Passholder’s Harry Potter World Tips and Itinerary Including Epic Universe

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Ever since the first Wizarding World was built way back in 2010, I’ve been itching to visit. I absolutely love the books and movies and honestly, just the whole universe (but I do not agree with the author’s views). Finally, over 10 years later, I got an opportunity to speak at a conference in Orlando for my PhD work (a great way to travel as a student) and knew this was the magical moment I’ve been waiting for.

I spent two days soaking in all of the magic and quickly figured out what you can and can’t reasonably do in a day. And don’t worry, I’ve since become a Universal Orlando Annual Passholder and have visited countless times including the new Epic Universe Wizarding Paris, so I’m confident this guide is a good one!

Allow me to share a realistic 2 day Wizarding World itinerary packed with Harry Potter world tips. This Wizarding World guide is meant for first timers looking to pack in the magic and who are visiting the Universal Parks for Harry Potter.

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FAQ’s about Planning a Trip to Orlando’s Wizarding Worlds

First, let me answer some Wizarding World FAQ’s that I certainly had before visiting and some that I’ve seen while doing some research for this post. If you’re new here or a long-time reader, you know I like to plan all my trips in detail so no question is unanswered.

Where in Universal Orlando is Harry Potter World?

As an LA native, I was a bit overwhelmed when planning this trip because our Universal Studios in Hollywood is only one park…but Orlando has four!

Harry Potter world is (mischievously) split up between three parks – Universal of Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Epic Universe. You’ll find Diagon Alley and London in Universal of Florida, Hogsmeade Village and Hogwarts in Islands of Adventure, and Wizarding Paris and the British Ministry of Magic in Epic Universe.

The last Universal park is Volcano Bay (a water park) and you won’t find any Harry Potter stuff there.

Can you visit all the Wizarding Worlds in one day?

No, you can’t. That’s because of the addition of Epic Universe. Because Epic Universe is 4.5 miles from the other parks, it wasn’t designed to be done in the same day as Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida (which are quite literally connected to each other via the Hogwarts Express).

Now, you’ll need a minimum of 2 days to make it to all of the Wizarding Worlds.

Is a park hopper really necessary?

Depending on how much time you have, yes, you likely want a park hopper. This way you can visit both areas of the Wizarding World in the same day that are in Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida.

If you’re dedicating one day for each park, it’s really up to you but here’s why I would still say yes to getting a park hopper.

First, you can only ride the Hogwarts Express with a park hopper because it travels between Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure (to/from Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley). This train is an experience in and of itself that changes each direction so you want to be able to ride it both ways.

Second, having the flexibility of a park hopper is really priceless. I always bounce back and forth regularly depending on crowd levels and weather and you just can’t do that without the park hopper.

For example, on our first day, we started in Hogsmeade but because it started raining a TON the outdoor rides closed. So we jumped over to Universal Studios Florida to ride some of their indoor rides like ET, Jimmy Fallon’s Race through New York, and The Mummy!

Related read >> How many days do you need for your Universal Orlando vacation

Where is Hogwarts?

Hogwarts is located behind Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure, which makes sense given Hogsmeade is the spot where Hogwarts students had field trips to.

Similarly, the London section of Harry Potter World is located outside Diagon Alley, which again makes sense given that’s where Diagon Alley is located…hidden in London.

Are the wait times for Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure and Battle at the Ministry really worth it?

Honestly, I felt the exact same way about both rides. There’s no way a 90+ minute wait time can be worth it. I mean how can it?

Hate to burst your confidence bubble, but holy cow is it worth it! Especially Hagrid’s, in my opinion.

This coaster is TOP TIER. I would honesty put it on the same level as Rise of the Resistance in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge (although they’re totally different ride styles).

The premise is that you’re riding on Hagrid’s motorcycle where one person is on the bike and the other person is in the sidecar.

I won’t give too much away so I don’t spoil it, but if you like roller coasters and thrill rides, I urge you to prioritize this ride. You won’t regret it! (signed someone who stubbornly waited in line for 90 minutes and continues to prioritize it every trip).

As for Battle at the Ministry. The waits have been absurd and while I do think the ride is worth a wait, I don’t know that I’d sacrifice more than 2 hours for it.

However, the Wizarding World in Epic Universe doesn’t have too much that you need to conserve time in your day by skipping the one ride. Epic Universe has a TON to do as a whole, but if your only care is Harry Potter, it’s worth the wait.

How late can you park hop in Universal Orlando?

On our final day as the sun was setting counting down the minutes until the parks closed, we were in Hogsmeade on the Hogwarts Express trying to go see Diagon Alley at night. Unfortunately, the train had technical difficulties so we had to get off.

We decided to book it over to the neighboring park instead of waiting for the train. But with less than an hour to park closing, I was worried they had a cut off time for park hopping…meaning they wouldn’t admit people past a certain time.

