Any Good Unofficial Guides to Harry Potter World?

[stampinot]

Any suggestions are welcome! Thanks

 

[pcstang]

What are you looking for specifically?

 

[stampinot]

What are you looking for specifically?

It is our first time going and I just want to see what there is to do, the hidden gems etc. I would like them all in one place vs. having to research several sites and threads

 

[pcstang]

Ok, I believe there are guide books available. Not real sure as I've never bought one. Sometimes your local library might have them. A few little hidden things to do...
Men in black immigration tour. Ask when you are getting off the ride.
Mummy tour. Ask as you first enter the building. Meaning the TMs directing people which line to use.
Hard Rock Cafe tour at city walk is pretty cool too.

 

[Robo56]

There is a Wizarding World of Harry Potter FAQ sticky above packed with lots of info.

Take a look on the Universal Web site map and get a idea of the parks layout IOA and UO. This will help orient you to the parks.

I will add few quick tips

1. Hogsmeade is in IOA. It was the first of the two Potter Parks. The 3 rides there are Forbidden Journey (inside Hogwarts Castle), Flight of the Hippogriff small coaster near Hagrid's Hut and Dragons Challenge (roller coaster).
You can visit Ollivanders there for the wand show. If you are lucky you can be chosen to participate. If you are a Potter fan buy a interactive wand to do the magic spells outside the shops at designated areas noted with a metal medallion
on the ground. There is also a map included with your wand showing you these areas.

2. You can catch the Hogwarts Express here to take you to Diagon Alley. You need a park to park ticket to ride the Hogwarts Express. Ride it both ways different experience.

3. Shops in IOA are Honeydukes. You can buy your chocolate frogs here and many more sweet options. Dervish and Banges and Owl Post are in the same building. Tidbit: If see something you like at the shops and you are not returning later buy it. Not all the Potter shops carry the same products. If you are going to be in the park all day you can have your purchases sent to the front of the park to pick up as you exit. The TM's in the shops will help you with this. If you are staying onsite for at least 3 days i think it is. Your purchases can be delivered to your room. Lovely perk for onsite guest.

4. Have a meal at the Three Broomsticks and then a Butterbeer or Pumpkin Juice at the Hog's Head right next door.

5. If your the queasy sort and you don't want to ride the Forbidden Journey then you can tour the Hogwarts Castle. Just let the TM know.

Now to Diagon Alley. Truly awe inspiring.

1. Ride the Hogwarts Express over to King's Cross station. When you walk through the brick walls listen for the bricks to separate. When its busy with people you miss this.

2. The Dragon on the top of Escape from Gringotts bank ride breaths fire every 10 to 15 minutes. This is a photo op. That's why you will see people standing in the middle of the street pointing cameras upward. You can hear it stoking up before it blows.
Escape form Gringotts is the only ride in Diagon Alley, but this does not diminish the experience in anyway. The walk through the bank and viewing the Goblins at work is something to behold. Tidbit: if lines are lone use single rider line.

3. There are also areas here to use your interactive wands. Again medallions on the ground in front of magic sites. TM's are posted at the sites sometimes to help people with magic spells.

4. Have a meal at the Leaky Cauldron and ice-cream at Florean Fortescue's ice-cream parlor. Then maybe a Butterbeer at the Hopping pot.

5. There is a Ollivander's wand show here also. Tidbit: this one tends to be less crowded.

6. Have a look in Madam Malkin's Robe shop. Tidbit: stand in front of the mirror for a
Compliment?

7. Go to the Gringott's Money exchange. Tidbit: ask the Goblin something and listen for his reply.

8. Go to the Magical Menagerie and buy your favorite animal. Tidbit: when you are facing the front Of the menagerie store walk to the left side of the store and around the corner and you will see the Parcel tongue snake moving on a large branch.

LOL...My sweet niece not fond of snakes....making a face....not even fake ones behind glass.

9. Also located in Diagon Alley is Quality Quidditch Supplies, Scribbulus, Sugarplum's sweetshop, wands by Gregorovitch and Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.

10. Knockturn Alley has more areas inside to use your interactive wand.

11. Inside Borgin and Burkes is the vanishing cabinet listen (if your facing store it's on your right in the very back) and feel for the bird inside. When the store is filled with people its hard to hear.

 

[schumigirl]

https://www.disboards.com/threads/secret-things-in-wwohp.3495319/

This is a good thread........

 

[SaintsManiac]

I've been reading the Orlando Informer site a lot lately. We will be on our first trip in November!

 

[pcstang]

Also, if you get a wand it will come with a map. Take it in to knocturn alley and look at it under one of the black lights. There are hidden spells that will show up on the map.

 

[michelepa]

This time two weeks from now I will be using all these tips as i take my daughter through Harry Potter at Universal for our very first time!

So very excited!

 

[Robo56]

With my tidbits and the thread Schumi suggested you should have a good start.

Some pics



Shrunken heads that sing to you in Knockturn Alley







Kreacher the not so nice house elf.

 

[Robo56]

a few more pics of Diagon Alley









Now it's time to go make your own memories. Have a great trip

 

[georgina]

When going from King's Cross Station to Hogsmeade, there is a spot where people in line ahead of you will appear to vanish through the wall before arriving at the platform