Harry Potter world as through Harry's eyes?

turtlechick6

supergeek
Joined
Oct 18, 2010
So I want to do the whole Harry Potter world as through Harry's eyes for my 9 year old son when we go in February. So I would need to start in Diagon Alley right which is Universal Studios? Enter there then do all the stuff there like pick out a wand and robes and the rides and get money at the bank etc.

Then we ride the train to IOA for Hogsmeade and end at the castle.

Do they have Ravenclaw robes for sale at the park? He thinks he is a ravenclaw. I can't decide if I want to buy robes beforehand or get them there.
 
The robes at the park are really nice and available for each house. Of course, they are pricey, too - in the $100 range.

You can buy them in either park, but in keeping with Harry's journey, you can get it at Madam Malkin's in Diagon Alley.
 
Technically if you'd want to be super "accurate" per the story, you'd start in Daigon Alley but NOT ride Escape from Gringotts yet.

- Start in Daigon Alley, do the shopping for wands and Robes
- hop on Hogwarts Express over to Hogsmeade
- Do everything over in Hogsmeade and Hogwarts (Forbidden Journey, Flight of the Hippogriff, Dragon Challenge etc.)
- Head back to Daigon Alley via Hogwarts Express
- THEN ride Escape from Gringotts as a last step.
 
Might be fun for him to go to the Pottermore site and take the sorting hat quiz pixiedust: to find out what his house is.

There is plenty of merchandise for all the houses of Hogwarts.
 


thanks! I like the plan to ride Gringotts ride last. we plan on taking the train both ways anyway. I figured we would spend the first day just concentrating on Harry Potter stuff then after we kinda do all that we can go do other stuff in both parks and do other stuff on the second day. First day is all about the Harry Potter experience.
 
Might be fun for him to go to the Pottermore site and take the sorting hat quiz pixiedust: to find out what his house is.

There is plenty of merchandise for all the houses of Hogwarts.

Pottermore's new quiz is terrible. From what I've seen on Hogearts Running Club it puts everyone in Slytherin. Very non Slytherin people being put there. The quiz is just way too short and makes no sense.

I believe in self sorting more than using their new quiz! Remember that the hat takes your wishes into account.


Op if he's getting robes, get them there. They are great. Expensive but very much worth it.
 
Something to think about: Will your son be getting a Hogwarts Letter and supply list? You can find templates online to make one yourself, or there are several Etsy shops that do an amazing job with personalized letters, metallic inks, and real wax seals. Some even send the letters out with stuffed owls.

Also, don't forget you can go to the bank and exchange your muggle money for Gringotts bills that you can really use to make purchases in Universal like buying your school supplies, a pet, robes, or lunch. This doesn't involve riding the ride, so you can still do that later to preserve the timeline.

If you are trying to follow Harry's footsteps exactly, I'd do:

1. Breakfast at the Leaky Caukdron first.
In the books Harry came here first as you had to go through here first to get to Diagonally.

2. Money exchange at Gringotts.
You can tell them you want to setup an account and exchange money. The goblins are interactive and will talk with you. You can buy a vault key pin here as well. You can get them other places, but it's more fun to get your key here.

3. Madam Malkins for robes
Harry went here next.
Make sure to check out how you look in your new robes in the mirror

4. Next Harry visits both the Apothecary and Flourish and Blotts for school supplies, and Hagrid gets his owl from Eyelops Emporium. You can pose for pics outside these spots, but can't go in. You can buy a pet in the Magical Managerie if you want. You can buy "supplies" in Wiseacres Wizarding Equipment.

5. Olivanders for the wand is last
If you plan on doing spells later, you will need an interactive wand.
Also, since you haven't gone to school yet, you don't know any magic and should wait until after you visit school to start performing magic if you are following the books.

6. Train to Hogsmeade
In the queue, you will get to a spot where the line turns right and then left through brick walls. There is an obvious optical illusion set up here. If you hang back and let your son go ahead of you a bit, you can film him disappearing through the barrier at Platform 9 3/4.

7. Forbidden Journey ride, Hogwarts Castle
I recommend doing the castle only tour first, so you can stop and listen to each character speak and get the full storyline. This also gives you time to take pictures and take in all the little details. Then go back and ride.

8. Flight of the Hippogriff
This would be next as Harry visits Hagrids house in book 1 and flies on the Hippogriff in book 3

9. Honeydukes Candy shop and the 3 Broomsticks Resturant
Harry sneaks into both of these in book 3, he could visit here anywhere from book 3 through 6

10. The Twiwizard Spirit Ralley show
This would be next, happening in book 4 as well as the Dragon Challenge ride also book 4

11. Hogshead Pub
Book 5, the kids hold a DA meeting here
You can order Butterbeer here

12. Send a letter or postcard home or to a friend by owl mail
You can bring your own, or buy something here.
Don't forget the stamp.

