26 Hidden Gems & Easter Eggs in Harry Potter World (Orlando)

After visiting Harry Potter world over 50 times, I can tell you for certain that most people walk right past some of the best parts of the land.

As a former Universal employee, I know how much time, energy, and planning went into both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. And Universal loves to include alllll the small details that only true fans will get.

Both Harry Potter lands inside Universal Orlando Resort are packed with hidden gems and Easter eggs, both from the books and the movies.

In this guide, I’ve rounded up all of my favorites, organized by area, so you can add them to your list of things to see when you visit the parks.

Purchasing Tickets

This list of hidden gems and Easter eggs includes spots in both Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios within Universal Orlando Resort.

You can visit both parks in one day with a park-to-park ticket, but if you want time to do the other rides in the parks, you may consider visiting for 2 days (or more).

Either way, I do recommend a park-to-park ticket so you can ride the Hogwarts Express, a real train that runs between Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley in Universal Studios.

Because the train takes you from one park to another, a park-to-park ticket is required to ride it!

Hidden Gems in Diagon Alley at Universal Studios

Diagon Alley is located within Universal Studios, one of the 4 parks of Universal Orlando Resort.

The land is located in the back left of the park, on the northwest corner, between Men in Black and the San Francisco Area.

When you approach the land, you’ll first see the London waterfront area, with the purple Knight Bus, the Fountain of Eros, Grimmauld Place, and a few other iconic London facades.

The entrance is located right next to the fake Leicester Station tube entrance (skip down to #4 for more details on this!).

With that, let’s get into my favorite hidden gems inside Diagon Alley!

1. Kreacher in the Window of 12 Grimmauld Place

As I mentioned, before you even enter Diagon Alley, you’ll see the London waterfront area.

If you are looking at the entrance of Diagon Alley, all the way to the right is a yellow and brown brick facade, with white walls and black doors underneath.

This is Grimmauld Place, the location of Sirius Black’s childhood home! Luckily, #12 is visible even to Muggles here – you’ll find the #12 door directly in the middle!

And if you look up at the window directly above #12, you’ll find another hidden gem! Kreacher the house-elf peeks out from behind the curtains to glare at the Muggles below every few minutes.

This is one of my favorite Easter eggs in the whole park, and it’s easy to miss if you’re rushing into Diagon Alley.

Insider tip: A lot of people think you have to knock on the door to make Kreacher appear. Unfortunately, there’s no magic here… He’s on a timer and will pop up whether anyone knocks or not, so just keep your eyes on the window!

2. The Knight Bus (and Its Talking Shrunken Head)

While this isn’t so “hidden”, it might be one of my favorite Easter eggs in the park, since it is so accurate to the books and movies!

Universal re-created the iconic purple, triple-decker Knight Bus, primarily featured in the Prisoner of Azkaban.

It is parked right outside Diagon Alley in the London area, and it makes for a great photo opportunity!

Standing out front of the bus, you’ll find Stan Shunpike, the conductor, along with the talking shrunken head from the book/movie.

And don’t just take a picture and walk away! Both of them actually talk back (yes, even the shrunken head), and he is just as sarcastic as he is in the movie.

But my favorite part of the Knight Bus is actually at the back, which most people miss!

There’s an area where you can see inside the bus, which has a full-scale replica of the Knight Bus interior from the movies, so make sure to peek in and see it for yourself! Unfortunately you can’t go inside it.

3. Call the Ministry of Magic from the Phone Booth

Right in front of the Knight Bus is a classic red London telephone booth! But like most things inside Harry Potter World, it’s not just a boring prop. There’s a deeper meaning connected to the books/movies!

Just like in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, you can actually call the Ministry of Magic from this red phone booth.

Inside the phone booth, there’s a rotary phone dial where you can enter 62442 (aka M-A-G-I-C) to hear a special message from the Ministry of Magic.