Well, thankfully I was wrong. I’m happy to report that you can enter the park even minutes before it closes.

Whew!

All this to say, don’t be afraid to park hop late in the day.

Which rides are in which parks?

Hogsmeade (Islands of Adventure) has Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and Flight of the Hippogriff.

Diagon Alley (Universal Studios Florida) has Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts.

Both parks have the Hogwarts Express which travels to and from each park.

Epic Universe has Battle at the Ministry and a stage show, Le Cirque Arcanus.

What should I bring to the parks?

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3-Day Wizarding World Itinerary (with Epic Universe)

The purpose of this 3-day itinerary to the Wizarding World is to help you structure your days and make sure you tick off the major to-do’s. There is so much packed into this world that it’s (rightfully) overwhelming.

I’ve also updated this itinerary to add Epic Universe for a third park day.

Days 1 and 2: Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida

There are a couple general things to keep in mind as you read this itinerary.

First, one of the most important parts to exploring the Wizarding World is visiting both areas in the day and night. You can either stick to one park a day or you can jump around with a park-to-park ticket.

Second, I’ll be discussing an itinerary as if you do have a park-to-park ticket and will be riding the Hogwarts Express each way. I’ll share some tips for accomplishing the parks without a park-to-park ticket at the end or if you only have 1 day for both Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida.

So aside from the rides, shops, and food, the main experiences we want to check off here are:

• Hogwarts express from Diagon Alley (Kings Cross Station) to Hogsmeade Village
• Hogwarts Express from Hogsmeade Village to Diagon Alley (Kings Cross Station)
• Diagon Alley during the day
• Diagon Alley at night
• Hogsmeade Village during the day
• Hogsmeade Village at night

Day 1: Early morning at Islands of Adventure

We’re going to start at Islands of Adventure where Hogsmeade Village and Hogwarts are.

You want to get to the park as early as possible.

*If you’re staying on site and have an early hour access, head to Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventures first. It helps to arrive at the parks by 7:15 – 7:30 am.

If you don’t have the early hour, I’d avoid Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure at the start. For each day we visited, by the time the general public could get into the park, the wait time for Hagrid’s was already 2 hours. It will come down over the course of the day, so just wait it out. Tips on monitoring the wait time at the end.

Instead, head to Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. This ride has a short wait at the start of the day typically under 40 minutes, which is pretty good considering it can get up to 75 minutes or longer.

I absolutely loved this ride and you’ll find that the line doesn’t feel as long because the queue takes you through Hogwarts including Dumbledore’s office, the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, the Gryffindor common room, and more!

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!Spoilers for the ride!

This ride is so unique! Combining replica sets from the movies with immersive videos, you sit in a single row that is attached to a large mechanical arm that can move you in all directions, even upside down! I absolutely loved this ride and highly recommend.

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One tip for this ride, is that you truly cannot see anyone in your party when riding because of the seats and restraints. So, don’t be afraid to jump in the single rider line for a much shorter queue. It’s located just within Hogwarts – you’ll spot a sign pointing to the left. However, you’ll miss many of the rooms within Hogwarts, so skip at your own behest.

After this ride, you can easily hop on Flight of the Hippogriff, a small, outdoor roller coaster.

Generally speaking, it doesn’t offer any special “Harry Potter” experience, but it does provide some really stellar views of the Hogwarts Castle.

Day 1: Less Crowded Photo Opp of Hogwarts

At this point, head to the path toward the Jurassic Park area to snap some photos with Hogwarts castle. The wooden bridge here gets SUPER crowded as the day goes on, so morning is the best time! Plus, the light will be working in your favor illuminating Hogwarts perfectly and not creating harsh shadows on your face.

Day 1: Hogwarts Express to Diagon Alley

Head back into Hogsmeade Village and instead of looking in all the shops now, go straight to the Hogwarts Express to ride it to Diagon Alley.

I know this maybe feels rushed and all over the place, but it’s really best to knock out the rides and experiences with long wait times early in the day. The Hogwarts Express can get to be over an hour wait and the line is pretty drab (especially at Hogsmeade Station) making the long wait frustrating.

I promise we’ll have lots of time to peek into every nook and cranny!

Anyway, to Diagon Alley!

Hogsmeade Station doesn’t have any interactive line bits (like Kings Cross Station does) so just move on through and board the train.

On the ride, be sure to watch the window and the door where you entered the compartment. I won’t spoil anything, but it’s a fun ride.

Day 1: Exploring London

Now that you’ve arrived at King’s Cross Station head out to London. This is a great section with lots of little details.

First take a left toward the main area and pass a red telephone booth. You may notice a line because if you go inside and dial M-A-G-I-C something happens! Again, I won’t spoil, but it’s worth waiting a few minutes for.