13. Take the train back to Diagon Alley

14. Quality Qudditch Supplies and Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor
These are places Harry visits in book 3 and could visit anytime after

15. Weasleys Wizard Wheezes
The twins opened this shop in book 6

16. Knockturn Alley
Harry follows Draco here in book 6

17. Tales of Beedle the Bard
These stories are mentioned in book 7

17. Escape From Gringotts
This is last happening in the middle of book 7


A few other thoughts:

I'd do spells as I go, or if you have more than one day, I'd return first thing in the morning, during early entry if possible, and do the spells when everyone else is riding FJ and Gringotts. There usually isn't a line in the morning for spells, so you can take your time, do them more than once, get good pics, and not have the outcome spoiled by the person in line in front of you.

The Knight Bus is introduced in book 2, but doesn't really fit in without lots of backtracking. Technically, as an underage wizard without access to transportation, it would be believable for you to take the Knightbus to get to Diagon Alley.

The phone booth
Harry visits the Ministry in book 5
It would take backtracking to fit this in in chronological order

Celestia Warbeck Concert
Harry never attends one

You can here Moaning Myrtle in the girls bathroom in Hogsmeade, not sure about the Men's restroom

Take time to explore. At many of the fake shop fronts, you can hear what's going on inside the business if you walk up to the doors and stop to listen. Exploring Windows is also worth the time.

You'll need to put your purchases (except things you may be wearing like a robe) in a locker before riding, or you can send them to the front of the park or back to a resort room. This can make doing all your shopping first, like in the books, a little tricky so keep that in mind.

Hope you have a great trip.
 


Something to think about: Will your son be getting a Hogwarts Letter and supply list? You can find templates online to make one yourself, or there are several Etsy shops that do an amazing job with personalized letters, metallic inks, and real wax seals. Some even send the letters out with stuffed owls.

Also, don't forget you can go to the bank and exchange your muggle money for Gringotts bills that you can really use to make purchases in Universal like buying your school supplies, a pet, robes, or lunch. This doesn't involve riding the ride, so you can still do that later to preserve the timeline.

If you are trying to follow Harry's footsteps exactly, I'd do:

1. Breakfast at the Leaky Caukdron first.
In the books Harry came here first as you had to go through here first to get to Diagonally.

2. Money exchange at Gringotts.
You can tell them you want to setup an account and exchange money. The goblins are interactive and will talk with you. You can buy a vault key pin here as well. You can get them other places, but it's more fun to get your key here.

3. Madam Malkins for robes
Harry went here next.
Make sure to check out how you look in your new robes in the mirror

4. Next Harry visits both the Apothecary and Flourish and Blotts for school supplies, and Hagrid gets his owl from Eyelops Emporium. You can pose for pics outside these spots, but can't go in. You can buy a pet in the Magical Managerie if you want. You can buy "supplies" in Wiseacres Wizarding Equipment.

5. Olivanders for the wand is last
If you plan on doing spells later, you will need an interactive wand.
Also, since you haven't gone to school yet, you don't know any magic and should wait until after you visit school to start performing magic if you are following the books.

6. Train to Hogsmeade
In the queue, you will get to a spot where the line turns right and then left through brick walls. There is an obvious optical illusion set up here. If you hang back and let your son go ahead of you a bit, you can film him disappearing through the barrier at Platform 9 3/4.

7. Forbidden Journey ride, Hogwarts Castle
I recommend doing the castle only tour first, so you can stop and listen to each character speak and get the full storyline. This also gives you time to take pictures and take in all the little details. Then go back and ride.

8. Flight of the Hippogriff
This would be next as Harry visits Hagrids house in book 1 and flies on the Hippogriff in book 3

9. Honeydukes Candy shop and the 3 Broomsticks Resturant
Harry sneaks into both of these in book 3, he could visit here anywhere from book 3 through 6

10. The Twiwizard Spirit Ralley show
This would be next, happening in book 4 as well as the Dragon Challenge ride also book 4

11. Hogshead Pub
Book 5, the kids hold a DA meeting here
You can order Butterbeer here

12. Send a letter or postcard home or to a friend by owl mail
You can bring your own, or buy something here.
Don't forget the stamp.

