Day-to-Night Timelapse of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

If you want the full experience, visit both the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Universal’s Islands of Adventure AND Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida. Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade started it all as the original Harry Potter land in 2010. It’s home to Hagrid’s Cottage, Honeydukes Sweet Shop, Three Broomsticks restaurant, Ollivander’s, two Dragon Challenge roller coasters, the incredible Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey multi-sensory ride, as well as numerous Harry Potter-themed retail shops. For an affordable and fun souvenir, purchase a postcard and send it to yourself from the Hogsmeade Post Office. It will be stamped with a special Hogsmeade Owl Post postmark.

The highlight at Hogsmeade is Hogwarts Castle, in which houses the Forbidden Journey ride.  The (usually long) line for the Forbidden Journey ride ingeniously winds its way through the true-to-the-book interior of Hogwarts. You’ll find the Gryffindor Common Room, the Room of Requirement, and Dumbledore’s Office.

The newest addition to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter experience is Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida, which opened in summer 2014. Diagon Alley is accessible from Hogsmeade via the new Hogwarts Express Train, leaving from Platform 9 3/4, of course. A ride on Hogwarts Express is included in a Park-to-Park ticket or Annual Pass.