The Wizarding World of Harry Potter + Universal Studios Tips
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Jingkids brings you the inside scoop on Universal Studios Beijing, before it’s open to the general public. Here’s a look at each of the lands inside the park and tips to make the most of your visit to Universal’s largest theme park ever! Check out our WeChat official account to see them all!
Tip 1: Universal Beijing Resort has announced its grand opening will be Sep 20! That means it’s just a few short weeks until Beijingers and folks from all over China descend on the park, plus its two resident hotels – Universal Studios Grand Hotel and NUO Resort Hotel – as well as CityWalk which will require no admission ticket.
Download their app from either the iPhone or Android app store by searching 北京环球度假区 Běijīng huánqiú dùjià qū, or access their mini program via WeChat (ID: gh_51d217a531b6) to purchase tickets.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
You’ve seen the movies, and you’ve read the books, and you know Hogsmeade like the back of your hand. Now, Universal Studios Beijing has brought that magical world to life, and all the most popular stores from the iconic franchise are here!
Welcome to Hogsmeades
Honeydukes is filled with sweets. You’ll find Every Flavored Beans, chocolate frogs, chocolate wands, and a whole lot more sweet snacks. Tip: If you’re hitting up this part of the park early, get your chocolates on the way out so they don’t melt or get squished in your bag all day.
Honeydukes
Owl Post is where you can buy stationery and take some super cute photos with plushy Hedwigs.
And the coolest shop in Hogsmeade has got to be Ollivanders. Just like in the movie, Ollivanders is floor-to-ceiling wands!
When the right one chooses you (and you pay between RMB 299 - RMB 399 to take one home) it also comes with a map that shows you all the interactive spots in Hogsmeade where you can practice casting spells.
Now, if you’re looking for more Harry Potter swag than you know what to do with, Dervish and Banges, Hogsmeade Station, Gladrags Wizardwear, and Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods all have plenty of exclusive Hogwarts apparel that can only be found at Universal Studios.
Tip: If you’re living your Hogwarts fantasy on a budget, we recommend purchasing a Hogwarts robe from Taobao in advance at a fraction of the price. Hogwarts robes will cost you a few hundred in the park, but on Taobao, you can find a lesser quality one for as little as RMB 25.
As for rides and attractions, there’s Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, undoubtedly one of the longest lines in this area of the park (check out our Pro Tips to find out how you can speed up the process), but well worth it as visitors get to go on a tour of Hogwarts Castle while flying behind Harry himself.
Just outside Hogwarts castle is Flight of the Hippogriff, a roller coaster that’s suitable for most kids over 99cm.
Throughout the day there will be performances from the Hogwarts Frog Choir, performances from proud sons of Durmstrang and the lovely ladies of of Beauxbatons Academy along with photo ops with the Hogwarts Express Conductor. Hang around Hogsmeade long enough and you’ll be sure to catch them in action.
For great #foodpics, The Three Broomsticks offers casual dining and some classic British snacks along with Butterbeer. Or, if you’re just looking for something to sip on, Hog’s Head has all the drinks we’ve read about – Butterbeer and Pumpkin Juice – along with your usual Muggle beverages. Just in case you were wondering, despite the name, Butterbeer doesn't actually contain beer and is a kid friendly drink.
Tip: You can purchase a regular Butterbeer for RMB 50 or one in a souvenir mug for RMB 80.
Pro Tips:
Souvenirs can get really expensive really fast. If you’re looking for some Universal Studios Beijing swag for cheap, there are super adorable Minion pop boxes, Universal Studios Beijing bottles, and Butterbeer mugs that can be purchased from carts throughout the park. They’re less than RMB 100 each and come with snacks.
Stroller rental is available at the park. From the looks of the blue rentals, they’re pretty comfortable for the kids to take a quick nap in and can also help carry the many, many bags that you need to bring along with you. RMB 100/day for single. RMB 130/day for double.
Wheelchair rental, lock service, and luffa storage are available on CityWalk. Wheelchairs are RMB 100/day.
All the bathrooms are kid-friendly and clean. However, since we went before the park officially opens, we don’t know if they’ll be selling feminine products and diapers in the dispensing machines in the bathrooms. If your kid still wears diapers, it’s best to bring a few extras. There might not be a place available to purchase them in the park.
Bring a water bottle (or buy a reusable souvenir one). There are water fountains throughout the park and even in the queue lines of popular attractions. Stay hydrated!
Like in high school, a bathroom pass is a thing. If you’re in the queue and need to use the facilities, be sure to get a bathroom pass from a staff member before you hop out of line. They’re big on not letting people cut the queue, so if you leave without one, there’s a chance you’ll lose your spot even if you have people waiting in line with you.
Outside food is allowed in the park. Having some cookies in your backpack is a great idea for those long queues.
If you’re visiting with young kids, a micro luggage scooter is a good idea for long queues. Strollers are not allowed to be taken into the queues since they snake over and over again. But a small suitcase that doubles as a seat for your child is allowed.
If you’re a Potter fan, you’re going to want to buy everything in Hogsmeade, especially the sweets at Honeydukes. But before you get carried away and load your bag with chocolate, remember that keeping chocolate in your bag all day will probably get gross. We heard some people complain about their chocolate frogs melting in the bags. Instead, wait till you’re on your way out and hit up the shops in Hollywood. They’ve got the same candies and you won’t have to worry about them getting squished or melting.
Every night there’s a parade in Hollywood. If you don’t care much for parades, this is a good time to hit up the super popular rides. Since the parade itself is a recommended must-see attraction, most park-goers will be in Hollywood watching that, leaving you with short queues in the rest of the park.
Get connected to the free WiFi.
Images: Mina Yan, Uni You, Vivienne Tseng-Rush, Billy Jin
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