13. Take the train back to Diagon Alley

14. Quality Qudditch Supplies and Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor
These are places Harry visits in book 3 and could visit anytime after

15. Weasleys Wizard Wheezes
The twins opened this shop in book 6

16. Knockturn Alley
Harry follows Draco here in book 6

17. Tales of Beedle the Bard
These stories are mentioned in book 7

17. Escape From Gringotts
This is last happening in the middle of book 7


A few other thoughts:

I'd do spells as I go, or if you have more than one day, I'd return first thing in the morning, during early entry if possible, and do the spells when everyone else is riding FJ and Gringotts. There usually isn't a line in the morning for spells, so you can take your time, do them more than once, get good pics, and not have the outcome spoiled by the person in line in front of you.

The Knight Bus is introduced in book 2, but doesn't really fit in without lots of backtracking. Technically, as an underage wizard without access to transportation, it would be believable for you to take the Knightbus to get to Diagon Alley.

The phone booth
Harry visits the Ministry in book 5
It would take backtracking to fit this in in chronological order

Celestia Warbeck Concert
Harry never attends one

You can here Moaning Myrtle in the girls bathroom in Hogsmeade, not sure about the Men's restroom

Take time to explore. At many of the fake shop fronts, you can hear what's going on inside the business if you walk up to the doors and stop to listen. Exploring Windows is also worth the time.

You'll need to put your purchases (except things you may be wearing like a robe) in a locker before riding, or you can send them to the front of the park or back to a resort room. This can make doing all your shopping first, like in the books, a little tricky so keep that in mind.

Hope you have a great trip.


This is an amazing walkthrough / touring plan!! Well done!
 
This is an amazing walkthrough / touring plan!! Well done!

And it's way more than I could/would ever do!


Thankfully DS was cool following the Weasley's footsteps, where they would have been to those places (and though Rowling doesn't talk about it, SURELY Hogwarts had family day at some point) and it was cool to start with Hogsmeade. Plus, Diagon didn't exist when we first went.
 
Pottermore's new quiz is terrible. From what I've seen on Hogearts Running Club it puts everyone in Slytherin. Very non Slytherin people being put there. The quiz is just way too short and makes no sense.

I was not put in Slytherin. I was put in Gryffindor. Was a fun suggestion only. People choose the House they are most interested in to purchase their items. That's the fun of it.

nighttowll fantastic Harry Potter tour pixiedust:
 
16. Knockturn Alley
Harry follows Draco here in book 6
Harry first winds up in Knockturn Alley in book 2, having botched his first attempt at using floo powder. He appears in Borgin and Burkes, but runs into Hagrid upon leaving the store and is quickly escorted back to Diagon Alley.
 
At the risk of pointing out the obvious, if you arrange your schedule in book order, you risk losing any advantage of being there early. We walked onto Gringotts around 8 this morning, and rode Forbidden Journey twice between 9 and 10. Not that the lines were ever particularly long today, nor would I expect them to be in February. But it's up to you and your 9yo to decide how important it is to stick to the story's chronology.
 
At the risk of pointing out the obvious, if you arrange your schedule in book order, you risk losing any advantage of being there early. We walked onto Gringotts around 8 this morning, and rode Forbidden Journey twice between 9 and 10. Not that the lines were ever particularly long today, nor would I expect them to be in February. But it's up to you and your 9yo to decide how important it is to stick to the story's chronology.

True, but I wouldn't worry too much for the OP as they do plan to go in February. Which even though it can get busy later in the day for certain rides, as a whole, the park itself won't be nearly as busy, or crowded as it is during it's peak seasons.

Also, if they truly are trying their best to have the best experience possible through the eyes of Harry, by the time they get to Escape to Gringotts (which is the busiest ride typically), it might be in the late afternoon / evening time and if that's the case that's when things slow down again, which means a lower wait time.
 
Yes I thought about the whole getting on the busy rides first thing but since we are going on a Monday and Tuesday in Feb I am not too worried about lines. I think we are going the last week of Jan or the first week of Feb. I think super low crowd predictions that day. We will get there at opening.

Normally we kinda rush through parks but this time I really want to try to enjoy it. We are mostly only going for Harry Potter though my son does want to ride all the rollercoasters and it will be his first upside down coasters so super excited for that. He is a thrill lover.

He earned this trip by reading every Harry Potter book by himself. He started in like March of this year and is done now. He impressed everyone with how fast and dedicated he was to reading them all. Every book 1-6 and the two small books about Quiddtich and monsters and Beedle the bard and the new book.

So I want him to get to see and do everything from every shop to every little wand thing to every ride. He is never going to be as into Harry Potter as he is right now. So we really want to experience it. Thanks for the great walk throughs!!!
 
