Hi fellow Potter Heads!
I visited The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Orlando, Universal studios last summer, and trust me this was truely an experience of a lifetime! We spent a day at the Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida and it is a pleasure to share my escapades and help you teleport along with me to the magical world that lies beneath the dark alleys!
The Wizarding world of Harry Potter, Orlando is divided into two separate theme parks, Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida – at the Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida, USA. This teme park offers many experiential and 5D rides based on the famous novel and movie series Harry Potter.
For the entry passes/tickets, you need to select from the packages available on their official site for the entire Universal studios that can be redeemed to enjoy other attractions as well. We had got our tickets booked online in advance, so we didn’t have to spend too much time at the ticketing counter and headed straight in!
As soon as you enter this island, you will spot the super famous Hogsmeade station that had many merchandise selling shops, restaurants and recreational areas, designed exactly the way described in the books, and in the movie!
We were welcomed with a special counter that sold butter-beers and pumpkin juices, that we have seen the characters of the film, since ages! The initial few sips for these concoctions tasted funny, but with a few more, we started to develop a liking for it ???? You can buy these juices at the counter for a couple of dollars.
Next, we headed to the infamous Ollivanders where they have recreated the entire scene on how the Elder wand chooses its master aka Harry Potter!
Rides and attractions
After being awestruck with the magnificience and the excellence with which this theme park is created, we decided to move on for some real adventure. We started off with the flagship attraction, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, that also turned out to be my personal favourite amongst the rest. This attraction is basically a recreation of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It takes riders on a journey through Harry Potter’s wizarding world. This was an experience that was truely larger than life! I enjoyed thoroughly swinging on a broomstick (virtual and 5D effects) and touring around the Hogwarts school of Wizardry.
Other Attractions included rides like Dragon Challenge, a pair of inverted roller coasters, and Flight of the Hippogriff, a family roller coaster on this island.
The King Cross Station and to the other side of the island
To travel from one island to the other, there is a special service available, The Hogwarts Express that leads you to the Kings Cross station and to more fun, frolic and adventure in store for us ????
Again, Universal has done an amazing job of recreating the whole experience of travelling with Harry, Hermoine and Ron on the Hogwarts express. There were screens placed on window panes, that made us believe we were truely travelling away from the magic world back to London! (This is where the kids would always catch their express to travel for magic school each year)
The most interesting attraction for this side of the island was Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, a 3D dark ride/simulator based on Gringotts Bank, the wizarding bank that appears in the book and film series. The attraction’s design is similar to Transformers: The Ride, at the same Universal Resort.
The remaining attractions are themed around London and Diagon Alley, and have an almost exact same replica built up for visitors to re-live the Potter-mania!
Lots of merchandise options including the magic wands, key-chains, t-shirts, robes, etc. are all spread across the diagon alley into small kiosks. Though priced on the higher side, who would mind indulging a bit all in the name of Harry Potter! ????
I completely vouch for splurging out and definitely recommend you to visit this place once in a lifetime! ????
Team Harry all the way!
More Info: Other than the Harry Potter rides, (that will also almost consume your entire day for the pass, you can experience other various attractions like Transformers, The Hulk, The Fear Factor, Revenge of the Mummy, The Simpsons etc. I also enjoyed the cartoon parade by Dora and her friends which was quite refreshing!
Cheers to more happy adventures! #themumbaidelhigirl
