Ever since J.K Rowling came out with the Harry Potter books, our lives have never been the same. The success of the books and then the movies have catapulted Harry Potter being embedded in the fabric of our beings and one cannot ignore the impact Harry Potter has in our pop culture. Thus The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is an inevitable destination for Harry Potter fans from all over the world! 

Universal Studios Florida currently consists of two parks (three after Spring 2017 when they open their third park, Volcano Bay). The Wizarding World of Harry Potter encompasses two parks, Hogsmeade, in Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley, in Universal Studios Florida. Connecting the two lands is the Hogwarts Express, the train that provides transportation from Hogsmeade to King's Cross Station in Diagon Alley and back. 

The Hogwarts Express is more than simply a train ride! It recreates the same experience as if you were Harry, Ron and Hermione on the Hogwarts Express heading from London towards Hogwarts Castle, taking you through London, the lush countryside, the Forbidden Forest, and meeting familiar faces and magical creatures along the way. You'll never know who you may see on your ride! On your way back though, it is a completely different journey heading from King's Cross Station to Hogsmeade as you encounter Dementors and Death Eaters along the way. You also get to experience walking through King's Cross Station and Platform 9 3/4! 

HOGSMEADE
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter first opened in Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios Orlando on June 18, 2010 and guests were immersed into the village of Hogsmeade, a perfect recreation of the village housing many of the stores, shops and restaurants where wizards frequent outside of Hogwarts. 

Ride the Dragon Challenge, a twist and loopy high speed roller coaster or the Flight of the Hippogriff, a family friendly roller coaster that takes you past Hagrid's Hut. Three Broomsticks is rustic tavern where you can take a break and dine on British food and Butterbeer. Cheer fellow wizards on in the Triwizard Spirit Rally as they lead their teams to the Triwizard Tournament! 

The flagship attraction is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey where you join Harry and his friends on an adventure through Hogwarts Castle, Quidditch match and fighting off Dementors! ​

DIAGON ALLEY
Fours years after Hogsmeade initially opened, Diagon Alley in Universal Studios opened on July 8, 2014 and gave fans even more reason to visit Universal Studios. Before you even head into Diagon Alley, parts of London come to life and you can see the Knight Bus full on display! 

Enter through the gates and stroll through to explore the shops and restaurants that make up the hustle and bustle of Diagon Alley. Visit favourites like the Leaky Cauldron for hearty British fare, Florean Fortestescue's Ice-Cream Parlour and Ollivander's where you can choose your magical wand (or rather, the wand chooses you!) Turn down Knockturn Alley and discover the darker side of the Dark Arts and experience Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts!  ​

Meet the goblins that keep your gold safe in Gringotts Bank. 

To enhance your magical wizarding skills experience, purchase an interactive wand, with a full map of both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, which outlines the locations where you can use your wand and practice your spells. If the spell is enacted correctly, something magical will happen! There are 30 different locations to scout out, each with its own spell to unlock the magic. (To be honest, it looks easy but you really have get the correct wrist action to enact those spells. The kids make it look so easy!) 

​A stop at Universal Studios to visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a must for every Harry Potter fan. Even for those who have not read the books, or seen the movie or have no idea who or what Harry Potter is, the experience is still worth it. Fans young and old will be amazed at the level of detail and care that was put into the creation of bringing the vision of the fantasy world to life. Once you enter, you won't want to leave!

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is NOT included in any of the Express Pass ticket options. The only way to experience the attractions is standing in the regular lines. There are no Express Pass options. All onsite resort guests staying at a Universal onsite hotel or those who book a vacation package with a Universal Partner Hotel receive Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter one hour before the theme park opens to the public. This is the perfect time experience the attractions with minimal wait times. For a summary of the Universal Resorts onsite, read the post here. 

Hogmeade in Universal Studios Orlando is almost identical to the experience of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Hollywood so I didn't include as much info about it here in this post. 

If you have any questions about Universal Studios in Florida or Hollywood, or about visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, please let me know!! I would love to help you plan your vacation!! 
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Harry Potter has landed in California! His long awaited arrival is welcomed by Harry Potter fans who don't have to trek east to Orlando and can now visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios Hollywood! The official Grand Opening is April 7, 2016 but the area has been open to visitors who want a sneak peek before big day and we were fortunate enough to check it all out on our recent visit! 

