Step into real life magic with me! For years I’ve been visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Florida so I have cultivated the BEST Harry Potter Universal Studios tips!

It is one of my favourite magical places in the world. And it’s just so much fun to keep returning back to.

By now, after several visits over the years, we’ve gotten the lay of the land.

And I wanted to share my favourite Harry Potter Universal Studios tips and things to do ahead of the brand new opening of Epic Universe.

I cannot WAIT to see what they come up with!

The Wizarding World is one of my favourite fictional worlds to keep returning to. If only we could create a real life Velaris from ACTOAR (well, I have kind of visited it in real life already)!

And no matter how many times I’ve visited the parks, it still makes me all giddy inside! It simply feels like home. From Hogwarts to Diagon Alley and over to Hogsmeade… these are the fictional places I consider my home.

Tips before visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios

Make sure to purchase a park-to-park Universal Ticket

There are two sections of the Wizarding World in both the Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Orlando Florida.

One has Hogsmeade and the other, Diagon Alley.

You want to make sure to have a ticket to BOTH parks!

Stay in the park hotels

Another great tip if you can swing it is to stay in one of the Orlando resort hotels because it can grant you early access to the parks depending on the hotel you book.

Some of the hotels also offer fast-passes with your stay which is super helpful for cutting down on ride times. It’s like your own little extra bonus to the parks.

We always stay in the Aventura hotel. It’s the perfect option if you’re looking for a more “adult-friendly” spot to stay. They have a pool, a marketplace style dining downstairs and a rooftop bar and restaurant.

We love going up to the bar for drinks and snacks – and Joe is obsessed with rooftops!

The ultimate magical guide and tips for your Harry Potter Wizarding World Universal Studios park experience:

What to do at Harry Potter Universal Studios Orlando

Head to the park before 8am

This is the most boring but the best tip I can give you!

It’s absolutely worth staying at one of the hotels in order to enter the park early – especially if you want to have access to the rides and take some photos before the park fills up.

We usually try to arrive around 730am to the Universal Studio Walk area to head to the gates of the park that is opening early. There can be a lot of people there waiting to go in!

Depending on the day, one of the parks will open at 8am and the other at 9am (these can fluctuate on the weekends too).

Queue up in the lines and have your ticket ready to go! This is very important!

Most people are running for the rides… but I am usually more interested in getting clear photos in Hogsmeade!

Be your happiest self in Hogsmeade

When I turned around the corner and spotted Hogsmeade TOTALLY CLEAR… I started to tear up!

It really does feel so magical visiting the Wizarding World at Universal Studios!

I am in LOVE with Hogsmeade and being the first person here is so incredibly magical!

Queue up for Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure

This is without a doubt the coolest ride at Universal Studios Florida! You can understand why people rush to go on this ride first when they get to the park.

And the queue absolutely reflects it.

My tip if you are wanting to ride this? Ignore my photos advice and beeline to get in line for this as the very first thing that you do!

The wait time is almost always over 90 minutes everyday. So if you are a ride fan – hurry here first thing in the morning to have your chance!

Head to Hogwarts Castle at Harry Potter Universal Studios

Walk up through Hogsmeade to the pièce de résistance: Hogwarts Castle!

Best views of the castle are on the bridge leading out of Hogsmeade.

It is always so magical here!

Go inside Hogwarts to the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride

And of course, you need to visit inside Hogwarts! Inside the castle is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride.

Usually there are very long lines, so again, visiting early in the day is a great idea. I think our wait time was around 15 minutes or less.

Walking through the depths of Hogwarts is such a fun thing to do. It’s the closest you can really feel to actually going there!

What I love about these rides is that the lines to wait in have interactive experiences themselves, you aren’t bored standing around – you have so much to see!

Most importantly, enjoy every single moment! It truly feels magical to be there.

And remember that Hogwarts is always there to welcome you home.

