“You’re a wizard Harry!” This line is very familiar to the fans of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. Those few words spoken by our favorite half-giant led us on a seven year adventure of magical triumphs and divine destinies, all starting in Diagon Alley.
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Welcome to Diagon Alley
I know as a fellow Potter fan you’ve imagined yourself walking down the famous alley going from shop to shop and chatting with the citizens of this world.
In my mind we’d have passing conversations about the previous defeat of the Chudley Cannons and who was on the cover of the latest issue of Witch Weekly.
Perhaps we all can remember Harry’s awkward pronunciation of D-Dia-gon Alley, which landed us directly into the dark artifacts store of Borgin and Burkes. A storefront on the eerie street of Knockturn Alley.
The infamous alley is known to harbor shady witches and wizards conducting suspicious dealings with canines and other shadowy creatures.
Some may say that frequent thoughts, such as those above, categorize us Potterheads into the group of admirers addicted to Diagon Alley.
I would rather disagree, but while pondering such accusations I came up with reasons why we might be an addict of Diagon Alley.
I would like to know if any of this sounds like you.
10 Signs You’re Addicted to Diagon Alley
1 – You have your family heirloom waiting to be deposited into Gringotts, the wizard bank!
No safer place.
Not one…
…besides Hogwarts of course.
2 – You feel the need to stop by and chat with Doris Crockford and give Dedalus Diggle.
Your dream is to give them a hand shake in the Leaky Cauldron before making your way through the magical brick wall into Diagon Alley.
3 – You want to talk Mr. Borgin down on the price for the Hand of Glory.
After all, it’s old, withered, and has been sitting on the shelf collecting dust for years.
4 – You’re ready for your book to be signed.
You will be the first in line at Flourish and Blotts to have your copy of Magical Me and Holiday with Hags. Both books would be signed by Gilderoy Lockhart.
5 – Your shopping list is done.
You have already made a shopping list complete with:
- A set of Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder
- Nine Nosebleed Nougats
- A dozen of Decoy Detonators to be purchased from Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes
6 – Your apartment is move-in ready.
You have staked out the perfect apartment above the Magical Menagerie shop and you want Dolores Umbridge to decorate it.
7 – You’re ready for your robe.
Your appointment with Madam Malkin for a custom robe fitting has already been scheduled seven months in advance.
8 – Your perfect spot on the Knight Bus has been chosen.
You view the ride on the Knight Bus with Ern as a bucket list item ready to be conquered!
9 – You’re an ice cream foodie.
You have declared yourself the official ice cream connoisseur. It becomes your duty to taste every unique flavor at Florean Fortescue Ice Cream Parlor.
10 – You really want a reservation at the Leaky Cauldron.
You’re hoping Universal will allow you go ahead and book your room. You want room eleven to be precise at the Leaky Cauldron.
…well at least for one night because you’re a true wizard stuck in this muggle world!
Diagon Alley at Universal Studios – What to Know Before You Go
Which Park is Harry Potter World Located in Orlando?
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando is divided into two sections.
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hogsmeade – Located in Islands of Adventure
- Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley – Located in Universal Studios Florida
What is the Difference between Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley?
Diagon Alley focuses on the Wizard’s experience shopping, dining, and socializing in the secret London location.
Hogsmeade focuses on the experience of the Hogwarts students living and learning inside the castle. Plus, their experiences exploring the little village of Hogsmeade.
Does Universal Hollywood have Diagon Alley?
Universal Hollywood currently does not have a Diagon Alley section. You can still experience the Hogsmeade adventure in the Hollywood park!
Where is the Real Diagon Alley?
The “real” Diagon Alley is located inside the Universal Studios Florida theme park.
But if you’re a Harry Potter purist, then according to the books the alley is accessible from London through the Leaky Cauldron, which is on Charing Cross Road.
The Leaky Cauldron is a location that is only seen by wizards and is located between a bookshop and a record shop.
There are also two contenders for the REAL Diagon Alley in the “real world.”
