As the throngs of LOTR fans flood New Zealand’s dramatic landscapes, us Harry Potter fans hit the Wizarding World theme parks in Los Angeles and Orlando. And London is not only home to many of the filming locations but it is also where you can do the Warner Brothers Studio Tour and check out the sets and iconic props from the beloved movies.
If you were planning a Harry Potter-themed vacation, this blog post is for you! We’ll give you a detailed breakdown of the costs associated with visiting the Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter in Los Angeles and Orlando London and the newest of them Osaka, Japan. The approximate budget is for a family of four, so you can adjust your prices accordingly depending on how big your group is.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Los Angeles Cost Breakdown
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter LA is located within Universal Studios Hollywood, California, where you can visit other cool places such as Super Nintendo World. The Wizarding World was first opened in 2016 and is one of the most popular destinations in Universal Studios so it can be very crowded during peak periods.
You can get Butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks, go on exciting rides like the Flight of the Hippogriff, or explore Hogsmeade on foot. Here are all the costs you should be prepared for!
Ticket Prices to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Los Angeles
To get into the Harry Potter experience, you need to get a ticket to Universal Studios. A 1-day General Admission pass starts from $109, but if you want to beat the crowds, you also get a $209 Universal Express ticket that lets you skip the queue once each ride.
Another option is to get the VIP Experience ticket for $379 where you’ll have a professionally guided tour, light snacks, a special dining experience, and free valet parking. If you’re planning to stay longer, you can get a 2-day General Admission ticket for $159 which will allow you to fully explore the whole park. You can also opt to get an annual pass that starts from $179 for unlimited visits to the park.
Accommodation Costs for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Los Angeles
The park’s featured accommodations are the Hilton, Sheraton, and The Garland. These hotels are either within walking distance or have a complimentary shuttle service that can take you to Universal Studios.
Prices for these hotels are from $241 at the Hilton, $214 at the Sheraton, and $224 at the Garland. If you want a more affordable option, you can also choose Best Western which is 3 miles away from the park with prices starting from $129.
Food Prices at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Los Angeles
You can dine at the Three Broomsticks which serves Harry Potter-themed rustic meals. Main courses go for around $18 and a kid’s meal is about $9. Regular drinks such as orange juice or coffee cost $4, while their specialty drink Butterbeer is $9. Expect to spend $25 per person for meals.
Snack Prices at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Los Angeles
Enjoy treats at Honeydukes, a must-stop legendary sweet shop at Hogsmeade. Some of the most popular products include Exploding Bonbons, Cauldron Cakes, and Chocolate Frogs. There’s also Florean Fortescue’s ice cream counter that serves soft-serve ice cream. You can prepare around $10 per person to enjoy a sweet treat each.
Souvenir Prices at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Los Angeles
One of the most sought-after souvenirs is a wand from Ollivanders, which costs around $63. But you can also opt to get a more affordable souvenir at the gift shop, such as mugs, hats, or jewelry which costs from $10 to $50.
Miscellaneous Costs
Consider preparing for miscellaneous costs, such as lockers or strollers. Lockers cost from $8 for smaller sizes to $15 for large ones. Strollers are available for rent at around $30 – $50 daily.
Sample Budget for Family of 4 for Two Days
A sample budget for a family of 4 in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Los Angeles is as follows:
Tickets: $159 x 4 tickets = $636 (2-day passes for 4 people)
Accommodation: $214 x 3 nights = $642 (3 nights at Sheraton Hotel)
Food: $25 x 4 meals x 2 days = $200
Snacks: $10 x 4 snacks x 2 days = $80
Souvenirs: $50 x 4 people = $200
Others: ($15 + $30) x 2 days = $90 (for one locker and one stroller)
Add it all together and the total budget would be $1,848 for a family of 4.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London Cost Breakdown
There’s nothing more authentic than experiencing the Harry Potter Studio Tour, the filming location for countless scenes in the movies. Located in Leavesden, London, you’ll find sets, behind-the-scenes secrets, and iconic props from the movies.
Some of the tour’s highlights are Hogwarts Great Hall, Forbidden Forest, Platform 9 ¾ and Hogwarts Express, Gringotts Wizarding Bank, and Diagon Alley! To get there, you’ll have to make your way to Watford Junction and get on one of their electric shuttle buses that depart every half an hour. The ride takes about 15 minutes.
