Hey travel queens! If you’re a Harry Potter fan, like me, you’ll want to add “Harry Potter Holidays” to your bucket list! It’s time you feel the magic of the Harry Potter books in real life by spending your Christmas Holidays at Hogwarts, Diagon Alley & Hogsmeade.
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Although you can visit Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade and ride the Hogwarts Express all-year round at Universal Orlando Resort, I highly recommend visiting during the holiday season! The Wizarding World of Harry Potter gets transformed with Christmas decorations, which makes it all merry and magical.
Why You Should Experience Christmas at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
If you need more reasons to have your Harry Potter holidays here, check out my photos & reasons to visit below:
Christmas at Diagon Alley & Hogsmeade
During the daytime, there’s truly something unique about the wintery magic here. At Hogsmeade, you feel it when you’re walking around and see the holiday wreaths on buildings and snow on the rooftops. Similar with Diagon Alley, there’s green garland with bright red bows on doors & windows all around.
From day to night, the streets and shops illuminate with twinkling lights as Christmas unfolds even more in the Wizarding World. You can feel that a yuletide spell has been
Less Muggles during the Holiday Season
During the Christmas season, there are fewer muggles which makes your Harry Potter holidays more enjoyable with fewer crowds. Christmas is always filled with large crowds everywhere else you may go. Therefore, visiting this amusement park is perfect if you don’t like large crowds and want a more enjoyable holiday.
With fewer crowds, I was even able to get a photo with Hogwarts with NO people in the background! Normally, it would be super crowded and my perfect photo would be filled with random people staring.
The only downside during my Christmas holiday was that it rained a little my last day there, but the weather made Hogwarts feel exactly like the books & movies! So although you might get upset about rain during your holidays, it makes The Wizarding World of Harry Potter feel authentic and magical. On the upside, the rain also caused the muggles
Hogwarts Express to London at Christmas
Have you ever been to London during the Christmas seasons? If you have, you’ll know London’s streets and districts are spruced up with festive lights and decorations.
If you haven’t been to London, Universal Orlando Resort has a replica. Hogwarts Express arrives at Kings Cross Station which is located on a London-looking street. There’s a red telephone booth, Leicester Square Tube Station and lots of festive lights and decor to make it look like Christmas in London.
Therefore, if you’ve never been to London, England, at least you can visit this replica. You will feel like you’re in London during your Harry Potter holiday.
Hot Butterbeer (VS Cold Butterbeer)
Holding Hot Butterbeer 
Holding Cold Butterbeer
That’s right. Hot Butterbeer! This iconic beverage from the Harry Potter books and movies is usually served cold and tastes like a butterscotch soft drink. However, when visiting during your Harry Potter holidays, they offer the option to have hot butterbeer!
The Wizarding World can get a little chilly in the winter time so grab this seasonal drink to warm up! You can order a hot butterbeer from inside the Three Broomsticks in Diagon Alley, or the Hog’s Head in Hogsmeade.
Although both butterbeers are delicious and worth trying cold and hot, the hot butterbeer seems tastier to me, and definitely made me feel cozy drinking it at the Three Broomsticks in Diagon Alley.
Holiday Dinner at the Three Broomsticks
Not only does the Three Broomsticks offer hot butterbeer, but they also offer a special holiday menu & dinner for the Harry Potter holidays. This holiday menu could feed any H
The holiday dinner comes with oven roasted turkey, wild mushroom and sage stuffing, brown butter and walnut brussels sprouts, root vegetables, and roasted tomatoes, with traditional gravy and spiced cranberry sauce served on the side.
The Three Broomsticks holiday special is perfect for dinner if you’re really hungry. Even if you’re not hungry,
Magical Christmas Gifts
Obviously, one of the most unique souvenirs you can get in the Wizarding World is a wizard’s wand with secret powers that only work at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!
The reason to visit during the Christmas holidays is that there’s an additional selection of Harry Potter Christmas items. From Harry Potter stockings to snowglobes, to Christmas tree toppers and unique ornaments. Visiting during the holidays has its perks of finding gifts for every Harry Potter lover, including yourself!
More Reasons to Visit Universal Orlando Resort at Christmas
Not only is there Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter but all of Universal Orlando Resort is transformed into the holiday spirit. From Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s to the live retelling of Dr. Seuss’s classic holiday tale starring The Grinch, there’s so much more to offer for the holiday season.
I’m not only a Harry Potter fan, but I’m also a huge Grinch fan, and another amazing thing to experience was celebrating Grinchmas with The Grinch!
Click here for Grinchmas & meeting the Grinch!
I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Is visiting Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade and riding the Hogwarts Express on your bucket list? Let me know! Want to see more of my gay travel photos and travel inspiration? Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
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Ryan Thomas Woods is the voice behind Out With Ryan. He’s an LGBTQ+ Activist & Travel writer for this website and many other publications. He was recently voted 2018’s Travel Influencer of Year in Canada and dedicated the award to all LGBTQ+ travelers making the world a better & safer space for our community, as he strives to do on his website & social platforms.
