I have been a Harry Potter fan since my younger brother introduced it to me when we were wee little kids. I will admit, I was skeptical to read the books and wasn’t sold until I waited all night to see the first movie with my brother who was obsessed. Then was born a lifelong fan.
The Harry Potter series is one of the most notable book series in my generation to sweep the world. There are many lessons to be learned about love, bravery, loss, friendship, and so much more.
I just recently toured both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida – and I am completely blown away by how well Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley have come to life. You literally feel like you got your letter to Hogwarts (finally) and are shopping for your school items. You can even ride the Hogwarts Express between the two parks.
Here is a collection of photos I took while visiting both parks that I hope inspire you to visit.
Diagon Alley
Directions to the attractions
Diagon Alley
Hogwarts Express
Sugarplum’s
Knight Bus
Diagon Alley
Butterbeer – the most delicious thing to drink here
Gringotts Bank
Catching the train for Hogwarts
Leaky Cauldron
Gringotts
Diagon Alley
Platform 9 3/4
Hogwarts
Mystical shopping
Diagon Alley
Hogsmeade
Butterbeer
Casting spells
Hogsmeade
Entrance
Hogsmeade
Shopping
Owl Post
Leaky Cauldron
Entrance to Diagon Alley
Additional Info:
- Hogsmeade is located in Islands of Adventure
- Diagon Alley is located in Universal Studios Orlando
- If you have a park hopper pass you can ride Hogwarts Express between both parks
- It will be crowded – even during off season
- Express Passes do not work on the rides in these parks
- Drink as many butterbeers as possible – they are delicious
Disclaimer: I was hosted by Universal Studios, but as always – opinions are entirely my own.
Great post ?
Author
Thanks for reading
We just recently returned from a similar adventure, and absolutely loved it there. Did you find crowds to be a problem? Things were crazy busy when we were there, which took away from our ability to explore it as much as we would have liked. Thank you for sharing your awesome photos – it was fun to reminisce a bit 🙂
Author
It was busy while I was there but not as busy as I would have thought. Wait times for rides were 10-20 minutes tops. Thanks for reading 🙂
I’m so jealous you got to go here!
Author
I hope you get to visit – it is truly magical
Looks like fun. If I had kids would take them to tours like this. Personally have never managed to fall under the spell of Harry Potter.
Author
It took me awhile to come around to Harry Potter but once I did it was magic
It’s funny to see England reproduced in Orlando! It seems like they did an amazing job at creating the world from the books.
Author
They really did bring it to life – I love it
I’ve been there once a few years back and it was so much fun even for someone like me who hadn’t seen the Harry Potter movies! Afterwards I watched the movies and it was then that I could appreciate how incredible the experience was. In fact watching the movies was like re-living my Universal Orlando experience!
Author
haha I am so glad it inspired you to watch the moves – they are even better.
I’ve only heard good things about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Can’t wait until the expand their offerings of rides but its amazing how theme parks are incorporating more filming locations into their parks. I can’t wait for the Star Wars world coming soon to Disney’s theme parks! 😀 And yes to butterbeer everyday!
Author
yessss I love the expansions. The first time I went only Hogsmeade was built and I did not realize that Diagon Alley was done until I arrived at the park and opened the map. I was blown away.
I’ve been seeing your photos on your Instagram and love that you have more on your blog here. Is the Knight bus something you got to go on? I need to go here.
Author
Thanks Kim. I did not get on the bus but I did see other people jumping on for a photo
I love your photos, especially the ones of the Hogwarts Express and the exterior of Gringotts. I’ve been to Hogsmeade, but I didn’t get to go to Diagon Alley. I agree that it feels like the books have come to life…and the butterbeer is delicious!
Author
Thanks so much. Butterbeer is UNREAL. I am craving it badly at home.
I love a bit of Harry Potter, and although I wouldn’t wear a cloak or a hat to prove it I would happily drink a butterbeer or two. It seems strange that they split it into two areas – maybe that was an attempt to control the crowds by spreading them out! DIagon Alley is my favourite, I want to get my own wand!!
Author
When they built Hogsmeade I think it was to see if they could draw the crowds – several years later they did the expansion and I think its quite brilliant that they built the Hogwarts Express to transfer people to each park in the Harry Potter zones
As I looked through the photos, I was hypnotized and I flew on a broomstick to the world of Harry Potter. I looked at photo after photo and was spell bound. The spell only broke when I moved away from the last photo.
Author
It really is a magical place <3
Aaah you’re making me want to go there so badly ! Thanks for sharing with us 🙂
Author
You are so welcome. Thanks for reading.
This looks so fun! I’ll be going to Florida in October with my boyfriend (who’s been here) and keep telling him we have to go here, like, not optional, we have to go haha. He actually (reluctantly) agreed!
Author
You will be able to make a fan out of him after your visit!!
Haha I hope so!
Ohmagod this is actually a DREAM COME TRUE for me! Looking at your post gives me butterflies honestly I don’t know if that’s weird or not but I don’t even care! On my bucket list 100%
Girl, you make me dream. I want to go SO BAD…… We were too budget when we were in Florida and had to forego this… so sad….. Thanks for taking me there!
Wow, really seems like it’s improved a lot. I went when it first opened and I loved it. I can’t wait to have butter beer again soon!
This post makes my heart so happy. I love Harry Potter and seeing that world come alive through your photos brings me great joy. Cannot wait to visit myself but until then I can look at your pictures. So glad you had a blast.
Wow.. great photographs. I want to go there right now. I am a huge fan of Harry Potter too 🙂 butter beer sounds delicious.. does it contain alcohol or can kids enjoy it too?
This is the dream, I looove Harry Potter 😀 Can’t believe I never made it to any of the studios, I’ve been in London several times, but never made it to the Harry Potter studios…
Author
I would definitely recommend it – its quite brilliant
I use to live in Orlando so I got to go a lot! Always something new to explore every single time! I took my mom there to surprise her for her bday/Mother’s Day and she was IN HEAVEN! Great captures!
Having been to Warner Bros Studios in London I look at this and can honestly say I am quite jealous. This looks like an amazing place to visit.
MAJOR TRAVEL ENVY! This is probably the amusement park I want to visit the most!
Hello Nicki, Your blog makes me feel, I was actually there. You have the knack to reach your audience.Keep blogging.
Oh I loooove this place!!! It’s so magical I could live there 😀 We had 4 days ticket for both parks, I needed at least a week 😀 Most of the time we spent just walking around in this amazingly made Harry Potter world 🙂
All this time…always ✌
I don’t know how I come to this post.. but these photos took me to my childhood memories! loved it…
my wife introduced me to harry potter years ago and i absolutly fell in love with the world. since then, we have gone to the park three times and as they have added things it gets only better. hopefully soon they’ll add a resort to it – maybe they’ll let people live there?
Author
haha I can only hope this becomes a reality. I would totally move there – and I would drink butterbeer everyday!
Awesome pictures!! 🙂
Great post! I have been in love with the Harry Potter series forever and its so cool to see it come to life! I actually went to the Harry Potter World that opened in Universal Studios Hollywood, if you would like to check out my post! https://giraffeview.wordpress.com/2017/02/05/harry-potter-world/
Wow – It’s actually so different to the Hollywood one!
Author
I have not been there yet – I need to go.
Looks incredible!!! I will be going there in December and I am extremely excited:) I have been to the one in London many times but, this one seems even more lifelike!
Author
You are going to LOVE IT!! It blew me away