How to Do the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando in One Day

Planning a trip to Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and wondering if you can see it all in one day?

It’s completely possible to do with a one day park-to-park ticket. I’ve done it twice now, once with an Express Unlimited Pass and once without.

I’m absolutely enchanted with the book series, so when I’m visiting Universal Orlando, this is where I prefer to spend the majority of my time. If you’re hoping to fit other things in during your Universal 1-Day visit, you may have to cut some of my itinerary items out, but it can be done.

With a little bit of planning and a few strategic decisions, you can check all things Harry Potter off your list in a day.

I’m spilling all my tips for how to accomplish it all and have the best experience EVER at Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

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Can you see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in one day?

Yes, it is possible to see both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in one day. You will need a one-day two-park ticket to experience all that the Wizarding World has to offer, since Diagon Alley is located in Universal Studios and Hogsmeade is located in Islands of Adventure.

The two parks are connected by the Hogwarts Express, the train Harry and his friends take to get to Hogwarts each year. You can only access this attraction if you have a park-to-park ticket, though!

In my opinion, you can absolutely fit everything you want to do in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in one day, even without Express Passes. You just need to be strategic about your itinerary!

How to Prepare for your Trip

What Tickets do You Need for Wizarding World of Harry Potter?

To get the most out of your one day at Universal Orlando, you need a 2-Park, 1-Day Ticket.

A 2-Park Ticket will allow you to go back and forth between Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, the 2 Harry Potter-themed worlds, Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley.

You can either walk back and forth between the parks, or use the Hogwarts Express train.

The Hogwarts Express is a replica of the scarlet steam engine that Harry and his friends take from Kings Cross Station to get to Hogwarts each year. Not only is it a form of transportation between the 2 parks, but it’s also a ride featuring characters and experiences from the books and movies.

You must have a Park-to-Park Ticket to ride the Hogwarts Express, as it goes between Kings Cross Station in Universal Studios to Hogsmeade Station in Islands of Adventure.

Prices for Universal Orlando 2-day tickets will vary depending on season and time of year. For early June 2022 we paid $164.00 for an adult ticket and $159.00 for a child ticket.

Universal Express Passes

Do you need an Express Pass to fit everything in? Technically, no. We did everything we wanted to do on our latest trip with the help of early entry, a perk that comes with staying on property.

On our very first visit, we did have the Universal Express Unlimited pass, which lets you skip the regular lines an unlimited number of times. We were able to get on our favorite rides multiple times, which was a big perk for our very first visit. Be aware that you won’t walk right on the ride, though. You’ll just skip most of the regular queue.
Universal Express Unlimited Passes start at $109.99, but for our dates this time around they ended up being $149.99, which is why we decided to skip them. Skipping lines is great, but we weren’t willing to fork over an extra $300 for the 2 of us!
One last option is that you can stay in a Premier Tier Hotel (Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel®, Loews Royal Pacific Resort), which comes with an Express Unlimited Pass for each member of your party.

These hotels are definitely more of a splurge, but if you want a luxury hotel experience and you’d like the opportunity to ride some of the more popular Harry Potter rides more than once, it may be worth it for you!

I will say that Universal was extremely crowded this past summer, and a few times I felt myself wishing I had splurged on the Express Unlimited Pass. However, despite the long waits, we were still able to fit it all in.

Where to Stay at Universal

There are 4 tiers of hotels at Universal Orlando: Premier, Preferred, Prime Value, and Value. All Universal Hotels come with early entry to the parks, free transportation to and from the parks, and the ability to charge purchases to your room and have them delivered to your room.

What sets the Premier Hotels apart are the included Unlimited Express Passes and priority seating at select restaurants around the resort.

I’ve had the experience of staying at Loews Sapphire Resort (Preferred), Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort (Prime Value), and now Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites (Value).

>> Here’s my blog post review of Loews Sapphire Resort.

Since all of the hotels except the Premier Hotels have the same benefits, which one you choose will depend on what you’re looking to get out of the experience.

For example, we were very budget conscious on our latest trip, and only needed a comfortable place to rest our heads and early entry to the park since we flew in on a Thursday, went to the park on Friday, and flew back home on Saturday. For that, the Value Resorts were perfect!

If you’ll be spending a bit more time at the hotel, you might want to choose a Prime Value or Preferred Resort since they have better pools and more dining options. Plus, they are closer to the parks!

Hogsmeade vs Diagon Alley

What’s the difference between Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley?