You can here Moaning Myrtle in the girls bathroom in Hogsmeade, not sure about the Men's restroom
Yes, though I won't swear as to exactly which bathroom.

The time of year should be a big help. Not so sure about it being Monday and Tuesday, as today (Monday) felt busier than yesterday.

Sometimes things conspire against you. Yesterday, the Hogwarts Express wasn't running at 9, so we walked all the way around. Today it was Escape from Gringotts that was down in the morning.
 
Turtle, don't count on the last week of January to have low crowds

Hp gala happens that week and many stay around after it isn't EE to enjoy the parks more
 
Yes I thought about the whole getting on the busy rides first thing but since we are going on a Monday and Tuesday in Feb I am not too worried about lines. I think we are going the last week of Jan or the first week of Feb. I think super low crowd predictions that day. We will get there at opening.

Normally we kinda rush through parks but this time I really want to try to enjoy it. We are mostly only going for Harry Potter though my son does want to ride all the rollercoasters and it will be his first upside down coasters so super excited for that. He is a thrill lover.

He earned this trip by reading every Harry Potter book by himself. He started in like March of this year and is done now. He impressed everyone with how fast and dedicated he was to reading them all. Every book 1-6 and the two small books about Quiddtich and monsters and Beedle the bard and the new book.

So I want him to get to see and do everything from every shop to every little wand thing to every ride. He is never going to be as into Harry Potter as he is right now. So we really want to experience it. Thanks for the great walk throughs!!!

Don't be too sure about the never going to be into Harry Potter as he is now. My adult children are just as Harry Potter crazy as they were as kids.
 
Yes I thought about the whole getting on the busy rides first thing but since we are going on a Monday and Tuesday in Feb I am not too worried about lines. I think we are going the last week of Jan or the first week of Feb. I think super low crowd predictions that day. We will get there at opening.

Normally we kinda rush through parks but this time I really want to try to enjoy it. We are mostly only going for Harry Potter though my son does want to ride all the rollercoasters and it will be his first upside down coasters so super excited for that. He is a thrill lover.

He earned this trip by reading every Harry Potter book by himself. He started in like March of this year and is done now. He impressed everyone with how fast and dedicated he was to reading them all. Every book 1-6 and the two small books about Quiddtich and monsters and Beedle the bard and the new book.

So I want him to get to see and do everything from every shop to every little wand thing to every ride. He is never going to be as into Harry Potter as he is right now. So we really want to experience it. Thanks for the great walk throughs!!!

That's how my granddaughter earned her first trip too! She was 8 & I thought for sure it would take her a few years to get through all the books. She read all the books twice. We just got back from our second trip. Shes now 10.
 
Normally we kinda rush through parks but this time I really want to try to enjoy it. We are mostly only going for Harry Potter though my son does want to ride all the rollercoasters and it will be his first upside down coasters so super excited for that. He is a thrill lover.

He earned this trip by reading every Harry Potter book by himself. He started in like March of this year and is done now. He impressed everyone with how fast and dedicated he was to reading them all. Every book 1-6 and the two small books about Quiddtich and monsters and Beedle the bard and the new book.

So I want him to get to see and do everything from every shop to every little wand thing to every ride. He is never going to be as into Harry Potter as he is right now. So we really want to experience it. Thanks for the great walk throughs!!!

I did it almost exactly as @nighttowll said as well for my first time with my daughter- it was the most memorable trip I ever had- absolutely fantastic- all the way down to eating a leaky cauldron for breakfast first thing to exchanging the muggle money. Yes- we could have ridden Gringotts 5x in a row, but I've now ridden it 20-30 times... so what? You can ride fun rides all the time and on any subsequent trip, but you'll never get a first time at WWoHP again- so make it perfect.
On the flip side, we did the "rush for rides" approach when my wife went for the first time (my kiddos and my 2nd) and it wasn't nearly as enjoyable. The walk in the footsteps is the best way to experience it IMO. Takes the "rush" out and lets you simply soak it all in.


As for the robes- jump on Etsy and buy one for way less $. You can get a robe and scarf for $30-50 vs the $100-120 at Diagon Alley. Grab an owl, cat or frog from amazon for a "pet" too and pull it out of your backpack when youre there as a surprise (same with the robe, if you want). The wand is a must buy- no getting around that- nor would you want to :)
 
Let me add... If your son gets sidetracked or wants to do something out of order -- let him. My son -- same age -- was at age 7 a little afraid to go into Knockturn Alley. When he finally did, he spent 3 hours there playing with his wand. Most fun he had. Let the magic happen how it happens.
 

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