For Harry Potter superfans, there are few places on Earth more magical than The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort. Built under the supervision of J.K. Rowling herself and Stuart Craig, the production designer on all of the Harry Potter films, the Wizarding World is a fully immersive attraction that allows fans to live out their fantasy of stepping into the iconic story.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando is split up into two areas. There’s Hogsmeade in the Islands of Adventure theme park, which includes Hogwarts Castle and the incredible Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, and then in Universal Studios Florida there’s Diagon Alley. Hogsmeade first opened in 2010 and was an immediate success, but the folks at Universal Orlando took what they learned from this first attraction and created something bigger, more exciting, and even more immersive when they debuted Diagon Alley in 2014.
We’ve already run down the can’t-miss aspects of Hogsmeade, and in this article we’re going to be digging into the things you have to do when you visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley. So take note!
Safety-wise, here are the measures that Universal Orlando is currently taking. Please use caution and consult CDC guidelines before traveling.
Universal Orlando continues to implement its enhanced health and safety procedures and guidelines focused on “screening, spacing and sanitization.” Key measures include screening guests and team members, enforcing social distancing, requiring face coverings, limiting capacity at the theme parks, attractions and hotels and increasing the already-aggressive cleaning and disinfection procedures. Universal Orlando has also launched its own contactless payment method – Universal Pay – which can be accessed through the Official Universal Orlando Resort App and allows guests to quickly scan to pay for purchases at most merchandise and quick-service food locations throughout the theme parks and CityWalk directly from the in-app wallet.
Ride Escape from Gringotts
The main attraction in Diagon Alley is the thrill ride Escape from Gringotts. This ride is kind of like a Harry Potter version of the Revenge of the Mummy coaster, except less intense and with more 3D screens. The story is set during the events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 as you board a train inside Gringotts Wizarding Bank and join Bill Weasley (Domhnall Gleeson), Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) on their quest to obtain an unknown item. Things go wrong right from the start with the arrival of Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter) and Voldemort himself (Ralph Fiennes), and guests are taken on a thrilling, immersive journey through the “safest” bank in the world.
As with the Hogwarts ride, the queue for Escape from Gringotts is almost like an attraction unto itself, as guests come face to face with animatronic goblin tellers and get to enjoy the sights and sounds of the massive, secretive bank. It is immaculately designed, and every square inch of this thing is in service of further immersing you into the world of Harry Potter.
The ride itself is also an absolute blast. It’s a mix between a coaster and a 3D ride, but it’s incredibly smooth and does not induce headaches. Instead, you feel like you’re really tumbling through the tunnels of Gringotts. Part of this is to do with the ride itself, but part of it is absolutely due to the attention to detail throughout the entire queue. You’ll notice very quickly that once you step inside Diagon Alley, every single thing you see, touch, feel, or taste only further immerses you into the Wizarding World.
Do Magic
One of the biggest innovations when Diagon Alley opened was the ability for guests to use their wands to do real “magic.” Indeed, if you have an interactive wand (which you can, of course, purchase at Ollivander’s or other shops at Universal Studios), you can go to specific points throughout Diagon Alley, follow the directions on the marker on the ground, and make things happen. In one spot, you’ll flush a toilet in a window. In another, you’ll make a gigantic chandelier light up. And in another, you’ll start a rainstorm. It’s yet another way in which Diagon Alley immerses guests into the Wizarding World experience, and even if you don’t have a wand, it’s a delight to watch the faces of the young kids as they wave their wands and watch “magic” happen before their eyes.
Butterbeer Ice Cream!
You know full well that Butterbeer is the drink of choice at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but what you may not know is that Butterbeer Ice Cream—available only at Diagon Alley—is even better than the drink. This is one of a variety of delicious, exciting flavors of ice cream available at Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour, located just outside Gringotts Bank. Butterbeer Ice Cream is a vanilla soft serve with a ribbon of butterscotch, and it is unbelievably smooth and delicious. You can get it in a cone or a cup, or spring for a different flavor of soft serve, or maybe go for one of the fancy hand-packed ice cream flavors like Sticky Toffee Pudding or Earl Grey & Lavender. You quite literally can’t go wrong with anything at this cheery little ice cream shop, but you must, must, must try the Butterbeer Ice Cream at least once in your life.
Go Shopping
You could spend an entire day inside Diagon Alley thanks to the shops scattered throughout the area. Unlike Hogsmeade in which many of the storefronts are just facades, Diagon Alley is littered with a variety of walk-in shops, each with their own theme and wares. There’s Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes, where you can buy jokes and gags galore. There’s Quality Quidditch Supplies where you can buy your best Quidditch gear. And there’s even Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions, where you can peruse a variety of dress robes and sweaters.
The most exciting shopping area in Diagon Alley, however, is Knockturn Alley. Hidden away from the action, Knockturn Alley is dark and ominous (and literally cool, which is a plus on hot summer days), packed with its own spooky spell areas and of course, Borgin and Burkes. Even the attendants at Borgin and Burkes are dressed differently than those at the other shops in the area, and it’s here you’ll find all your Dark Wizarding needs met.
The ability to go inside the various shops—even if you don’t buy anything—is a huge reason why Diagon Alley is the most immersive Potter experience thus far. Again, you could spend an entire day in this one area simply wandering in and out of the various stores. But of course, if you’re hungry, there’s one must-see place to go…
Dine at the Leaky Cauldron
Just like Hogsmeade, the Diagon Alley area has its own restaurant: The Leaky Cauldron. But Universal Orlando made the wise decision not to simply repeat the same menu over in Diagon Alley—the Leaky Cauldron has its own unique menu with various items you can’t get at Hogsmeade’s Three Broomsticks. There’s bangers & mash, fisherman’s pie, toad in the hole, and even a mini pie combination. Even the desserts are delightfully English, from sticky toffee pudding to chocolate potted cream. And yes, you can enjoy the Wizarding World’s own alcoholic beverages like Wizard’s Brew or Dragon Scale here, as well as a variety of non-alcoholic drinks.
It’s the attention to detail that makes all the difference, and the fact that the Leaky Cauldron is an entirely different dining experience from The Three Broomsticks makes Diagon Alley feel like a wholly unique corner of the Wizarding World. At the Three Broomsticks, you’re surrounded by old paintings and photographs of witches and wizards from the past, and towards the back of the restaurant there’s a giant hearth where a huge cauldron rests. It’s all a sight to behold while you’re scarfing down delicious food.
Ride the Hogwarts Express
Just as in Hogsmeade, there’s a unique Hogwarts Express entrance in Diagon Alley, and it’s delightful. You see, just like in the books and films, Diagon Alley itself is “hidden” in downtown London. The entrance to the attraction from the outside of the Universal Studios park looks like a façade of London—complete with a fountain and the Knight Bus, where you can chat with the shrunken head. If you’re riding the Hogwarts Express over from Hogsmeade, you exit through a recreation of King’s Cross station, which looks and feels just like the real thing. There’s even a concession stand in the line where you can purchase UK-specific treats!
The Hogwarts Express ride itself is, once again, completely unique. If you’re riding from Diagon Alley to Hogsmeade, you get an entirely different viewing experience from the one you enjoy going from Hogsmeade to Diagon Alley. Both are well worth enjoying if you have that park hopper pass, and the ride itself is a nice way to sit down and relax in the middle of a day of roaming around the parks.