We know that when you’re thinking about Universal, you’re probably daydreaming about Butterbeer. (Don’t worry — we are, too.)

We can’t blame you for wanting to ride Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure multiple times or to indulge on all sorts of sweet treats from Honeydukes.

But all that time spent in Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley may be taking away from some of the best parts of Universal Orlando!

Before you put on your Hogwarts robes and get your wand from Ollivanders ready, you’re going to want to know about these five mistakes you’re making by visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

Other Themed Attractions and Lands

Men in Black: Alien Attack

Fight against aliens AND get trained by Will Smith? Yeah, Men in Black: Alien Attack is a pretty awesome ride. Honestly, it might be better than Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin and Toy Story Mania with its theming and level of difficulty. Now, don’t get us wrong! Men in Black: Alien Attack isn’t so hard that kids can’t rack up the points. But it’s just challenging enough that you’ll continue to return back to beat your previous score,

The queue also has plenty of hidden secrets that are too much fun to pass up when you’re waiting to ride.

Despicable Me: Minions Mayhem

A ride and a character meet-and-greet in one is bound to be a hit with your kids. And Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem is going to be a fan-favorite for your whole family as the motion simulated ride takes you through twists and turns in Gru’s workshop.

After you exit the attraction, though, you can even meet a Minion! The funny yellow sidekick dances around right outside the ride’s exit, separated from guests (but you can still take plenty of photos and yell “BANANA!”).

E.T. Adventure

After watching E.T., have you ever wanted to fly across the sky on a bike? Well, now’s your chance, because the E.T. Adventure allows you to travel to our favorite alien’s planet on that same flying bike from the film. While you’ll meet a bunch of other aliens along the way, one of our FAVORITE parts is actually the ending.

Guests give their name to a Team Member in the queue so E.T. can say goodbye to everyone by name as a final farewell. It makes us emotional every time!

Jurassic Park River Adventure

There are plenty of water rides all around the theme parks, but Jurassic Park River Adventure puts you in the center of the action. A nice cruise through the dinosaur exhibit turns a bit more wild as the biggest baddies escape from their enclosures.

You’ll have to dodge raptors, a Dilophosaurus, and (of course) the massive T-Rex that almost gets you at the end of the attraction. And that drop? It may not be as tall as Splash Mountain, but it’s just as fun!

Themed Lands

There are SO many themed lands throughout Universal Orlando outside of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Some of our favorites include Marvel Super Hero Island…

…Seuss Landing…

…and Toon Lagoon, among others. Each land has its own special photo-ops, restaurants, stores, and attractions that are must-sees whenever you’re in Universal. And, you absolutely don’t want to skip out on them when you’re visiting Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

There are so many more things outside of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter when it comes to the themed experiences you can find. Honestly, we aren’t even scratching the surface of the attractions, restaurants, stores, and lands that Universal has to offer! But you could enjoy a whole day outside of Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley and fill it with amazing things back-to-back in both Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

The COASTERS

Revenge of the Mummy

Universal’s coasters themselves earned a spot on this list. And we’re starting things off with one of the most well-known coasters around the parks! Revenge of the Mummy is a high-speed indoor coaster that sends you forwards, backwards, and on epic twists and turns. You’ll encounter the mummy’s curse along the way, accompanied with awesome pyrotechnics and fire.

Plus, the ending sequence at the end of the coaster is enough of a reason to ride. (We won’t spoil that for you, so you can experience it for the first time for yourself!)

The Incredible Hulk

As you walk into Universal’s Islands of Adventure, it’s kind of hard to miss the Incredible Hulk coaster! The mean, green, looping machine is MEGA fast with awesome inversions, drops, and even tunnels. It’s an intense coaster, sealing its role as one of Universal’s prime e-ticket attractions.

Bruce Banner finally gets the recognition he deserves with the Incredible Hulk Coaster, and we’re here for it. 😉

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit

Universal Studios Florida introduces guests to the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit as they enter the park with that STEEP upward climb. And even though that’s a reason enough to want to ride it, guests can literally rock out with their own soundtrack during the ride-though.

The coaster allows people to choose out of the massive list of songs, so they have their own custom “theme music” that plays during Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. Man, is it one way to start your park day on a thrilling note!

VelociCoaster

Since Jurassic World VelociCoaster opened in 2021 , it has staked its claim as one of the best Universal coasters ever made. The attraction blasts off as raptors “escape” from their enclosures and chase guests all around the parks.

