The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

For my 40th birthday, Jeremy took me to Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida just so I could see The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  It was just the two of us--our chance to be kids again!  It was something I had wanted to do for a long time so I was thrilled!

Universal Studios has a lot more than just Harry Potter and we saw Krustyland, Jurassic Park, Superheros, comic strips, etc.  (I'll post pictures of those areas in another post.)  So much to see, but our main purpose in going was Harry Potter World.  It was so amazing!

Universal is divided into two parks, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.  Hogwarts and Hogsmeade are in Islands of Adventure while Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley are in Universal Studios.  We began in Islands of Adventure because I wanted to see Hogwarts and Hogsmeade first.

Hogsmeade

Honeydukes was the first shop we went into.

 It was filled with candy and treat of all kinds.  I loved seeing the Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans and the chocolate frogs.

 They also had Pumpkin Juice, Gilly Water, chocolate wands and an amazing assortment of other candies and goodies.

 The detail in all the shops and buildings was amazing!  It was like the movies had come alive and we were in them!

Wands were available everywhere!  Olivanders had a shop in Hogsmeade and in Diagon Alley.  We also saw Gregorovitch's shop in Diagon Alley.  They had all the character wands you could think of, plus other wands of different designs.

 

 You could buy a plain wand or an interactive wand.  The interactive wands would work I certain store windows throughout Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley.  You could make it rain, make skeletons dance, make a snowman grow and lots of other things.  The wand that I picked, or should I say "picked me," was Hermione's interactive wand.  With so many choices it was hard to decide!

Hogwarts

Hogwarts Castle was incredible!  

Not only did it look great from the outside, as we wandered through the inside while waiting in line for the ride, we saw moving pictures, the entrance to Dumbledore's office,

Dumbledore's pensieve,

the sorting hat,

and we got to see and hear Dumbledore, Harry, Ron and Hermione all talk to us.  It was so fun and entertaining all while waiting in line for a ride that took us flying around the castle and over the Quidditch field.

 When we left Hogsmeade to go to Diagon Alley we took the Hogwarts Express!  Platform 9 3/4!

 

Inside the train, we were all seated in compartments just like in the movies.  Through the frosted glass door of the compartment we saw the silhouettes of Harry, Ron and Hermione looking for a place to sit.

 

Diagon Alley

In Diagon Alley was the Leaky Cauldren where you could eat, the Weasley's Joke shop,

 Madame Maxim's dress shop (where I couldn't help but try on a Griffindor robe), 

 Olivander's Wand shop

and Gringotts Bank.

The dragon on top of Gringotts Bank would periodically breathe out fire.  It heated up the whole street!

Inside Gringotts Bank was probably my favorite ride.  Not only was the ride through the bank vaults so much fun, I loved wandering through the bank while we were waiting in line!

 

 

 

We spent three days at the parks and saw so much. 

Everyone told us we had to try Butterbeer and it did not disappoint!

You could get it warm, cold or frozen.  We did the frozen.  It was just the perfect thing for a warm, Spring day in Orlando!

 

 We found Hagrid's hut.  This was where you could try the Flight of the Hippogriff.  Buckbeak is Holly's favorite creature from the movies so we thought of her as we went on this ride.

 

The Weasley's flying car in the Forbidden Forest.

 

We had lunch at the Three Broomsticks!  The food was so good!

 

In "London" we saw Number 12 Grimmauld Place

The Knight Bus- for the stranded witch or wizard,

and Kings Cross Station.

 

 



It really was a fantastic trip that we will never forget!