Both The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida provide deeply immersive experiences that transport visitors into the heart of their favorite cinematic worlds. Each park offers unique attractions, designed thematically for the most dedicated fans, and boasts specialized environments, shops, and interactive experiences.
Having recently visited both parks I decided to delve into what each one has to offer for the varying crowds they attract. In addition to those immersive experiences I'll look at the rides that are associated with them as well as some of the other features of the individual parks. I'll also dig into the costs of both parks or in the case of Universal studios the two parks that combined make up the Harry Potter experience, and I will also review their respective fast lane services.
I have to admit I was surprised by the number of adults who were absolutely enthralled by both of these places. Star Wars made a bit more sense to me seeing as the first movie released in 1977 and it has attracted a large following over the ensuing decades. The younger ones were captivated by Rey and Kylo Ren while the older among us felt that nostalgia for the old school movies. Harry Potter was equally diverse in the age groups with maybe a slight skewing to younger crowds. We had two days to explore so Friday we went to Disney and then Saturday we did Universal.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
I was very impressed with the immersive experience here. Not only did they capture the essence of a galactic outpost down to the minute details but they also had several characters that would show up and interact with the crowd. Most of the Star Wars experience is in one location but there are a couple of other spots nearby as well.
For extra immersion, Galaxy’s Edge offers unique activities like the Droid Depot, where guests can build custom droids, and Savi’s Workshop, a secretive, personalized lightsaber-building experience. Dining options include Docking Bay 7, a themed eatery, and Oga’s Cantina, a Star Wars-inspired bar complete with live DJ performances by animatronic DJ Rex.
Cost
The cost for this was $149 per adult and $144 for children Note: Disney considers an adult to be anyone over the age of 9 but really, it is only $5 difference anyhow. The prices vary depending on season and day so if you go mid-week in the off season you might find tickets for around $119. High season tickets can get up to $233. We went in late September (exactly one week before Hurricane Helene made landfall....phew!!) so the tickets were not peak season pricing.
We also purchased Lightning Lanes passes which added another $29 each for the multi pass, and $25 each for the single pass.
Total cost for the day with tax: $704.00. Ouch.
Lightning Lane and How it Works
Disney does the express thing a little different than when I was last there. They now have a lightning lane multi pass that you can buy in advance but how far in advance depends on where you are staying. Guests of Disney Resort hotels and other select hotels can purchase passes up to 7 days in advance of their stay. Others can purchase passes up to 3 days in advance of their park visit. We were in the second group since our hotel was not one of those listed. You must have a valid park pass before you can purchase it and you'll need to download their app to do so.
When you purchase it you will need to reserve your 3 experiences at whatever time you can find available. You only get three picks so choose wisely. They say that once you have used one up you can add another but in reality that doesn't work out since everything is pretty much all reserved for the entire day by the time you actually get there so you'd be lucky to find any open slot.
The way it works is that you will be able to pick one from a list of their more popular attractions and then two from another list (or all 3 from the second list). The lists for Hollywood studios is here. For us, we obviously wanted to do the Star Wars rides so we picked the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run from the high demand rides and then the Star Tours – The Adventures Continue from the other selections. We also added the Indiana Jones Stunt spectacular which we really enjoyed.
Of course the one most popular ride at this park is Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and it, of course, is not on either of the multi pass list. This ride requires a separate single use Lightning pass to be purchased at the same time as you get your others and, believe me, you want to get it for this ride.
Tip: Make sure you log in and buy them as soon as you possibly can. I had issues with their app and it would not let me buy the passes so after talking to their help desk I had to delete the app and reinstall. By the time I was able to log in and buy them the only times available for us were all evening slots.
Character Experiences
There are two areas that these occur although you may encounter Stormtroopers and other characters just wandering around the Galaxy's edge area and interrogating people.
The main area to meet and take photos with Darth Vader, Chewbacca, and BB-8 is in the Star Wars Launch bay which is outside of the galactic outpost area.
The other is by the Imperial shuttle located in the outpost where Kylo Ren and others perform a scene for the crowd periodically as they search for resistance fighters among the onlookers.