Next you’ll likely notice the large, purple Knight Bus, from the Prisoner of Azkaban. At the front, you’ll find a conductor in the purple getup and cap and next to him, a talking shrunken head. You can interact with them both.

Don’t forget to go to the back of the bus where you can get a less crowded photo op and actually look inside the bus!

Also in London, you’ll find 12 Grimmauld Place (house of Black and base of the Order of the Phoenix) where in the window above, you’ll notice Kreacher the house elf peeking out every now and again. Pro tip: you don’t need to knock on the door for Kreacher to come out. It’s on a timer (trust me, the scientist in me has literally experimented with it). But it’s a fun way to lean into the magic with kids especially!

Once you’ve had your fill of London, find the brick archway that looks like it leads to a wall. You can walk around the wall and boom, you’re in Diagon Alley!

Day 1: Lunch break!

If food is calling, I recommend the Leaky Cauldron or even holding off on Diagon Alley to stop by Springfield (The Simpsons area) for lunch.

At the Leaky Cauldron, you’ll find typical English fare like fish n chips, bangers and mash, and various stews and savory pies. They even have vegan stew and pasty pie! Try butterbeer potted cream for dessert!

At Duff Brewery, you can sample Duff beer from the Simpsons and have a corn dog for lunch. There is some nice seating along the edge of the lake making this spot a serene break from the Harry Potter world crowds.

I also love the jacket potatoes in the booth in the London section just across from 12 Grimmauld Place. You can order a baked potato with all sorts of toppings for a snack or filling lunch.

Day 1: Fully exploring Diagon Alley

A quick word on the areas of Diagon Alley so we can get properly oriented.

The main stretch is Diagon Alley itself, it curves around to the left with more shops and interactive wand experiences. You’ll find the Leaky Cauldron immediately to the left upon entering and lots of shops to explore with Gringotts Bank (and the dragon atop) in the center.

Just past the Leaky Cauldron is a dark archway that passes diagonally to the back left end of Diagon Alley. This very dark path is actually Knockturn Alley where you’ll find Borgin and Burke’s and other dark arts displays and experiences.

Now to the right of Diagon Alley is Carkitt Market, a covered shopping center with a stage for live performances, lots of interactive wand experiences, and the Hopping Pot where you can get drinks.

The Universal Orlando FL app has maps that are your best friend here.

In Diagon Alley, first head to The Hopping Pot to the right around Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes (the bright orange building with huge man in the windows) at the edge of Carkitt Market.

Grab your first butterbeer here, or try some of the specialty draught beer Wizard’s Brew (stout) or Dragon Scale (lager).

For butterbeer, I highly HIGHLY recommend the hot butterbeer. It was easily our favorite one of the bunch no matter how hot the Florida days got. The next best was frozen butterbeer, then the regular cold, in my opinion. I often opt for frozen butterbeer because of the intense Orlando heat.

Once you have your beverage, it’s the perfect time to peruse the shops and take in the ambience. You’ll hear lots of Harry Potter music playing providing a soundtrack to your experience. Feel free to hit the Spotify play button at the top of this post to get in the right head space while you’re planning now!

Head inside Gringotts Money Exchange to turn your muggle money into Gringotts bank notes. These are themed and act as gift certificates with a barcode that works throughout both parks. However, they also make for a great (and cheap) souvenir.

You can exchange $10 or $20.

Step inside Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment to check out the beautiful astronomy themed ceiling at the top right corner of Carkitt Market. My Ravenclaw heart was very happy in there.

You’ll find the cute wizard travel agency called Globus Mondi with themed luggage tags and other items. I loved the shop window here with lots of travel-themed flyers.

Owl Post was a kiosk that used to mail your wizarding world purchases back home in themed wrapping. However, now, it’s just for show as they no longer offer this service. Still, the tower is fun to watch as the owls move on occasion. Also watch out for the merfolk fountain in the middle of this area because the interactive wand experience casts a spell making water shoot out (innocent bystanders be damned).

Around this corner is Wands by Gregorovitch. If you want a wand quickly without the crowds, this is a good spot to stop.

The Jellied Eel shop is right next door, a typically uncrowded photo opp outside, but it’s just a facade and you can’t go inside.

In Diagon Alley itself, visit Quality Quidditch Supplies for brooms and jerseys, Sugarplum’s for all the wizarding candy, and my favorite, Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes for joke themed fare. You can buy love potions, pygmy puffs, and lots of candy with interesting side-effects like Puking Pastilles, Fever Fudge, and Nosebleed Nougat. These shops are at the beginning and right-hand side of Diagon Alley.

In the main alley, visit Ollivanders for their wand experience and shop. I actually did the experience at the Ollivander’s in Hogsmeade and was still moved to tears (literally)…so it doesn’t matter which location you visit for this. If you want to get chosen, I recommend the end of the night when the crowds die down. I got chosen this way once and it was EVERYTHING. Even if you’re chosen, you still need to purchase the wand that chose you, so don’t expect a freebie here, unfortunately.

Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions stocks every wizard outfit including full house robes, Hermione’s Yule Ball dress, and lots of house accessories like ties, headbands, and bags. And yes, you can purchase them all! Find the changing dress and mirror that compliments you.

Shutterbutton’s is a photography studio where they’ll edit your photograph into moving pictures as a souvenir.

Catch the dragon atop Gringotts Bank breathe fire every 10 minutes. Beware that the crowds will be very distracted and will take up the middle of every walkway, so just watch your surroundings. It is very loud and impossible to miss.

*Caution, small kids frequently get scared by this guy. I had a little fellow cling to my leg thinking I was his mom when the dragon went off, so if you have little ones, give them a bit of a warning or something.

Don’t forget to visit Knockturn Alley! This little section can go unnoticed if you aren’t looking for it. There’s an archway next to the Leaky Cauldron and another across from the bathrooms (next to the Potions window display).

Go through to see more interactive wand displays and Borgin and Burkes. This dark arts shop has lots of interesting merchandise but even if you aren’t planning to buy a Wizard World souvenir, check out the Vanishing Cabinet that you may remember from Half-Blood Prince and the displays, some of which rattle and make noise.

Note that it is INCREDIBLY dark in this area. It honestly helps to walk in then let your eyes adjust for a few minutes so you can actually see all the details. And come back at night so your eyes are already adjusted to darkness.

There are a couple shows you can catch in Carkitt Market as well including the Tales of Beedle the Bard or Celesina Warbeck and the Banshees. I’ve seen both and while the music is lovely, the story of the Three Brothers with puppets that look like the film’s animated scene are stunning!

Once you’ve had your fill (impossible, I know), you can wander out of Diagon Alley and explore the rest of the park. We’ll be returning at night.

Universal Studios of Florida has a lot of small rides and many of them are screen based including Jimmy Fallon’s Race through New York and the Simpsons Ride. Check out the Men in Black ride, E.T., Dreamworks Land, Revenge of the Mummy, and more.

Day 1: Dinner and night time at Diagon Alley

Once the sun starts to set, grab dinner before heading back to Diagon Alley to experience it at night. If you didn’t eat at the Leaky Cauldron earlier, dinner here is a great option! Alternatively, grab dinner at one of the many options in the San Francisco or New York sections of the park before returning to the Wizarding World. Louie’s Italian Restaurant has vegetarian options and Richter’s Burger Co has a Beyond burger.

Now that it’s dark, time to explore Diagon Alley again! You might be saying, why? We literally just did that.

Trust me when I say, the magic reignites at night. The shop windows are beautiful at night. Certain things light up at night that you won’t see otherwise…like a lamp shop that only illuminates at night.

The dragon is spectacular at night. Knockturn Alley isn’t such a harsh contrast for your eyes in comparison to the daytime sunlight so you’ll be able to see even more at night.

Not to mention that as the park closes, Diagon Alley clears out. Carkitt Market is so magical at night when it’s empty. You can really take your time in the shops, observing all the details of the window displays and listen to the music.

I also recommend grabbing some butterbeer ice cream from Florean Flortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour to pair with your nighttime experience. In addition to a butterbeer flavor, they also have lots of unique flavors like toffee apple, chocolate chili, salted carmel blondie, and earl grey & lavender.

P.S. If the line for Florean Fortescue’s is ridiculous and you only want butterbeer ice cream, you can pop in next door to Fountain of Fair Fortune and order it there.

That concludes Day 1! You might be thinking, ummm…Alanna…you missed like a TON of things to do, even in Diagon Alley.

I promise it’s intentional.

Day 2: Escape from Gringotts

Today, we’ll be doing the reverse of the first day. That is…starting in one park then taking the Hogwarts Express to the other and spending the remainder of the day there.

Let’s start in Diagon Alley in Universal Studios of Florida. We’re going to hop on Escape from Gringotts to start the day. This is the one ride in Diagon Alley and probably the one glaring thing we didn’t do yesterday.

The queue for this ride is just as detailed as the others. You’ll go inside Gringotts including the parts you don’t see in the movies.

This is a 4D ride with glasses, so as a regular seeing glasses-wearer myself, I recommend holding onto the 4D glasses while you ride. Because ya girl may or may not have lost hers in the past. Bellatrix sent our cart flying around a curve and off my 4D glasses went flying into the abyss. Oops. Don’t be like me…hang onto those puppies if you’re wearing them over your actual seeing glasses.

Day 2: Hogwarts Express from King’s Cross Station

Once you’ve checked off this ride, wave goodbye to Diagon Alley because we’re headed to Hogsmeade Village.

