Hogsmeade vs. Diagon Alley: Which One Should You Visit?

Followers of Harry Potter have doubtless heard of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter situated at Common Studios. With places throughout a number of theme parks, these high-quality lands are immersive and fantastical.

Nevertheless, the Common Orlando Resort stands out on the subject of Harry Potter theming. With two lands to select from — Diagon Alley at Common Studios Florida and Hogsmeade at Common’s Islands of Journey — visitors can don their robes, seize their wands and whereas away the day with a Butterbeer.

However which themed location provides you with the perfect Harry Potter expertise? Let’s check out Hogsmeade versus Diagon Alley and discover out.

Though each Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade are situated throughout the Common Orlando Resort — and each are related to Harry Potter — that’s about the place their similarities finish.

A comparability of Diagon Alley to Hogsmeade exhibits their greatest distinction is their theming.

Positive, the meals is completely different, the drinks are completely different and the rides are completely different, however merely put: One is themed because the fictional city of Hogsmeade, whereas the opposite is themed because the fictional neighborhood of Diagon Alley.

Which Harry Potter world is best? Hogsmeade is the primary to open and could be present in a number of Common theme parks, together with the one situated in California. Right here, we’ll focus on the Hogsmeade discovered within the Common Orlando Resort.

The Common Orlando Resort consists of three theme parks, two of which comprise Harry Potter parts. Hogsmeade is inside Common’s Islands of Journey, which focuses extra on massive rides comparable to curler coasters.

You’ll discover a handful of points of interest inside Hogsmeade, together with three in style rides:

• Flight of the Hippogriff. 

• Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Bike Journey.

• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. 

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Bike Journey is a high-speed curler coaster aboard a flying bike and options a number of the finest theming round. It’s the latest Harry Potter attraction on the Common Orlando Resort and tends to have lengthy strains.

Flight of the Hippogriff is one other curler coaster in Hogsmeade, but it surely’s a lot smaller and is appropriate for kids.

Lastly, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is an immersive trip with a lot of motion, together with a second while you spin upside-down.

Hogsmeade is residence to a variety of different points of interest, together with Ollivander’s wand store and exhibits that run all through the day. The Hogwarts Categorical can be situated simply outdoors Hogsmeade; visitors can board this prepare to journey on to Diagon Alley while not having to exit and re-enter the theme parks (so long as they’ve a park-to-park ticket).

Hogsmeade has simply two official eating places to get meals and drinks. The Hog’s Head is a bar that serves alcoholic drinks, together with specifically brewed Dragon Scale beer. It additionally provides Butterbeer and Pumpkin Juice.

The Three Broomsticks is the one restaurant inside Hogsmeade; you will discover conventional British meals comparable to fish and chips and shepherd’s pie.

Opened in 2014, Diagon Alley in Orlando is the newer of the 2 lands at Common.

Diagon Alley is situated inside Common Studios Florida, which focuses extra on the filming and studio facet of rides.

There’s only one trip situated in Diagon Alley in comparison with the three in Hogsmeade. Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is an indoor curler coaster that mixes stay results with massive screens to create an exhilarating expertise.

Nevertheless, there are extra points of interest inside Diagon Alley than there are in Hogsmeade. This consists of the aforementioned Escape from Gringotts, (a second) Ollivander’s wand store, two completely different exhibits and, in fact, the Hogwarts Categorical.

Diagon Alley can be full of retailers that double as leisure comparable to:

• Gringotts Cash Change.

• Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Events.

• Weasleys’ Wizard Wheeze and extra.

Diagon Alley has a couple of completely different locations for food and drinks. Its solely sit-down restaurant is the Leaky Cauldron, which serves conventional British fare just like the Three Broomsticks.

You may as well discover an ice cream store and two places to buy alcoholic drinks. Lastly, Eternelle’s Elixir of Refreshment is a walk-up stand that sells water and specialty flavorings.

It is a laborious query to reply.

Hogsmeade is the unique Harry Potter land and options bigger rides, although it’s restricted when it comes to food and drinks. Diagon Alley solely has one trip to its identify, but it surely pulls out all of the stops on the subject of outlets, meals and drinks. When you’re a thrill seeker, think about Hosgmeade. When you’d favor to stroll, eat and store, head to Diagon Alley.

In the long run, each Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade are value a go to — and with a ticket that permits you to hop between parks, a fast trip on the Hogwarts Categorical can make sure you expertise each Harry Potter lands.

(High picture courtesy of Common Parks & Resorts)