Hogsmeade

Hogsmeade is located in Islands of Adventure, which tends to focus more on thrill rides and adventure. Hogsmeade has 3 of the 4 Harry Potter themed rides in the park, and it also contains Hogwarts Castle. The three rides in Hogsmeade are:

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
Flight of the HIppogriff

In Hogsmeade you’ll find the Three Broomsticks restaurant, the Frog Choir, the Triwizard Spirit Rally, Ollivander’s wand shop where you can participate in the wand selection, and Honeyduke’s Candy Shop.

Diagon Alley

Diagon Alley is located in Universal Studios, and in my opinion is a much more immersive experience. Though it only has one ride, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, there is just something surreal about stepping behind that nondescript brick wall from the Muggle world into a colorful world of magic. You truly feel what Harry must have felt walking into Diagon Alley for the first time with Hagrid on his 11th birthday.

There you’ll find Gringott’s Money Exchange where you can change your Muggle money for Wizard money with a Gringott’s goblin that can be spent in the parks, see the Knight Bus and chat with Stan Shunpike (suspected Death Eater), shop at Fred and George Weasley’s joke shop, Madam Malkin’s Robes, Quality Quidditch Supplies, and more. Get some butterbeer ice cream at Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlor or stop to eat at the Leaky Cauldron.

One of my favorite things to do in Diagon Alley is to watch the trunk show retelling of the Tale of the Three Brothers while sipping a cold butterbeer. There’s truly nothing like it! That show give me the chills every time.

Which is better: Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley?

It comes down to personal preference. I prefer the ambiance in Diagon Alley. To me, it transports me into the magical world, and I truly feel immersed in it. I’m not sure if it’s the secret entrance or the colorful shops lining the alley, but the vibes are immaculate.

If you’re a thrill seeker and prefer the rides, then Hogsmeade is the place for you! It’s still tons of fun, and there’s something to be said about the year-round cozy Christmas atmosphere with the permanent snow-covered rooftops. Sipping a hot butterbeer while watching the Christmas lights show on Hogwarts castle is one of my favorite memories from in the park.

My 1-Day Itinerary for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Here’s everything I would try to fit in on my visit to Harry Potter world in one day. Your priorities may be different, so feel free to take ideas from this itinerary and adjust accordingly!

1. Ride Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure

If you have early entry to Islands of Adventure, I would start the day by heading straight for Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure. The line for this ride is always long, but by making it our first stop, we were able to get on the ride in less than 30 minutes.

If you really love this ride like we did, you’ll have plenty of time during the day to come back and ride it again. Be sure to check wait times on the app, but in my experience the lines for this ride tend to be shorter later in the day.

>> Universal Orlando Insider Tip: You will need to keep your belongings in a locker for this ride using your park ticket as the key. My ticket was on my phone, but I had to store my mini backpack in the locker. I ended up holding my phone in my pocket for the ride (since I needed it to open the locker), which was really dangerous. The ride is fast, and it would have been easy to lose my grip on the phone in my pocket and drop it. Learn from my mistake and keep a fanny pack with you to hold your phone on the ride, or get a paper ticket when you enter the park.

2. Ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

The line for this ride gets really long. We waited until the afternoon to ride this and I think the line was around 2 hours.

While the queue is really fun because you get to see the inside of Hogwarts Castle, it’s still a long time to spend in line.

This was my 9-year-old daughter’s favorite ride, and if we had done it earlier in the day I think we could have gotten on a second time in the evening.

The ride itself is a motion simulation 3D/4D ride, so if you tend to get motion sickness, you may want to bring some motion sickness medication!

3. Go to Olivander’s for the Wand Choosing Experience

Remember in the first book when Harry visit’s Olivander’s wand shop, and he learns about how the wand chooses the wizard?

You can experience that moment for yourself! Go to the Wand Ceremony room (you may have to wait in line) to be a part of this small group ceremony. You’ll enter a dimly lit replica of Olivander’s shop, complete with stacks and stacks of wands all the way to the ceiling.

You’ll receive some instructions from the staff, then Olivander will enter the room and choose one lucky witch or wizard to find their perfect wand.

The person chosen for the demonstration will get to try a few wands and perform a few spells to find the wand that’s perfect for them.

They are not obligated to buy the wand that chooses them, nor do they receive it for free. Nevertheless, it’s a fun memory, even for those who aren’t chosen. It’s a delightful way to step into the magic of the books!

