December 27 | Park-to-Park with Express Pass
Hello there, my wander friends 👋
Day two in Orlando was all about strategy, speed, and spells. With Park-to-Park tickets and Express Passes in hand, our mission was clear: ride the best attractions, live our best Harry Potter lives, eat well, and avoid getting soaked. Spoiler alert—we crushed our step count and our itinerary. To let you know, most rides had 2-3 hour lines, and we spent less than half that time [more like a quarter] on any ride. The Express passes are pricey, but so worth it if you really want to ride the rides. And you'll notice, even with the pass, we left a lot of rides behind as there are just so many. Not to worry, we knew we had 3 more days in the parks to get to most of it.
🧙♀️ Morning: Wizarding World Adventure Begins
We aimed to arrive by 8:30 AM (parks typically open at 9:00), and that early start paid off. Parking is a flat $35, no matter which garage you land in, so don’t overthink it.
☕ Pro Tip: Mobile Order Magic
To streamline the morning, we mobile ordered Starbucks at CityWalk—just past the parking lots. Coffee in hand before rope drop? Game changer. With an Express Pass day ahead we wanted to get the most for our money.
✨ Universal Studios Florida: Diagon Alley
Walking into Diagon Alley never gets old. The brick walls, crooked shop windows, and fire-breathing dragon atop Gringotts instantly transport you straight into the wizarding world.
🎢 Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts (Express Pass)
This ride is part dark ride, part roller coaster, and part cinematic thrill. You’re pulled deep beneath Gringotts Bank, encountering Harry, Ron, Hermione—and of course, Voldemort. It’s immersive, exciting, and a must-do, especially with Express access keeping wait times reasonable.
🪄 Ollivanders Wand Experience
This theatrical show is iconic—the moment when “the wand chooses the wizard.” Even if you’ve seen it before, it’s still magical. We grabbed wands here [second generation - with lights and vibration for spell casting, so cool]. The plan was to save the spell-casting for Epic Universe, where we only have one precious day and knew we would want the wands at the ready. We plan to come back another day to these two Universal parks to do spellcasting when we did not have access to the express pass.
🚂 Hogwarts Express: Park-to-Park Perfection
One of the best perks of a Park-to-Park ticket is riding the Hogwarts Express. The journey between parks isn’t just transportation—it’s an attraction, complete with magical scenes outside your cabin windows. Express Pass works here too, making the transition smooth and seamless.
🧙♂️ Midday: Islands of Adventure – Hogsmeade Village
Hogsmeade is pure storybook charm, with snowy rooftops, cozy shopfronts, and Hogwarts Castle towering above it all. Camera phones were working overtime here.
🎢 Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (Express Pass)
This family coaster packs in speed, storytelling, and surprises. You zip through the Forbidden Forest on Hagrid’s motorbike, encountering magical creatures along the way. Smooth, thrilling, and incredibly fun—easily one of the best rides in the parks. We were so happy to have found it as it wasn't part of my researched plan. Love it when good surprises happen!
🏰 Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (Express Pass)
Set inside Hogwarts Castle, the queue alone is worth the ride. You’ll glide past classrooms, Dumbledore’s office, and talking portraits before hopping onto a magical bench-style ride vehicle. Expect flying, Dementors, Quidditch, and pure wizarding chaos—in the best way. Okay, I must warn you that this ride may make you queasy -- it turns you side to side quite a bit and has video screens that don't always match. Even though I had taken Bonine in preparation, I still had to close my eyes. Forewarned is forearmed :)
🦅 Flight of the Hippogriff (Express Pass)
A short but sweet family coaster that swoops past Hagrid’s hut. It’s gentle, charming, and perfect for soaking in castle views without going full thrill mode.
