21 Practical Tips for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Orlando

Below are my Practical Tips for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Orlando as well as a checklist for all the must-see and do things while in the park. Do you like to over-prepare like me? You will love my the download below.

Are you pondering the idea of visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but aren’t sure if you want to spend the money or take those vacation days? Well stop your pondering right this very moment. It is worth every single penny spent, every minute of time. It’s a once in a lifetime experience that you will not regret.

Now, I am going to give lots of insight to help you maximize your time in the park, but I am going to try and do this with minimal spoilers. I want to save you as much of the magic as possible. Enjoy the list of tips and tricks below and I hope you have a magical time in the world of Harry Potter!

1. Prepare Yourself.

No, really. Prepare yourself. That is my first piece of advise. If you have never been to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and you are a fan, be prepared to be blown away. All I can say is the park is accurate. It feels as though you are actually in the Wizarding World. Even the temperature in that part of the park was different. True story.

Also, feel free to geek out! I’ve never felt more at home than in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Everyone there is a fan, so it’s okay to let loose and show your inner super-fan.

2. Go on the Off-Season.

You can find information about the off-season dates for Universal Orlando HERE. My husband and I went to the park on December 10th and it was relatively busy, but not as bad as it would be later in the month or on Spring Break. To make the most of your trip I suggest choosing an off-season, non-weekend day.

3. Wear Comfortable Shoes and Clothes

If you are anything like me, you are thinking of the perfect wizard-wear that will be equal parts practical and authentic. You are probably seeing photos of people in full garb or dressed all cute. After physically going to the park, here is my advice.

Dress comfortably. The park is huge and you will be doing lots of walking. I walked a total of ten miles in one day at Universal, and I could have easily done much more. Don’t worry about being overly cute or wearing robes. That is, unless you want to.

Keep in mind, Florida is humid. My suggestion: don’t wear too many layers.

4. Stay at a Universal Studios Hotel

Staying at a Universal Hotel will get you all sorts of perks, but most importantly it allows you into Universal Studios a full hour before the rest of the crowd. There will be transit time to the park and once you get there it’s a good walk to the entrance. Also, the Wizarding World is at the back of the park. You can find a qualifying hotel list HERE.

In order to maximize your time inside the actual world of Harry Potter, get to the entrance of Universal Studios by 8:00am rather than 9:00am. We arrived a little late, and there was already a crowd.

5. Do Not Over-Pack.

My husband and I brought a backpack and it was a mistake. Sure, some of the things we brought did come in handy, but mostly the bag was a hindrance. If you need to bring a bag, because you have kiddos or want to save money on snacks by bringing food there are lockers available to rent.

Oh, and on that note you will need to put any bags in a locker prior to riding any of the rides. It’s a hassle most of the time, and the fees add up so I suggest NO bag at all.

6. Enjoy the Detail

Slow down, soak it in. The detail of this park is absolutely astounding. You will not want to miss out on any of it. Some of the highlights are on my checklist below! I’m sure there are a million more things I missed, but I hope my list gives you a head start.

7. Do the Rides in the Early Morning or Before Close

Full disclosure: I do not do well on roller coasters. I am very easily motion sick. Doesn’t matter the form of transportation, I will most likely want to throw up. However, I did not get sick on any of the rides in the Wizarding World. Yay! Still, I would not suggest eating a big meal before climbing on a ride.

Harry Potter World is notorious for having long lines, so in order to avoid the wait I suggest going on the rides first. OR try the lines right before closing. My husband and I were able to walk right onto the Forbidden Journey before closing. No wait at all!

8. Soda is Not a Wizard Drink

You will not find any muggle food or drink in Diagon Ally, Hogsmeade or Hogwarts. My husband was slightly thrown by the lack of soda available, so if you are a Coca-Cola addict, keep in mind you will need to step out into the muggle world for that sort of drink.

You can buy an unlimited refill cup in Universal as well that is definitely worth the money. Also an excellent souvenir!

9. Butterbeer is DELICIOUS.

Try butterbeer. I fell in love with the drink, and wish I could have it every day. Now, I didn’t have time to try the frozen butterbeer or the hot version, but I heard both are amazing. I tried the plain cold version and it was incredible.