Work your way out of Diagon Alley to London and over to King’s Cross Station where you’ll ride the Hogwarts Express to Hogsmeade Village. It should be early enough that the line hasn’t built up yet.

The queue itself is much more interesting than that in Hogsmeade Village.

You’ll see actual advertisements that are in the films, lots of vintage trunks including Harry’s, and you’ll even be able to “run through platforms 9 and 10” to get to 9 ¾. This works great for a video opp. To do it well, I recommend having someone stay back to record the video while everyone else proceeds through.

You can spot this moment when there looks to be a big sheet of glass randomly in the middle of some trunks and empty space. That’s actually key to the magic (read: illusion), so that’s your sign to take out your camera.

Hop on the Hogwarts Express and similarly to before, be sure to watch the window and compartment door. I personally thought this direction was a more fun experience, but they’re both worth the ride at least once.

Day 2: Take in Hogsmeade Village

Welcome back to Hogsmeade Village!

We were here yesterday but only briefly, so now we can finally explore in detail. Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is the big to-do. I have some tips below on how to be notified when the wait is on the lower end. At any point if you get a notification throughout this part of the itinerary, hop in the line.

I was convinced that this ride was not going to be worth the wait. We waited almost 90 minutes! As we moved through the (just as beautiful and ornate) queue, I literally kept thinking, this is ridiculous, why are we wasting our time, there’s no way this is worth this wait.

…but then I rode it. And I would wait again right now if given the opportunity.

There are few rides that are god-tier. Rise of the Resistance in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is the only that comes to mind immediately and now Hagrid’s. I don’t mean to hype it up into oblivion, but I recommend holding your judgement and refraining from spoilers, then trusting that it’s an incredible ride.

I won’t spoil it but just know that if you like roller coasters this is about to be a new favorite.

Moving on, there are numerous shops here to explore and each is beautiful even if you don’t plan to purchase anything.

Honeydukes is first up on the left. This is the premier sweet shop full of Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Bean, Chocolate Frogs, handmade candies and sweets, and more! It’s a beautiful shop and very photogenic.

I walked out with a metal tin chocolate frog that came with 5 (!!) wizard trading cards, of which you actually can get a variety. They also sell cheaper chocolate frogs in paper packaging, also with trading cards.

Opposite Honeydukes is Dervish and Banges, a general store with lots of wizarding supplies and tools like Quidditch gear, robes, notebooks, and more. The highlight of this shop in my opinion is a live Monster Book of Monsters in a cage in the center back. Watch him for a bit and he’ll move around chomping at nothing.

From Owl Post, you can mail actual letters or postcards and they’ll stamp it with an official Hogsmeade stamp. They also have an assortment of wands for purchase here.

Ollivander’s is toward the back of Hogsmeade Village at the end of the shop row. You can attend a wand selection ceremony here just as you can in Diagon Alley, but it may be less crowded.

Outside Ollivander’s is a wand cart if you’re looking to shop wands in Hogsmeade Village with fewer crowds.

Lastly, is Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods with more prop replicas and merch, the idea here is that Professor Filch has confiscated these items so it’s fun to look around with that in mind.

Be sure to stop by one of the two butterbeer carts to take some photos and satisfy your butterbeer fix. You can also grab one from Hog’s Head just next to the Three Broomsticks restaurant. You can walk right in and go up to the bar. Look for the giant hog head mounted on the wall (he moves!).

Attend a show at the stage toward the back of the Frog Choir or Triwizard Spirit Rally. Both are very fun and engaging. Check Universal Orlando app or map for updated show times.

Day 2: Lunch options in Hogsmeade

When it’s time for a meal, the restaurant here is the Three Broomsticks. They have English food similar to the Leaky Cauldron, but with varied options. I enjoyed the potato and leek soup after getting utterly soaked in the rain. More on the fickle weather at the end in the Tips section.

You can get butterbeer, themed drinks, and beer here as well. However, if you’re in need of just a drink, again, you can just stop in Hog’s Head right next door for quicker drink-only service.

If you want some other food options, I personally love Thunder Falls Terrace in the Jurassic Park section. They have roasted chicken and a delicious plant-based chorizo bowl that I get every time I visit the parks! The sandwiches from Blondie’s in Toon Lagoon are also filling, fresh, and delish!

Day 2: Venturing to Islands of Adventure

While you wait for sunset, now is a good time to explore the rest of the park. The Jurassic Park area is right next door where you can ride the VelociCoaster, the River Cruise, and explore the Discovery Center, which is also a nice quiet area to sit and admire the view of the park’s lake.

I recommend trying the Jurassic World Isla Nublar IPA, a fruity IPA that was so refreshing! I seriously hate beer (and I’ve tried A LOT), but I could have probably actually drank this one!

The rest of the park, really warrants more time because there are lots of other involved worlds and rides like the Hulk in Marvel Super Hero Island and Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls, a fast water ride in Toon Lagoon.