After the ceremony is finished, you’ll be directed to the wand shop where you can peruse the many different wands from characters in the books and movies. My daughter chose Professor McGonagall’s wand. The wands are interactive, and you can use them to try different spells around the park. Your wand will come with a map to show where these interactive spots are.

4. Watch the Frog Choir Perform

This adorable 10-minute a cappella performance is enjoyable to watch and a perfect way to get some rest in between activities. One student from each Hogwarts House makes up this 4-part harmony.

It takes place on a small stage near Flight of the Hippogriff, so grab a butter beer and watch these talented singers perform Harry Potter favorites like “Something Wicked This Way Comes” from the Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

You may also catch the Triwizard Spirit Rally, another performance in the alcove near Flight of the Hippogriff. This one is more of an action show with students from Durmstrang, Beauxbatons, and Hogwarts putting on a performance.

5. Ride Flight of the Hippogriff

Get in line for this short and sweet ride that takes you through Hagrid’s pumpkin patch to meet the Hippogriff - part horse, part eagle- from Prisoner of Azkaban.

It’s a roller coaster, but it’s much calmer than Hagrid’s Motorbike Ride. Kids will find this ride thrilling but not too scary. I would say don’t wait in line too long for this ride, since it’s so short and not as engaging or exciting as some of the other Harry Potter rides.

One tip may be to ride Flight of the Hippogriff at night so you can see Hogwarts Castle all lit up.

6. Stop at Honeyduke’s for a Chocolate Frog

Fans of the Harry Potter franchise will relish a chance to stop at the kids’ favorite candy shop in Hogsmeade. There’s everything you can imagine from Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans and Cauldron Cakes to Fizzing Whizzbees and Chocolate Frogs.

We made sure to buy a chocolate frog, which comes with a trading card, just like in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone! We got Dumbledore, of course.

Note: you can also find Butterbeer Fudge at this candy shop! If you’re on a mission to try all types of butterbeer like we were on our trip, make sure to stop at Honeydukes to pick some up. It was delicious, and honestly much lighter than I imagined it would be.

7. Eat Lunch at the Three Broomsticks

Three Broomsticks is a quick service dining option in Hogsmeade which serves traditional British fare like fish and chips and shepherd’s pie.

Make sure to grab some Hot Butterbeer and the delightful dessert, Butterbeer Potted Cream.

Note: if you prefer smaller portions like me, you may want to try a kid’s menu item!

The inside of this restaurant is cozy and rustic, and you’ll really feel like you’re in a British pub in a small wizarding village. If you’re in the mood for something a little harder, you can find Hog’s Head in the back of the Three Broomsticks stocked with Hogs Head Brew, other imported beers, and other specialty alcoholic beverages.

8. Ride the Hogwarts Express from Hogsmeade Station to King’s Cross Station

Not only is the Hogwarts Express a useful mode of transportation between Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios, but it’s also a ride in and of itself!

You’ll board the scarlet steam engine and find yourself in a compartment where you’ll get to experience scenes from the movies and books taking place right outside your window!

9. Visit The Knight Bus

You can’t miss the gigantic purple bus right outside of King’s Cross Station. This is the Knight Bus, the transportation for stranded witches and wizards that Harry first takes in Prisoner of Azkaban, where you’ll get to chat with Stan Shunpike and the shrunken head.

It’s very interactive, and they even wished my daughter a happy birthday, which absolutely made her day! (She had a birthday pin on).

10. Find Kreacher at 12 Grimmauld Place

Just across from the Knight Bus, you’ll see what looks like a London street, but if you look more closely you’ll notice that the street name is Grimmauld Place. This is where the ancestral home of Sirius Black resides, and if you go up and knock the door of Number 12 Grimmauld Place, you’ll see Kreacher the House Elf peeking out through the curtains.

This is a lovely shout out to the Order of the Phoenix book and movie!

11. Enter Diagon Alley

Now it’s time to enter Diagon Alley via the inconspicuous brick wall. Follow the pathway in, and you’ll enter a magical world of wizarding shops and restaurants. Straight ahead you’ll be able to see the dragon atop Gringott’s Bank (a nod to the daring escape Harry, Ron, and Hermione make in the Deathly Hallows).

There are so many bright colors and interesting sights to take in, and they did such a nice job of replicating the Diagon Alley from the movies. The ambiance is so perfect and it feels somehow secluded from the rest of the park, so you truly feel like you’ve been dropped right into the Wizarding World.

