First timer! Need your best Harry Potter tips! Go!

[HelloMimi]

I'm going to ask here cause it might help the 1st timers too! This is our second trip and the first we rode FJ and Gringotts, spent little time looking around. We plan to spend more time this trip checking out the HP worlds, so here are my questions.

3 Broomsticks or Leaky Cauldron for Lunch?

Depends on which menu you prefer - Leaky Cauldron has slightly more interesting choices. If you haven't already looked inside both of them, definitely set some time aside for that. They're both wonderfully themed! If it's not super busy, you can also sit outside on the Three Broomsticks patio, even if you haven't purchased any food.

Do you need a reservation?

I think the only reservations they take for both restaurants are for breakfast, but you have to have a package booked through Universal.

Is there an alcohol version of Butterbeer? (Like Dole Whips with Rum at AK)

Nope, but my guess is that the bartenders at Hog's Head would probably share what pairs best with Butterbeer if you asked them (I've seen people recommend Fire Whiskey). They won't combine it for you, so you'll have to purchase a separate shot.

 

[Squirlz]

I'm going to ask here cause it might help the 1st timers too! This is our second trip and the first we rode FJ and Gringotts, spent little time looking around. We plan to spend more time this trip checking out the HP worlds, so here are my questions.

3 Broomsticks or Leaky Cauldron for Lunch?

Do you need a reservation?

Is there an alcohol version of Butterbeer? (Like Dole Whips with Rum at AK)

They don't take reservations. You order at a counter then you are seated and your food arrives shortly. No alcohol, but I hear if you order a shot at the bar nobody will stop you from pouring it in!

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

If you are going to the wand ceremony at Ollivander's (we went to the one in Diagon Alley) and have your heart set on being the person picked from the audience to be part of the ceremony and have a wand chosen for them, then go in the early evening after crowds have died down. Granddaughters had their hearts set on being chosen, so stepdaughter took them each in separately at the end of the day when very few people were doing it and they were chosen. It made their day!

The girls had already purchased interactive wands early in the day and were told by the staff at Ollivanders that if they had the original receipt and packaging they could exchange these wands for the wand chosen in the wand ceremony, which they both did.

 

[dmanwi]

We visited Olivander's in Hogsmede later in the day (2pm?) while going back for a single rider run on FJ. There was a 10 min wait but our son was about the only child in the shop and was picked. We ended up not purchasing a wand though. I almost bought a used wand off of ebay prior to our trip. I kind of wish I did because everyone seemed to be having fun with the interactive stations.

 

[macraven]

For those going early December, potter ride forbidden journey will be down for maintence

Dec 1-18

 

[turtlechick6]

I really want my sons chosen for the wand choosing ceremony so we might try the later in the day thing. Or we will just keep going back till they choose us. I am not at all interested in the food part of Harry Potter world. I am not a foodie and that food does not appeal to me. Give me pizza instead lol. I will try the ice cream place most likely.

 

[bchbetha]

I really want my sons chosen for the wand choosing ceremony so we might try the later in the day thing. Or we will just keep going back till they choose us. I am not at all interested in the food part of Harry Potter world. I am not a foodie and that food does not appeal to me. Give me pizza instead lol. I will try the ice cream place most likely.

But a HP fan will love eating in the HP restaurants! The theming is so cool. They have some simple stuff on the menu.

 

[kim31kim]

But a HP fan will love eating in the HP restaurants! The theming is so cool. They have some simple stuff on the menu.

I love all things Harry Potter and am really looking forward to all the HP themed food... my only concern is that I won't have enough room in my belly to try everything I want to try in just two days. haha

 

[murmer]

If you have someone in your group that wants to ride forbidden journey over and over we found the last hour of the night to be walk on. My daughter rode 3 or 4 times with just the time to walk through the line. Also make sure to watch the dragon above gringotts blow fire (while enjoying ice cream preferably lol)

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

I am here now and yes, Forbidden Journey is down for scheduled maintenance etc. but they will let you walk through the queue which I thought was rather amazing.

As others have said the crowds are greater in the afternoon - the shop in Diagon Alley for wand buying was absolutely standing room only - I was glad I wasn't trying to buy a wand just then. The interactive wands looked like loadsw of fun! I had a late lunch at Leaky Cauldron - it was fabulous and fast - much true to detail. As I dug into the bangers and mash I was really hoping the peas had mint (which is how they are served in almost every pub I have been to in the UK) and true to form the peas had a topping of mint. I just thought to myself "spot on" Universal - they did their research. A nice change from burgers.

I thought pretty much everything about WWoHP and Diagon Alley was really well done and fairly amazing. Gringotts was one of the best theme park rides I have been one. Dragon challenge was a good coaster - and even the hippogriff coaster was a nice starter coaster. I really loved the attention to detail from the toilets, to the language and the food choices. Very high quality IMO!

Enjoy!

 

[qv09vvp]

I am here now and yes, Forbidden Journey is down for scheduled maintenance etc. but they will let you walk through the queue which I thought was rather amazing.
!

by queue you mean the castle right? this is the first I've heard of it being open. that's great!!! really I was just sulking to my hubby that I we probably wouldn't get to see the sorting hat or cool portraits in the castle...so your new is good news@! thanks!

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

by queue you mean the castle right? this is the first I've heard of it being open. that's great!!! really I was just sulking to my hubby that I we probably wouldn't get to see the sorting hat or cool portraits in the castle...so your new is good news@! thanks!

Yeah - the castle is open - all of us filing through then turning around at the end. But hey - I thoroughly enjoyed seeing it - so much detail there! Looking forward to coming back sometime when Forbidden Journey is open!

 

[areno79]

by queue you mean the castle right? this is the first I've heard of it being open. that's great!!! really I was just sulking to my hubby that I we probably wouldn't get to see the sorting hat or cool portraits in the castle...so your new is good news@! thanks!

We were there on Wednesday and they let us walk through the Hogwarts castle and take pics even though the ride wasn't functioning. I was so glad because it was my first trip to WWoHP!

 

[Mjkre]

If some want to ride Dragon Challenge, and some don't, you can ask one of the ride attendants for a tour of the ride. Its really cool.

Knockturn Alley is so much fun! Check out the skeleton!

Go to or go back to Diagonal Alley at night. Amazing. Also Gringots line for us was much smaller at night. Also, it has single rider.

At end of night, all the witches and wizards line up for you to walk through out of DA.

We went to Wand show first thing in morning in DA-- no lines even during busiest days.

Enjoy!

 

[Mom3girls]

Forbidden Journey is OPEN!!!