Ticket Prices for the Warner Bros. Studio Tour
Adult tickets cost £53.50 ($66.75), while child tickets are £43 ($53.63). Be warned! These tickets are sold out fast, so book yours months in advance if you can plan further ahead. The average visit to the Studio Tour lasts approximately 3.5 hours.
Accommodation Costs Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
The Studio Tour has a list of recommended hotels nearby, such as Holiday Inn Hemel Hempstead and Leonardo Hotel London Watford. A family room at the Holiday Inn costs $132 or £105.85 and a standard room for two at the Leonardo Hotel costs around $73 or £58.49.
Food Prices at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
The Studio Tour offers an Afternoon Tea package for 2 at £79.90 ($99.65). In addition, there’s also the Backlot Cafe and the Food Hall. A main course meal at The Food Hall costs around £15 ($18.75) to £19 ($23.70), while The Backlot Cafe’s prices are around £9 ($11.25) to £14 ($17.5).
A must-have at the Backlot Cafe is their Butterbeer, which costs £7.45 ($9.30). Expect to spend around £20 ($25) per person for meals at Studio Tour London.
Snack Prices at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
Got a sweet tooth? Then head on down to the Chocolate Frog Cafe and the Hub Cafe for some choice snacks and desserts! The Chocolate Frog Cafe has luxurious desserts with drinks costing around £2 ($2.50) to £4 ($5) and desserts at £3.65 ($4.55) to £6.25 ($7.80).
The Hub Cafe serves drinks with prices ranging from £2.50 ($3.12) to £5.10 ($6.36). Expect to spend around £7 ($8.75) per person for snacks at Studio Tour London.
Souvenir Prices at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
There are three different shops to choose from: the Studio Shop for collectible items, the Forbidden Shop for seasonal items, and the Railway Shop for souvenir items.
Souvenirs can cost between £3 ($3.75) for a bag of Gringotts Gallons Chocolate Coins and several hundred quid for a gift trunk. What you spend for souvenirs depends on how much of a Potterhead you are, but prepare at least £20 ($25) to buy two or three knick-knacks.
Miscellaneous Costs
You can enhance your experience by including extra “nice-to-haves” such as guidebooks, priority parking, or digital photography. Guidebooks cost £10 ($12.50), priority parking costs £10 ($12.50), and the digital photography and video package costs £20 ($25).
You might want to add in a transportation cost to and from your hotel, which can come up to about £8 ($10) to £10 ($12.50) for a single taxi ride.
Sample Budget for Family of 4 (2 adults, 2 children)
A sample budget for a family of 4 to the Studio Tour London is as follows:
Tickets: (£53.50 x 2 adult tickets) + (£43 x 2 child tickets) = £172 ($214.52)
Accommodation: £105.85 (US 132) x 2 nights = £211.70 ($264) for a family of 4 (2 nights at Holiday Inn)
Food: £20 x 4 meals = £80 ($100)
Snacks: £7 x 4 snacks = £28 ($35)
Souvenirs: £40 x 4 people = £160 ($200)
Others: (£8 x 2) + £20 = £36 ($44.90) (2 taxi rides and the digital photography package)
Add it all up and your total budget would be £687.70 ($858.42) for a family of 4, which is significantly lower than the price of a vacation at Wizarding World in Los Angeles.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Orlando Cost Breakdown
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is located within Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida. There are two different areas to explore: the Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida.
Travel park-to-park! Start from Diagon Alley and then board the Hogwarts Express to reach Hogsmeade and Hogwarts.
Ticket Prices for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Orlando
To enjoy the whole experience, you’ll need 2 park tickets: Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Instead of buying a ticket from each park, you can opt for a park-to-park ticket that allows you access to both parks. For a one-day visit, an adult ticket costs $174 and $169 for a kid.
For a 2-day visit, an adult ticket costs $146.50 a day and a child costs $141.50. You can also add on an express pass at $79.99 per person.
Accommodation Costs at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Orlando
Several accommodations are recommended by Universal Orlando, such as Universal’s Aventura Hotel and Cabana Bay Beach Resort. They’re within walking distance to the park and you can use the shuttle provided, so you can save transportation costs.
A standard room for a family of 4 at Universal’s Aventura costs $245 per night, while Cabana Bay Resort costs $262.
