Harry Potter One Day Itineraries at Universal Orlando

Harry Potter One Day Itineraries at Universal Orlando

Harry Potter One Day Itineraries at Universal Orlando

This article is your complete guide to visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter within one day! It’s important to note that guests will always need the Universal Orlando Park-to-Park ticket when trying to see and do everything within one day as both lands are split between two Universal parks. As a general rule, we almost always recommend guests take advantage of early park admission when possible and ride Hagrid’s Magical Creatures first, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey second, Flight of the Hippogriff third, the Hogwarts Express fourth, and Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts last.

For guests who might not be using early park admission and who plan to stay in the parks until closing, we recommend going on Escape from Gringotts first, the Hogwarts Express second, Flight of the Hippogriff third, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey fourth, and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure right before the park closes.

We hope you find this post helpful! Our goal at The Park Prodigy has always been to help you save time and money on your next Universal Orlando vacation!  If you are planning a trip to Universal Orlando be sure to check out the latest deals on Universal Orlando vacation packages and our discounted Universal Orlando tickets which include EARLY PARK ADMISSION to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

SPECIAL NOTE: If you’re looking for the best time to visit Universal Orlando be sure to check out our Universal Crowd Calendar!

 Universal Crowd Calendar

Can You Do Everything Within The Wizarding of Harry Potter in One Day?

From our experience helping our clients, it’s almost always possible to see and do everything within the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in one day. This includes going on all five of the Harry Potter rides, enjoying the Harry Potter stores and restaurants, as well as upgrading your experience to include an interactive Harry Potter wand. It is important to note that guests do need a Universal Orlando park-to-park ticket in order to visit both of the lands within Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida. They will also need a park-to-park ticket to ride the Hogwarts Express. 

What can guests experience within The Wizarding World of Harry Potter?

• Five amazing Wizarding World of Harry Potter Rides
• Interactive shopping experiences
• Themed Harry Potter Restaurants and snacks
• Upgraded interactive wand

Related Page: Best Tips and Tricks for Visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter 

Best Order to Go On The Harry Potter Rides

For guests who are taking advantage of our multi-day Universal Orlando tickets or stay at a Universal hotel, which includes early park admission, we recommend arriving an hour before the extra hour even starts. This will allow you to be some of the first guests in the park, and then we would tackle the rides in this order with Hagrid’s Magical Creatures first, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey second, Flight of the Hippogriff third, the Hogwarts Express fourth (switching to Universal Studios Florida), and Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts last. It’s important to note that Islands of Adventure does not need to be open for Early Park Admission for this strategy to work, if it is not you can use this to rope drop.

For guests who might not be using early park admission and who plan to stay in the parks until closing we would recommend to go on Escape from Gringotts first, the Hogwarts Express second (switching to Islands of Adventure), Flight of the Hippogriff third, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey fourth, and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure right before the park closes. Of course, it’s also important to note that for families trying to explore other areas of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter we’re sure there will be other breaks between these rides which we will include in our itinerary below.

Order for Harry Potter rides when using early park admission or rope-dropping Islands of Adventure:

• Hagrid’s Magical Creatures
• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
• Flight of the Hippogriff
• The Hogwarts Express
• Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts

Order for Harry Potter rides without using Early Park Admission or rope-dropping Universal Studios Florida: 

• Escape from Gringotts
• The Hogwarts Express
• Flight of the Hippogriff
• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
• Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure

Related Page: Is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Worth it? 

One Day Harry Potter Itinerary for Early Park Admission or Rope Dropping Islands of Adventure 

Hour 1 – Approx 8:00 AM

• Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure – 35 minutes projected wait time
• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey – 15 minutes projected wait time

**Arrive at 7:00 AM or one hour before opening to be some of the first guests in the parks

Hour 2 – Approx 9:00 AM

• Flight of the Hippogriff – 20 minutes projected wait time
• Ollivanders Wand Shop

Hour 3 – Approx 10:00 AM

• Explore Hogsmeade Village and cast spells

Hour 4 – Approx 11:00 AM

• Lunch at Three Broomsticks – 60 minutes

Hour 5– Approx 12:00 PM

• The Hogwarts Express – 40 minutes projected wait time

Hour 6– Approx 1:00 PM

• Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts – 65 minutes projected wait time

Hour 7– Approx 2:00 PM

• Explore Diagon Alley and take pictures near Gringotts dragon and the knight bus

Remaining entertainment: 

• Enjoy the different Wizarding World of Harry Potter shows at Universal
• Diner at Leaky Cauldron
• Nighttime show on Hogwarts Castle 
• Ride the Hogwarts Express both ways, as it’s different each time 
  

Related Page: How Much to Budget for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter 

One Day Harry Potter Itinerary for Early Park Admission or Rope Dropping Universal Studios Florida

Hour 1 – Approx 8:00 AM

• Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts – 25 minutes projected wait time

**Arrive at 7:15 AM or 45 minutes before to be some of the first guests in the parks

Hour 2 – Approx 9:00 AM

• Ollivanders Wand Shop
• Explore Diagon Alley and Cast Spells

Hour 3 – Approx 10:00 AM

• Explore Diagon Alley and take pictures near Gringotts dragon and the knight bus

Hour 4 – Approx 11:00 AM

• Lunch at The Leaky Cauldron – 60 minutes

Hour 5– Approx 12:00 PM

• The Hogwarts Express – 40 minutes projected wait time

Hour 6– Approx 1:00 PM

• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey – 15 minutes projected wait time

• Flight of the Hippogriff – 30-minute projected wait time

Hour 7– Approx 2:00 PM

• Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure – 120 minutes projected wait time

**An alternative to riding Hagrid’s in the afternoon is to get on the line 10-15 minutes before the park closes for the shortest wait time

Remaining entertainment: 

• Enjoy the different Wizarding World of Harry Potter shows at Universal
• Diner at Three Broomsticks
• Ride the Hogwarts Express both ways, as it’s different each time
• Nighttime show on Hogwarts Castle 

Related Page: Universal Orlando Harry Potter Wands 

Visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in One Day Tips and Tricks

• Guests need to have a Universal Orlando park-to-park ticket in order to ride the Hogwarts Express
• A family of four should budget around $1,119 for one day which would cover tickets and food
• It’s always best to take advantage of early park admission at Islands of Adventure when possible
• Always arrive 60 minutes before early admission or rope dropping to be some of the first guests in the park
• Guests who don’t rope drop Hagrid’s Magical Creatures can get on the line right before the park closes for shorter wait times

When is The Best Time to Visit Universal Orlando?

Our Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We breakdown the park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices by day, and average temperature.

Are You Ready to Plan Your Next Universal Orlando Trip?

If you are planning a trip to Universal Orlando, check out our discounted multi-day Universal Orlando tickets and Universal Orlando vacation package deals, which include EARLY PARK ADMISSION to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

And to stay up to date on everything going on inside the theme parks be sure to check out our partners at Themeparktoday.com!