Buy a chocolate frog at Honeydukes Sweet Shoppe in Hogsmeade

You can actually enter the most famous of all sweet shoppes!

There are endless sweets and treats in Honeydukes – try to resist the urge to buy everything… or perhaps…

Take the lot!

Grab Butterbeer or a Firewhiskey at The Hog’s Head

Or in my case, a glass of white wine! So this is a really fun thing to do in Hogsmeade… for the adults anyways! We like to say we’re having a date night in the Wizarding World, so we get drinks and enjoy the atmosphere.

Also when it’s lovely weather, go sit outside on the patio, you overlook Hogwarts Castle, and it’s so magical!

PS of course you can get Butterbeer and soft drinks at The Hog’s Head too.

Fireworks at Hogwarts Castle

Ok you definitely don’t want to miss this! Fireworks at Hogwarts Castle are SPECTACULAR!

Now they don’t do this all the time, so I’d really recommend checking the Universal Studios Mobile App to see the schedule of when it’s on.

On our last visit, the days we were there, we didn’t get any fireworks… so it’s good to plan ahead if you want to see them!

Skip the queue at the Knight Bus 

You may want to meet Stan, but if you’re aiming for a photo, I’d recommend visiting the back of the Knight Bus.

You can hop on and have a little peek inside too. 

Visit Ollivander’s to pick out your very own wand

This is great to do if you arrive early before the shops get very busy and want to take your time picking out a wand.

Alternatively if you are trying to get selected for the Wand Ceremony (where Ollivander picks you to test out the wands before matching you with the perfect one)… then I’d recommend visiting Ollivander’s in the evening.

My tip for getting selected as an adult? You have to be in an adults only group heading in – if there is a child in the group – you don’t stand a chance at getting picked, obviously!

I got sooooo lucky and was selected for the first time EVER upon my last visit as it was an adults group.

Buy an interactive wand

So if you’re unlike me and weren’t picked by the magical forces at hand to get your own wand… you’re going to want to buy one.

Actually, I should clarify that even if you are picked for the ceremony… you do have to purchase the wand.

Much like Ollivander’s shop in Diagon Alley… they aren’t giving you it for free. I’m sure that has in fact, left many parents feeling a bit disgrunted!

But I’m an adult with adult money, so I was immediately buying it! It felt a bit like my wand was like my horoscope – and it was the prettiest.

Hopefully, a perfect wand for life!

Now cast a spell! 

The interactive wands can be used all of the two Wizarding World parks in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade and oh boy did I use it.

Don’t mind me, the grown adult woman who was happily performing spells alongside children aged 12 and under.

Each wand comes with the map so you know how to perform the spell and where to look for interactive hot spots.

Diagon Alley

I remember walking through the Harry Potter WB Studio Tour in London where they actually shot the films and seeing this, at Harry Potter Universal Studios in Orlando, is just soooo much more grand.

The London studios are amazing – but the Universal Studios are much bigger and it feels like a real life version rather than a film set. You really do feel like you’re there.

Luckily, Joe brings the English accent with him and it was England’s school holidays so I was surrounded by a very authentic experience!

Visit the famous wizarding bank and then escape from Gringotts!

Of course, you wouldn’t visit a theme park and miss out on the rides would you?

Right upon entry we hopped straight into the line to go deep into the vaults of Gringotts. You walk through the simply stunning Gringotts Bank before delving below.

If you’re lucky – you’ll find it’s totally empty! We ended up on the ride within 5 minutes – which was mostly the walk down below. It’s a really fun experience, so I’d definitely recommend it. 

Exchange your dollars for Gringotts notes

In Diagon Alley area of the park, you can find the perfect spot to exchange your muggle money for wizarding fare.

There is even a goblin bank teller who speaks with you directly to do so!

Probably the most iconic thing to do at Harry Potter Universal Studios… Watch the Dragon spit fire in Diagon Alley!

