Since the opening of Epic Universe in May, there are now three Harry Potter-themed areas at Universal Orlando to choose from—but which one is the best? As a junior correspondent for the Unofficial Guides, Henry Wright breaks down every element of these magical lands to determine which one he thinks claims the House Cup in this two-part series.
Henry, a seventh-grade theme park superfan from Seattle, Washington, is the newest and youngest member of the Unofficial Guides team. You’ll be able to read his “Top Epic Universe Tips for Tweens“ in the upcoming Unofficial Guide to Universal Orlando 2026, but in the meantime, he’s brought us this in-depth comparison of Universal’s three Wizarding Worlds.
Obviously, the term “best” is subjective, so Henry has broken down the judging into a few different categories, including Food, Theming, Rides, Souvenirs, Layout, and Accessibility.
Which Wizarding World has the Best Food?
The four restaurants in Diagon Alley are Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour, The Leaky Cauldron, The Fountain of Fair Fortune, and The Hopping Pot. When I went to Diagon Alley, I had lunch at the Leaky Cauldron with my family. For people who have not been, it’s kind of like an English pub. My family enjoyed it very much, which is high praise for a restaurant. Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour has very good ice cream and a lot of it, so I’d rate this highly, even among other spots in Orlando. I think it’s only beaten by L’artisan des Glaces at EPCOT. The Hopping Pot is mostly just a drink place. They have a very large selection of nonalcoholic drinks, so it’s fun for kids. In terms of food, pastries are all they have. The Fountain of Fair Fortune is also just a drink place, offering mostly the same beverages as The Hopping Pot. Therefore, this place is skippable.
Overall, Diagon Alley has two solid restaurants and two not-so-solid ones. I’d give Diagon Alley a 6/10 for its food.
The two restaurants in Hogsmeade are Three Broomsticks and Hog’s Head. Three Broomsticks is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so you can go anytime. It is a nice themed restaurant with a very expansive menu. Hog’s Head is a pub with good theming from the movies, plus a good drink menu. It’s not as good for families, so it tends to be less packed than other restaurants.
Overall, I’d give Hogsmeade a 4/10 for its food. It only has two restaurants, and one is good, but it can get super busy. So while it may have good food, I think it needs more of it.
The three restaurants in the Ministry of Magic are Le Gobelet Noir, Cafe L’air De La Sirene, and Bar Moonshine. First off, let’s discuss Café L’air De La Sirène. It’s the best breakfast place in Universal, in my opinion. The crepes are awesome, and the authentic dishes from France are very good as well. Le Gobelet Noir has gotten mixed reviews. The restaurant attempts to fuse cuisines from a couple of European countries into a menu that includes Jägerschnitzel, Coq Au Vin, and a Bratwurst Sandwich. It has a pretty solid menu, but it’s a little hard to find and it might be a little much for kids. Bar Moonshine has some nonalcoholic drinks and obviously serves Butterbeer, or Bièraubeurre in the land. But the main draw is alcoholic drinks, of which Bar Moonshine has quite a few options. I think that it’s a solid choice if you’re just going for drinks.
All in all, I think that Ministry of Magic deserves a 5/10 for its food. Cafe L’air De La Sirène is very good, but Le Gobelet Noir is a little lacking.
Which Wizarding World has the Best Theming?
The feel of the entire Diagon Alley area is great. I enjoyed exploring all of the shops, rides, and restaurants. Plus, there are a fair few “secret” areas, such as Knockturn Alley, that are fun to explore. Even if you’re on a budget, it’s still fun to walk through and experience the whole of Diagon Alley. It feels so awesome to watch the dragon on top of Gringotts shoot fire. Overall, I’d give Diagon Alley’s theming a 7/10. It’s very close to the movies and books, and I think that’s so (forgive me) magical.
Is it just me, or does walking into Hogsmeade feel like a real wow moment? We haven’t gotten to the shopping category yet, but make sure to check out Honeydukes. The land itself feels less enclosed than Diagon Alley, though you can see some roller coasters from other lands on the way out. The Hogwarts Castle in the distance really is amazing once you pass the village of Hogsmeade. Overall, I’d give Hogsmeade’s theming an 8/10. In my opinion, Hogsmeade narrowly passes Diagon Alley.
I’m going to be frank. The Ministry of Magic is interesting, but it doesn’t have the same visual appeal for kids as the other two do. The land is a good replica of Montmartre and has very cool alleyways, but it just isn’t as good as the other two. I give the Ministry of Magic a 5/10 in terms of theming.
Which Wizarding World has the Best Rides?
In Diagon Alley, there are only two rides: Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, and the Hogwarts Express. Hogwarts Express is a train ride with screens. It’s fun to do, but it generally has a very long line. Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is amazing but not for the fainthearted. It starts pretty smooth but then drops. You’ll meet Voldemort face to face, but also Harry, Ron, and Hermione. I enjoy this ride a lot because of the immense detail. From the queue to the ride, you can always notice something different. One thing I’ll say is that the glasses can sometimes be fuzzy and give you a headache, although it’s rare. Overall, I’d give Diagon Alley’s rides a 6/10. Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is very good, but it’s not going to be the best over the course of the three lands.
There is only one ride in the Ministry of Magic, but I’m going to include the show as well. The show is Le Cirque Arcanus, and the ride is Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry. Le Cirque Arcanus is a solid show, but it’s just not as good as Escape from Gringotts. However, it is better, in my opinion, than the Hogwarts Express. Now on to Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry. It’s quite possibly the best Harry Potter ride ever made. Though that’s arguable, as Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is also incredible. The Battle at the Ministry starts with a winding-but-incredible queue. Honestly, this land gets a 6/10 just for the queue. The ride itself is good, and the visuals are incredible, but this could be a rare ride where the queue is better than the ride. Make sure to watch the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them series (HBO Max). It really explains a lot about the land and the ride. Overall, the Ministry of Magic gets a 7/10 for the amazing ride.
There are four rides in Hogsmeade: Flight of the Hippogriff, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and the Hogwarts Express. Flight of the Hippogriff is a kiddie coaster, with an unshaded queue and one lift hill. It’s a non-intense ride, along with Hogwarts Express. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is pretty good. The visuals are a little outdated, but the queue is awesome. It feels like you’re walking through Hogwarts Castle because you are. During the ride, you’ll become part of some of the scenes in the Harry Potter movies. Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (HMCMA) is an awesome roller coaster with twists, turns, drops, backwards drops, and trapdoor drops. It’s incredible. You’re going through a real forest made up of over 1,000 trees. Watch out, though: I waited 3 1/2 hours for this ride. It’s amazing, and overall it’s one of the best rides in Islands of Adventure. HMCMA will continue to surprise you throughout the ride. Note: If it’s your first time riding, you should ride in the motorbike, not the sidecar (speaking from experience). Overall, Hogsmeade gets an 8/10 for its rides.
Which Wizarding World do you think will take top honors in Henry’s final tally? Let us know in the comments below, and come back soon for the conclusion!
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