The Wizarding World of Harry Potter | Universal Orlando Resort
January 26, 2015
Last weekend was a little bit crazy! Between work/freelancing, deadlines overlapping and life in general, I decided that if I didn’t take a break I’d explode! So I FINALLY decided to go through all my Disney World & Universal Orlando photo’s from my trip to Florida last month. Since I have over 1,000 (yes, one thousand) photos, I’ve decided to spread my trip out through a series of ‘This Place‘ posts! First up: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Like most 90’s kids (and people in general,) I’m a HUGE Harry Potter fan! Visiting Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has been on my bucket list for quite some time so when I found out I’d be working with Disney World for a special holiday post, I thought what better time to head over to Universal Orlando to visit my favorite wizard friends! Here are some of my favorite photos from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter:
Honeydukes was AMAZING! It was basically a candy lovers dream! While there I tried a chocolate frog (I scored big time and got a Dumbledore card,) Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans, Fizzing Whizbees and Honeydukes Candy Floss! I’m glad I’m not a wizard because I would literally spend everyday at Honeydukes!
While I was in Hogsmeade, I ate breakfast at the Three Broomsticks and boy was it AMAZING! I really loved how everyone working there was in character with british accents, cloaks and knowledge of the wizard world! I also got to try butterbeer for the first time at the Three Broomsticks. I’ve got to be honest, I wasn’t really a fan of it (it’s basically cream soda, which I hate, with some sort of whipped cream on top.)
One of my FAVORITE things about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was the addition of the Hogwarts express. If I’m being honest, I think it’s a little messed up that you can only ride the train if you have park to park tickets since the train takes you from Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley (aka Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios.) Regardless, the train ride was super fun! The train ride is basically a simulation of what it would be like on the actual Hogwarts express. Through the windows (tv screens) you can see Hagrid and lots of beautiful scenery as you approach Hogwarts. You can see (and hear) Harry, Ron and Hermione as they make their way through the train. You even come face to face with a few dementors! 
Seeing Hogwarts in person was surreal! It was worth the crazy crowds and almost 80 degree (winter?!) weather just to be face to face with this beautiful castle! When the Harry Potter exhibit first debuted in Chicago, complete with ACTUAL sets, props (I got to wear the legit Sorting Hat from the movies) and costumes from the film, I thought nothing Harry Potter related could ever beat it but this was pretty darn amazing! While I could spend EVERYDAY in Disney World (I’ve been there so many times I’ve lost count,) I’m not a big Universal fan. In fact, if it weren’t for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter addition, I don’t think I would have even visited. Regardless of my issues with Universal, I’m so HAPPY I got to finally see The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and cross it off my bucket list!
Any fellow Harry Potter lovers out there? Have you ever visited The Wizarding World of Harry Potter or would you like to visit it?
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