Category — u. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

YOUR TO-DO LIST FOR FITTING A MORNING VISIT TO THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER INTO A TRIP TO WALT DISNEY WORLD

• Pick your dates as soon as possible
• Set your approach—hotel or not
• Check Universal’s “hot deals” website and MouseSavers.com
• Reserve your hotel for the night of the first morning you intend to be at Harry Potter For example, if you plan the first day of your visit to be the morning of June 20, reserve your hotel for the same night, June 20
• Buy your tickets online
• Print your tickets and passes as soon as you buy them, and bring them with you to Orlando
• Check this site often for changes and updates

(These instructions are especially designed for fitting a visit to Universal Orlando’s The Wizarding World of Harry Potter into a first family trip to Walt Disney World. Click here for the Summary of Instructions for visiting Harry Potter.)

LINKS FOR THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER

• Getting to Harry Potter from Walt Disney World

• Summary of Instructions for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

• When to Go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• How Long to Stay at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• How Old/Tall Your Kids Should be for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Where to Stay During Your Visit to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• How Much to Budget for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• When Your Plans for Visiting the Wizarding World Should Be Firm
• How to Spend Your Time at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• What to Do When to Get Ready for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

How to Spend Your Time at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

FITTING THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER INTO A TRIP TO WALT DISNEY WORLD

• Get your tickets before arriving
  • Universal Orlando is a completely different resort than Walt Disney World. Your Disney tickets do not work there…
  • For links for buying your tickets, see How Much to Budget for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

• If checking in to the Royal Pacific or another Universal Orlando resort be at its front desk by 7.15a to check in and get your hotel keys, which are also your early entry passes
• (If you are wondering why this hotel, or what these passes are, the details of Universal’s front of the line approach can be found in Where to Stay at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.)
• If you are not a hotel guest, be at the entrance to Universal by 60-120 minutes before opening. Arrive earlier in this range during the peak season, later during the off season

A Morning at Hogsmeade

• At park opening, grab a park map and schedule, enter Islands of Adventure, head to Hogsmeade, and get in line for and see Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
• Then see the wand choosing the Wizard at Ollivanders
• Then explore the shops in Hogsmeade
• Then, if you are a fan of serious roller coasters, ride Dragon Challenge
• Next, if it appeals to your family, ride Flight of the Hippogriff
• Next, using your park map, relax and see the rest of Hogsmeade. See this for more on what you can see and do
• If you have a park-park ticket, take the Hogwarts Express to Diagon Alley

A morning at Diagon Alley

• At park opening, grab a park map and schedule, enter Universal Studios, head to Diagon Alley, and get in line for and see Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
• Then see the wand choosing the Wizard at Ollivanders
• Then explore the rest of Diagon Alley
• If you have a park-park ticket, take the Hogwarts Express to Hogsmeade

LINKS FOR THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER

• Getting to Harry Potter from Walt Disney World

• Summary of Instructions for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

• When to Go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• How Long to Stay at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• How Old/Tall Your Kids Should be for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Where to Stay During Your Visit to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• How Much to Budget for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• When Your Plans for Visiting the Wizarding World Should Be Firm
• How to Spend Your Time at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• What to Do When to Get Ready for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

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OVERVIEW: WHEN YOUR HARRY POTTER PLANS NEED TO BE FIRM

If you are simply planning to visit Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter during several of the mornings of a trip otherwise spent at Walt Disney World, you don’t need to worry beyond your Disney timing requirements about when your plans need to be firm.

If you are planning to reserve a night at the Royal Pacific or Cabana Bay,you should do so as soon as your dates are firm.

MORE DETAILS ON WHEN YOUR HARRY POTTER PLANS NEED TO BE FIRM

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OVERVIEW: HOW MUCH TO BUDGET FOR THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER

The typical family of four seeking to see all the best of the Wizarding World should budget, in addition to their Walt Disney World budget, around $750 for two days of Universal Orlando park to park tickets. (Skipping one ride, the Hogwarts Express, will let you save about $40/person by getting single park tickets.)

If you can afford it, budget even more for a night at the Royal Pacific or Cabana Bay (the best way to do Harry Potter; for why, see Where to Stay During Your Visit to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter).

MORE DETAILS ON BUDGETING FOR THE WIZARDING WORLD

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OVERVIEW: HOW OLD AND TALL YOUR KIDS SHOULD BE FOR HARRY POTTER

Pretty much any school-age kid will find be able to find something to enjoy at Harry Potter. Younger kids, or kids without a deep engagement in the books or movies, may find it less interesting.

• The Dragon Challenge attraction is a very intense, very cool coaster, and has a minimum height requirement of 54 inches.
• The signature ride in Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure,  Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey requires at least 48 inches.
• The minor re-themed The Flight of the Hippogriff requires at least 36 inches.
• The signature ride in Diagon Alley at Universal Studios, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, has a 42 inch minimum
• The Hogwarts Express has no height requirement

MORE DETAILS ON HOW OLD AND TALL YOUR KIDS SHOULD BE FOR THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER

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OVERVIEW: HOW LONG TO STAY AT HARRY POTTER

Universal Orlando is a remarkable place, and easily repays a three or even four day visit, especially if your kids are 12 or older, and/or love thrill rides.

If you are simply trying to fit Harry Potter into a trip otherwise spent at Walt Disney World, use two mornings of your trip for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

MORE DETAILS ON HOW LONG TO STAY AT THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER

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