DAY TRIP: HARRY POTTER WORLD IN ORLANDO, FL
If you are a big Harry Potter fan, perhaps you should consider going to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter! The Wizarding World of Harry Potter consists of two lands: Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. Diagon Alley is in Universal Studios, while Hogsmeade is located in Universal’s Islands of Adventure. This means if you want to visit both parts of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you will need to invest in tickets to both parks.
I would suggest purchasing the Universal Express pass for each person in your party, which allows you to skip the regular lines one time per participating ride at both Universal Studios and Universal’s Islands of Adventure. (You can even purchase the Universal Express Unlimited pass for each person, which grants you the opportunity to skip the regular lines an unlimited number of times at participating rides, but that is only if you plan on going on the same rides over and over again!)
The only ride in The Wizarding World that does not participate in the express passes is Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, which is a really fabulous rollercoaster. Therefore, I would suggest starting your day off bright and early as soon as the park opens and heading straight for this ride! To enjoy this attraction, you must place your personal items in a locker for the duration of the queue and ride. The “standard” locker size is free for the length of your ride, but the larger ones are $2. All ride lockers will begin to charge an additional $3 per extra 30 minutes, up to $20 maximum. Keep this in mind and don’t forget to pick up your items after the ride! (If you have a lot of items that you don’t need to access throughout the day and find these ride lockers annoying, I would suggest looking into daily rate lockers.)
Hogwarts!
As Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is in Hogsmeade, enjoy other rides like the Flight of the Hippogriff (cute family friendly ride) and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (a motion simulation 3D experience, which requires the use of ride lockers). Then head to the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer and lunch, or if you would like a liquid lunch, go to the Hog’s Head.
Hogsmeade on Christmas Eve
There is plenty of shopping to do here as you walk off your food, such as Dervish and Banges, Honeydukes, and Ollivanders. (While Harry Potter lovers know that Ollivanders is in Diagon Alley, Universal actually has placed Ollivanders in both their Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley locations.) Before you leave Hogsmeade, enjoy the Frog Choir or the Triwizard Spirit Rally, and if you have the opportunity to take in Hogsmeade at night, The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle is a sight!
The Hogwarts Express (which you can only go on if you have tickets to both parks!)
From Hogsmeade, take the Hogwarts Express to Diagon Alley. When you step onto the train, you will see a very authentic depiction of the train from the movies, and it is truly a delight as you make your way to the other park. By this time in the day, Diagon Alley is sure to be a little crowded, but with your express passes, you will be able to hop onto Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts with ease! As this is the only real ride in Diagon Alley, spend the rest of your time shopping for Quidditch supplies, a wand, or some curious items at Borgin and Burkes. There are also plenty of dining opportunities in Diagon Alley, such as the Leaky Cauldron and The Hopping Pot!
Gringotts Bank in Diagon Alley
Keep in mind that your park tickets also grant you access to the entirety of the parks beyond The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, so if you have the time, take advantage of more rides, food, and entertainment while you are there!
