At the foot of Hogwarts Castle you'll find this magical village in the Wizarding World.
Hogsmeade in Wizarding World of Harry Potter is located at Universal's Islands of Adventure Park. It is a fantastic magical place where you will be immersed in the realistic sights and sounds of the Harry Potter Books. We visited Universal Orlando in January, it was a cold weekend but the weather fit right in with the atmosphere. Our kids loved this area of the park only second to Diagon Alley which you can read more about in my last blog post. Come along as I take you on our adventures in Hogsmeade.
You can enter Hogsmeade in one of two ways. The first is from entering Islands of Adventure Park. Islands of Adventure makes a large circle through Seuss Landing, Marvel Super Hero Island, Jurassic Park and more which then will bring you to Hogsmeade in either direction. Your second option is to ride the Hogwarts Express from Kings Cross Station and Diagon Alley. Of course, the Hogwarts Express is the best form of transportation to start your admission to the Hogwarts School of Witch Craft and Wizardry. The three attractions in Hogsmeade are Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, Flight of the Hippogriff, and Harry Potter & The Forbidden Journey. Flight of the Hippogriff is a fun family friendly roller coaster. Harry Potter & The Forbidden Journey is a thrilling adventure through the Hogwarts Castle. And, when I say adventurous I mean it... pack your motion sickness meds for this one. If it sounds a little too intense just ask the Wizard at the entrance if you can just walk through the castle without riding. It is definitely worth the walkthrough for any Harry Potter fan! Hagrid's Magical Creature Motorbike Adventure is the third and most incredible attraction in Hogsmeade.
Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is the highlight of Hogsmeade. In my opinion it is the the best roller coaster currently in Universal Orlando. The theming of the ride queue, the trill of the coaster track, the smoothness of the motorbike all adds up to be an epic ride! You can even say it is two totally different experiences depending on if you are in the side car or driving the motorbike. Personally I say drive the motorbike all the way! Currently Universal is offering a Virtual Line Pass on busy days which is usually the weekends or holidays. We absolutely loved the Virtual Line Pass. A booking window opens several times a day. There is no limit to how many times you can snag one. Once you use your first one you can try again for a Pass in the next window. On our 4 days at Universal we were able to ride Hagrid's 7 times! It was definitely the favorite for our family.
When you work up an appetite try out The Three Broomsticks. The rustic tavern dining location in Hogsmeade serves up delicious dishes to many Hogwarts students. Of course the iron chandeliers and wooden beams ambiance of the fine eating establishment will bring you right into the movies. The go to meals are Fish & Chips, Turkey Legs, The Great Feast and of course the Butterbeer. My greatest tip for dining at Three Broomsticks is to be flexible with your meal time. The off peak lunch and dinner times definitely bring less of a wait time.
A must stop for every witch and wizard is the HoneyDukes Sweets Shop. It is filled with all the colorful treats that Ron, Hermione and Harry enjoyed on their trips into Hogsmeade. From the Chocolate Frogs to the Exploding Bonbons, the Cauldron Cakes to the Bertie Botts Beans, you will surely find the most incredible treats inside.
While in Hogsmeade be sure to see the Triwizard Spirit Rally and Frogs Choir stage shows. Take a hand in all the magical wands spots which can be found in the windows of the village. And of course enjoy a Butterbeer or two or three. Butterbeers can be cold, frozen and in the winter months, hot so it is a crime to not try all three when given the opportunity.
Lastly the most amazing sights of Hogsmeade are in the evening. When the lights come on and the crowds disappear there isn't a more magical experience than this.
If you would like help planning your adventure to Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Universal Orlando Resort please reach out to me. I'd love to offer all my booking services with tips and tricks for a magical family vacation.
~Lesli
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