Magical Tips for Visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

[What Boundaries? Live Your Dream]

If stepping directly into the pages of a beloved fairy tale appeals to you, then a visit to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studio’s Islands of Adventure in Orlando will be a treat!

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (what we refer to as THE RIDE) takes you on an unforgettable adventure through the familiar hallways of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It’s a journey not to miss! Here are a few tips to make your time in Harry Potter's World even more magical.

1. LOCKERS. Use the lockers as you enter Hogsmeade (by Hogwarts Express) to stow your bags first. At THE RIDE, those without bags go directly in line, while those with bags must stand in another LONG line for lockers.

2. WALLET. Don’t forget to keep your wallet out before stowing bags. The lockers require payment AFTER opening and many people were forced to call for help when they realized their money and bags were INSIDE the locker.

3. EARLY & LATER. The shortest lines for THE RIDE are typically first thing in the morning (the park opens at 8:45am) and later in the afternoon between 2 and 4pm.

4. BUTTERBEER. What does it taste like? A sweet, delightfully frothy cream soda-ey flavor with a topping of even more sweet, creamy sweetness. FROZEN is best. Just the thing to revive you after a session with the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.

5. TWO PARKS. When arriving from Universal’s City Walk parking area, there are two parks to choose from – Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is located in the Islands of Adventure Park on the LEFT as you come through City Walk.

6. OLIVANDERS. If a visit to the shop where “the wand chooses you” is a must, then you MUST get there early. By 10:30am, the line was over 50 people long!

7. CROWDS. According to those “in the know”, the best time of the year to avoid huge crowds is between Labor Day and Thanksgiving. The summer lines have dwindled down a bit and the holiday travelers haven’t yet arrived. WeekDAYS are better than weekENDS, as expected.

It doesn’t get much more fun than spending a day strolling through the streets of Hogsmeade, sipping a frosty Butterbeer. YUM!

Thanks to The Travel Bloggers Show and Universal Orlando Resort for providing complimentary tickets to this amazing world of Harry Potter. Hope you enjoy the magic as much as we did!

Lisa and Cheryl write the book series and travel blog "What Boundaries? Live YOUR Dream!" to inspire others to live their own dreams!