Food Prices at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Orlando
At the Orlando Wizarding World, you can choose between the Leaky Cauldron or Three Broomsticks. At both places, you can order an adult main course for around $18, while kids’ entrees cost $8.29. Don’t forget to get some Butterbeer at Three Broomsticks for $9, and you can expect to pay around $20 a person for food.
Snack Prices at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Orlando
There are plenty of snacks to choose from, such as Loaded Jacket Potato, Elixir of Refreshment, Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream, or sweets from Honeydukes and Sugarplum’s Sweet Shop. Give yourself around $15 per person to enjoy some ice cream, sweets, and a jacket potato.
Souvenir Prices at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Orlando
The Wizarding World in Orlando has an extensive range of souvenirs compared to Los Angeles or the Warner Bros Studios in London. From Quidditch Supplies, Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes, Madam Malkin’s Robes, Magical Menagerie, to Ollivanders Wands, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
You can purchase a simple Butterbeer mug, an Ollivander wand for $55, or an elaborate house robe for $140. Budget at least $100 for souvenirs.
Miscellaneous Costs
At Universal Orlando, standard lockers are free to use, but larger ones require an additional fee. A Standard Baby Stroller costs around $50 to rent per day.
Sample Budget for Family of 4 (2 adults, 2 children)
A sample budget for a family of 4 to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Orlando is as follows:
Tickets: ($146.50 x 2 adults x 2 days) + ($141.50 x 2 children x 2 days) = $1,152 for 2 day passes
Accommodation: $245 x 3 nights = $735 (3 nights at Aventura Hotel)
Food: $20 x 4 meals x 2 days = $160
Snacks: $15 x 4 people x 2 days = $120
Souvenirs: $50 x 4 people = $200
Others: $50 x 2 days = $100 (2 days stroller rental)
Added up, the total budget would be $2,467 for a family of 4, making this vacation the most expensive of the three.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Japan Cost Breakdown
Universal Studios Japan is a place of wonder and excitement, offering something for everyone. From thrilling rides to blockbuster movie-themed shows, there’s non-stop entertainment. And if you’re a Harry Potter
fan, get ready to step into the magical world of Hogwarts like never before!
Wherever you go, you’ll find the Three Broomsticks Restaurant. Meal costs vary anywhere from $20 a plate to about $30 (depending on how hungry you are)
A sample budget for a family of 4 to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Orlando is as follows:
Tickets: ($55.61 x 2 adults x 2 days) + ($36.21 x 2 children x 2 days) = $589 for 2 day passes
Accommodation: $133 x 3 nights = $399 (3 nights at Aventura Hotel)
Food: $20 x 4 meals x 2 days = $160
Snacks: $15 x 4 people x 2 days = $120
Souvenirs: $50 x 4 people = $200
Added up, the total budget would be $1468 for a family of 4.
Factors to Consider
Budget is one thing, but here are a few more factors you can consider while planning your next family vacay.
Proximity – The first aspect you need to consider is the proximity of each location. Please keep in mind that these budgets don’t take into account your current location, so transportation costs like flights might cause a big dent in your budget. You could choose a location that’s closer to home and save on some transportation costs.
Rides offered – If you’re after a full theme park experience, Orlando might be the one. Universal Studios Orlando’s Wizarding World is much bigger with more rides your family can enjoy, for example, the infamous Hogwarts Express. On the other hand, Universal Studios Hollywood only has 2 rides and a walk through Hogsmeade.
Authenticity – There’s no denying that Studio Tour London offers the most authenticity compared to the other two choices. On the tour, you’ll visit actual sets and locations and relive all your favorite scenes from the movies!
Cost Comparisons of Los Angeles, London, Orlando, and Japan.
Final Thoughts
While Universal Studios Orlando offers more thrilling rides, Los Angeles is more affordable. However, a visit to Warner Bros Studios in London or Japan gives you the most authentic experience, allowing you to relive all the beloved scenes from the movies. And as a bonus, it is the most affordable.
Regardless of your choice, all four vacation ideas are great for Harry Potter fans! Good luck planning and we hope you have a fantastic trip!
source https://eyecatchingconfidence.com/you-might-be-shocked-the-price-tag-of-harry-potter-experiences-compared-you-wont-believe-which-is-pricier/
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