Walk through the entrance into Hogsmeade Village and you are instantly transported to the magical world of wizards, just as described in the books and movies. The Hogwarts Express has arrived and the lead conductor is available for photos. Take a peek into the train cabin, choose from Hogwarts robes and scarves so you can dress up and pose for photos from the train cabin. 

No visit to Hogsmeade Village is complete without Butterbeer! Available as a cold beverage or frozen slushy, it's the perfect beverage to enjoy as you immerse yourself into the world of Harry Potter!

Visit Ollivander's, Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C. and peruse through the large selection of wands of your choosing (or rather, the wand chooses you!) and/or choose from a selection of character wand replicas. 

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is *THE* must do attraction! The ride is the same as the one in Orlando, however it is a 3D ride in Hollywood! Become a student of Hogwarts and join Harry and his friends on a thrilling and exciting ride through the familiar classrooms and corridors of Hogwarts, explore the castle grounds from high above and participate in an exciting round of Quidditch!

As you join the queue, you enter Hogwarts Castle and the attention to detail both inside and outside the castle is beyond breathtaking. There were times I wished the line moved slower so I could take the time to enjoy all the painstaking details that went into the design and creation of the attraction. 

To get an idea of the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride, check out the video below. It's a thrilling adventure through Hogwarts full of twists and turns and the 3D effects make the ride come alive! 

Flight of the Hippogriff is an outdoor family friendly roller coaster that is enjoyable for the whole family. Learn how to approach a Hippogriff properly and enjoy twists and turns around the pumpkin patch and visit Hagrid's Hut. 

Cheer on the presentation of Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students as they lead the excitement for the Triwizard Tournament in a Triwizard Spirit Rally and listen to a presentation of songs by a small choir of Hogwarts students accompanied by their large croaking frogs. 

SHOPPING

Hogsmeade Village is home to various specialty shops so everything you need for your visit to Hogwarts can be found here! Zonko's Joke Shop sells novelty items, jokes, toys and sweets, perfect for playing jokes on unsuspecting friends and family members. Honeydukes sells classic treats such as Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, exploding bonbons, Peppermint Toads, Fudge Flies, Chocolate Frogs and other delectable delights. Need school supplies and wizarding wares??? Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment is the place to find all your required House robes, Hogwarts Express items, crystal balls, binoculars, magnifying glasses and other equipment.  Filch's Emporium of Confiscated Goods is your source for Hogwarts clothing, movie prop replicas, chess sets, magical creature toys and Marauder's Maps. Find House robes, ties, scarves, jumpers and other wizard apparel, accessories and jewelry at Gladrags Wizardwear so your visit is memorable for years to come. Can't forget about your Quidditch equipment! Dervish and Banges is where you will find Quidditch equipment, apparel and house items. At The Owl Post, find Harry Potter-themed stationery, stamps, owl -related toys and gifts and send a letter from here with a Hogsmeade postmark! 

DINING

Enjoy dining at Three Broomsticks to grab lunch or dinner. Classic English fare such as fish and chips, shepherd's pie, and bangers and mash are popular favourites. For parties of 4, consider the Great Feast for to maximize variety and selection for the greatest value. Butterbeer and Pumpkin Juice are popular beverage choices. Hog's Head Pub is the perfect place for families to enjoy Pumpkin Juice and Butterbeer for the kids, while adults can enjoy a selection of domestic and imported beer,s specialty beers such as Wizard's Brew and Dragon Scale, Fire Whiskey, wine, spirits and mixed drinks.

Your visit isn't complete until you obtain you a wand!

Choose a character wand replica or an interactive wand that can be used throughout the park in select locations where your wand can unlock magical spells!

​Need help?? Hogwarts prefects are available to assist and unlock your spell-making abilities! 

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is the ultimate destination for Harry Potter fans! We simply didn't want to leave! It was so hard to say good bye :( There are a lot of fun attractions to enjoy and do at Universal Studios Hollywood and Harry Potter fans will definitely not want to miss it! Now Harry Potter fans can visit California in addition to Florida for Harry Potter adventures! 

I encourage you to read the books and/or at least watch the movie(s) before visiting to really immerse yourself in the world of Harry Potter and maximize your experience! We have become obsessed with Harry Potter since and will be watching the movies again and again! My daughter has taken to speaking with an English accent since watching the movies (#cutenotcute). 

I have yet to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando so I am not able to offer any comparison details, however I expect that the standards and attention to detail is just as stunning! We were lucky enough to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter during our visit and can't wait to share with you our experience! Let me know if you get to visit as I would love to hear your thoughts and chat Harry Potter with you!