📸 Photo Ops Galore
Between rides, we stopped for photos of:
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Snow-dusted rooftops
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Hogwarts Castle from every angle
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The Hogwarts Express steaming into the station
Honestly, it’s hard not to stop every five steps here. OK, and we cast a spell or two - just to make sure those wands were working ;)
🍽️ Lunch: Three Broomsticks (A Must)
Lunch at Three Broomsticks is both hearty and atmospheric.
Must-Try Picks:
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🥧 Shepherd’s Pie – warm, savory, and comforting
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🎃 Pumpkin Juice – surprisingly refreshing and lightly spiced
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🍺 Butterbeer – a classic for a reason (frozen, cold or hot, you can’t go wrong)
Everything we tried was exceptional and exactly what we needed to refuel for the afternoon. Now, you can mobile order, but you still wait in line for table service, so get in line first and mobile order from there. It really is delightful.
🎢 Afternoon: Thrills Beyond Harry Potter
🦖 VelociCoaster (Express Pass)
This ride is fast, intense, and jaw-dropping, weaving through Jurassic World with inversions and airtime galore. My friends loved it—but it was a bit too much thrill for me. Still, watching it from below is impressive in its own right.
🕷️ The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man (Express Pass)
A fantastic blend of 3D visuals, motion simulation, and classic Marvel storytelling. You’re swept into a battle through the streets of New York with Spidey himself. Still holds up as one of Universal’s best rides. Really fun.
🚂 Hogwarts Express (Round Two)
We rode the Hogsmeade-to-London version, which features a completely different storyline than the morning ride. Back at King’s Cross Station, we snapped the obligatory photo at Platform 9¾—because obviously.
🎬 Back at Universal Studios Florida
We wrapped up the day with a string of classic rides:
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Revenge of the Mummy (Express Pass) – A dark, indoor coaster with fire effects, sudden launches, and a fantastic theme. Still a favorite.
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Transformers: The Ride 3D (Express Pass) – Action-packed and immersive, putting you right in the middle of an Autobots vs. Decepticons battle. They also have a transformer outside for pictures who interacts with the crowd - so cool.
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Race Through New York with Jimmy Fallon (Express Pass)– Lighthearted, silly fun with a virtual race through NYC landmarks. You could really tell that Fallon and his crew had a wonderful time creating this ride, and they’re positive lighthearted vibes really rubs off on the audience.
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Fast & Furious: Supercharged (Express Pass)– Over-the-top and cheesy, but fun if you go in with the right expectations. This ride is located where the old Universal Studios tours used to be. It’s part live action with actors bringing you from room to room and part you enter a vehicle that moves through soundstages to put you in the middle of a race. Pretty fun!
Villain-Con Minion Blast (Express Pass)– This is an interactive ride where you’re actively in the game. You hold a blaster, aim, and shoot bad guys and targets as you move through Villain-Con, competing for points and bragging rights. Bright, fast, and full of Minion chaos—perfect if you love a little action.
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem (Express Pass)–
Here, you’re not just watching—you’re becoming a Minion. This motion-simulator ride pulls you into Gru’s world as you’re hilariously “transformed” and tossed into Minion madness. Whimsical, silly, and pure joy.
🍽️ Dinner: The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar (CityWalk)
We capped off the night with a 7:00 PM reservation (booked easily through the Universal app).
The Cowfish is playful, creative, and perfect after a long park day. The menu blends sushi and burgers, with fun combinations and a lively atmosphere. It’s casual, satisfying, and a great way to wind down without feeling rushed. My friends got the bento which included a little hamburger and sushi, and I got the poke bowl. Delicious!
✨ Final Wander Thoughts
An Express Pass day at Universal is all about pace and priorities—and this day delivered. From wizarding wonders to thrill rides and standout meals, we walked, rode, ate, and laughed our way well past 10,000 steps [closer to 20,000].
Next up… more Orlando adventures—and yes, even more magic. Stay tuned, wander friends 🌍✨
Until next time,
Eat well. Move well. Wander well.
Lyn @WanderLynTravel
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