The Magical Way into
Harry Potter’s Wizarding World
SPOT MORE COOL STUFF:
Amusement Parks | Book and Literary Travel | Family Travel (Cool For Adults Too) | Orlando | 4 Comments
| All Travel Posts
Since June 2010, the hottest attraction in Orlando has been the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a part of Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure theme park. If you are vacationing in Central Florida with young Muggles, odds are high that they’ve tugged on your arm begging you to take them there.
The good news for adults is that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, while far from mind blowingly amazing, does have cool elements to it. There’s also one piece of advice that in itself can make your visit there turn out somewhere between tolerable and fun.
What Is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter?
The highlights of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, listed in descending order of coolness:
Hogwarts Castle. The 15-story structure towers over the Wizarding World of Harry Potter like Hagrid over the first years. Inside there’s a roller coaster-like ride in which you are strapped into a robotic arm and flung around amongst virtual dragons and faux tree limbs as a holographic Harry Potter encourages you to fly faster. While walking to—or standing in line for—the coaster ride, you tour the inside of the castle. The look of it all was taken directly from the Harry Potter movies. Sadly, there are no moving staircases. But you see the Sorting Hat, moving paintings (that are remarkably well done) and Dumbledore’s office.
Hogsmeade. The snowy village near Hogwarts plays a mostly ancillary role in the Harry Potter books but is front and center in their Orlando theme park incarnation. Snow-covered buildings filled with shops mentioned in the books line Hogsmeade’s street. Our highlight: drinking a frozen Butter Beer, a yummy non-alcoholic drink that’s akin to a shortbread smoothie.
The Dragon Challenge. Billed a chance for visitors to partake in the Triwizard Tournament, the Dragon Challenge is not even a Uniwizard Tournament. It’s really a rebranded roller coaster that pre-dates the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. While a moderate roller coaster fan will likely enjoy the ride, and perhaps immensely so, an aficionado would not rank The Dragon Challenge among the world’s top 50 rides.
The Flight of the Hiipogriff. This young kid-oriented roller coaster definitely coasts more than it rolls. The entire ride only lasts a minute (1 minute and 6 seconds, technically) but kids seem to love it.
Ollivanders. Whatever expectations you have for Orlando’s recreation of Diagon Alley’s famous wand shop we suggest you lower them. Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling herself insisted this , 11 guests are guided into a dark room and one is chosen to have a minor role in a staged trying out of wands. This “interactive shopping experience” lasts for about 5 minutes after which you’ll have the right to purchase your own piece of wood “wand” for $30.
How To Visit & Where To Stay
No matter how much the above appeals to you in theory, you’ll find the reality of it powerfully unfun after standing in the Florida heat for two hours waiting for your chance to bring an impatient junior on the one minute (and six second) Hipogriff ride.
So here’s the key: The night before visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter stay in your choice of the Hard Rock Orlando, the Loews Royal Pacific or the the Loews Portofino resorts. If you heed nothing else we write during Orlando Travel Week, heed that.
Why? Because the Islands of Adventure park opens to the general public at 9am. But guests of the above three listed resorts get access at 8am. They also get complimentary use of the express lines and the ability to quickly charge any theme park expenses to their hotel bill.
So what you do is: Be at the entrance gate before the 8am opening and head directly to the Harry Potter section of the Islands of Adventure park. (Everyone else will be doing this too). Do not stop to gawk and take photos of Hogsmeade—there’ll be time for that later. Instead, go directly to Ollivanders (if you are so inclined; it is worth waiting in line for 10 minutes at most), then go on the rides and then hang out, shop and take photos. You’ll be done by 9:30 or 10am and will have spent virtually none of your Harry Potter stay in line. You are now free to move on to the adjoining Seuss Landing or one of the other Islands of Adventure sections. Or have breakfast. Or head back to your hotel and jump into the pool. Which brings us to . . .
. . . which of those three resorts you should choose? Our review comparison:
The Hard Rock Orlando
The Orlando Hard Rock is the least expensive and arguably most kid-friendly choice of these three. Their pool with sand beach is frustratingly shallow for swimming but does make for a great hangout; on some evenings they play kid-friendly “dive-in” movies that you can watch while in the pool. The Hard Rock is also closest to the Islands of Adventure (there’s a water taxi but you can walk in 10~15 minutes). Recommended.
Loews Royal Pacific
The Loews Royal Pacific is a little more sophisticated and has slightly better in-room amenities in comparison to the Hard Rock. It is also tends to be significantly more expensive. Not suggested unless the Hard Rock is sold out.
Loews Portofino
The Loews Portofino is the nicest and most adult-oriented of the three resorts. The hotel’s design is supposedly inspired by Italy but will only seem so to those who have never actually been to Italy. Still, we greatly appreciate how Portofino’s low-rise architecture, strung out along the water, makes the resort seem laid-back and uncrowded.
Wherever you stay, bring your sense of humor to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, get there early and watch out for you-know-who.
LEARN MORE | READ | HP STORE | JOIN US ON TWITTER / FACEBOOK |
Related posts:
A Review of Orlando’s Ice Bar
The Best Orlando Hotels & Resorts with Free Wifi
Places That Resemble Dr. Seuss Illustrations ← one’s in Orlando
The Brussels Tintin Museum
Install Hidden Doors and Secret Passageways In Your Home
The Best Las Vegas Swimming Pools
Ride the World’s Steepest Roller Coaster
The Best Travel Camera for You
Reviews of Waterproof Cases for the iPhone and iPod
The World’s 6 Best Bookstores
Inside Hogwarts Castle
Around Hogsmeade
LEARN MORE & TICKETS | FIND GUIDEBOOKS | JOIN US ON TWITTER / FACEBOOK
This article is part of Spot Cool Stuff’s Orlando Week—read more Orlando vacation ideas
I would love to travel to Orlando and walk into the world of Harry Potter. It’s amazing how so many people from different parts of the world would love this magical world to really exist! Well who knows… it mabe does and we’re just muggles!
Anji recently posted..Europe: Best and Worst Taxis of Europe
[Reply to this comment]
Great Photos. Rally enjoyed your blog.
[Reply to this comment]
it was fantastic ;D i love it.
[Reply to this comment]
Oh man, I’ve been researching my Orlando trip and this is exactly the info I was looking for. Thanks, Spot
[Reply to this comment]