture op on this land. You will discover the very best views from the bridge leaving Hogsmeade for Jurassic Park. That is the place you may seize that quintessential picture of the fort

On choose nights all year long, Common reveals “The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Citadel.” Mild projections are beamed onto the fort partitions, celebrating the 4 Hogwarts homes. It is a terrific finale to your day on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Flight of the Hippogriff

Flight of the Hippogriff, dubbed a “family-friendly coaster,” is throughout from Hogwarts Citadel. Kids need to be simply 36 inches tall or taller to journey.

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This journey is tremendous fast, and the twists, turns and drops would possibly remind you of a barely tamer Large Thunder Mountain Railroad from Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. The monitor is elevated so that you get a pleasant view of Hogsmeade. The queue is neat, too, as you stroll by Hagrid’s Hut and on to an open space the place you will acknowledge the Care of Magical Creatures class web site.

For those who’re a thrill-seeker, you may simply give this journey a miss, however in case you are visiting with younger children they are going to adore it.

Hogwarts Specific — Hogsmeade Station

While you’re prepared to depart this a part of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, stroll by the arch towards Hogsmeade Station and get in line for the Hogwarts Specific.

The practice will take you again to “London” at Common Studios. The expertise is a bit completely different in every course, so make sure to hop on — even in case you rode the practice from London to Hogsmeade earlier within the day.

Exhibits and points of interest at Hogsmeade

For those who did not see the “wand picks a wizard” present on the Ollivanders location at Diagon Alley in Common Studios, you may get in line to see it right here. After the present, store for a wand in case you do not have already got one. Hogsmeade additionally has magical spots the place you may forged spells together with your interactive wand. (This can be a nice exercise in case you have early park entry however do not wish to journey Hagrid’s Motorcycle Journey; strains can get lengthy on the spell-working spots.)

For extra reveals, head to the outside stage set between Hogsmeade Village and Hogwarts Citadel. Right here you may attend showings of the Frog Choir (songs by human and amphibian singers) and the Triwizard Spirit Rally (cheer in your favourite magical faculty). The stage is small however you may get a close-up spot in case you arrive a couple of minutes earlier than showtime.

Hogsmeade eating places

For those who’re hungry at Hogsmeade, you may sit all the way down to a meal on the Three Broomsticks or seize a drink on the Hog’s Head bar subsequent door (serving butterbeer, beer and spirits).

At Three Broomsticks, many households go for The Nice Feast, which features a mixture of rotisserie smoked hen, spareribs, corn on the cob and roast potatoes and greens. (A platter for 4 is $74.99; further servings are $19.99.)

It’s also possible to purchase British favorites like fish ‘n’ chips, beef pasties and shepherd’s pie, plus soups and salads. Youngsters ages 9 and youthful decide from fish ‘n’ chips, hen fingers, hen legs and mac ‘n’ cheese — every entree is $8.29 and served with grapes and applesauce.

Desserts embrace Butterbeer ice cream, apple pie and chocolate trifle ($5.49 to $6.99).

Nonalcoholic butterbeer (common, sizzling or frozen) is $8.99. Draught beers on faucet are Hog’s Head Brew, Daisyroot Ale, Darkish Forest Ale and Dragon Scale ($13).

Three Broomsticks additionally serves breakfast day by day till 10:30 a.m. with choices much like The Leaky Cauldron’s.

For those who simply need a Butterbeer to go, search for the purple kiosks with large wood casks arrange in the midst of the road. You’ll be able to order common and frozen Butterbeer to go.

Hogsmeade retailers

You will discover loads of locations to buy inside Hogsmeade, together with this space’s outpost of Ollivander’s. Many souvenirs repeat amongst shops, however every presents one thing distinctive.

Honeydukes is a candy store full of confections like Exploding Bonbons, Cauldron Muffins, Fizzing Whizzbees, Bertie Bott’s Each Flavour Beans and Chocolate Frogs.

You’ll be able to mail postcards or letters from the Owl Publish, full with an official Hogsmeade postmark. It’s also possible to buy all types of writing implements (assume quills and seals) in addition to owl-themed souvenirs.

For those who did not journey Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, you’ll have missed Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Items because the journey empties into this store. This can be a terrific store in case you’re in search of home crest banners, T-shirts, hats or scarves.

Get your Hogwarts uniforms and robes, Sneakoscopes, Quaffles and Golden Snitches at Dervish and Banges.

Shopping for the appropriate ticket for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Hogsmeade is a part of Common Orlando’s Islands of Journey whereas The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley will be discovered at Common Studios. Splitting this land into two sections was an excellent transfer on Common’s half because it means it’s essential to buy the upgraded Park-to-Park admission ticket in case you want to see each components of Harry’s world on the identical day.

