The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Every girl should have TIME FOR VACATIONS! :D
I'll be doing some travel posts here and there for you jet-setters out there.

So I'm a HUGE Harry Potter fan and was finally given the opportunity to visit Orlando, FL. The main focus of my travel was of course to check out The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. After careful research, I thought I was ready to take on the park but nothing could've prepared me for the extreme awesomeness that it really was!



Here are some tips I learned from my research and experience:

Go straight to the WWoHP when you enter Islands of Adventure. There is usually a line and if you go on a busy day, you'll need to grab a timed pass for entry. While waiting for your time slot, you can tour the rest of IOA (you should've passed Seuss Landing, which is a really cute place to take photos).

Once you're finally at the WWoHP entrance, STOP and take it all in! There's quite a bit to see at a glance. I know I'll never forget my first steps into Hogsmeade. You can stay in WWoHP for as long as you like so there's really no need to rush (I would not suggest entering the park near closing).



The grand head caboose of the Hogwart's Express rests at the entrance. Make sure to take some photos with the conductor!



ATTRACTIONS:
* Dragon Challenge (you can use your Express Plus Pass for this ride, read more about Express Plus Passes near the end of my post): there are two tracks involved, both different. Ride both. Make sure you wait for the first row for both. Watch for the other "dueling dragon" while you're on.
* Flight of the Hippogriff (Express Plus Pass): make sure to check out Hagrid's Hut.
* Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey: I love this ride (went on it twice!). If you have a bag, you'll be forced to check it into lockers before boarding. The locker line is usually really long, stretching far outside Hogwart's Castle. But what a lot of people don't know is that you can go into the locker area through Filch's Emporium of Confiscated Goods. When you go into the shop, the locker area is to the left. If you don't have bags (suggested) you can bypass the line by going straight into the castle (the locker line will form on the right, just walk in through the left). If the line for the ride is long, go into the SINGLE RIDERS line. It really doesn't make a difference for this particular attraction and once you've gone through the ride, you can go back down and tour the castle at your own leisure pace (just tell the attendants in the castle that you want a tour and they'll lead you to a separate area). I love the room with all the moving pictures. Make sure to catch Harry, Ron, and Hermione going into the Room of Requirements!
* Ollivander's Wand Shop: the line into the shop usually snakes around outside since there's a 15-20 minute show involved where "Ollivander" selects a young audience member and "chooses" a wand for the child. If you don't care about the "experience", you can enter the shop from the back alley, right behind Ollivander's. If you want to see the show, go when the line is a bit shorter (the line fluctuates in length throughout the day).
* Frog's Choir: check the schedule. This takes place in the "quad" area across from the "snowman" in between Ollivander's Wand Shop and Flight of the Hippogriff.
* Triwizard Spirit Rally: check the schedule. Same area.

SHOPS:
Don't forget to use your AAA card for 10% off!
* Dervish & Banges: tons of awesome replicas such as the Remembrall, Quidditch merchandise, the Triwizard Cup, cauldrons, etc.
* Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods: here you will find merchandise such as Marauder’s Map, the Sorting Hat, House scarves and laynards, keychains, etc.
* Honeydukes: candy galore! Get your Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans here.
* Zonko's: you can actually get in through Honeydukes. Here you will find an assortment of gag merchandise such as Extendable Ears, Chattering Teeth, Robot Lilliput, etc. You can also adopt your very own Pygmy Puff and be prepared for something fun when you pay for it up at the register.
* Owl Post: you can enter through Ollivander's Wand Shop. They sell more wands here but you can also buy Ministry of Magic stamps. I believe you can send out letters with the Hogsmeade postmark but I didn't know at the time. They also have wax seals, which are pretty awesome too.

Make sure to take your time with window displays all over Hogsmeade. Each one is different! Make sure you stop by the restroom too. Moaning Myrtle will be there with you! =)

GRUB:
Don't forget to use your AAA card for 10% off!
* The Three Broomsticks: you'll find traditional English meals here. I had the Shepard's Pie when I went and the husband had a big drumstick meal with an ear of corn. This is also a good place to get Butterbeer if you want to avoid the lines outside. Side note: in my opinion, FROZEN Butterbeer is tastier.
* Hog's Head Pub: here is where you can get your [alcoholic] drink on. They serve Butterbeer here too.

PHOTO OPS:
* Dragon Challenge: there's an opening along the pathway of this ride with the perfect view of the quad (where the Frog Choir and Triwizard Sprit Rally shows take place). Hogwarts Castle can also be seen perfectly from this spot. This "viewing area" is normally pretty scarce as muggles are rushing to get to the ride. You can easily walk back out when you're done if you don't want to get in line for the roller coaster.
* Outside of Hogsmeade: When you exit the WWoHP, make a right and you'll be on a bridge with the perfect view of the back of Hogsmeade. You can also see Hogwarts.
* The Haunted Mansion: Take the "fun" line when waiting for this ride (to the left) and you'll be routed to the perfect view of Hogwarts Castle.

EXPRESS PLUS PASS:
The hubs stayed at Loews Pacific Royal Pacific Resort for work that week so when we went to Islands of Adventure, his room key card was still valid as a Express Plus Pass. The two other hotels that offer this are Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Portofino Bay Hotel. They all also give you early access to the theme parks. You can purchase Express Plus Passes in the park too. Click here for more information.

ADDITIONAL INFO:
For more information for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, visit the fan site here: http://www.wizardingworldharrypotter.com/

DEALS:
Universal Orlando Vacations offer package deals for as low as $299 per person.