Step through the gates of Hogsmeade Village armed with your wand and cloak, and prepare to have a magical experience discovering the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! Below is the Muggle’s ultimate guide to Hogsmeade Village at Universal’s Islands of Adventure.
Hogwarts castle is the star of the show in Hogsmeade Village along with the iconic snow-covered buildings. My pro-tip is to arrive at Universal Studios right when they open and run to Hogsmeade Village to get your photo ops before the crowds arrive.
Planning your trip to Orlando? Check out: The Ultimate 3-Day Itinerary to the Best Orlando Theme Parks!
I highly recommend buying the Express Pass. It lets you skip to the front of the line at select rides throughout the park as well as for attractions and seated shows. We had Express Passes and I was super impressed with how quickly we darted through the crowds!
The holidays are the best time of year to splurge on passes to amusement parks. With bigger crowds, waiting times are longer, and you won’t have enough time to see and do everything. Check out Universal Orlando’s ticket packages for more info…
Here’s a rundown of the perfect day living out your dreams of being accepted to Hogwarts and wandering through Hogsmeade Village. There’s a lot to explore, so be prepared to spend a great deal of time here!
The Ultimate Guide to Hogsmeade Village:
Buy a Wand at Ollivander’s
This is at the beginning of the list because it is one of the most popular attractions in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. If this is on your list then I recommend getting here first thing in the morning! During peak crowds, you will have to wait for hours to enter the shop.
If you purchase an interactive wand then you’ll get a map to Hogsmeade Village labeling different magical spots. Find the brass spell markers on the ground, follow the instructions on how to wave your wand, and, just like magic, you can activate all sorts of enchanted objects!
You can also buy a wand at the wagon just right outside of Ollivander’s, which is what we ended up doing.
Drink a Butterbeer
Anyone fancy a Butterbeer? If you are a lover of butterscotch and sugar, then this drink is for you. You can choose from the soda-like butterbeer or the frozen slushy butterbeer. I recommend the frozen! There is a creamy foam layer that tops it all off making them irresistible.
Visit the Owl Post
At this shop, you can buy a variety of writing tools including stationery, quills, ink, and Harry Potter stamps. The rest of the shop includes an array of owl-related toys and gifts. This is where I bought my Gryffindor scarf! Here you can also mail letters with a special Hogsmeade postmark.
Eat Lunch in the Three Broomsticks
All of this excitement will work up an appetite. Feast away at the Three Broomsticks where they serve delicious family-style platters. The food reminds me of what is served at British pubs. Pretty hardy for theme park food, and different than what the rest of the park has to offer!
Shop for Sweets in Honeydukes
Satisfy your sweet tooth and stock up on all the candy and treats at Honeydukes. Chocolate frogs, jellybeans, fudge, you name it. I felt ready to ride the Hogwarts Express and brag about my candy to Ron and Harry. Anything your sweet magical heart desires, Honeydukes has it all.
Take a Ride on a Broomstick Inside of Hogwarts Castle
Harry Potter & the Forbidden Journey – my all-time favorite theme park ride, a true highlight of the Harry Potter World experience. Grab a broomstick and sore through the castle grounds, dodge monsters in the forbidden forest, and fly through a quidditch match.
Even the ride’s waiting line is filled with rooms and settings from the books and films, including Dumbledore’s office, the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, and the Gryffindor common room. You’ll even encounter moving paintings on the castle walls!
Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.
Albus Dumbledore
Dreams really do come true! I hope this ultimate guide to Hogsmeade Village helped you plan out your day. 🙂
For a visual guide of Hogsmeade, check out my 3 Day Trip to Orlando on my YouTube channel! It includes visits to other theme parks as well.