On the opposite end of Hogsmeade, you can wander through The Lost Continent and explore Seuss Landing, a very fun themed area even for adults…the Cat in the Hat ride is a trip…and very air conditioned!

Day 2: Hogsmeade lit up

Once the sun starts to set, head back to Hogsmeade where you’ll notice all the fun shop windows that come to life at night.

Similarly to Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade starts to clear out at night although it is more popular here than Diagon Alley at night because occasionally there is a nighttime light show on Hogwarts. To catch it with the best view, head to the bridge between Hogsmeade and Jurassic Park well before the show starts.

It happens a few times at night starting at sunset, so don’t fret if you miss the first showing. It’s also seasonal and isn’t always running, so ask a team member if it’ll be operating when you visit.

I also recommend hopping on Harry Potter and Forbidden Journey again while people are busy watching the show. The wait times can be very short at night.

That concludes the Wizarding World itinerary, but keep reading for tips to maximize your experience and have the best time!

Day 3: Epic Universe

Rope dropping Battle at the Ministry

Whether you’re staying at a Universal hotel or not, you can get into Epic Universe an hour before park opening. If you don’t have Early Park Admission (meaning you’re not staying at a Universal hotel), you just won’t have access to the early opening rides in Super Nintendo World, Dark Universe, or Celestial Park.

But, since we’re only focused on the Wizarding World, that’s no problem.

Instead, your morning strategy should be to go straight to Battle at the Ministry. It doesn’t open until the park does for everyone, so if you time it right, you can get in line an hour early.

Yes, you’ll be waiting in line for at least a full hour while the ride waits to be opened when the park does. But, it will allow you to skip the high wait times during the majority of the day.

When the park opens, you’ll be let on the ride and can knock it out first thing, so you can explore more slowly.

The Battle at the Ministry queue is perhaps just as impressive as its ride. You’ll take the floo network to enter the British Ministry of Magic, which has been built to scale. It’s absolutely insane!

You can also visit it even if you aren’t riding by hopping in the single rider line, which lets out to a neutral viewing area.

The queue takes you farther into the Ministry where you’ll see offices, Neville, Harry, and Ron’s auror lockers, and even a charmed vaccuum.

The ride has you seated in vehicles similar to Tower of Terror with an enclosed box with an open window in front and seat belts that pull across your lap. As you ride, you’ll enjoy the story of Delores Umbridge’s trial. I won’t say more to avoid spoilers, but the story is fun and the ride is so well done!

Late morning dining in Wizarding Paris

Depending on when you get out of Battle at the Ministry, you might be hungry, so now’s a good time to grab a bite to eat.

Eating at off-peak hours is one of my favorite Epic Universe tips to avoid the crowds.

Café L’air de la Sirène is the main restaurant in Wizarding Paris. It looks like a stunning parlour with classic French menu items like baguette sandwiches and crepes.

For a sweet treat, try the butterbeer crepe. It’s definitely meant to be shared because of how intensely sweet it is.

Grab an early lunch or late breakfast and take in the sights of Wizarding Paris by dining on the café patio.

Explore Wizarding Paris

Spend the early afternoon exploring Wizarding Paris. There are number of shops that sell familiar things, with a french twist.

For example, the confectionery is called K. Rammelle where you can find sweets and treats. The wand shop is Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique where you can shop wands including some exclusive ones for Epic Universe.

Take some time to explore the interactive spell locations. Many of them here involve magical creatures in line with Fantastic Beasts. Try to find the niffler, grindylows, and demiguise.

What makes this area so impressive is just how massive these buildings are. It’s easy to feel completely immersed most similarly to how Diagon Alley makes you feel.

Le Cirque Arcanus

One of the biggest upgrades that Epic Universe got are the additions of high quality stage entertainment.

In the Wizarding World here, the show is Le Cirque Arcanus, a magical circus filled with creatures you know and love from the Fantastic Beasts films.

Showtimes are every 45 minutes and I recommend getting in line about 20-30 minutes before show time because it can reach capacity.

It’s the perfect AC break after you’ve spent some time exploring Wizarding Paris.

Venture to Epic Universe’s Other Portals

While you certainly don’t have to, and can likely spend a very long time exploring Wizarding Paris, Epic Universe has some incredible other portals that are worth seeing if you have time/energy.

Dark Universe featuring Universal’s monsters, and Isle of Berk from How to Train Your Dragon, are adjacent to the Wizarding World. The last portal is Super Nintendo World.

They’re all connected by a center area called Celestial Park. There are a number of great rides (my favorite is Stardust Racers and Monsters Unchained), shows and meet and greets, and food options in the rest of the park.

Dinner at Le Gobelet Noir

Unlike the Wizarding World in the other parks, that in Epic Universe has two sit down dining options with varied menus.