Both were awesome and the lines for the photo op in the Launch bay were only about 10 minutes. The scene by the shuttle you will just have to get to the area at one of the show times. These are pretty much every hour on the half hour starting at 10:30 through 6:30.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
This fun ride allows you to fly the famous Falcon on a wild ride while you blast Imperial resources and evade getting shot down. It is a 3d ride that has you looking out the front window of the Falcon at the screens there while the cockpit you are seated in moves accordingly. You are in groups of three with one person acting as a gunner (you push a button and lasers fire out the front) and there is are two pilots both of which "control" one aspect of the ship such as up down left right and hyperspace drive.
The ride does shake around a bit but not so much that it would bother most riders. There are a lot of flashing lights and effects so not a good ride for anyone with sensitivity to that. Minimum height for this one is 38" tall so it's good for most ages. It was great fun and a good start to our Star Wars day.
Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
Another simulator ride with moving cabin is this one that has C-3P0 piloting a ship that has taken off without it's intended pilot. New this year they have added a few different storylines and characters (due to the recent successes of the Disney+ series like The Mandalorian and Ahsoka, for example) to the ride so you could ride it a few times (we did) and get a different story each time. Even though we picked it as one of our lightning lane choices very often when we walked by the line was only about 7-10 minutes so we just kept jumping in.
The stories include things like evading capture by an Imperial ship, fighting in the battle from the end of the Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and even a visit to Seatos from Ahsoka.
If you can try to sit near the front, the back two rows diminishes the effects somewhat. You may have to ride it a few times to get that option as the attendants kind of just tell you which row to line up in. We got the front on our third try.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
By far the most popular ride and the most fun at Hollywood Studios hence the need for a special lightning pass. The ride begins with you joining a bunch of other recruits, a.k.a. other guests, as you prepare to board a shuttle to join the other resistance fighters. Minimum height for this one is 40".
Before you enter the shuttle Rey appears via hologram and stresses your importance in the movement. Once inside it moves around very lightly while it leaves the Black Spire Outpost so you are standing for this part. It is being piloted by an animatronic amphibious Mon Calamari resistance fighter (think of the character who declares: "It's a trap!")
Disaster strikes though and your ship is soon under assault by an array of tie-fighters and you are soon captured by an Imperial star destroyer. You are taken off the shuttle and meet some imposing Imperial Commanders on the bridge which has a full complement of stormtroopers (statues mostly but some move) and an impressive view outside of the Imperial fleet. They break you into smaller groups and put you into individual detention centers. Kylo Ren appears above you and warns that they will find the spy amongst your group by any means possible.
He then goes out of sight but you can hear him interrogating another group of prisoners and your hear some menacing other sounds. You actually stand there for almost an uncomfortable length of time for the effect. Soon though you hear shouts and a laser cuts through the side revealing resistance fighters who will save you.
Ok so far right? And this was actually just the queue!!
You now move to another area of the ship where you get into a vehicle piloted by a droid and this is the actual ride. This vehicle is smaller seating 8 people, and you will need a seatbelt. As you try to escape the Imperial Destroyer you are pursued by Kylo who in one scene attempts to cut through the ceiling with his light saber. That was a pretty cool effect I have to say.
You continue to be piloted around the ship by your droid and it spins and rushes around with various effects and scenes both on screens and also physical structures like the huge AT-ATs that tower above you as you flee. You see the battle ongoing outside with the resistance fleet and at one point Kylo catches up to you only to have the wall blown out behind him by laser fire blasting wind at you.
Of course eventually you make it an airlock and escape to sanctuary. The ride portion takes probably about 5 minutes but the whole experience is closer to 25 minutes. It is worth every second. If we could have, we'd have gone on this ride a dozen times. Next time we go back it will be in winter and mid-week and we will do just that!