12. Gringott’s Money Exchange

Did you know you could exchange muggle money for Gringott’s bank notes to use within the Wizarding World of Harry Potter?

Go to Gringott’s Money Exchange, which is located in Carkitt Market, a covered outdoor shopping area just to the right of Diagon Alley. You can exchange your US currency (in $10 or $20 bills) for wizarding money that can be used in Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade.

There’s an audio-anamatronic Goblin who will answer your questions before you exchange money with a human Gringott’s worker.

This is such a fun way to become immersed in the wizarding experience! And don’t worry - if you don’t use all of your Gringott’s Bank Notes by the end of your Universal Orlando trip, you can exchange them back to US dollars at customer service.

13. Ride Escape from Gringotts

Harry Potter and the Escape From Gringotts is part roller coaster, part dark ride experience that is thrilling but not too scary for younger kids. Don’t be fooled by the term “roller coaster” - there’s only one small drop during the ride and no upside down loops.

The ride takes you alongside Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they try to break into the Lestrange vault to retrieve a horcrux from deep inside Gringott’s Bank. You’ll face dementors, a fire-breathing dragon, and even Voldemort and his Death Eaters.

This was my 9-year-old’s second-favorite ride of the 4 Harry Potter rides, so younger kids can definitely handle it. If you have kids with you who aren’t tall enough or you think won’t like the scary parts, you can make use of the Child Swap is available so adults and older kids in your party can take turns riding Escape from Gringotts without waiting in line twice.

The queue is really detailed, and a fun look inside one of the safest places in the Wizarding World - Gringott’s Bank.

14. Enter Knockturn Alley

As soon as you exit the ride, turn right, and then on your lefthand side you’ll see an inconspicuous entrance to Knockturn Alley.

This is where dark witches and wizards go to do their shopping and socializing, so the alley is dark and a bit creepy.

You can even go shopping at Borgin & Burkes, a shop that specializes in dark magic items. It’s here you’ll find Death Eater masks, portraits of Sirius Black in Azkaban, and other fun items.

15. Get some Butterbeer Ice Cream

You may need a lighthearted palate cleanser after walking through Knockturn Alley, so it’s a good thing Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Shoppe is right on the corner as you exit the alley!

Stop inside for some Butterbeer ice cream to satiate your hunger and lift your spirits.

16. Shop Diagon Alley

Take a stroll down Diagon Alley and duck in and out of the shops. Our favorite is Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, the joke shop started by Fred and George Weasley. I love the bright colors!

You can also find Madam Malkin’s Robes for Every Occasion (see Hermione’s Yule Ball Dress or pick up some dress robes for yourself!), Quality Quidditch Supplies, and Flourish and Blott’s, among other Potter-themed shops.

17. Watch the Tale of the Three Brothers

This is one of the most underrated things to do in Diagon Alley! The trunk show takes place in Carkitt Market on a small stage, and it’s a performance of the Tale of the Three Brothers, a children’s story written by Beedle the Bard in the Harry Potter series.

In the last book of the series, Harry, Ron, and Hermione read this story and find out that’s it’s talking about the Deathly Hallows - the three items that if owned and mastered by one person make them master of death.

This tale ends up having so much meaning within the larger story. Harry, like the youngest brother in the tale, ends up greeting Death as an old friend. In doing this, he unlocks the key to defeating Voldemort and becoming the master of the three Deathly Hallows.

The trunk show gives me chills every time, and it’s the perfect way to pass a few minutes while sipping a cold butterbeer.

18. Dial the Ministry of Magic

If you exit Diagon Alley, you’ll see a red phone booth. Step inside, and follow the directions and dial MAGIC, you’ll hear a recorded message from the Ministry of Magic.

This is reminiscent of how Harry enters the Ministry in Order of the Phoenix!

19. Walk through Platform 9 3/4

If you use the Hogwarts Express to go back to Islands of Adventure via King’s Cross Station, you’ll get to experience walking through Platform 9 3/4 in the queue.

It’s easy to miss, so pay attention!

During the queuing process, you’ll walk up a flight of stairs. Right at the top, there will be an area full of suitcases. Have one person in your party stay back and film you walking along the queue, where you will appear to be disappearing between Platforms 9 and 10!

In reality, you're just walking into a hallway, but the effect is called Pepper’s Ghost.

So that’s my recommended itinerary for completing the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in one day!

If you have some time left, try riding some the the Harry Potter rides in Islands of Adventure at night, or watching the light show on Hogwarts Castle while sipping a hot butterbeer.