Le Gobelet Noir is a great spot for dinner. You can find it a bit hidden in the dark magic area of Wizarding Paris, called Place Cachée in a kind of nondescript black building.

The menu is European tavern food like handheld sandwiches, beef goulash, coq au vin, Jagerschnitzel, and more.

It’s a great spot for dinner!

Evening in Wizarding Paris

When the sun sets, it’s the perfect time to go back and look at all the shop windows and interactive wand locations. I’m a firm believer that the windows only get better at night because there’s no glare and you can actually see inside them!

Enjoy a slow evening admiring it all.

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Tips for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Recommended plan of attack for rides

I’ve given my full itinerary, but in case you’re looking for just a plan of attack to get on the rides, for day one I recommend jumping on Harry Potter and Forbidden Journey in the morning, first thing. Then Flight of the Hippogriff, followed by Escape from Gringotts. I’d split up the rides between the early morning and late at night.

As for Hagrid’s, I recommend setting up a wait time notification and squeezing it in whenever there’s an opportunity. If you have early park access because of your hotel or annual pass, go to Hagrid’s as soon as you can enter the park.

And don’t forget to count the Hogwarts Express in your rides, if you have a park-to-park ticket.

For Epic Universe, Battle at the Ministry can be done first thing by waiting in line at early park entry. Even if you don’t have access to early park rides, it’s no problem, because Battle at the Ministry isn’t an early park ride.

How to set up wait time notifications on the Universal FL app

First, you obviously need to download the app. Then select the ride via the “Rides” or “Map” page.

Once you’re on the ride’s page, scroll down and you’ll see “Wait Time Alert” under the name of the ride.

Tap that to set an alert when the wait time reaches the shown number of minutes. To change that number drag right or left.

Then, tap the “Set” button.

Now when the wait time drops at or below that time, you’ll get a notification. Then, you can book it over to that ride! This is great for Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure so you aren’t waiting longer than necessary.

I recommend setting it to:

• 60-75 minutes for Hagrid’s
• 35 minutes for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
• 30 minutes for Flight of the Hippogrifff
• 45 minutes for Escape from Gringotts
• 90 minutes for Battle at the Ministry

Locker lowdown

For some of the rides within Universal, you cannot bring any loose items on. This is the case with Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure, and Escape from Gringotts. They truly won’t let you proceed in the line until you’ve stowed your belongings in a locker.

So, there are lockers near those rides and throughout the parks at various attractions. There are two sizes: a standard-sized locker, which is 16.9 in x 14 in x 5.5 in and a large locker, which is 16.9 in x 13 in x 12 in.

You can use the standard size locker for free while you ride or up to 30 minutes. After the 30 minutes, it’s $3 for each additional 30 minutes. However, I did find that they were more generous on the free time based on the wait times of the rides.

The large lockers are only available for a fee. It’s $2 for 30 minutes then $3 for each 30 minutes after.

The maximum for each locker is $20 but there is no in and out privileges. So once you open the locker, the time starts over again. If you want daily lockers, there are some throughout the parks separate from the small collection by the rides.

To use the lockers, you need to scan your park ticket. You’ll need it to open the locker once you’re done on the ride as well, so be sure you don’t lock your ticket inside (or your phone with your ticket on it)! For rides with metal detectors (outside the Wizarding World), they can give you locker tickets to hold on to if your ticket is on your phone.

A note on the sizes, if you have a fanny pack or something smaller, you can easily use the standard size lockers. However, if you have a larger purse that’s over 5 inches wide (like a Loungefly mini backpack), you won’t be able to fit it inside the standard locker, so you’ll need to pay for a large locker. You may be able to squeeze Loungefly bags down, but if they’re stuffed, you may have trouble.

In Epic Universe, lockers use facial recognition to rent/return lockers, but Battle at the Ministry just has you put your belongings on the floor of the ride vehicle.

How to experience the Wizarding World without a park-to-park ticket

I’ve mentioned above that I truly think a park-to-park ticket is worth the price for the Wizarding World. It’s incredibly convenient to travel on the Hogwarts Express between parks and it gives you way more flexibility if the weather throws a wrench in your itinerary.

Either way though, you’re going to want multiple days to see all areas of Harry Potter World. I’d opt for 3 days, still, and do one park each day.

If you don’t have a park-to-park ticket, I still recommend waiting for sunset to see each park during the day and at night.

In the morning, head to Escape from Gringotts or Hagrid’s, then spend the rest of the day in that park making sure you return at night.

As I’ve mentioned, Epic Universe isn’t included in park-to-park tickets, so you’ll need a whole separate day for it.

Tips for the fickle Florida weather

Look, Orlando weather has a mind of its own. It goes through every season daily it seems. It can be hot, humid, and sunny one minute and pouring rain the next. Seriously, this happens all the time.

