Tips, Tricks and Pics in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter At The Universal Orlando Resort

Life's a struggle when you're a muggle...

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal is broken into two parts, Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. It is connected by the Hogwarts express that runs from one side to the other. Unfortunately due to brilliant sales strategies on Universal's part, Hogsmeade is located in Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley is located in Universal Studios. This means that in order for you to experience both you must buy a park hopper ticket which is more money than a one park ticket. Money aside, I highly encourage you to buy a park to park ticket because to every Harry Potter fan, IT IS WORTH IT.

Though I am normally snapping my way around Disney and all the wonderful photo opportunities that exist there, I do every now and then head to Universal to hang out. Furthermore, mainly I hang out in the Wizarding World since the muggles always have me down. While visiting I have managed to take some great photos and uncover hidden details that truly make the Wizarding World come to life!

We can start in the Islands of Adventure park, IOA. For the quickest way to the back, in case you are going at park opening and trying to beat the line, walk into IOA and head right, passing through Suess Land and then The Lost Continent. This will lead you straight into Hogsmeade where you can stop and get a picture with the train conductor of the Hogwarts Express.

Once you make it through Hogsmeade you can pose in front of the iconic Hogwarts castle where Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey is housed.

There are so many wonderful places to get pictures of along the way and the attention to detail is incredible. The artists who worked to create Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley deserve a raise because there is nothing they haven't thought about. I mean, Moaning Myrtle is even in the bathrooms that you use next to the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade. There are also Butterbeer carts where you can purchase real Butterbeer, wanted posters of Sirius Black, and do not even get me started about the inside of Hogwarts as you wait for the Forbidden Journey!

From Hogsmeade, you can take the train to Diagon Alley at Universal Studios. TIP: If you have time, ride the train both ways since the experience is different each direction. Once you are let off at the Diagon Alley side, you can head on over to see my boy Stan Shunpike, his Knight Bus Conductor friends and the shrunken head.

There are two places to take pictures on the bus. One of the front side (the most popular) with Stan and his friends, the other on the back side which is empty and makes for a great place to act like you're hopping aboard the bus.

Before you tap the bricks on the wall to head inside Diagon Alley, please stop by and say hi to the traitor and sole purpose Sirius Black is dead, the house elf Kreacher. You can find him at his home #12 Grimmauld Place. Unless you're a Death Eater, I am sure you hate him just as much as I do, but he did help Harry, Hermione and Ron in the quest for the horcruxes and not to mention S.P.E.W. Worried about how you will find it? Don't worry, Dumbledore made me secret keeper before he passed on and I have just shared it all with you so you'll be able to get a picture.

Though he is not pictured in my photograph, Kreacher stands in the window at #12 and peeps out every few minutes or so to see what dirty muggles are trying to enter his home. The door has the number 12 on it and if you look closely you can even tell that the bricks are a different shade than the bricks to the right on number 13.

Now it is time for my absolute favorite part of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Diagon Alley. This place is my absolute best dreams realized! The first time I went, I honestly shed a teeny tiny tear. They spared no details in the replica of this fantastic fictitious place.

As soon as you enter, you are completely enveloped by the Wizarding World. The first thing that will catch your eye is obviously the giant dragon trying to escape from Gringotts Bank. He breathes fire about every ten minutes or so, which makes a pretty cool shot! 

You can stop by Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes and take a picture with the dark mark painted on the wall, or even on the side of the shop where they have taken to marketing their products in a typical Weasley fashion, over the top!

Head over to the House-Elf Placement Agency and stage a protest for the rights of future house elves. Justice for Dobby!

There is even a Knockturn Alley which is just as dark and creepy as the one from the books. You can head in there to pick up all your dark wizard needs and even shop at Borgin and Burkes. Remember the vanishing cabinet Draco used to break the Death Eaters into Hogwarts in Half Blood Prince? You can find it in Borgin and Burkes! Listen closely and you can even hear the bird chirping that Draco uses to test if the cabinet has been fixed yet. 

We all know that the wand chooses the wizard but if you do not get selected at Ollivander's wand experience, you can still buy one of your choosing. If you get a wand at Ollivander's or Gregorovitch's (not judging you too harshly if you choose the latter) you can buy a wand that is interactive for an up-charge. You can then use your wand around both Hogsmeade and Diagon/Knockturn Alley to cast your own spells! 

Spells include, making it rain, turning on lights, using silencio to silence a singing bird and many, many more! Your wand comes with a map of the areas you can perform your spells and there are markers at each place around the park on the ground. 

Wingardium Leviosa'd that feather right off the table on only my second try! I was born to be a witch.

Finally, there are a few hidden places that you can take pictures in Universal Studios that are inspired by the extremely successful spin off of the Harry Potter franchise, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. 

Hidden down one of the steps in "New York" is the entrance to the speak easy Newt and the gang visited in the movie, The Blind Pig ran by the gangster goblin Gnarlak. It was complete with even the exact mural painted on the door, unfortunately for Maria and I, she didn't reveal herself to the likes of us muggles. 

Lastly, though this is not a confirmed Harry Potter universe picture spot, I found this subway train station right before the Mummy ride that reminded me of when Newt and the gang had just finished battling Gellert Grindelwald and had to erase Jacob's memory. They walked up the subway steps and stepped out into the rain, erasing the memory of all the muggles.

I hope you get to journey to the Wizarding World soon and best of luck spotting all the hidden details around the park! 

To anyone reading this, all positive and constructive opinions are welcome! Disclaimer: I am by no means a professional at writing or vacation planning so if you read my blogs or take my advice do so with a grain of salt.