Explore the Magic of Hogsmeade at Universal Orlando

Universal Orlando's Wizarding World of Harry Potter features two main areas: the Upper Lot and the Lower Lot, also known as the Islands of Adventure. Visitors can travel between the two areas via the Hogwarts Express or by walking around the park. However, be prepared for long lines for the train in the afternoon, often exceeding an hour. My friend and I arrived in the morning and headed straight to King's Cross Station from the right side of the park. We were so eager that we arrived before the tickets were available, waiting for about half a minute at the entrance. Hogsmeade offers a variety of Butterbeer options, including regular, frozen, and hot. Each has its unique appeal. The regular Butterbeer has a distinct separation between the frothy cream and the fizzy drink, providing a refreshing experience. The hot version is smooth and slightly sweeter, while the frozen one has a milder Butterbeer flavor, which becomes more like sweet water as it melts. Personally, I prefer the original flavor for its authenticity, but preferences vary. I also tried the Butterbeer ice cream and cream. The ice cream was delicious, though the cream became a bit overwhelming after a while, despite being tasty. The Three Broomsticks is a must-visit restaurant in the park, offering reasonably priced meals. Although there are queues for lunch, dinner is less crowded. I highly recommend the pork ribs combo for around $20. The ribs are tender and flavorful with a sweet and sour sauce, accompanied by soft potato chunks and well-seasoned onion strips. The corn is also sweet and enjoyable. The chocolate cake is another highlight, featuring a layer of chocolate shavings, cream in the middle, and strawberries at the bottom, providing a balanced taste. Pumpkin juice, rumored to contain cinnamon, has a sweet pumpkin flavor, but I found it increasingly odd with each sip. Hagrid's Motorbike Adventure is an exhilarating ride where you can spot magical creatures like Blast-Ended Skrewts, a three-headed dog (possibly), and a unicorn. The ride doesn't support Express Pass, resulting in long wait times. It showed a 105-minute wait at 8:30 AM, extending to 135 minutes during peak hours. However, we managed to use the single riders line at 4:40 PM, reducing the wait to just 30 minutes. Although we couldn't sit together, it was worth it. Unfortunately, the single riders line closed by the time we wanted a second ride. The evening light show starts at 6:20 PM, lasting about 7 minutes and ending with fireworks. The bridge offers the best view, but it's crowded, so arrive early. If you're further back, try moving forward for better spots. The Upper Lot closes at 8:00 PM, and we missed the last train at 8:02 PM, having to walk back to City Walk. The next day, we queued at 7:10 PM and waited only 20 minutes. #UniversalOrlando #HarryPotter #Butterbeer #HagridsMotorbike