Cast magical spells, encounter mystical creatures and fight dark villains alongside courageous heroes at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood. Upon entry, guests can enjoy the whimsical village of Hogsmeade, and enter the illustrious Hogwarts Castle for an unforgettable journey. Offering enchanting eats, unique shops and thrilling attractions, this immersive land is one of our Frog Family’s favorites! Let’s hop into all of the important elements you need to be a wizard in this land!
Overview of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood
Before we had tadpoles, and before there were movies based on the books, Leap and I were huge "Harry Potter" fans. Once the tadpoles joined our lives, we were hopping excited to share our love of all things Harry Potter with them. But then the most magical thing of all happened, and Universal Studios Hollywood opened The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in 2016. That toadally brought the magic to life for us.
Finally, we were able to taste real Butterbeer, buy our own Chocolate Frogs — ribbit — choose a wand, cast spells and walk through Hogwarts Castle. We could hop into The Three Broomsticks for an English meal or have a drink at the Hog's Head. Finally, we could wear our wizarding clothes out in public — and we were not alone! It was a dream come true after years of fantasizing about living in a magical world. If you have your first trip to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood approaching, put on your wizard robe and hold onto your broomstick while we whizz through all of the details so you don't miss anything.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is set in the village of Hogsmeade, the town located next to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, in the books. As soon as you enter Hogsmeade, you'll want to have your camera ready to take all of those iconic shots. Right away, you will see many great photo opportunities, from the snow-covered shops to the Hogwarts Express and conductor to Hogwarts Castle itself. You'll walk past the Butterbeer cart, several shops and The Three Broomsticks restaurant. You'll stroll past Ollivanders, Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C. — where you can watch a wand pairing or purchase your own interactive wand to cast spells in the Wizarding World — past the stage to Hogwarts Castle and two rides at the back. It's a lot to take in.
Now that you have the lay of the land, you can manage your day. We have a strategy that seems to work for us — it's our Universal Studios Hollywood 1-Day Park Plan that helps us avoid the longest lines and explore the land at the least crowded times. We've hopped through The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood many, many times, and our trusty plan still holds up every visit. You can also save some serious green on Universal Studios Hollywood tickets if you buy through Undercover Tourist!
We hit the rides when they have the shortest wait times in the morning and evening, and attend a wand pairing when the wait times at Ollivanders dip in the afternoon. We use the afternoon — when ride wait times are long around the whole park — to cast spells, shop and eat in the Wizarding World.
Rides at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood
Now that you have a plan of attack, let's go over the rides. There are two rides in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Hollywood. The Flight of the Hippogriff was Universal Studios Hollywood’s first outdoor roller coaster. It is family-friendly, short and appropriate for muggles 39 inches and up. Be sure to take notice of Hagrid’s hut and Buckbeak in his nest.
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at Universal Studios Hollywood is the main attraction. It takes place inside Hogwarts Castle. If you have tadpoles too short to ride, there is a Child Switch room right next to the boarding area so that you can take turns riding. The Child Switch room has a "Harry Potter" movie playing to entertain you while you wait. You can also use the room to watch souvenirs or prizes that are too big to fit in the storage lockers. Here are some more tips for bringing toddlers and small children to Universal Studios Hollywood with you.
This adventure is more appropriate for brave muggles 48 inches and up and definitely not for those prone to motion sickness. I can enjoy the biggest and fastest roller coasters around, but even I get a little greener than usual on this ride. I have found that if I close my eyes on the parts that are based on the screens, it really helps me get through. Tad and Leap, however, jump back in the Single Riders line to ride again and again.
If you are a diehard "Harry Potter" fan who can brave the Quidditch pitch, Whomping Willows, dragons, giant spiders and dementors, then this ride is for you. If you are a "Harry Potter" fan who is afraid of getting sick, you can simply ask to do the castle walkthrough and skip the line. Another option if your family members are waiting to ride is waiting with them and then slipping out before boarding. Just tell the team members you're not riding, and they'll direct you to the exit.
This ride loads on a continuously moving conveyor belt-type system. You need to be able to move quickly. If you use a wheelchair or need extra time boarding, be sure to ask an attendant before hopping in line. There is a completely separate area to load for people who need it. (And be sure to hop over to our post on using a wheelchair at Universal Studios Hollywood for more tips.)
The queue is quite fun as you weave through the castle among the Mirror of Erised, talking portraits and the house league gemstone counters. Professor Dumbledore speaks to you from his study. Plus Harry, Ron and Hermione also talk to you from their Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. You'll encounter the Sorting Hat, who also talks! The line itself is as much fun as the ride, if you ask me.