Unfortunately, you won’t be transported down to the Ministry like Harry and Mr. Weasley, but it’s still a fun nod to the fans!

It’s also a great photo op! There’s sometimes a short line of people waiting to try it, so I recommend checking it out when you first get to the park.

Here is a video of me dialing the Ministry myself!

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4. The Hidden Entrance to Diagon Alley

This one sounds obvious, but surprisingly, it’s not!! Just like in the books, Diagon Alley is hidden from Muggle eyes. From the London waterfront, all you see is a row of building facades.

When I worked in the park, I can’t tell you how many people asked me “Where’s Diagon Alley?!” while standing right in front of it. Even a friend of mine thought it was the entrance to a bathroom! Lol.

Here is a photo of the entrance so you know what you are looking for:

To find it, look for the brick passageways to the right of the faux Leicester Square Station sign. Walk through the bricks and the whole alley opens up in front of you, with the dragon on top of Gringotts staring right back.

5. The Leaky Cauldron Sign That Actually Leaks

Once you’ve passed through the brick walls and enter Diagon Alley, so many more hidden gems await!

One of my little favorites is the sign for the Leaky Cauldron. Of course, they had to include this iconic restaurant right at the front, as this is where you enter Diagon Alley in the books and movies.

The restaurant is located right on your left when you enter Diagon. Before you get too far inside, look up at the sign. The cauldron on it actually leaks!

It’s a tiny detail, but it’s one of my favorite examples of how far Universal took the theming.

P.S. This is the main sit-down restaurant inside of Diagon Alley, so if you’re hungry, you can grab breakfast, lunch, or dinner here.

I personally love the fish and chips, the bangers and mash, and the cottage pie! (Can you tell it’s London-themed??).

Even if you don’t eat here, it’s worth popping your head in to see the inside, which looks eerily similar to the movies!

6. Knockturn Alley and Borgin and Burkes

Knockturn Alley is one of my favorite parts of Diagon Alley, so it makes me so sad that people miss it!!

The entrances are (not well-labeled) shadowy side passages off the main street, and a lot of visitors never realize they can go in there or where it goes!

Just like in the Chamber of Secrets, this special section of Diagon Alley is dark and spooky! (It’s also air-conditioned, which makes it a great place to escape the Florida heat).

And right on theme, you’ll find the famous dark arts shop Borgin and Burkes tucked inside Knockturn Alley.

The shop is filled with Death Eater masks, Horcrux replicas, cursed jewelry, and other dark artifacts.

If you know your movies, you’ll spot nods everywhere, like the Hand of Glory that Harry spots in Chamber of Secrets and Draco later uses in Half-Blood Prince.

P.S. There are also some interactive spells around Knockturn Alley you can do while you explore!

7. Listen for the Bird in the Vanishing Cabinet

This Easter egg gets a special call-out because it’s definitely one that most people miss, even if they do find Knockturn Alley.

While you’re inside Borgin and Burkes, head to the right of the register, where you’ll find the famous Vanishing Cabinet from the Half-Blood Prince.

If you remember from the movie, Draco is fixing the Vanishing Cabinet at Hogwarts, and puts a small bird inside to test if it’s working.

Well, if you put your ear up to the cabinet inside of Borgin and Burkes, you might just hear the faint chirping of the bird inside!

8. Madam Malkin’s & The Talking Mirror

While many of the storefronts inside of Diagon Alley are just facades, there are a few you can actually go inside. My favorite one is Madam Malkin’s!

While mentioned briefly in the movies, book readers will definitely recognize the name of this store, as it’s where Hogwarts students get their robes in Diagon Alley.

So, true to theme, this store at Universal sells all kinds of Hogwarts merchandise, including each house’s wizarding robes, scarves, lanyards, and more.

My personal favorite is the iconic “H” and “R” sweaters that Mrs. Weasley knits for Harry and Ron, as well as Hermione’s pink Yule Ball dress from Goblet of Fire.