Other notable attractions at Disney Hollywood Studios (not Star Wars related) with height requirements shortest to tallest:
Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway - No Min
Indiana Jone Epic Stunt Spectacular - No Min
Alien Swirling Saucers - Min 32"
Slinky Dog Dash Coaster - Min 38"
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror - Min 40"
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith - Min 48"
Of the above we did the Indiana Jones Stunt show and it was absolutely fantastic. Featuring three sets from the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark it shows how the various stunts were performed and choreographed. It was so much fun. We had used our lightning lane pass so we ended up sitting in the front row and wow, it was stellar. You could feel the heat from the explosions. I've put a short clip of the final scene below.
Overall, I loved this park. Both my daughter and I are Star Wars geeks so the entire experience was beyond expectations.
Harry Potter World
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter actually consists of two separate parks: Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure. Both parks are within walking distance of each other but you need to purchase a pass for each. We opted for the two park pass that allowed free movement between both of these parks.
Cost
The cost for this was $224 per adult and $219 for children Note: Universal considers an adult to be anyone over the age of 9 but really, it is only $5 difference anyhow. The prices vary depending on season and day so if you go mid-week in the off season you might find tickets for around $189.
We also added the Unlimited Express Pass which tacked on an additional $250 (each) but it lets you go through a much shorter line (maybe about 20% of regular wait times) at most attractions in both parks. They also offer a slightly cheaper Express pass that lets you go on each ride once but the cost to upgrade to the ability to ride as many times as you want was not much more. I hate waiting in long lines so for us it was worth it.
Adding around $100 for taxes the cost for the day was just over $1500.00. Bigger Ouch.
Diagon Alley (Universal Studios Florida)
This is very much like walking through a part of the movie itself as you explore the narrow alleys full of shops all while keeping a wary eye on the dragon above waiting for it to breathe fire. One of the highlights of this area is certainly Ollivanders Wand Shop.
There you can buy an interactive wand for $65 that allows one to cast spells at various places around the Alley, and in truth you can get one at several little stands or shops but for the real deal you really must go to Ollivanders. Here you will get to witness, or if lucky enough get chosen for, the scene in which Harry is chosen by his wand. We lucked out and our daughter was the one who got to participate. It was both endearing and really quite funny. The actor playing the role did an extremely good job of making the experience comical and magical.
You can increase your chances of getting selected by, well, first off being a kid. Not too young, probably ages 8-12 are most commonly picked as they are more likely to be well versed in the movie so they can answer the questions they are asked. Dressing up in your finest wizard attire will also tip the scales in your favor.
Don't forget to visit the dark arts section of town in Knockturn Alley. It was really quite dark in there so make sure you hang on to the smaller ones hands so you don't lose them. It was a nice respite from the hot sun too!
If you get a bit thirsty make sure to try out a Butterbeer at The Leaky Cauldron (sit down restaurant) or The Hopping Pot (outdoor stand). It's a sweet, non-alcoholic beverage with a flavor profile similar to cream soda mixed with butterscotch, topped with a frothy, creamy head.
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringott
As for the Harry Potter themed rides, there really are only two in this area. Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringott is a combination of a simulator and a ride that takes you on a whirlwind escape from the likes of fire breathing dragons, Voldemort, and Bellatrix, but not to fear you get some timely aid from Harry and his friends throughout the ride. Even waiting in the queue is a fun experience as you go through some various movie settings in the bank and vaults.
The ride itself might be a bit scary for young ones and it does move around a fair amount (Min Height is 42") but the action of the cart you sit in was not nearly as much as the warning signs placed all throughout the queue suggested. The worst bit (or best depending on how you look at it) is at the beginning where you will experience a drop forward as you lurch down the tunnels.
The drop is probably only about 30 feet in actuality but the simulator makes it seem much scarier. After that there are turns and fires and waterfalls a plenty but nothing that is too jarring. If anyone really felt nauseous you could probably just close your eyes and ignore the simulator bits so the perceived motion of the cart is much less, but what's the point in that right?
Hogwarts Express
The other ride in the area is Hogwarts Express which takes you back and forth between Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. To take the train you'll need to have purchased the two park pass. The train ride between takes about 4 to 5 minutes each way.
