The ultimate guide to Wizarding World of Harry Potter

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter; this is the Mecca of all things Potter and has had Muggles of all ages traveling near and far to see what it has in store. No one who visits this area of Universal Studios’ Islands of Adventure is ever disappointed. Starting with their ride The Forbidden Journey and ending with shopping at Hogsmeade this area has something for Muggles and Wizards alike.

With all the excitement of the Attractions and shops it can be hard to decide what to do first and how to do it the most efficiently. Since we all can’t own Hermoine’s Time Turner we have to do things the old fashioned way and plan our days accordingly. Here are a few tips to help you enjoy your time at Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Compliments of an employee of the Wizarding World):

If you are staying at a hotel on property you can get into the Wizarding World an hour before the big crowds. This is a great opportunity to ride the Forbidden Journey and look through some shops before there are too many people. 

If you really want the perfect picture of the castle wait until you are in line for the Dragon Challenge! You will get a nice view of the castle so stop and snap a photo!

You don’t have to go to Ollivanders to buy a wand there are many locations for you to purchase wands but the show at Ollivanders is always interesting to see. 

Dumbledore is the rarest Chocolate Frog card. 

Keep an eye out for the Train Conductor as well as students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang and get your photo with them! (hint: The Beauxbaton and Durmstrang students perform shows on the hour and half hour near Ollivanders)

If you didn’t get a chance to take a picture of some of the awesome things you will encounter in the lines of your new favorite rides ask an employee at the ride entrance for a “walking tour”. If the crowds are low they should be able to accommodate you. (note: this is not a way of getting back on the ride to enjoy the attraction this will be for taking photos only)

Buy a post card at the Owl Post and get it stamped with a Hogsmeade stamp! They will also stamp an autograph book or journal etc if you ask them to! 

Have you bought way too many items during your visit to Hogsmeade but don’t wanna carry them all around for the rest of the day?! If you left your House Elf at home you can ask for package pickup and be able to pick up your items at the front of the park free of charge!

For all you Potterheads out there I know you are probably just all too excited to hear about all the cool secrets that can be found during your “castle tour” while in line for The Forbidden Journey. Here is a list of all the amazing things you have waiting for you to discover:

   

Listen Carefully near the Potions door. You might just hear a professor talking to Neville Longbottom. (note: if the line is full you may not be able to hear this feature due to the noise levels of the crowds!)

Keep an eye out for the Mirror of Erised as well as the statue that guards the entrance of Dumbledores office!

Mirror of Erised

Entrance to Dumbledores office

Have an idea of which house might be in the lead for winning the house cup?! You might get a glimpse of the progress of the houses!

The four founders of Hogwarts can be seen chatting away to one another in a portrait room.

Do you remember when Umbridge came and ruined everything?! Well the book that she assigned for Defense Against the Dark Arts can be seen in the Gryffindor common room.

After riding The Forbidden Journey you will exit into Filch’s be sure to stick around and look for some key items (such as Skele-gro, and certain students’ disciplinary files).  

While wondering around Filch’s ask an employee to see Lucious’ walking stick/wand. They can get one for you to see (even buy if you are interested) but they are not displayed in the store. 

The Flight of the Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge offer a revamped version of two rides that were already at the park when they started building the Wizarding World. They are no exception to this world that is full of details that make Harry Potter fans swoon. Here are a few to keep an eye out for while you are walking through the lines:  

Dragon Challenge Entrance

Head over to the Flight of the Hippogriff and check out Hagrid’s hut. You may find some stuff laying outside that may have been holding something snappy (ahem, Norwegian Ridgeback).

When you make it to the Loading dock of the Flight of the Hippogriff make sure to look up in the rafters and see what awesome things Hagrid has been storing up there. Also, watch to see Buckbeak bow to the riders in line before riding!

  

While you are walking through the plethora of signs cheering on the champions for the TriWizard tournament be sure to look for a familiar Ford Anglia.

Head down the tunnels to the Dragon Challenge roller coaster and take your time allowing your eyes to adjust to the sudden darkness! There may be some hidden things for you to see if you walk slowly enough and take the time to notice them! (hint: look closely for some tapestries that illustrate the first task)  

In the shops of Hogsmeade there are many things for you to buy! There are also many things that are easy to overlook if you don’t know when and where to look for them! This list will help Potter fans spot their favorite things from the books and movies: 

In Zonko’s joke shop look up on the highest shelves and see what items they have! (hint: you might see some portable swamp or a nose biting tea cup!)

 

While in Zonko’s if you choose to Adopt a Pygmy Puff be sure to have a name picked out for it your cashier just might announce the adoption to the whole store.

If you continue from Zonko’s to Honeydukes candy shop be sure to check for extendable ears! They just might be listening in on your conversations. If you get there early enough and the shop is quiet be sure to keep an ear out for a conversation you might overhear coming from them as well! 

Want to begin collecting some Chocolate frog cards?! You can begin a collection just Like Ron’s by buying a chocolate frog in Honeydukes! Just be careful not to buy it too early on a hot day or it will be a chocolate puddle by the time you eat it!

I definitely recommend going into the Three Broomsticks for lunch/dinner. Along with a pretty delicious menu of Harry Potter themed foods this place has much to see! Make sure to check up in the rafters while you are enjoying your stay. You might just see some owls flying by to deliver mail or the occasional maid cleaning a floor above. 

Head into the Hogshead (my personal favorite place to get a beer or butterbeer) if it is quiet enough you may even hear a maid complaining loudly about how much she loves her job! The restrooms near here are also an awesome spot to listen out for everyones favorite mopey ghost named Myrtle. (hint: she doesn’t only haunt the girls bathroom here so never fear you will hear her in the men’s room as well.)

Be sure to bring your ear-muffs to Hogsmeade you may just come across a store window with a mandrake wailing in it! Otherwise you can view a calmer and subdued version of these creatures while in line for the Forbidden Journey. Just pay attention when you enter into one of the Herbology Greenhouses.

Do you Remember Professor  Lockhart? (he doesn’t) Well keep an eye out for his book collection and portrait in the windows of a book shop in Hogsmeade. 

If you go near the Owlery be wary of a Howler that someone sent to snitch on you for not having a certain “permission slip” for visiting Hogsmeade!   

If you go into Dervish and Banges be sure to look up and check out some interesting finds! (maybe you’ll see some stewed mandrake!)

Make sure you enjoy yourself and let me know if you were able to see any of these hidden and not so hidden secrets. This is quite possibly my favorite place to visit in Orlando and would love to know if any of these tips helped during your visit! Let me know in the comments!