If you're headed to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you will want to know some of these tips for the Ultimate Harry Potter Experience!
Some of you know we recently took a trip to Orlando. Once of our days consisted of a much-anticipated visit to Universal Studios Orlando, and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! Here are some must-know tips in case you end up planning a trip there yourself!
Tips for the Ultimate Harry Potter Experience
Dining Plan. This is a big one. My husband and I were the only ones that DIDN'T buy a dining plan in my family, and we ended up paying way more than everyone else (and not because we ordered more food). You get one meal (entrée and beverage), one snack, and one beverage (Butterbeer counts) for $21.99. I paid that much JUST for my entrée and beverage! We ate at the Three Broomsticks and loved the food there (we ordered ribs and chicken).
Buy a Park Hopper The Harry Potter Experience isn't the full experience if you can't do both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. Plus, you can only ride the Hogswart Express if you have a park hopper. We always do our trips and tickets through Get Away Today. They have never let me down. If you end up going to California rather than Florida, use code MOTHERSNICHE for an extra $10 off your vacation package.
Get to the Park Early. This will buy you so much time if you can get there early before the crowds
Head to Harry Potter World later in the day. Most people go there very first thing, and it can be super crowded. Go later in the day when the crowds die down a bit.
The Hogwarts Express is Different Both Directions We all loved riding the Hogwarts Express (especially the cool effects at 9 3/4!) If you are a Harry Potter fanatic, you'll want to ride the train both ways so that you can get the full experience through the animated window (and even have a run-in with a dementor).
Get the Butterbeer Frozen As you can see in the picture, mine (in the middle) is the only one that is frozen. And everyone wanted it! I personally thought the unfrozen one was too sweet for my taste, but the frozen Butterbeer was PERFECT!
Try to Do at Least TWO Days. I only bought a one-day ticket and my sister did two. I felt like she got more of the full experience than I did. I felt rushed all day, and there were still some things I wanted to do/see that I didn't get to.
Wands. I would say if you are going to splurge on one big souvenir, let it be a wand! They are very cool and there are interactive wand experiences throughout the park that allow you to do a little bit of magic!
Rider Swap. If you have kids that aren't tall enough to ride some of the rides, Universal has one of the BEST rider switch programs I have experienced! Most of the rides have actual Rider Swap rooms that you can wait in while the rest of your party rides (right at the exit of the ride so that you can immediately get on when your party gets off). I loved that I could sit there in a cool room while my baby slept. If you are trying to find the rider swap room, just walk to the ride exit and ask a crew member!
Hotel. My last tip isn't directly related to Universal Studios, but it can definitely make or break your trip. MAKE SURE you thouroughly read through reviews on Trip Advisor for whatever hotel you are considering. I always search by ranking so that I can make sure to get something that the majority of people like. Since Orlando has about 350+ hotels, I would try to stick with something ranked in the top 50. Here's a link to all the ones that are closest to Universal Studios: Universal Studio Hotels. Once you know where you want to stay, call Get Away Today and tell them I sent you to see if they can beat the price you are looking at (or add in any extras)!
What are YOUR Favorite Tips for Universal Studios?