The ride is designed to offer a unique experience in both directions, with different scenes and character interactions shown on each journey, making it worth riding both ways if you intend to switch back and forth between the two parks through the day. We did not and instead went to Diagon alley first while the day was a bit cooler. With the narrow streets and the ever increasing crowds Diagon Alley can be a little overwhelming in the heat of the day. We quite enjoyed the trip on the train and the scenes we encountered. Chocolate frogs indeed.
Other notable attractions at Universal (not Harry Potter related) with height requirements shortest to tallest:
Trollercoaster - Min 36"
E.T Adventure - Min 38"
The Simpsons Ride - Min 40"
Transformers Ride - Min 40"
Minion Mayhem - Min 40"
Men in Black Alien Attack - Min 42"
Revenge of the Mummy - Min 48"
Rip Ride Rockit - Min 51"
Note: All of these rides accept the Express Pass for a shorter line experience.
Hogsmeade (Islands of Adventure Park)
This was the park I enjoyed more with respect to the Harry Potter experience with a caveat. First, it is more spacious so you don't feel that crush of humanity when you walk around. Second, the rides are better here. First the caveat. The best ride (IMO) here is Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (Min Height 48") but it does not accept the express pass.
Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
The ride itself is a roller coaster where you'll either sit on the motorcycle, or the side car and it has some unique features:
It has seven linear synchronous motor (LSM) launches, the most of any roller coaster worldwide.
With a track length of 5,053 feet, it is the longest coaster in the state.
The ride includes a 17-foot free-fall vertical drop, a first for roller coasters.
The line was 2 hours long which was more than I was willing to wait. While I wanted to do the ride, my daughter was the one who was most excited about it so we looked at a single rider option. That line was only about 45 minutes but for some reason a staff member would not let me accompany her through the line. How stupid is that?
I did learn, however, that there is a family room at the front of the line. You can simply walk up from the exit area and wait in there while your child rides. I was able to reunite with my daughter just before she got on the ride and several minutes later she came out thrilled that she had bested the longest roller coaster in Florida. Am I miffed that I didn't get to go with her? Yeah, lil bit.
Tip: If you are waiting for someone on the ride and want to rest your feet right near the ride there is a nice seating area behind the Three Broomsticks restaurant and just outside of there we found a small food kiosk that had some fantastic chicken or vegetarian empanadas.
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
The other epic ride (which does accept the express pass) here is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (Min 48") which is another combination of ride and simulator like the Escape ride at the other park. This one does have more motion though so it may be too much for some patrons. The ride uses a combination of 4K-HD video, animatronics, and real sets. Each bench is on the end of a KUKA robotic arm that tilts, rotates, and pitches to simulate flying. It doesn't go upside down but it will have vertical drops, twists and turns and spins and shakes. It also has some pretty intense scenes with a dragon, giant spiders, dementors, and the like so the younger ones might find it a bit scary.
That being said, even if you aren't going to ride or have some of your party that wants to you should go through the queue regardless. It is an experience that is worth it and then you can simply wait in the child swap area while the others ride.
The premise of the ride is that you have been invited to Hogwarts to attend a lecture on the school but you will get a little sidetracked by none other than our favorite trio Harry, Hermione, and Ron who plan to whisk you away to the Quiddich pitch. The queue will take you through Hogwarts where you will be immersed in the rooms and halls of the famous institution.
Along the way you'll see many relics from the movie such as the Mirror of Erised, Professor Sprout’s mandrakes, Dumbledore’s magical Pensieve and the Sword of Gryffindor. The Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom is particularly amazing. Not only will you see the dragon skeleton in this room but it is also here that the trio emerge from the invisibility cloak and let you in on their intentions to steal away.
From there you will head to the Room of Requirement per Hermione's instructions and you’ll pass the famed Sorting Hat on your way. Once in the Room you board an enchanted bench (complete with harness for safety), and the ride begins. Hermione will send you to the Astronomy Tower via the Floo Network.
You'll fly through the Floo Network and land in the tower where Harry and Ron take you to the Quidditch Pitch for the Gryffindor vs. Slytherin match. When your trip to the match is interrupted by a dragon you'll fly around the Hogwarts grounds and castle, narrowly avoiding danger. Eventually you get back to the match and win the game. All in all it is an incredible experience.
