Diagon Alley - Universal Studio FL

Follow in Harry Potter’s footsteps as you walk through the streets of London to Diagon Alley, where you’ll find many of the wizarding world’s most famous establishments. 

The Wizard Business District is the first thing the public will see after entering Diagon Alley, anchored by a fire breathing dragon on top of Gringotts Bank

Inside the Alley is an assortment of restaurants, shops, and other sights; some even have tables out front with coloured umbrellas. Particularly during the days or weeks before school starts at Hogwarts, the location is packed with witches and wizards, though shops are open year-round as witches and wizards travel to the location for various goods. While the shops include many school-supply locations, there are also many locations important to the wizarding world, such as Gringotts Wizarding Bank and Ollivanders. Diagon Alley is also the location of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, established by Fred and George Weasley shortly after leaving Hogwarts.

The entrance is behind the Leaky Cauldron in a small, walled courtyard with a dustbin. Diagon Alley can be accessed by tapping the correct brick in the wall behind the Leaky Cauldron (from the trash can, three up and two across). The wall goes in a small hole first but forms a large archway. It can also be accessed by Floo powder and Apparition. 

Harry Potter's first visit to Diagon Alley with Rubeus Hagrid marked his re-introduction to the wizarding world. Harry's first stop was Gringotts Wizarding Bank, where he encountered Goblins for the first time. After obtaining money from the bank Hagrid helped Harry shop for his school supplies and purchased Harry's eleventh birthday present, the snowy owl Hedwig, from Eeylops Owl Emporium. Harry also purchased his wand from Ollivanders. When visiting Diagon Alley Harry remarked that he wished he had more than one set of eyes to be able to take in all the sights the alley has to offer.

Gringotts Wizarding Bank - Gringotts is the only known bank of the wizarding world. It was created by the goblin Gringott. It is located in Diagon Alley and is owned and run by Goblins. In addition to storing money and valuables for wizards, one can go there to exchange Muggle money for wizarding money.

The grand lobby of Gringotts bank, which serves at the start of the queue for the ride, also features massive chandeliers just like the ones from the films.

Nine animatronic goblins greet guests at the start of Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, the marquee attraction.

Diagon Alley’s feature ride, “Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts” improves on the video projections of “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” with the introduction of animatronic goblins. Before beginning the ride, visitors will encounter these miserly Gringotts bankers face-to-face, and their realistic looks and movements heighten the creepiness factor. It’s when the head teller speakers and invites you to open an account that you then head down into the vaults and, subsequently, travel on the ride into the bowels of the mighty bank.

Some are counting money, some are scribbling bank records and, occasionally, they make eye contact with you. The head goblin even asks if you are here to open a bank account.

"We worked with the film team," says Thierry Coup, Universal Creative's senior vice president. "And we actually took the mold of the goblins from the film." 

One of the animatronic goblin on the left turned and actually was looking right at me while I got this picture taken !!!...That was scary...

The money exchange is a neat little store filled with chocolate Gringotts bank coins, and the chance to exchange your real money for wizard money, something that basically boils down what’s going on in the park to it’s most basic: here is some of your own money, now here is a toy.

  

But the biggest draw is a terrifyingly real looking goblin animatronic that will actually respond to questions you ask. It looked me in the eyes. How spooky...

I asked if he goes to restroom sometimes. He said "No, I am too busy for that"...LOL..

Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes
Located at 93 Diagon Alley, it is a joke shop owned by Fred and George Weasley. 

It sells practical joke and unusual items like Skiving Snackboxes that come with Fainting Fancies, Nosebleed Nougats, Fever Fudge and Puking Pastilles. (In the movies, wizards use these to make themselves appear ill. In real life, they are sweet treats.)

There are three floors inside Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, but despite what this staircase says, we were not allowed upstairs, as Universal Orlando guests likely won't be, either. The actual merchandise will all be on the ground floor. 

A wider look at Carkitt Market, including Eternelle's elixir stand.

The Leaky Cauldron pub features more than just Butterbeer. It also features hearty food, along with Tongue-Tying Lemon Squash, Gillywater and other Potter treats.

Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment
Though the shop was never named in the books, Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment was shown in the movies, so that's good enough for us. 

Never hurts to stock up at Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment

Not all of the telescopes in Wiseacres are real. For instance, this telescope is made from pipes from the 'Jaws' ride's filtration system.

Shops line the streets of Diagon Alley

Knockturn Alley
 A dark and menacing place with dancing skeletons, a ceiling lit like a foreboding night sky and more wisecracking shrunken heads.


These shrunken heads come to life in a Knockturn Alley storefront !

Borgin and Burkes

Located in Knockturn Alley, the shelves of this antiquated shop are lined with Dark objects and sinister items. You don’t have to be a Death Eater to gain entry to this infamous shop. 

As you wedge your way through the fascinating, eclectic collection of Dark Arts objects, you may find Death Eater masks, skulls, and costume replicas. The shop also sells apparel, accessories, jewelry, collectibles, and gifts.

The Monster Book of Monsters for Hagrid’s “Care of Magical Creatures”

Ollivanders: Makers of fine wands since 382 BC

Located in the heart of Diagon Alley, this is where young wizards come in search of their most essential wizarding supply: their wand. 

Inside, towering walls reveal thousands of wand boxes stacked to the ceiling. And inside each box, a wand is waiting to choose a wizard.

Madam Malkin's Robes

Here, guests will find Hogwarts school uniforms, ties, scarves, sweaters and cardigans, as well as other apparel and jewelry fashion items inspired by the four school houses of Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. 

Don’t forget to top it all off with a new wizard hat from the finest and most fashionable assortment in Diagon Alley.

Severus Snape's costume is for sale. 

Dale Mason of Universal Creative said it was "an easy yes" to approve a fire-breathing dragon to sit atop Gringotts Bank. You never know when it will erupt, but when it does there's a deafening roar, the ground rumbles and you can feel the heat from the fireball that the Ukranian Ironbelly spews on tourists below.

Down Horizont Alley, which runs perpendicular to Diagon Alley. You can see some of the store signs, plus there's a Butterbeer store inside.

Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Orlando Resort is SO AMAZING and truly makes you feel as if you have stepped inside of the Harry Potter films, and I sincerely hope that you get the chance to experience it for yourself soon.

(Images taken by a compact Sony camera)