Before we knew all about the Dragons in Game of Thrones, we were looking over our shoulders for the Hungarian Horntail or the Chinese Fireball.

In Diagon Alley atop of Gringotts bank you’ll spot the dragon on it’s escape!

Watch out – every 15 minutes it roars and breathes fire out.

Spot Kreacher at Number 12 Grimmuald Place

Every so often Kreacher pops out from behind the curtain of the iconic London home. Be sure not to miss him.

And get a snap on the steps – just be sure that no one from the Ministry of Magic follows you there!

Call up the Ministry of Magic

In the red telephone booth at the front of the entrance to Diagon Alley you can use the phone to dial the Ministry of Magic.

Dial 62442 (MAGIC) and you’ll be connected to the Ministry.

Sadly, they didn’t send me down to the department of mysteries.

If they let you in… do let me know!

Travel abroad the Hogwarts Express to get between parks at Harry Potter Universal Studios

You can catch the Hogwarts Express in both Hogsmeade and at King’s Cross (just outside Diagon Alley).

It’s quite fun to walk through King’s Cross, there are food service stations just like there are back in England.

Joe was certainly tempted to grab a can of beer on the way! It only takes a few minutes to go from park to park, but the wait time can be a little long.

Still, it’s the fastest and easiest way to go in between and I’d highly recommend it.

Disappear through Platform 9 3/4

A sneaky tip to know if that there is a disappearing entrance to Platform 9 3/4. Best to do it at a bit of a run if you’re nervous!

Cheers with a pint of Butterbeer at the Harry Potter Studios!

When you’re visiting the Wizarding World it goes without saying that you need to try the Butterbeer!

You can get this in pretty much any of the refreshment areas around Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley.

It’s deliciously sweet, creamy and caramel. I’d recommend ordering it frozen on a hot day, but it’s also available as a hot drink if you’re visiting during cooler temperatures.

If you’ve ever visited the Harry Potter Studios in London, please know that the Butterbeer in Florida is MUCH better (though probably much worse for you – eek!).

I could have ordered two!

Ps. The park Butterbeer is non-alcoholic, so it’s perfectly fine for kids to enjoy.

Eat an ice cream at Florean Fortescue’s in Diagon Alley

Just like when Harry had a summer filled with daily ice creams at Florean Fortescue’s the summer before his third year at Hogwarts… you can do exactly the same.

To be honest, on my holidays I’m more after a cheeky afternoon Pinot, but an ice cream fix is an equally fun solution.

Try on clothes at Madame Malkin’s in front of a very magical mirror

Get on your glad rags and while you admire your potential outfit choice…. you’ll get some commentary from the mirror herself!

She said she could tell I was a trendsetter.

Highest of compliments! But equally, she’s got some insults in her rota so watch out.

Enjoy a meal at the Three Broomsticks or The Leaky Cauldron 

We don’t usually grab lunch in the parks at Universal Studios.

We tend to purposefully have breakfast before exploring the parks and then maybe grab a snack (or the Butterbeers are shockingly filling). And then we pop back to the hotel around mid-day when its the most crowded and then coming back later on in the evening.

But if you are staying all day for the afternoon and evening… you can eat meals that are actually English inspired.

You can get Fish and Chips or Shepherd’s Pie in the Three Broomsticks!

And Beef, Lamb & Guinness Stew or Bangers and Mash in The Leaky Cauldron.

How cool is that?!

And if you’re there for breakfast you can get the Full English Traditional breakfasts too.

Again though, we live in England… so this is the kind of food I can already get down at our local pub.

But it’s a super fun thing to do if you’re not a frequent visitor of the United Kingdom! 

And that’s a wrap on my Harry Potter Universal Studios Tips and Guide to the Parks!

Let me know if you’ve visited before or if you have any Harry Potter Universal Studios tips or tricks on visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Orlando.

Or follow my Instagram to stay up to date on the latest videos and travel guides before they make it to the blog. 

Stay magical!

Kelly xox