The park also includes family-friendly rides like Flight of the Hippogriff, a roller coaster accessible to children as young as four, making it ideal for families with the younger kids who might be feeling left out by the other rides. While the thrilling Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Escape from Gringotts are geared toward older kids and adults, the overall atmosphere remains family-oriented.
Other notable attractions at Islands of Adventure with height requirements shortest to tallest:
Camp Jurassic Playground - No Min
Caro-Seuss-el - No Min
Pteranodon Flyers - Min 36"
Skull Island: Reign of Kong - Min 36"
The Cat in the Hat - Min 36"
Jurassic Park River Adventure - Min 42"
Jurassic World VelociCoaster - Min 51"
Doctor Doom’s Fearfall - Min 51"
The Incredible Hulk Coaster - Min 54"
All of these rides except for the Pteranodon flyers accept the Express Pass.
We didn't get to all of these but we did go on the River adventure, Reign of Kong and we let our daughter loose in the playground for a 45 minute respite (for us mainly). The playground was quite large and only had one entry so we had no concerns letting her run around by herself. The River Adventure Ride was also so much fun. It is a log ride style that takes you through the Jurassic park theme culminating in an 85 foot drop at the end in order to escape the T-Rex.
After several hours at the two parks we were knackered, besides which the park was closing up early due to the special Halloween activities later that night.
Ratings and Reviews
When it comes to ratings, both parks have received overwhelmingly positive reviews, but each has its highlights.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has been praised for its authenticity and the immersive nature of its settings, with many fans calling it a “childhood dream come true.” The Hogwarts Express, allowing seamless transport between Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, is a standout experience that feels like magic in itself.
However, Rise of the Resistance at Galaxy’s Edge is often rated as one of the best rides in the world, offering a cinematic experience that fans claim is unmatched by other attractions and the interactive characters roaming the park add to the total immersive experience.
Final Verdict: Who Wins?
Choosing a “better” experience largely depends on your preferences. For families with younger kids, Harry Potter World is a fantastic choice, with more family-friendly rides and interactions. For teenagers and adult fans seeking epic storytelling and thrill-based attractions, Galaxy’s Edge delivers a next-level Star Wars experience.
Both attractions are well worth a visit, especially for those looking to dive into the magical world of Hogwarts or the legendary galaxy far, far away. Whether you choose to savor a Butterbeer or take a seat in the Millennium Falcon cockpit, each park promises a unique, unforgettable adventure in its own right.
Which would you pick?
For our family we were split. I favored the Galaxy's Edge. My wife liked Diagon Alley while my daughter voted for Hogsmeade. The only area we all agreed upon was the best ride and it was hands down the Rise of the Resistance plus meeting Vader was awesome so... Star Wars wins (for us at least). Now all that was left to do is soak up some sun and relax in the lazy river before the flight home.
Happy Travels!
Il Digestivo
Do you have a budding Jedi or Wizard in your home? Help fuel their imagination with some of these props.
Lightsabers Metal Hilt
I bought a couple of these for Halloween costumes last year and they are so much fun. You can change their color, and when they strike something they flash and make a noise like in the films. They also have that recognizable hum associated with the light sabres. Two of the can actually be joined back to back to make the duel bladed sabre favored by Darth Maul. Very cool.
Force Awakens Rey Costume
As I noted last year was our Star Wars Halloween and my daughter was set on being Rey. We saw a surprising number of kids dressed up in the park as well. Both girls and boys. Here is the one that we got our young Jedi.
Official Hogwarts Wizarding World Robes
Of course we had to buy this for our daughter after visiting the park. At least she didn't make us buy it there and could wait until we got home since the cost was more than double at the shops in the park. Take your pick from the four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin. If you are planning a trip to the park, dress up your wizard in this and take them to Ollivanders so they might get selected for the wand ritual.
Harry Potter Chocolate Frog and Collectible Card, 0.55 Ounces.
We had to buy one of these at the park but the one we got in the shop was way too big. These ones are much more reasonably sized and they taste better apparently. This one comes as a two pack. Harry Potter Chocolate Frog is a milk chocolate frog with crisped rice.
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