You should utilize single-day one-park tickets to go to every land individually, however there isn’t any means to make use of these tickets to board the Hogwarts Specific. A one-park ticket is your least expensive choice, however you’ll miss out on a key Harry Potter attraction. For the total Wizarding World expertise, you actually wish to select the Park-to-Park ticket.

When shopping for Common tickets, have a look at all of the mixtures and costs to find out which is the very best deal for your loved ones. We discover all of the choices in our full information to Common Orlando. You must also search for limited-time Common Orlando offers that might prevent cash.

The precise bank card and transferable factors might help prevent cash or earn you factors towards future free journey together with your Common Orlando reserving.

If you would like to buy Common tickets with factors, you could have the choice to take action by the Chase Journey℠ portal, with Bilt Rewards Factors or by Citi Journey.

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For those who’re paying money, you will wish to use a bank card that provides you further factors or miles to your theme park purchases. Nevertheless, knowledge factors from many vacationers inform us that tickets purchased at an on-site Common lodge and charged to the lodge room have coded as “journey,” however tickets and VIP excursions bought instantly from Common have coded as “leisure.”

If your cost will code as journey, you will do nicely to make use of any of the very best bank cards for common journey purchases, however in case you assume your buy will code as leisure, you will wish to use top-of-the-line playing cards for leisure spending.

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And, in fact, you should utilize factors and miles to cowl your airfare or lodge keep in case you’re coming from out of state to go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Learn how to see extra of The Wizarding World in much less time

I will not mislead you. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will get very crowded.

Even at slower instances of 12 months, the points of interest in Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley might be jammed. If you wish to see as a lot of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter as attainable within the shortest period of time, it’s essential to be strategic.

First, you should utilize Common’s Specific Go. This can be a skip-the-line cross that works on most points of interest at Common’s two theme parks, aside from Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorcycle Journey.

There are 3 ways to get an Specific Go. The best means is to e-book one among Common’s on-site Premier motels akin to Loews Portofino Bay Lodge, Arduous Rock Lodge or Loews Royal Pacific Resort. Your room charge comes with a free Specific Go Limitless to make use of all through your go to.

In case you have a Premier-level Common annual cross, you are entitled to Specific Go entry starting at 4 p.m.

In any other case, you should purchase Specific Passes. The Common Specific This cross enables you to skip the common line one time per collaborating journey at each Common Studios and Islands of Journey theme parks. The Common Specific Limitless cross enables you to skip the common strains at collaborating rides as many instances as you need.

One of the best technique to make sure you do as a lot as attainable inside the World of Harry Potter is to hurry straight for Hagrid’s when the park first opens after which use your Specific Go for all the opposite points of interest.

In case you are staying at any of the on-site Common motels, you may get into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter one hour sooner than common admission.

Which park opens early varies by day and generally each parks open early. Test the Common Orlando web site for essentially the most up-to-date data.

Regardless of which park is opening early, plan to reach on the entrance gates at the least 45–60 minutes earlier than the Early Park Admission opening time. It is the one solution to beat the crowds and take advantage of your further time.

Solely sure points of interest open throughout Early Park Admission, however this sometimes consists of the entire Wizarding World points of interest. Those you’ll almost definitely wish to knock out are Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorcycle Journey at Islands of Journey and Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts at Common Studios Florida.

For those who’re spending a number of days within the park, or have of us in your journey social gathering who don’t love thrill rides, you may as well use these early, much less crowded hours to make use of your interactive wand on the designated spots with out having to attend behind different budding wizards.

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A pricier solution to skip the strains is to e-book a VIP tour. You’ll be able to e-book a small-group or personal VIP expertise at Common, which is able to bundle collectively walk-on journey entry throughout the tour, Specific Passes and complimentary meals at designated Common eating places. These excursions will get you on rides like Hagrids that in any other case haven’t got short-cut entry.

Backside line

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Common Orlando is an unimaginable place to go to for muggles and wizards alike.

The rides and points of interest are improbable. It is enjoyable to look at the day by day performances that every one relate to a facet of Harry’s magical world, and you have to increase a pint of butterbeer (or one of many beers specifically brewed for The Wizarding World) in one of many themed institutions throughout the land, such because the Leaky Cauldron or Three Broomsticks.

To get essentially the most out of your go to, splurge on Park-to-Park tickets and pair that with an Specific Go. Solely then will you have the ability to get in early and (with a bit magic) skip the worst of the strains. The added expense is value it for a day or two of immersion into Harry Potter’s magical world.

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