As of June 6th, 2024 there are new lockers for Forbidden Journey. Rather than inside the dark castle, the lockers are now to the left of the castle where the old outside queue used to be. There are free lockers and $5 rentable lockers available to store your belongings. The free lockers are very small, so plan ahead if you don't want to get stuck choosing between the $5 or the skipping the ride!
There are also full day lockers available ranging from $8-$15 towards the front of the park which you can open and close as many times as you need! We recommend using one of these lockers if you're planning on bringing more than your essentials for your park day.
The Universal Express ticket is good for skipping the line for both rides. We highly recommend getting a Universal Express Pass. There is also a Single Riders line available for both rides. And again, there is a special area to enter if you just want to walk through the castle without waiting in the full ride line. It misses a few details, but you'll hit the toadally cool major queue elements.
Shopping in The Wizarding World
Be sure to go into the various shops, such as Honeydukes candy shop, for some Chocolate Frogs, Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans, chocolate cauldrons, Fizzing Whizbees and more. We liked the dark mark suckers, as well as the feather quill suckers that actually can be used to write. Attached, you will find Florian Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. That's where you can get soft-serve ice cream (including wizard favorites such as Butterbeer, Toffee Apple and Toffee Nut).
Owl Post, Dervish and Banges and Gladrags are all attached to each other. Be sure to look out for the Monster Book of Monsters! You'll also find some dresses that appeared in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." This is the place to buy your robes and uniforms, as well as Quidditch equipment and materials to send items by owl post. You can get mail officially stamped outside. You can now get select items embroidered.
Inside the castle and as you exit the Forbidden Journey are where you will find Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods. You can purchase clothing, house crest banners, toys, games and replicas of the movie props. If you want to buy a character wand, there is a stand outside of Filch’s Emporium.
At Ollivanders, you can buy character and custom wands — including magical interactive wands that cast spells in both California and Florida parks. We recommend watching a wand-pairing ceremony first. You just might get chosen! In this unique, interactive experience, you can watch one child or young adult selected from the audience work with the wandmaker to be paired with just the right wand for them. Brace yourself if your tadpole gets chosen. They may want to buy the “custom” interactive wand that lets you cast spells around the Wizarding World. The interactive wands are about $60, so you might want to set up expectations before entering.
There is usually a wait to take part in a wand-choosing ceremony, so keep your eye on that. We find that the wait time is highest in the morning and dips in the afternoon. Find out more about choosing a wand in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Dining in The Wizarding World at Universal Studios Hollywood
There are so many whimsically delicious meals and treats to enjoy at The Wizarding World in Universal Studios Hollywood! From seated dining to quick-service snacks, this land features many authentic eats from the "Harry Potter" novels and films.
They had me at Butterbeer, which you can find cold or frozen at stands in Hogsmeade. You can get hot, cold or frozen Butterbeer with your meal inside The Three Broomsticks, as well. The restaurant sells pumpkin juice, apple cider and pear cider to wash down your meals. The English food is quite good. To learn more about the food in detail, we have a whole post on the best food and drink in The Wizarding World Hollywood.
If you frequently find yourself donning a foam mustache, you're going to love this news: from about mid-March 15 to early June, Universal Studios celebrating the annual Butterbeer Season! Try delectable new treats, such as a Butterbeer flavored ice lolly, in addition to the traditional items served at the park daily. Additionally, you're able to purchase cold or frozen Butterbeer in a special collectible silver stein for a limited time during the event.
The Three Broomsticks is the one restaurant in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Hollywood ... and it's one of our favorite Universal Studios Hollywood restaurants! Everything we have eaten has been delicious, and we've pretty much tried everything at this point. We always make a point to hop in when visiting. It serves breakfast (until 11 a.m.), lunch and dinner.
There are all kinds of edible treats inside Honeydukes. All of those fun candies that Harry Potter purchased off of the snack trolley on the Hogwarts Express are there! Additionally, as of March 29, 2024, the confectioners at Honeydukes serve up 10 decadent and savory soft serve flavors of Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream! Get ready to enjoy Butterbeer, Banana, Chocolate, Mint, Orange, Vanilla, Toffee Nut, Granny Smith Apple, Pistachio and Toffee Apple, available in a cup or waffle cone.
The Hog’s Head sells also nonalcoholic Butterbeer, alcoholic beers, mixed drinks and whiskeys. You can snuggle up with a drink in a cozy booth or in front of the fireplace.
For more information on dining options, hop over to our post on the best food items in The Wizarding World. And, of course, don't froget to get some wizarding ice cream at Florian Fotescue's at Honeydukes.
Entertainment in The Wizarding World at Universal Studios Hollywood
The entertainment in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood is made up of multiple stage acts, wand pairing demonstrations and a nighttime projection show, amongst other cool interactions scattered throughout the land!
