The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hollywood is the ultimate experience for any fan. This post will help you with your planning and provide tips on how to get the most out of your visit! If you are visiting Los Angeles with your kids this should be a stop for sure!

If your kids are like mine they love all things Harry Potter and these days there is a lot of awesome Harry Potter stuff to do. You can do the Harry Potter Studio Tour, visit Platform 9 3/4 and visit one of the Harry Potter Worlds at Universal Studios. We chose to visit the Wizarding World at Universal Studios Hollywood on our recent visit to LA.

 

The Wizarding World at Universal Studios Hollywood is the newest of the three Wizarding Worlds located around the world, but it’s here to stay. The site is modeled after Hogsmeade Village from the books and films – a quaint little town with shops like Honeydukes Sweet Shop (which has all of your favorite wizard candy) and Olivander’s Wand Shop (where you can have a wand choose you).

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios Hollywood is quite a bit smaller than Harry Potter in Orlando, but it still has tons for Potterheads to do and enjoy.

Visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hollywood provides everything that any fan could want from the books or movies (and even some things you won’t find elsewhere!). While there are many fun places to visit at Universal Studios including Transformers, King Kong 360, Jurassic Park River Adventure – our favorite by far was Hogsmeade Village which features Hogwarts Castle and all sorts of shops like Honeydukes where every sweet tooth’s delight awaits!

We recently visited the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hollywood and had a blast with our family. Here is what you need to know before your visit.

1. Check the weather forecast in advance and dress appropriately for hot/cold or wet conditions.
2. If you want to dress in costume you will not be alone! If you don’t have your own robes, wands, or other accoutrements we recommend stopping at Universal Studio’s Kiosk (located by the entrance to Hogsmeade Village) and picking up your own robes, ties, etc.
3. Be patient with little ones – this place is amazing but it can be overwhelming for children so make sure they have time to explore on their own terms.
4. Plan your visit before you arrive (which attractions are worth the wait and which ones can I skip?)
5. Make sure to download the Universal Studios Hollywood mobile app prior to arriving so you can easily find stores, restaurants, shows and all sorts of fun things on property ?the map feature is especially helpful when exploring Hogsmeade Village! You’ll also receive notifications about special events happening at The Wizarding World along with important safety information.
6. Arrive early – as soon as they open if possible – because lines fill up fast and it may be difficult to enter your favorite stores and rides.
7. Bring your own water bottle to stay hydrated and enjoy the free, ice cold drinking fountains located throughout The Wizarding World.
8.  Don’t forget sunscreen! It’s easy to get sunburned in Southern California because you’re out all day (and after dark) so make sure to apply it liberally with at least SPF 30 before entering into any of the attractions that have outdoor queues.
9. Go to Olivanders Wand Shop for the wand experience and to get a picture with your very own Wand box.
10. If you’re looking for Butterbeer, head towards Hogsmeade Village where they sell it in either frozen or hot flavors!
11. See if you can make it on one of two rides that has an outdoor line: Flight of the Hippogriff (a child friendly rollercoaster) and Dragon Challenge (a more intense coaster). The wait times are shorter than most other attractions so this is a great way to beat lines.
12. You’ll also want a small bag or backpack for items purchased from various stores as well as food/snacks if you plan on eating during your visit
13. You can also purchase a “Hogwarts Acceptance Letter” at Ollivanders to officially declare your school allegiance.
14. If you want some fantastic pictures then I recommend visiting during sunset so that Hogwarts Castle doesn’t get washed out by daylight.

Let’s talk butter beer!

I think butter beer is a delicious but we found out  people have really strong opinions about if it is better, frozen, cold or warm.

We tried them all and we all thought that the frozen variety was the best. (especially on a hot day!) I recommend getting a couple!

The frozen butter beer has the consistency of a slurpee and comes with  a sweet foam on top, the cold is like cold soda in a cup, the warm is served in coffee cups and has a foam on top.

If you can only get one treat your whole time in Universal, it should be butter beer for sure!

Where to eat at the Wizarding World

There is really only one place to eat at the Wizarding World and that is The Three Broomsticks. If you want to eat there I recommend going early!

It is a little pricey but it was the best meal I had all day. The Butterbeer Shake (which we also tried) and the Fish & Chips were my favorites! Plus it is a super cool building that feels like you are in the Harry Potter movie

Bathrooms in The Wizarding World

There are 2 enormous bathrooms in the Wizarding World and they are located right near Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. We were tickled to hear Moaning Myrtle talking in the “loo”

The Rides in The Wizarding World

Flight of the Hippogriff

This ride is more for kids and was a lot of fun. It is a fairly traditional roller coaster but it is super cool because you can see all of Harry Potter world!

Our family loved this ride! It was so much fun that we went on it three times.There is a height requirement for this one so make sure you check before going.

The Forbidden Journey

This ride is a lot of fun. It takes you through Hogwarts and the grounds. You get to see Hagrid’s Hut, The Whomping Willow and Diagon Alley among other things! There are also some cool surprises in here that I won’t spoil for you but it was one of my favorite rides at Hollywood Studios 😉

Harry Potter addicts will love it because it has so many cool scenes from all the movies. I loved this one but there were some parts where you got a bit jostled, which is fine, but I want you to know ahead of time. This ride is half roller coaster , half 3D animation and even waiting in line is fun!

Shopping in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

You can visit all your favorite shops like Zonko’s Joke Shop, Honeydukes Sweetshop and Dervish & Banges Wizards’ Market. Honeydukes and Zonkos are one big store at Harry Potter World in Hollywood, but they are big, bright and full of awesome stuff. Buy a chocolate frog or a potion.

We loved Olivander’s wand shop and loved looking at all the different options. (We have all made our own so we didn’t purchase one.) There are usually reservations for children picking their wands, but during our trip it was cancelled due to Covid.

We also loved the Owl Post Office and seeing how many cool Harry Potter souvenirs their were.

Best Souvenir: Hogsmeade Cream Tea Set from The Owl Post Office

The set includes a teapot that looks just like the one in the movie! It also comes with cup, saucer and plate so you can enjoy tea on your very own Harry Potter adventure!

 

It was very crowded but the wait times were not long and there are plenty of things to do while waiting in line for rides. My kids loved all the interactive elements like shrunken heads and owls along with the people dressed up as wizards from all over Europe. It’s much more than just shopping at Hogsmeade or getting butterbeer ice cream, it feels like an adventure that your whole family will enjoy! We can’t wait to go back next time we’re in LA!!

 

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