Hooray!
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has arrived at Universal Studios Hollywood.
West coast muggles rejoice! Harry Potter fans will feel like they've stepped into the books and movies. The new Wizarding World in California is just like Hogsmeade at Universal Orlando Resort.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is included with every Universal Studios Hollywood ticket. I was there the month it opened and several times since. I'm sharing my top tips to help you plan your visit.
Here are the top things to do at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Hogsmeade
I’m lumping Hogsmeade together as one feature, because it really is an experience in and of itself. When you enter the park, you’ll step right into the cobblestone streets of Hogsmeade where you’ll find meticulous details from the books in every nook and cranny. There are actual shops that you can visit mixed with interactive store fronts.
There’s an Owl Post where you can send a letter postmarked from Hogsmeade. I would recommend purchasing your own stamps in advance, as a sheet of 10 is $15. It is incredibly charming.
Ollivander's
Ollivander's is one of the shops in the Hogsmeade line-up, but it offers a special experience that is definitely worth mentioning on its own. You can either go straight into the shop where you can purchase an exact replica of your favorite character’s wand, or you can first go to a wand ceremony where a wand chooses a wizard.
The actual ceremony only lasts a few minutes and each “show” only holds about 20 guests at a time. Because the ceremony is so intimate, it’s not a high capacity attraction and lines can get long. If you’re a huge Harry Potter fan, I would recommend getting there first thing in the morning before lines get too crazy.
Live Entertainment
There are two different live shows, the Frog Choir and the Triwizard Spirit Rally. The shows rotate throughout the day and are both so much fun. They completely add to the atmosphere of the Wizarding World, the performers are amazing and available for photos after each show.
On select dates, you can see The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle. This light show is an after dark treat during peak season. Check the official calendar to find out if it will be happening during your visit.
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
There’s no question that Hogwarts Castle is the main feature of Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It’s like two attractions in one.
First, you’ll take a tour through Hogwarts where you’ll see actual props and exact replicas from the films. You’ll see the Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom, Dumbledore’s office, the Gryffindor common room and so much more. It was actually my favorite part of the land!
Once your tour of Hogwarts concludes, you’ll board Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, an intense ride that feels like part virtual reality and part roller coaster. If you’ve been to Florida, you should know that this version is even more realistic with 3D and HD technology.
Related: The Best Rides at Universal Studios Hollywood
Flight of the Hippogriff
This outdoor rollercoaster is a perfect “first” rollercoaster, and is a short, but surprisingly fun ride. Not only was it fun to ride, but the queue to get there was so well themed. You’ll wander right past Hagrid’s Hut where you’ll see and hear all sorts of surprises.
Food
You may say that I saved the best for last. There is one restaurant, The Three Broomsticks, that is styled after an English Pub. Everything I’ve had from there has been delicious… I highly recommend the eggy bread (French toast) for breakfast, chicken or prime rib for lunch or dinner, and the Butterbeer potted crème for dessert.
The most popular food item at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is without doubt the Butterbeer, and for good reason. You can currently find Butterbeer in two forms “regular,” which is like a soda, or frozen, which is my personal favorite. It can be purchased as part of your meal at the Three Broomsticks, at the Butterbeer Cart in the streets of Hogsmeade, or from the bar counter at the Hog’s Head, which is connected to the Three Broomsticks, but oftentimes has a much shorter line since there are no actual food items sold there.
Related: Top Tips for Visiting Universal Studios Hollywood
Save Money
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I hope this gets you excited about visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter which truly is an experience any fan of the series will not want to miss. To make the most of your day, I recommend getting there as early as possible. Also, you should be aware that Universal Studios recently changed their pricing structure, so some days are more expensive (and crowded) than others. To save the most and have the fewest crowds, you’ll want to try to plan your visit during the week and non-peak travel times.
Read more about our partnership with Get Away Today here.
secretchimp
The WWoHP is AMAZING. I went last year with my wife and my son, who was only two. unfortunately he didn’t really “get” it. That being said, he did LOVE the Flight of the Hippogriff. As a “kiddie” coaster is was pretty intense, so be forewarned. But he loved it, and wanted to go again and again!
One thing to add- go get a magic wand. It’s a cool thing to have, and there are tons of places around Diagon Alley where you can “Cast Spells” and different things will interact with your wand!
Allison
Thanks for the wand tip! That’s so cool.
Wandering Educators
Love these tips! that frog photo makes me want to go!
theglobetrottingmommy
My daughter is just starting to learn about Harry Potter. This is definitely on our wish list for a California trip.
Claudia Laroye
Words cannot describe how much I adore WWHP in Orlando. We spent three entire days enjoying the park and it was worth every moment. Just such a magical place (pun intended)!
pitstopsforkids
Covering the same topic this week! We both must be excited to see Harry Potter come to the west coast!
Colleen Lanin
I’ve never been much of a Harry Potter fan but I would like to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!
Katie Dillon
I’ve heard really great things about it but haven’t been. My daughter is reading Harry Potter now (finally).