Last Fall, two of my best friends and I took a trip to Harry Potter World and Orlando. This was my first Girls’ Trip, ever, and it was a dream! We had the best long weekend relaxing, eating delicious food, and running all over Islands’ of Adventure and Universal Studios to do all things Harry Potter. Kurt and I actually went to Islands’ of Adventure on our honeymoon the year that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened up (in 2010). It was so fun to go back and see everything new. I loved Diagon Alley, Gringotts Bank, The Hogwarts Express, and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure!! As we walked in together, it completely lived up to our dreams. Check out the video of our trip here.
Food and Rides at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Food in the park: of course the Butterbeer and Pumpkin Juice were amazing! We also enjoyed the Beef Pasties meal at The Three Broomsticks. The atmosphere inside was even more fun than the food though! Also, Honeydukes was a dream. So much candy everywhere!
All the rides were amazing, but I think our favorite was Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. Riding the Hogwarts Express was so fun! Hagrid’s motorbike (which is such a good photo op) is next to Gringotts Bank in Diagon Alley. It’s also close to Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour, where we stopped for a mid-day treat.
We saved probably two hours of standing in line by asking the employees whether we should wait for the Hogwarts Express after riding Gringotts in Diagon Alley (we got to enter Universal Studios an hour earlier than the other park opened). They recommended running to the front of the park, entering at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, and then going to Hagrid’s Adventure; rather than waiting for the Hogwarts Express to take us to Hogsmeade. We saw the people who rode the train still waiting in line an hour after we got off the ride. When in doubt, ask the workers, they know all the secrets!
Food at Universal CityWalk
The Chocolate Emporium at Universal CityWalk had the best brunch menu! We ordered the Berries and Cream French Toast (with lemon curd filling), Avocado Bruscetta, and the Broccoli Cheddar Quiche. Everything we tried was incredible! They go all out on their milkshakes! Each of us got one, so we could try several different ones. They were as good as they look!
After our busy day at Harry Potter World, we ate dinner at Cowfish Sushi & Burger Bar. The food was delicious! We loved everything we ordered, especially their Brussel Sprouts.
Food at Disney Springs
One night we walked around Disney Springs (here’s the map) and since it was Fall we got to enjoy everything decorated for Halloween. We got dressed up too. If we could’ve done it over, we would’ve bought tickets to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. By the time we realized how fun this event would be, it was already full and we couldn’t purchase tickets.
During September and October, the restaurants and shops at Disney Springs put together Fall themed menu items and a brochure. This foodie guide gives the inside scoop of where to go to find different treats and appetizers. Our favorite food stops were at Jock Lindsey’s Hangar for the charcuterie board, it tasted as good as it looks; the Candy Cauldron for their candied apples; and Splitsville for flatbread with maple butter, Ghouda, cilantro, chicken, goat cheese, pear, and bacon topping.
If you haven’t already seen the vlog of our girls’ trip, check it out here.We had the best trip and got to see and do so many fun things there! Have you been to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, yet? Tell me your favorite parts of the park. And if you haven’t gone yet, what are you most excited to do? You’ll have to try out some of what we did, and let me know what you think.
Check out this post for other fun travel recommendations.
Sincerely,