Most Potter fans debate between the two following locations:
1 – Cecil Court in London
The Cecil Court area has lots of bookshops and historic looking storefronts.
2 – Godwin’s Court in London
The Godwin’s Court area is very reminiscent of Diagon Alley with its whimsical looking houses and buildings.
What is Diagon Alley Universal Address?
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter address is 6000 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819
What are the Diagon Alley Hours?
Diagon Alley inside Universal Studios Florida is opened 365 days a year 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the regular season.
Hours may change based on the busyness of the park.
Diagon Alley Phone Number
You can reach guest services at Universal Orlando Resort by calling (407) 224-4233.
How Much are Tickets to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter?
There are a few options to choose from for Florida residents when buying a ticket for any of the Universal Orlando theme parks.
2-Park – 2-Day Ticket Starts at $107 Per Day
The 2-Park 2-Day Park-to-Park Florida Resident Ticket entitles one (1) guest admission to BOTH Universal Studios Florida™ AND Universal’s Islands of Adventure™ theme parks on the same day.
*Prices are subject to change.
You can view the whole list of ticket options here and save money too!
Did you know that you can get Groupon Universal Studios tickets? You can find them here.
Is there a separate ticket for Harry Potter world?
You do not need a separate ticket for Diagon Alley since it is included in park admission.
If you want to visit Hogsmeade, you will need a ticket to Islands of Adventure since that portion of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is located there.
Visiting both areas Diagon Alley (at Universal Studios) and Hogsmeade (at Islands of Adventure) will require you to have a 2-park ticket.
Is there Butterbeer in Diagon Alley?
Absolutely!
And you must try EVERY type of Butterbeer!
In case you’re a Muggle, Butterbeer is a drink mentioned several times in the Harry Potter books. It is the drink of choice for many of the adolescents throughout the famous Wizarding story.
It’s a staple drink and a must have beverage whenever you visit Universal Studios.
How is Butterbeer served?
- Cold Butterbeer
- Frozen Butterbeer
- Hot Butterbeer (seasonal)
- Butterbeer Potted Cream
- Fudge Butterbeer
- Butterbeer Soft Serve Ice-Cream
Sooooo many to choose from!!!
Where to find Butterbeer?
You can find a Butterbeer offering of some sort inside this section of Universal Studios at:
- The Leaky Cauldron
- Hopping Pot
- Sugarplum’s Sweetshop
- Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour
Final Thoughts
If your smile is as wide as mine and you can say yes to at least three, then you’re probably already addicted to Diagon Alley.
Although the severity of your addiction may not be as deep as mine, we may both need an unwanted intervention.
Let us know why you love the Harry Potter series in the comments section below!
If you enjoyed this article, then you’ll love these:
- Universal Studios One-Day Itinerary
- Islands of Adventure One-Day Itinerary
- Best Photo Spots at Islands of Adventure
- Is Hagrid’s Magical Creatures worth a 10 hour wait?
- Best Photo Spots at Universal Studios
- A Celebration of Harry Potter Tips and Tricks
- What You Need to Pack for Universal Orlando
- Diagon Alley Grand Opening from A-Z
Are you planning a Universal Orlando vacation soon? Read the Universal Vacation Planning Guide for your next dream trip!
Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!
NikkyJ
(Original Article Date: June 4, 2014/Updated September 25, 2019)
I can’t wait for Diagon Alley and to go back to Universal! I am bummed that I will never get to try Gringotts though…I can’t ride rollercoasters anymore because of spinal surgery. Boo. I will just have to have an extra Butterbeer to compensate. 🙂
Hopefully they’ll have a walking tour for the non-riders like the Forbidden Journey ride.
Well, I thought I was a big Harry Potter fan, but I don’t even know what some of the things on your list are. I guess I better get to re-reading the books and visiting Diagon Alley!
Haha! I got really detailed on this post to get all of us excited about the opening of Diagon Alley at Universal and to also get us to re-read the books 🙂