Oh, and while we are talking about drinks… Pumpkin Juice is good, but very sweet. For me, it was a shareable drink. I could not have drank it by myself.

10. Attend the Wand Ceremony

The Wand Ceremony takes place often throughout the day. My suggestion is to get there first thing so that your group is smaller. The smaller the group, the more likely you are to be chosen to receive a wand selected just for you! It’s a really cool experience and worth the time.

Oh, but full disclosure if you are claustrophobic, be prepared to be in a small room with several other people.

11. Use Your Wand Around the Park

You can use your wand to cast spells and create real magic all around the park! Keep a sharp eye out for those opportunities. The wand is worth quite a coin, but for a true Potterhead it’s worth the galleons spent.

12. Trade for Wizarding Money at Gringots

Speaking of galleons, be sure to swing by Gringots to trade your muggle money for Wizarding money. Seriously, the authenticity of Diagon Ally is unparalleled. You may even get to see a Goblin working at the bank.

13. You CAN do the park in one day.

Although, if you want to make the most of it without completely wearing yourself out OR you would like to see other parts of Universal, I suggest two days. The Wizarding World is split between two parks: Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Diagon Ally is on the Universal Studios side while Hogsmeade and Hogwarts are on the Islands of Adventure side. They are connected by the Hogwarts Express.

14. Ride the Hogwarts Express Both Ways

Yup, you heard me right. The parks are connected by Hogwarts Express, and you get to ride an actual train. Be sure to ride it in both directions as each is a different experience. Even the walk through Kings Cross Station is authentic. You can ride the train as many times as you want for free. Bonus!

15. Purchase a Dining Plan

A dining plan includes 1 meal, 1 drink and 1 snack. I was skeptical about the plan saving us money, but it came in handy and did save us a few bucks. You can use these cards throughout the park and not just in the Wizarding World.

16. Send Post by Owl in Hogsmeade

Go by the Owl Post and write a postcard to your best friend. You can send mail from Hogsmeade, which is a special treat for friends and family at home! The Wizard or Witch at the Owl Post will also stamp your postcards with the official Hogsmeade stamp if you would like to take them home with you.

17. Watch the Four Essential Shows

My greatest regret was improper planning in regards to the shows available in the Wizarding World. So much to do and so little time…

The four shows that are certainly a must see include: Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees, The Tales of Beedle the Bard, the Hogwarts Frog Choir, and the Triwizard Spirit Rally. We made it to the very last of the list, but unfortunately missed the rest.

18. Enjoy All the Eats and Treats

Indulge a little! There are so many delicious Wizarding World treats I wasn’t able to try them all, but my favorites are on the list below. Scotch egg? A must have. Pumpkin Pastie? Yum. Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream? YES.

Sure, you could bring your own snacks to save a little money, but you are in the Wizarding World. Why not make the most of it?

19. Shop and Ship to Your Hotel

Thinking of stocking up on Christmas gifts in the Wizarding World, but don’t want to carry around a bag of goodies? Staying at a Universal Hotel comes with another perk, shop and then have your items shipped to your hotel. Amazing, right? The convenience of it all.

20. Go During the Christmas Season

There is an extra joyful air about the parks at Christmas time, as well as various special holiday productions, foods, decorations and surprises. If you are able to go to the Wizarding World before Christmas, I highly recommend that you do. Like I mentioned before, we went at the beginning of December and it was extra magical.

21. Don’t Forget the Light Show

At the end of the day there is an outstanding light show outside Hogwarts. We were there during the Christmas season, so it was holiday themed. Be sure to snag a front row spot to witness the magic.

That concludes my 21 Practical Tips for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Orlando. I hope they will help you on your next trip to Universal. If you are organized like me, don’t forget to download the materials below.

For extra Wizarding World prep, check out these other popular posts:

25 Helpful Tips for Your Trip to Universal Orlando
15 Must-Have Foods at Universal Orlando
40 Day Harry Potter-Themed Devotion Series
Top 10 Travel Essentials for Long Flights

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Love Always,