But what does that mean for your itinerary? First, outdoor rides will close due to weather. That includes Flight of the Hippogriff and Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure. When that happens, the wait times for the other indoor rides increases dramatically.

My tip here is to keep an eye on your weather app and look at predicted hourly weather. If rain is predicted in the next hour, I’d jump onto the indoor rides ASAP to avoid the rain crowd rush.

Not to mention, be sure to pack for Florida weather including rain gear. I like my Chaco’s for waterproof/quick drying park shoes and a UV umbrella that doubles as sun and rain protection.

Another tip is to invest in ponchos. Yes, I know they look tacky. But it rains A LOT in Florida.

When we visited, we were waiting outside in line for the Three Broomsticks and it started pouring (read: torrential downpour soaking us through our shoes). It was miserable. Like truly. The team member wouldn’t let us line up under the roof so we just got drenched. Our shoes were squishing for the rest of the day.

How could this misery been avoided? Ponchos. Yes, our shoes may have still gotten wet but it could have helped! Hot butterbeer to the rescue!

Finally, if the weather is predicting rain for one of the two days you plan to visit, I recommend dedicating that day to Universal Studios of Florida or Epic Universe NOT Islands of Adventure.

At Universal Studios Florida, there are more shops and covered areas in Diagon Alley like the entirety of Knockturn Alley and Carkitt Market. The one ride is indoors and many of the rides in the rest of the park are indoors. You may not see the dragon breathe fire, but that’s why park hoppers are so nice! You could try again another day.

Epic Universe has a lot of rides that close in the rain (7 of the 11), but Battle at the Ministry isn’t one of them. So, depending on how much of the park you want to do, it can be a good rainy day option, too.

Related read >> Rainy day guide to Epic Universe

Where can I get breakfast?

In case you missed it, when the park opened we booked it straight to the rides. So what about breakfast?

I’m a self-proclaimed hobbit and I don’t skip meals so breakfast has not been forgotten.

Instead, here’s a strategy. If you can eat at your hotel before heading to the park, that’s the best option. A full meal to give you energy to get to the Wizarding World quickly and with purpose.

Or grab donuts to go the night before from VooDoo Doughnut at CityWalk.

You can also bring small snacks into the park so while you’re waiting in your first line, you can keep your snack outside of the locker to bring it with you and eat it by the time you get on the ride.

If you’d rather wait on breakfast, do a ride first, then get breakfast at the Three Broomsticks, the Leaky Cauldron, or Café L’air de la Sirène, where they have full breakfast options like oatmeal, pancakes, bacon, eggs, the works!

We also enjoyed Cinnabon at the entrance to Islands of Adventure where we stopped after our first ride of the morning. Definitely more walking this way and could delay your timing for the Hogwarts Express to beat the lines but hey, a girls gotta eat!

My Travel Essentials

• Travel Insurance – Going on an international trip? Don’t forget travel and medical insurance with SafetyWing.
• Travel Card – If you’re new to travel hacking, fear not! My favorite card for beginners gives you $750 in rewards when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months, plus lounge access, 10x points on hotel bookings, and free TSA pre-check!
• Get Your Guide – Check out Get Your Guide for a one-stop-shop for booking travel activities.
• Booking.com – This is my favorite hotel search aggregator, specifically for reading reviews. On Booking.com, the reviews can be searched for keywords like WiFi, breakfast, pool, amenities, etc.! So helpful!
• Anti-pickpocket bag – Worried about having your valuables swiped? PacSafe makes the best travel bags with zippers and straps that lock and with mesh steel enforced fabric.
• Give the Gift of Travel – This is the perfect gift for travelers in your life! Tinggly allows you to gift experiences around the world, perfect for birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries.
• Staycation Idea – Check out Resort Pass, which gives you day passes to resorts so you can use their pool, spa, and fitness center, a great staycation idea!

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My Travel Essentials

• Travel Insurance – Going on an international trip? Don’t forget travel and medical insurance with SafetyWing.
• Travel Card – If you’re new to travel hacking, fear not! My favorite card for beginners gives you $750 in rewards when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months, plus lounge access, 10x points on hotel bookings, and free TSA pre-check!
• Get Your Guide – Check out Get Your Guide for a one-stop-shop for booking travel activities.
• Booking.com – This is my favorite hotel search aggregator, specifically for reading reviews. On Booking.com, the reviews can be searched for keywords like WiFi, breakfast, pool, amenities, etc.! So helpful!
• Anti-pickpocket bag – Worried about having your valuables swiped? PacSafe makes the best travel bags with zippers and straps that lock and with mesh steel enforced fabric.
• Give the Gift of Travel – This is the perfect gift for travelers in your life! Tinggly allows you to gift experiences around the world, perfect for birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries.
• Staycation Idea – Check out Resort Pass, which gives you day passes to resorts so you can use their pool, spa, and fitness center, a great staycation idea!

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