On the Hogsmeade stage, you will find some entertainment throughout your visit. Some of the Hogwarts choir students (one from each house) perform with their large croaking frogs for Frog Choir. Ribbit, ribbit! The show takes place during the holidays.
You can also cheer on the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students as they get the crowd excited for the Triwizard Tournament. After each year-round performance, you can take photos with the performers.
Be sure to check the show times for these shows early in the day. You can always ask a team member in The Wizarding World for show times. The Universal Studios Hollywood app is also a good source to check ride and Ollivanders wait times, as well.
During certain seasons, mostly spring break, summer and the Christmas season at Universal Studios Hollywood, there is a Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle show once the sun sets. With music, projections and lights, it's pure magic. The theme of the show varies per season. For summer 2024, it's the Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle. In 2023 it was the Dark Arts show.
What's toadally cool is that Death Eaters roam for a limited time during Halloween Horror Nights. Hop over to our post on Halloween Horror Nights to learn more about this event if it's something you'd like to experience.
There are many other magical surprises and hidden gems waiting for you in Hogsmeade. We don’t want to spoil all of them. But if you are a true Harry Potter fan like we are, you will appreciate all of the storied details in the store windows and the magical folk working in the shops. Visit our post dedicated to breaking down all of the entertainment in the Wizarding World at Universal Studios Hollywood!
Events in the Wizarding World
Celebrate special events in the Wizarding World.
Butterbeer Season
Try special Butterbeer treats and celebrate everyone's favorite drink about mid-March through April.
Back to Hogwarts
From Aug. 1 to Sept. 1, celebrate students going back to Hogwarts with special snacks and "Back to Hogwarts" school bundles available for purchase during the one-month celebration each August.
The Bundles include a house backpack, notebook and Hedwig plush puppet that makes noise (because all students should have their own owl)! It costs $80 and is valued at $114.93. You can buy the bundle inside the Wizarding World at Dervish and Banges. You can also purchase it at the Universal Store just outside the park in City Walk.
It's the season for celebrating your Hogwarts House. Are you Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw? Be sure to put on your robe, lift your wand and snap a pic in front of the castle.
As of Aug. 12, 2024, you can purchase a Hogwarts Express Iced Biscuit. So even if you have to take the boring old school bus to school with the other muggles, at least you can get a taste of the Hogwarts Express.
Death Eaters on Patrol During Horror Nights
During the separately ticketed Halloween Horror Nights, be on the lookout for Death Eaters in Hogsmeade. Better pack your wand. These nights are toadally cool!
Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
From late November through New Years, enjoy holiday decor, The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle projection show, Holiday Frog Choir, holiday foods and shopping.
Tips for Managing Your Time in The Wizarding World
You do not have a time-turner, so you'll need to be smart about your time management, especially if you want to explore other parts of Universal Studios Hollywood. Try to arrive right at park opening, which is how you'll find the shortest lines of the day at any theme park. We love skipping the lines!
Save your shopping and wand spells for midday. We know you are going to be so excited to see it all but bear with us. Ride wait times are short in the morning but then peak. If you see a short wait time for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, head straight to the back of the land toward the castle. Do not take too much time to explore now. You will have plenty of time for shopping and exploring later. Ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey inside the castle. Do not use the Single Riders line for your first ride. It skips too much of the castle. If you are a huge "Harry Potter" fan, you'll want to hop through the entire queue so you can take in all those cool details. That's why you want to ride before the line builds up.
Now that that's done, we actually recommend leaving the Wizarding World for a bit. Wait, what? Yes. You'll thank us later. Everyone else heads to the Wizarding World or Super Nintendo World first thing in the morning. Go take advantage of the short lines elsewhere in the park. We like to hop down to the Lower Lot as soon as it opens and knock those rides out while lines are short. (Those wait times peak in the afternoon.) Then, we ride the Studio Tour and make our way back to the Wizarding World.
In the afternoon, all of the park ride lines are long. Thats a great time to explore the Wizarding World's streets of Hogsmeade. You'll have space to shop and explore and watch the entertainment. The wand pairing line will have magically shrunk. You can take time to eat. This way, you'll feel less pressure and can relax and enjoy your time in Hogsmeade. The wait times for the rides drop off towards the evening. If there is a Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle show that evening, hop back again later for it. The later shows have the thinnest crowds.
Have questions about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood? Drop us a line in the comments below! Your favorite frog friends can magically put some money back in your wallet when you purchase discount regular or Universal Express Universal Studios Hollywood Resort tickets for your visit.
Related: ~Toadally~ Cool Wizarding World of Harry Potter Spells at Universal Studios Hollywood
Related: Universal Studios Hollywood Tips to Maximize Your Time
Hoppy planning!
