Harry Potter your way around Universal Orlando

I recently came back from the second most magical place on earth - Universal Studio! And I only focused on the Harry Potter rides. So here you go a Muggle’s guide to the Harry Potter world at Disney (no fast track edition)!

Start your day at either Islands of Adventure or Universal Studios. But be prepared to:

• Take the Hogswarts Express in both direction since the video montage is different

• End the day at the Islands of Adventure to see the Hogwarts Castle at night.

Islands of Adventure:

• Start your day going on Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure

• Continue the journey at Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

• Once you have the two long lines out of the way. Stay in Hogsmeade and enjoy!

  • Honeydukes,

  • Zonko's Joke Shop

  • Three Broomsticks

• Take in a performance of the Frog Choir and the Triwizard Tournament Rally in Hogsmeade in the middle

• Take the Hogwarts Express to Diagon Alley in Universal Studios.

Universal Studios Florida

• Immediately head to the Escape from Gringotts ride

• Then explore the rest of Diagon Alley:

  • Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes

  • Ollivander’s Wand Shop

• Consume Butterbeer

• Take in a reenactment of Tales of Beedle the Bard and the musical performance in Diagon Alley

• Take the Hogwarts Express back to Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure.

Islands of Adventure:

• Lights at Hogwarts Castle in the evening

• Eat dinner at the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley or the Hog's Head/ Thre Broomsticks in Hogsmeade.

If you want to do other rides in the interim as you are looking to fill time, I might not be the best candidate as I am scared of open aired roller coasters. I ended up doing the more gentle rides like:

• Minion Blast

• Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon