A Ride Free Day at Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

Those who know me well know that I’m not really a ride person. I know it’s shocking, but the truth is I’m a wuss and even if I’m not scared of a ride there’s a pretty good chance it makes me motion sick. So how is it possible that I love theme parks so much? Because theme parks are not like amusement parks or carnivals. The really good ones like Disney and Universal are more focused on the “theme” part of the name! This is especially true for the more immersive lands that have been developed in the last 10-15 years. No “land” embodies that more than the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! There are actually 2 Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter-Diagon Alley in Universal Studios and Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure. Being a true Harry Potter fan (who may or may not read the books every year), I am truly in heaven in these lands. I think they are both incredible, but Diagon Alley is one of the best themed lands in any park, anywhere, that I have been. Yes I said it, it beats Pandora and Galaxy’s Edge…sorry not sorry! I can spend all day exploring all the hidden gems in these lands and not ride a single ride and still have an amazing day! So if you are looking to experience Wizarding World of Harry Potter, without focusing on rides…maybe you are a wuss like me, or maybe you have kiddos that don’t meet height requirements or are not quite ready to brave some attractions; here are some hidden gems just for you!

Cast some spells and find all the secret spots!

There are interactive wands you can buy only in Wizarding World of Harry Potter, that you can use to cast spells all around the 2 lands! The wands come with a map that marks spell-casting spots. There are 34 spots between both lands and they are marked with a bronze medallion on the ground. Some spells are harder than others, but they are all so fun to master. In addition there are actually a few secret spots that are not on the map! I don’t want to ruin all the surprises but check out the window outside of Scribbulus in Diagon Alley or go hunting down Knockturn Alley. The best way to find some secret spell spots is to ask a friendly witch or wizard (Universal team members).

Interact with some of the Wizarding World characters!

Go see Kreacher poke his head out from behind the curtain of 12 Grimmauld place. He does it sporadically, but it doesn’t hurt to knock on a few doors to see if you can make him come out! Have a nice chat and photo session with Stanley at the Knight bus. Make sure to check the back of the bus out. Trade some muggle money for Gringotts bank notes at the Gringotts Money Exchange. Just don’t take it too personally if the goblins are not all that friendly, it’s just not in their nature, besides you’ve probably interrupted their work! And of course, make sure to wave hello to the conductor of the Hogwarts Express, he’s always so cheerful. All these characters are so fun to meet! And they all make you feel like you are truly living the story.

Check out some performances!

In Diagon Alley you can see a puppet show of the Tales of Beedle and the Bard. You can also watch a concert by Celestina Warbeck! She’s an amazing singer and her look is always perfection!

In Hogsmeade, make sure to catch a fun concert by the Frog Choir. My favorite show is the Tri Wizard Rally. The witches from Beauxbatons do an amazing job, but the real stars are the wizards from Durmstrang…excuse me while I swoon!

The best show of all is the Nighttime lights at Hogwarts Castle, this projection show is so incredible, and it’s the perfect way to end a day of exploring Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Go on shopping adventure!

Why should you shop at a theme park? Your ticket to Universal Orlando is basically your acceptance letter to Hogwarts, so gotta get those school supplies!

In Diagon Alley, get some robes at Madam Malkin’s, or a new pet at Magical Menagerie. If you don’t have a wand yet to cast your spells, check out Ollivanders (a few lucky guests can get selected to be the one that the wand chooses!), or if you are looking for slightly darker experience check out Wands by Gregorovitch. One of my favorite shops is Scribbulus, where you can get all sorts of fun letter writing supplies. A fun, “off the beaten path” activity is to grab a post card from Scribbulus and then mail it from the Owl Post window, who doesn’t want to get their mail delivered by owl?! My kids 2 favorite shops are Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes and Sugarplum’s Sweet Shop…I mean what kid doesn’t love pranks and sweets? Now if you are a witch or wizard that wants to be on the right side of the law, grab your merch from Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment, if you want to dabble in the dark arts, then Borgin and Burkes down Knockturn Alley is for you. Last but not least my favorite little hidden gem in Diagon Alley is Globus Mundi….I mean c’mon it’s a shop dedicated to travel agents!

There are less shops in Hogsmeade but there’s definitely still some fun ones to check out. My favorite is Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods for some unique finds. You can find all your standard merch at Dervish and Banges. Hogsmeade also has an Ollivanders and an Owl Post, which are basically the same as the ones in Diagon Alley. And lastly there is a candy store, Honeydukes, which is my favorite place for a treat!

Fully immerse yourself in the lands!

Finally just take in all the things there are to see in the lands. These lands are truly so immersive! Explore the architecture of the buildings. Make sure to hang around in front of Gringotts to catch the fire breathing dragon. Take a walk down the world of dark arts and walk down Knockturn Alley. Go into the ride queues and see all the fun scenes, the queue for Forbidden Journey is my all-time favorite. Most of the time I don’t even ride the rides, I just get to the front and ask to get out of line! Really explore all the nooks and crannies of the lands! I bet you can visit Wizarding World of Harry Potter a 100 times and still discover something new every time you visit.

So the next time someone tells you that you can’t have fun at a theme park without rides a bunch of rides, just know they clearly haven’t explored the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando!