I don’t know about you, but I love a good scavenger hunt – and I’m also a huge fan of the Harry Potter franchise. So drop me into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood, and you bet I’ll be looking for every movie reference I can find.
From the shop windows in Hogsmeade village to the queues for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Flight of the Hippogriff, and even the restrooms (or, as they’re called in Hogsmeade, the Public Conveniences), I can guarantee there will be something for you to discover! So, whether it’s a subtle nod to the movies or just a fun little gem that helps immerse you in the magic, here’s a list of my favorite design elements all Harry Potter fans should be on the lookout for in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Hogsmeade Village
Fred and George Weasley are notorious for their troublemaking skills. They even go so far as to invent several magical items to help them in their mischief throughout the “Harry Potter” series. You can find some of these items at Zonko’s Joke shop window. Boxes of Extendable Ears (good for eavesdropping) can be seen next to a display for Puking Pastilles, a puking prop you’ll recognize from the Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes scene in “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.”
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Across the way, right next to the Hogsmeade train station, is a giant cuckoo clock tower. Every 15 minutes, watch as an owl pops out to hoot at you from the shuttered window above.
PRO TIP: Just below the clock tower you’ll also find a nice, shaded seating area, perfect for a little relaxation. The next time you’re here, look up into the rafters. You might find several owls staring back.
The next hidden gem is a not-so-hidden one: Sirius Black’s wanted poster, located right in front of the Three Broomsticks restaurant. This poster is straight out of “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” complete with Sirius Black’s moving portrait. And if you happen to use the Public Conveniences (restrooms) nearby, keep your ears open — you might recognize a certain voice that haunts the second floor girls’ bathroom at Hogwarts…
Hungry? Take a look at Discover Universal’s complete food and beverage guide to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
As you walk through the village, you’ll see several storefronts. Peek in through the windows for a surprise! At Dogweed and Deathcap, for example, there’s a Mandrake root making a fuss from its pot. In “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,” we learn their cries can be fatal. That is why you’ll also find earmuffs and a pair of dragon-hide gloves next to it, just like the ones the second-year Herbology students wear in the movie.
If you’ve read the “Harry Potter” books, you might remember Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop. This is where Hogwarts couples spend time gazing lovingly into each other’s eyes. In the book, “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” Harry and Cho Chang have a very (very) awkward first date here, on Valentine’s Day of all days. Here in Hogsmeade, you can take a picture in front of the shop and watch as the teacups and saucers magically spin inside (no, there aren’t any flying cherubs, thank goodness).
At the Owl Post you’ll come across several different Howlers yelling in the window before they tear themselves apart. Step inside and you’ll be surrounded by oddly shaped parcels, as well as the messenger owls in charge of delivering them. If you want to see something really cute, take a closer look at where the owl’s perch. You’ll find that some of them have received awards for their speedy and efficient delivery.
Dervish and Banges sells all sorts of goods including Quidditch supplies, Quibbler magazines, and brooms floating above. You can also purchase The Monster Book of Monsters here. (But be careful — it bites!) And if you happen to try any clothing items on, take a good look at yourself in their full-length, talking mirror. It’s known to give some fashionable advice!
The storefront for Brews and Stews is located in the alleyway that runs right along Dervish and Banges. If you peek inside the window, there is a cake with two snowmen wearing Gryffindor and Ravenclaw scarves. I think this cake is awfully similar to Molly Weasley’s Christmas cake in “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.”
One of my favorite parts of “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” is when all the students dress up to attend the Yule Ball to celebrate the Triwizard Tournament. At Gladrags Wizardwear, you can find a few dresses resembling those of two other Yule Ball attendees. In the store’s window, you’ll spot a measuring-tape cat that reminds me of Crookshanks, Hermione’s half-Kneazle, half-cat companion.
Further into Hogsmeade village, is a storefront for Tomes & Scrolls, which has Professor Gilderoy Lockhart’s books on display. These include “Break with a Banshee,” “Gadding with Ghouls,” “Holidays with Hags,” “Voyages with Vampires,” “Travels with Trolls,” “Wandering with Werewolves,” and “Years with the Yeti” — otherwise known as the seven books he assigned his Defense Against the Dark Arts students in “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.” Celebrity is as celebrity does, they say.
Flight of the Hippogriff
Throughout Flight of the Hippogriff, you might spot some of Hagrid’s cans of Flesh-Eating Slug Repellant. You know, the ones he carries in the book “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” to take care of his cabbages. Can you find all of the cans scattered throughout the ride?
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journeyis full of some fun details that Harry Potter fans won’t want to miss. As you make your way towards Hogwarts castle, keep an eye out for the Weasley’s car from “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” hiding in the trees.
Throughout the queue, there are iconic items like the Mirror of Erised in the dungeons, Mandrake roots in the greenhouse, and moving portraits along the castle walls. You’ll also get to see the gargoyle statue that leads you to Dumbledore’s office. Other fun details to keep an eye out for include:
- A Unicorn tapestry from the Gryffindor common room.
- The portrait that conceals the entrance to the Gryffindor tower.
- The four giant hourglasses used to count House points.
- The Sorting Hat that decides each Hogwarts students’ house.
Filch’s Emporium
When you exit Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, you’ll find yourself in Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods. As the name suggests, this is where Hogwarts Caretaker Argus Filch has stored all of the items he’s taken away from students throughout the school year. Look up to see Hogwarts contraband under lock and key, including several Quibbler magazines, rubber chickens, and dolls. If you look closely, you might be able to spot a miniature toy version of a certain flying car.
Filch also has boxes neatly labeled with individual student names, to help him keep track of all the troublemakers in school. These are stashed above the shelves all throughout the store. Whose boxes can you spot?
After you’re done with your scavenger hunt, head over to the nearest Butterbeer cart and get yourself a Butterbeer because you’ve earned it! There are so many fun immersive details scattered all over The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood, I’m sure I’ve missed a few. So, the next time you find yourself exploring Hogsmeade village, keep an eye out. There’s no knowing what you’ll see!
What’s a delightful detail you’ve noticed in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter? Let us know in the comments below!
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