Is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Orlando Worth it?

Is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Orlando Worth it?

Is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Orlando Worth it?

This article is your complete guide to figuring out if The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Orlando is worth it! And from our experience, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Orlando is worth it for not only die-hard Harry Potter fans but also casual fans. This is mostly due to the attention to detail that can be found between Hogsmeade Village and Diagon Alley. We also find that the Harry Potter rides are some of the best rides in all of Orlando. Universal always has one section of The Wizarding World open for early park admission, making it worth it for families who are simply interested in having an amazing theme park vacation!

SPECIAL NOTE: If you need help picking the best time to visit Universal Orlando for your next vacation, be sure to check out our Universal Crowd calendar!

 Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar

The Main Reasons We Find The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to be Worth It

From our experience, no visit to Universal Orlando is complete without stopping by The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The main reason is that we find both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade Village to have some incredible attention to detail, which every Harry Potter fan or casual visitor can appreciate. In our opinion, we also believe that out of the five Harry Potter rides found in Universal Orlando, two of which are Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure and Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, are on the list of the best five rides at Universal. We also find the Hogwarts Express and Harry Potter and the Flight of the Hippogriff some of the best rides for families visiting with young children. Not to mention the Harry Potter interactive wands, fire breathing dragon, and the ability to have breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the Three Broom Sticks and Leaky Cauldron. However, you will see that it’s still important that families visiting understand that most of the rides do require a minimum height requirement of 36″ or taller.

Wizarding World of Harry Potter Pros

• Included in the cost of your Universal Orlando ticket (Special note: you need the park-to-park ticket to ride the Hogwarts Express)
• Attention to detail within both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade Village
• Some of the best rides in all of Universal Orlando
• Included with early park admission
• Nighttime show on Hogwarts Castle
• Specialty-themed food, including BUTTERBEER
• Interactive wands for added fun

Wizarding World of Harry Potter Cons

• It is very expensive, and you need a park-to-park ticket to ride every Harry Potter attraction.
• The rides might not be the best for very young children or elderly guests
• Not all rides can accommodate larger guests
• You will need to upgrade to use the interactive wand
• No set schedule for the nighttime show
• Some of the areas can be extremely busy, including the locker areas

Related Page: Guide to Planning a Harry Potter Vacation

Is the Wizarding World Worth it Based on Rides?

As discussed, one of the most important things to determine if the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is worth it is which rides my family can go on. As a general rule of thumb, we find the Wizarding World of Harry Potter rides to be best suited for guests who are 36″-48″ or taller, with the most popular ride, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures, having a minimum height requirement of 48″ tall. Of course, it is important to note that one of the best rides for families visiting with young children is the Hogwarts Express, which does not have a height requirement at all. And we love that guests can ride the train both ways and get a different experience each time. However, the only downside to the Hogwarts Express is guests need a park-to-park ticket to ride.

Harry Potter ride height requirements

• Hogwarts Express: No height requirement.
• Flight of the Hippogriff: Must be at least 36 inches (92 cm) tall. Children between 36 and 48 inches must be accompanied by a supervising companion.
• Escape from Gringotts: Must be at least 42 inches (107 cm) tall.
• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey: Must be at least 48 inches (122 cm) tall.
• Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure: Must be at least 48 inches (122 cm) tall.

Related Page: Guide to the Universal Orlando Height Requirments 

Is the Wizarding World Worth it Based on Price?

As noted above, admission into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is included with your Universal Orlando ticket. It is, however, important to note that the Wizarding World is split between the two parks of Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida, so if you are trying to get everything done within one day, you will need a Universal Orlando Park-to-Park ticket, which will cost around $200.00 on average. We would say that it would also be important for guests to take advantage of some of the other rides that Universal Orlando has to offer, as the Wizarding World of Harry Potter only has five rides, so this would come to around $40 per ride. On the flip side, families budgeting for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter vacation package can expect to pay around $2,700 for a family of four during a two-night stay at a Universal Orlando value resort with two days in the parks. We would say that we do see the benefit of visiting both different ways and it really all depends on what’s most important to you and your family.

How much to budget for The Wizard World of Harry Potter?

One-day visits: $200 per person for 1-Day Park-to-Park tickets

Vacation packages: $2,700 for a family of four with two days in the parks

Related Page: Is the Harry Potter Vacation Package Worth it? 

Common Questions When Deciding if The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is Worth it?

How much should I expect to spend at Harry Potter World?

As discussed above, the typical family of four will spend around $2,700 on a two-day Harry Potter vacation package or $800.00 on one-day Universal Orlando Park-to-Park tickets. However, outside of those costs, we would expect families of four to spend around $250-$300 each day on meals and, for the ultimate Harry Potter experience, to budget another $30 for Butterbeer each day. This also excludes specialty souvenirs such as wands, robes, or other Harry Potter merchandise.

Is one day enough for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter?

We do find there is plenty to do within the Wizarding World of Harry Potter within one day, especially if you plan to go on all five of the Harry Potter rides, take advantage of the themed restaurants and snack stands, as well as explore all of the hidden spots and Harry Potter shows between the two parks.

How many days do you need for Harry Potter World?

As a general rule of thumb, if you are only visiting to go on the Harry Potter rides, you should be able to ride everything with the one-day park-to-park ticket. However, for guests who are looking to slow everything down and enjoy all of the hidden details found within both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, we would suggest two days, as you will see that both lands have immersive stores and restaurants, which every Harry Potter fan will love.

What age is Harry Potter world suitable for?

If rides are the most important factor when considering a visit to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, we would suggest making sure your kids are between 7 and 8 years old or older. The main reason is that a majority of the rides have a minimum height requirement of at least 36″ tall. However, we do believe that there is also plenty of magic to enjoy for younger guests as long as you are willing to upgrade to take advantage of one of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter wands. 

Is Harry Potter World fun for adults?

Yes, we believe that adults will have a fantastic time visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, especially if they grew up enjoying the books and the movies. We think both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley are like stepping into a movie.

How long do people usually spend at Harry Potter World?

We typically find that families will visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter for at least one full day with a park-to-park ticket. You will see that even though you can accomplish all five of the Harry Potter rides within 5-6 hours, most guests will also want to stay to see the Nighttime Lights show on Hogwarts Castle. So, in this case, they can keep themselves busy enjoying all of the hidden details found within the two lands.

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 break down 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’re ready to plan your trip to Universal Studios, be sure to check out Universal Orlando Tickets! Not only will you save money vs buying direct, but all of our Universal Orlando tickets come with some amazing benefits that can help save you up to three hours in the parks!

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