The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: The Essential Guide

The Wizarding World World of Harry Potter is Universal Studios Islands of Adventure's newest attraction. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is, in fact, a whole new "land" at Universal's Islands of Adventure. With Harry Potters arrival at Universal Studios, legions of fans have descended on Islands of Adventure. Since The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened on June 18, 2010, there have been lines just to get into the The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and then yet additional lines for each of the "lands" rides, restaurants, and shops.

Avoid the lines and get the most out of your visit to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter with these do's and don'ts.

The Do's when visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Stay at one of Universal Orlando Resorts hotels. Guests staying at the Portofino Bay Hotel, the Hard Rock Hotel, or the Royal Pacific Hotel get access to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter one hour before it opens to the general public. Additionally, guests of these hotels also get jump the line privileges at many of Universal Studios and Islands of Adventures attractions.

Look for the single rider line at the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride. The ride, which is the main attraction at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, often has long waits. However, riders who are willing to be separated from their party can ride as a single rider. You'll board the rider quicker but you will miss the tour of Hogwarts Castle as the queue for the other riders winds its way through the castle.

The Don'ts when visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Don't wait in line to enter to enter Ollivander's wand shop. By entering the shop through the main entrance, you'll first see a two minute show in which only one person out of the twenty five to enter will have a wand choose him or her (just as wands choose their owners in the Harry Potter films). After the two minute show, the twenty five guests are ushered into the shop. While the show is entertaining, the wait can often times be over an hour. If you're willing to forgo the two minute show, go around back and enter the store through the exit and shop for your magic wand without the wait.

If you want to try Harry Potters favorite brew, butterbeer, don't wait in line at the butterbeer cart.. Rather, step into the The Three Broomsticks Inn restaurant and order your butterbeer there. The lines will often be shorter that at the butterbeer cart which sits outside of the The Three Broomsticks Inn.