Universal Orlando: Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade

I mentioned in an earlier post, that while we were in Orlando, we stayed at Cabana Bay Beach Resort, which had an awesome perk of allowing early access to guests to Universal Studios. Again, I highly recommend this hotel, not just for the perks, but because it was within walking distance, was very clean, and the pool(s) were awesome. 

DIAGON ALLEY 

The first morning in the park, we were at the gate right at opening and went straight for Daigon Alley and the Gringott's ride. The detail work in the bank itself was really awesome, the goblins working as 'tellers' were very lifelike and would occasionally glare at you. The ride was a mix between virtual and rollercoaster, and it was really, really good. 

Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour where you could get various ice cream flavors including butterbeer, earl gray @ lavender, and clotted cream. 

Olivander's Wand Shop, where you can experience someone choosing their wand - or rather, the wand choosing them. 

The Hopping Pot, where you can get all of your butterbeer needs (they have hot, cold, and iced - all of them are delicious!) 

We also went to Weazley's Wizarding Wheezes, which is the shop opened by Fred and George Weasley with Harry's Triwizard Tournament winnings. The shop looks nearly identical to how it's portrayed in the movies - down to the disappearing rabbit under the hat and the unicycling Umbridge going across the ceiling. 

What I didn't know before going to Diagon Alley, is that you can also visit Knockturn Alley and Borgin and Burkes shop. It was pretty creepy/cool - not to mention that the vanishing cabinet is there and you can hear the bird tweeting inside it. 

There are tons of hidden gems inside Diagon Alley, including props from the actual movies, talking mirrors, and even a goblin from Gringotts that will answer your questions. If you get one of the interactive wands, there are actually places throughout Diagon Alley where you can cast spells and see some fun things happen! 

The thing we waited forever to see was the dragon blowing fire. She blows it at totally random times, and we never did see it until our very last day there. It actually made the whole area of the park get warm. The dragon perched on top of the bank alone is enough to make you feel awed, but breathing fire really takes the cake.

HOGSMEADE

Of course we rode the Hogwart's express (we actually rode it from Hogsmeade to Diagon Alley at the end of the day) and the Forbidden Journey ride in Hogwarts.

Riding the Forbidden Journey was even more magical than the first time because the wait was only FIFTEEN MINUTES rather than the 2 hours it took when we went in 2014. Don't ask me how we got so lucky. We also rode the Dragon Challenge several times, I never could decide whether the Chinese Fireball or the Hungarian Horntail was the better one.

We didn't eat in The Three Broomsticks, only because we were planning on eating in the Leaky Cauldron, and the food was essentially the same. We DID however, drink tons of butterbeer while walking through Hogsmeade. We rode the Flight of The Hippogriff and got to walk by Hagrid's cabin. I thought the ride was a 'kiddie coaster' but it was actually really fun. And of course we stopped by all the fun shops like Dervish and Banges, Filches Imporium of Confiscated Goods, and got us some yummy treats at Honeydukes shop.

We had an amazing trip, and I can't wait to go back (although Derek says it will be several years). Have you ever been to the Wizardign World of Harry Potter? What was your experience?