Guide to Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is one of the most popular attractions in the entire state of Florida. In just one square of the park, you have a plethora of themed food, exciting shows, and thrilling rides that transport you to another dimension. This dimension is the one many have been dreaming of living in since they were young. I am one of these people. Growing up on the Harry Potter films, I dreamed I could live there and experience this world. Universal Orlando made that a reality and opened its doors for young and old wizards alike. If you are planning a trip to Universal Orlando and are looking to make the best of your time at the park, here is a complete guide to Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World.

Disclaimer* For the sake of length and detail, we are only going to be going through the wizarding world in Universal’s side of the park. That means just Diagon Alley and all it has to offer. If you are looking for Islands of Adventure’s Wizarding World including Hogsmeade and Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure, check out my guide to Islands of Adventure’s Wizarding World.

Entrance

To start on your guide to Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World, you might have great trouble finding it. On my first visit to the park, my family and I spent about an hour looking for the place. I don’t mean that as an exaggeration. Picture a pack of excited people walking back and forth around the park confused and nearly crying in the hot sun. That was the whole reason we came to the park after all, for the Wizarding World. On our last go around, we passed a large brick wall once more. However, this time we saw people come in and out of it. 

This is the entrance to Diagon Alley. Between the model of King’s Cross station and the posh London Apartments of Grimmauld place, is a long and large brick wall. If you listen closely you will hear bricks shifting as you near the brick wall. As you approach closer and follow the crowd heading inside from the two side entrances, you’ll find the marvelous Diagon Alley.

That being said, make sure to pay attention as you enter the London section of the park. Whether you are a muggle or wizard, you should be able to notice the signs. Once you see the streets of San Francisco turn into old London with double-decker buses and Piccadilly fountains, you’ll know you are in the right place. Now head towards that brick wall, and head to the side of it to find the entrance. Then you are on your way and have taken your first step into a magical adventure. 

Rides

Next on your guide to Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World, we have the rides. Again, we are sticking to Diagon Alley in the Universal section of the park. Unlike the Island’s of Adventure side, there is only one ride to be enjoyed here at Diagon Alley. That ride is Harry Potter and the escape from Gringotts. In fact, it will be the first thing you will see once you pass through the magical brick threshold. Right when you walk into Diagon Alley you will be met with a giant growling fire breathing dragon sitting atop of a bank. Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts takes place in the bank right underneath the dragon’s nose. 

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts will make you fully believe in the idea of quality over quantity. Though it is the only ride in this section of the park. It is action-packed, sentimental, and exciting. Personally, I would place it highly on my list of favorite rides, right under my number one, The Mummy Ride. Rather than sticking to the Universal formula of 3D screen flat rides, Escape from Gringotts mixes a 3D screen adventure with an exciting roller coaster. You’ll ride on a mine cart next to Harry, Ron, and Hermione and navigate your way out of the bank and away from Voldemort and Bellatrix. There are big drops, fast spins, and crazy visuals that will feed your need for adrenaline. 

I recommend heading straight to this ride as soon as you enter the park or in the evening. Since it is one of the best rides in the park, the wait time is usually eighty minutes or more. Rest assured though, the queue is beautiful and the ride is one hundred percent worth the wait. 

Food

The next on the ultimate guide to Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World is the food. I know that is exactly what you are waiting for. Throughout the films, I know I have drooled over the platters of roasted chicken and potatoes during the feast scenes. The wizarding world has it all when it comes to themed food from the film.

To start, in this section of the park, you will find the Leaky Cauldron. Located directly at the entrance and to the left, the Leaky Cauldron. Here you will find delicious food that I personally feel tastes better than the real food in London. The menu consists of dishes such as fish and chips, lamb and beef stew, bangers and mash, shepherd’s pie, and hunter’s chicken. All the food is deliciously roasted and seasoned and served with hardy vegetables as sides. Inside the restaurant is dim and moody, lit by candles, and ordained with wooden tables and wrought iron accents. It feels like you are eating at a magical tavern and the food tastes like it. Check out the full menu here.

Down the lane from the Leaky cauldron, directly in front of the fire-breathing dragon, you’ll find Fortescue’s Ice Cream. Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlor is the ice cream store of dreams. Every time I visit the park and swear not to get any, I always find myself in line. Here they have delicious butterbeer-flavored ice cream, peanut butter and jelly ice cream, sticky toffee ice cream, chocolate chili ice cream, Earl Gray and lavender ice cream, and so much more. The flavors are incredibly creative and you will not find such combinations anywhere in the entire world

Butterbeer

Along with fantasies about feasts in great halls and magical ice cream, I have also fantasized about butterbeer. Since it first appeared on film, I have giggled over the thought of sipping butterbeer, surrounded by my friends. In the wizarding world, it is entirely possible to make that fantasy come true. 

Universal Orlando has created a non-alcoholic perfect beverage to sip on all day and all night at the parks. There are three types of butterbeer. Frozen, which has the texture of a slushy. Regular butterbeer, which is like soda. Then lastly and the best, hot butterbeer. Hot butterbeer is like hot cocoa but butterscotch and the best thing in the world. Each of these butterbeer variations is available year-round and are deliciously sweet and topped with a lovely, whipped butterscotch froth. It is a must-try.

There are two butterbeer locations in Diagon Alley. Next to the performance stage at the hopping pot and next to Fortescue’s at the Fountain of Fair Fortune Store. 

Shows

Now for the shows. Yes the rides are exciting, the food is delicious, and you would like to run around and jump off the walls, but the shows offer you an opportunity to relax. You can sit down for a few minutes at a time to watch a show and your feet will be so grateful for it. 

At the stage next to the hopping pot, two shows take place. The first is Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees. This is a lovely singing show referencing one of Ron’s favorite singers, Celestina Warbeck. She will come out many times during the day and perform a few magical songs with an ensemble of vintage dancers behind her. Next on the stage, you have Tales of Beedle the Bard. This story tells the fairytale of the origin of the Deathly Hallows, from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Through props and spooky puppets, this show transports you into the scene where Hermoine describes the story and helps you understand the story of the park and the history of the Wizarding World altogether. 

Then the last show is Olivander’s Wand Experience. In the store of Olivander’s where wands line the walls and towers up to the ceiling, you could be chosen for a magical experience. Among each group that enters, Olivander will pick one person, young or old, to test out a wand and find the right one for them. During this show, you have the chance to feel like a kid again as the old wizard hands you different wands. Crazy, magical things will happen, but once Olivander finds you the right one, you will feel like Harry in the first film. You can buy this wand and take it around the park to use your magic on the interactive locations.

Live in the magic

There is so much I can say about the Wizarding World at Universal Orlando. Diagon Alley has everything any Harry Potter fan would ever want. Even more than this, it has everyone anyone can want. Even if you are not a big Harry Potter fan, this park is so well designed that even strangers to the story can enjoy it. Through the shows, rides, and design, it is easy to understand what is going on and what world you are in. With this guide, you’ll be able to enjoy everything Universal’s Wizarding World has to offer and will be able to get your full days’ worth out of this park. 

Want to know when you should visit? Here I’ve detailed the best time to visit Universal Orlando this year!