The VelociCoaster is like nothing you’ve ever seen before with the ride vehicles hitting a speed of 70 mph in 2.4 seconds. Guests soar to the top of a 155-foot top hat tower before coming down at an 80-degree angle. The track tosses riders upside down four times, including moments of a 100-foot-long, “zero-gravity stall” and 360-degree barrel-roll inversion called the “mosasaurus roll.”

Awesome Food

Confisco Grille

It can be hard deciding what you’re craving for lunch most of the time. But, Confisco Grille has a combination of all sorts of flavors and cuisines like Mediterranean, Greek, and Asian on the menu, so choosing is WAY easier!

You can find anything from penne pasta to pad thai and even ribs, depending on what your taste buds are craving.

Mythos

Similar a bit to Confisco, Mythos has Mediterranean, Asian, and American eats on the menu. However, the atmosphere MAKES Mythos as it feels like you’re the star in a Greek myth. (We’d totally be a Muse from Hercules, if we’re honest.)

There are plenty of unique items like the Souvlaki Couscous Bowl available, while the menu also has dishes your whole family will love like Gnocchi Bolognese.

Finnegan’s

Cheers, mates! Finnegan’s is THE place to go for a cheeky drink with your pals in Universal! The list of wine, beer, cocktails, and additional alcoholic beverages is extensive to match with the vibrant and fun atmosphere that feels like a real Irish pub.

The menu is stocked full of great eats like fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash, and more. And we constantly crave it whenever we’re in the parks!

Central Park Crêpes

We know you’re probably thinking, “What’s so great about crepes?” But Universal’s resident crepe stand isn’t what you’d think! Central Park Crêpes has options of both sweet and savory snacks that you really won’t find anywhere else around Universal Orlando! (Sorry, Disney, Universal did it FIRST.)

Plus, you can customize your crepes to your fitting, so your crepe creation is perfection! Bon appétit!

Fast Food Boulevard

The name may not sound appealing, but Fast Food Boulevard is home to all the Simpson inspired eats and drinks, straight from the hit TV show! You can take a trip to Duff Beer, Flaming Moe’s, and the Frying Dutchman, among others.

And right next door is Lard Lad’s for a donut bigger than your head! We recommend coming hungry because you will most definitely be leaving full.

Bakeries All Over the Park

We can’t hit up a theme park without grabbing some sweets and pastries! You can make your way over to the San Francisco Candy Factory and Studios Sweets for a wide array of treats, including the almighty Brookie (I will stay on this bandwagon forever).

Croissant Moon is also a great spot for a quick bite to go along with dessert as there are sandwiches and pastries in the bakery case (we’re emphasizing how good the eclairs are right here, right now).

Honorable Mention

It’s not a restaurant, BUT Annual Passholders can actually eat over in the Jurassic Park Discovery Center like the characters from the movie! Who wouldn’t want to have their meal surrounding by dino DNA and fossils, y’all??

Just make sure that the t-rex and raptors don’t smell that burger…

Live Performances

The Blues Brothers

You can vibe out to the rhythm and blues as the Blues Brothers sing funk and soul music in Universal! Jake and Elwood are joined by Mabel the waitress and her sax playing partner, Jazz, for additional voices and instrumentals that will have you rocking out.

But be sure to stick around for another musical feature…

Sing It!

Sing It! is an a capella group that covers pop hits and “battle” against one another during their rounds. So you might want to think “Pitch Perfect” but with less competition and WAY more interaction with the audience.

Who knew harmonizing would really be the cherry on top to a trip to Universal?

Beat Builders

It looks like four “construction” workers have halted their progress at Universal Studios Florida to turn their construction equipment into music. (We wonder what project they were building…) You can get down to the rhythm as you enjoy the Beat Builders‘ handiwork… er, music!

You can find them on the scaffolding outside Louie’s Restaurant (which is also a hot spot to grab Pizza Fries during the Fall).

Awesome Character Paloozas

We know that parades are making a comeback, but Universal has done an AMAZING job with their Character Paloozas! You can spot your favorite friends on decked out floats, including the Spongebob crew, the Madagascar fam, and even the Trolls!

Not only is there the “cavalcade” where you can see all of them on floats, but you can also find the characters stationed throughout the parks! You can take photos at a distance from them, wave to them, and talk to them while you visit. We’re sure they’re just as thrilled to meet you!

Despite all the things we love about Universal, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter still has such a special place in our hearts. Still, make the time to check out everything that Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure have to offer for the most magical experience.

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What are your favorite things to do in Universal Orlando? Let us know in the comments below!

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