Top 10 Enchanting Experiences in Diagon Alley

The incredibly popular stories and characters from J.K. Rowling’s books and the films they inspired cast a spell on millions of fans who visit and adore The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure, which opened in 2010. The Potter lore continued in 2014 with an ambitious expansion at the resort’s other park, Universal Studios Florida.

Dubbed The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, it explores the London side of Rowling’s mythical universe. Given the breakthrough attractions, meticulous attention to detail and storytelling, and overall level of quality Universal delivered at its original Potter land, it’s hard to believe that the park wizards could have outdone themselves. But they have. Grab yourself an Elixir to Induce Euphoria (but try to quell your enthusiasm) as we explore the best things at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley.

Blow Your Mind as You Escape from Gringotts

You can’t miss Gringotts bank. It’s the place with the fire-breathing dragon perched atop its roof and the one to which everybody is heading. After entering the bank, pass goblin tellers (startlingly lifelike animatronic characters) tallying Wizarding Notes in the richly appointed marble lobby. Then board an “elevator” that will take you deep beneath the bank to its underground vaults.

Hop onto single-train coaster cars and ride past practical sets, 3-D, high-def projected imagery, and sensory enhancements. The adventure brings you face to (noseless) face with I-don’t-care-what-they-say-I’m-gonna-name-him: Lord Voldemort. As if that’s not scary enough, Bellatrix Lestrange attempts to seal your fate in a not very pleasant manner and the Death Eater seeks his next meal at your expense.

Ride the Hogwarts Express

Guests can travel back and forth between Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade on an actual train, although it is tricked out to make passengers believe they are traveling through the Scottish countryside. They encounter Hagrid the half-giant, Hippogriffs, and other oddities along the way.

More than a means of transportation, the Hogwarts Express is a full-fledged attraction and a must-do part of the Diagon Alley experience. To do it, however, you must purchase a two-park ticket (since Hogsmeade is located at Universal Orlando’s other park, Islands of Adventure).

Enjoy an Immersive, Highly Themed Experience

The focus is on the high-profile attractions, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts and the Hogwarts Express, as it should be. However, Universal has again proven itself masterful in crafting not only buzz-worthy rides but a wholly believable and impeccably detailed land that fully envelops guests and transports them to a wonderful, magical place.

The bustling downtown London facsimile seems a world away from the rest of the Studios park, let alone guests’ everyday hometown locales. It’s not just the spot-on architecture and whimsical features like the ominous fire-breathing dragon. Everything contributes to the story, and nothing breaks the mythology.

If you desire a refreshing beverage as you explore the park, forget conventional options. Coca-Cola doesn’t exist in the books or films, and it isn’t available at the Wizarding World. Nor is anything else from muggle (non-wizard) society. The cast members remain in character, which is all part of an extraordinary commitment to the theme. Go for the rides, but you will likely find yourself charmed by the entire experience.

Quaff Elixirs, Brews, and Other Beverages

Attendance soared as guests flocked in record numbers to Islands of Adventure after the original Wizarding World opened. However, beverage sales, primarily for the highly addictive (and delicious) butterbeer, increased to remarkable levels.

There is plenty of butterbeer available at Diagon Alley as well, but Universal is also offering a multitude of exclusive drinks in the land. It is all part of the plan to boost the resorts’ beverage sales levels. Among the drinks offered:

• Elixirs at Eternelle’s Elixir of Refreshment. Guests can watch as cast members prepare intriguing flavors such as Draught of Peace and Fire Protection Potion.
• Exclusive microbrew selections, brewed specifically for Universal, include Dragon Scale and Wizard’s Brew.
• In addition to Pumpkin Juice, which is also available at Hogsmeade, other strange-sounding but must-try drinks include Tongue Tying Lemon Squash (essentially lemonade) and Fishy Green Ale (with bubble tea pearls mimicking fish eyes).

Go Shopping for Quidditch Supplies and More

If you want a Potter souvenir to take home with you, Universal is more than happy to oblige. Instead of the usual array of T-shirts and other ho-hum gift shop merchandise, there is a selection of unique Wizarding items available at shops such as:

• Borgin and Burkes, offering Death Eater masks and other “Dark Arts” products.
• Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment, featuring armillary spheres and other essentials wizards apparently require.
• Scribbulus, which has old-timey feather quills, inkwells, and other items that people once used when they…um, what was it they did? Oh yeah, wrote.

Wreak Havoc with an Interactive Wand

Like in Hogsmeade, there is an Ollivanders wand shop in Diagon Alley as well. Furthermore, there is an engaging show with one of the clerks where the “wand chooses the wizard.” Various wands are available for sale. Distinctively, some of the wands at the new shop are interactive.

By following the movements indicated in emblems embedded in the ground, store displays suddenly animate and other interactive experiences occur as guests wave their wands throughout Diagon Alley.

Get Some Wizarding Bank Notes

You could pay for your Fishy Green Ale, armillary spheres, and interactive wands with your muggle currency. Or, you could trade in your cash for some Wizarding Bank Notes. You can approach a Gringotts Bank goblin, hand in your money, and receive a stash of the special notes to spend at any shops throughout both of the resort’s parks.

This is another brilliant money-making (literally) move on Universal’s part, as many guests aspire to take the notes home as souvenirs, consequently providing the park with extremely high-priced printed pieces of paper to sell.

We All Scream for Clotted Cream?

Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour has over 20 conversation-starting varieties available, including:

• Orange marmalade
• Clotted cream
• Sticky toffee pudding
• Earl Grey and lavender

Moreover, for those who can never have enough of the habit-forming flavor, the shop also offers butterbeer soft-serve, which is absolutely scrumptious.

Chow Down on Bangers and Mash

Get something more substantial than butterbeer soft-serve to eat with all of the beverages available in Diagon Alley. Head to the Leaky Cauldron for Brit favorites like:

• Toad in the Hole (sausage with Yorkshire pudding)
• Fish and Chips
• Bangers and Mash (sausage with potatoes)

The pub also offers the Ploughman’s, a huge plate stuffed with English cheese, crusty bread, a Scotch egg, and other traditional delicacies.

Scream Like a Banshee with Celestina

Diagon Alley presents two entertaining shows:

• The Singing Sorceress: Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees – Molly Weasley’s favorite singer performs daily with her band. Among the songs are Potteresque hits such as “You Stole My Cauldron But You Can’t Have My Heart.”
• The Tales of Beedle the Bard – This performance includes puppetry and scenery developed by an award-winning production designer.