The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando has been a visitors’ magnet since its opening in 2010 and is one of Florida’s top attractions. It is a truly magical experience. Especially if you are going with a larger family it can get quite expensive.
Below I share some recommendations to save money on areas which will not impair your experience. Sometimes good planning will save you money.
Park Tickets
The decision how long you plan to stay in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and where you plan to stay will have the most impact on your required budget.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is part of two theme parks: In Universal’s Island of Adventure you find Hogsmeade and the Hogwarts Castle while Universal Studios has Diagon Alley and the Gringotts Bank. Both parks are connected with the Hogwarts Express which you can only ride with a park-to-park ticket.
If you have only one day my recommendation is to pick one of the parks and I would opt for Islands of Adventure. It is possible to see everything in one day if the waiting lines are not too long but it can get exhausting.
The longer you stay the lower the admission price per day will be. Unless you are an amusement park enthusiast two days in the parks are usually enough.
There are no real discount sellers, you will get the best prices directly on the universal website.
Accommodation
Staying in the park’s official resort hotels is usually more expensive. I would rather chose nearby Orlando hotels or vacation rentals. Another good options is staying in one of the nearby beach towns like Cocoa Beach. Especially if you only plan to stay one day in the park this is a good option.
However, it does make sense to check the Universal website. They may have a good package deal including resort accommodation and park tickets. Staying in an Universal resort usually comes with extra benefits like early park entry.
If you plan to stay at one of resort hotels the Cabana Bay Resort is a well priced option for families. Other value options are the Dockside Inn and the Surfside Inn.
Souvenirs
The parks have unique souvenirs. However, in particular clothes are quite expensive. I would recommend to get some Harry Potter themed t-shirts or robes before in shops or order them online.
You find great souvenir options for example in the legendary Honeydukes. There you can get chocolate toads or every flavor beans.
Food and Drinks
They have authentic food and drinks in the parks which are often better than the average them park food. The Three Broomsticks is a great choice where you can try the butterbeer. I would recommend to bring your own water bottle which you can refill at several locations for free.
After you are finished with your day a good option it to have dinner outside of the park in Universal’s City Walk. It is less expensive and they have nicer places than in the park. If you like Mexican food Antojitos Authentic Mexican Food is a great idea. For Italian head to Vivo Italian Kitchen.
Do you have any Tips?
Have you been to the Wizarding World and have other tips to share?
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