But the real hidden gem is the magical talking mirror, which will comment on your outfit while you try things on. Don’t expect it to be nice!

I can’t actually remember this from any of the books or movies, but it’s a fun addition to the store!

9. The Animals at the Magical Menagerie

Another fun shop that is a deep-cut from the books is the Magical Menagerie! Located to the left of Gringotts Bank, this pet store is where Hermione buys her cat, Crookshanks, in the Prisoner of Azkaban.

While there are no real animals inside the shop at Universal, there are plenty of animatronic and plush ones.

Here, you can buy all kinds of stuffed animals from the series, including owls, rats, dragons, nifflers, and more!

The staff here are particularly quirky and love to share fun facts about the different animals around the shop.

But my favorite hidden gem is the animatronic snake at the back window, which hisses if you listen closely! This is a fun nod to the snake that Harry lets out at the zoo in the beginning of the Sorcerer’s Stone.

10. Products inside Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes

When you enter Diagon Alley, you can’t miss the bright orange storefront on your right as soon as you walk in. This is Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes!

And it’s perhaps the best matching design to the movies, complete with the animatronic Fred/George that lifts its hat and reveals a rabbit under it! Seriously, watch this clip before you visit to see what I am talking about!

Inside the store, the insanely accurate theming continues, including the narrow and winding staircases up to the top levels of the shop (unfortunately these are for show only).

But it’s not just the design that makes this shop special – it’s also the actual products they sell that are identical to the books/movies.

Inside, you’ll find Extendable Ears, U-No-Poo, and even the Skiving Snackboxes from the Order of the Phoenix.

However, my personal favorites are the Pygmy Puffs and the wall of love potions, straight out of Half-Blood Prince!

11. Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour

If you’ve only seen the Harry Potter movies, you might think this is just a random ice cream shop Universal added. Book readers know better!

In Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry spends a week on his own in Diagon Alley and does his homework at Florean Fortescue’s, where Mr. Fortescue gives him free sundaes. The movies skipped this storyline entirely, so seeing it in real life is a fun reward for book fans.

Not to mention it’s the best place to get a sweet treat in all of Universal Studios!

And this isn’t your standard ice cream shop. They have very unique flavors like Earl Grey and Lavender, Chocolate Chili, and of course, Butterbeer!!!

12. Wizarding Money from Gringotts Money Exchange

I’m embarrassed to say how long it took me to realize this spot in Diagon Alley existed!!

Right next to Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment in the back corner of Diagon, you’ll find the Gringotts Money Exchange. This is separate from the Gringotts ride itself – it’s an actual storefront.

Here, you can trade your Muggle dollars for wizarding bank notes. The notes work at shops and restaurants throughout Harry Potter World (your change comes back in US dollars), or you can keep them as a souvenir!

Thankfully, the exchange rate is 1:1, and you can pay with a debit or credit card!

And another insider tip, don’t miss the goblin behind the counter inside! You can ask him a question and he’ll actually respond!

13. Gringotts and the Dragon

You can’t visit Diagon Alley in Universal Studios without seeing the giant dragon perched on top of Gringotts Bank.

This is of course a nod to when Harry, Ron, and Hermione sneak into Gringotts in the Deathly Hallows and escape on an actual dragon!

The dragon on top of Gringotts in the park doesn’t move, unfortunately, but it does breathe fire!!

I have tried to track exactly when this occurs, but the truth is, it’s somewhat random!

However, you can expect it to go off every 10-15 minutes if the weather is clear. Luckily, the dragon gives a low growl right before it breathes fire, so that’s your warning sign to grab your phone!

And don’t forget, Gringotts isn’t just a facade at Diagon Alley – it’s also my favorite ride in the park!

Even if you don’t want to ride it, I highly recommend walking the first part of the queue so you can see the inside of the bank, which looks nearly identical to the movie.

And it wouldn’t be Gringotts without the goblin bank tellers inside, who move and react to you walking by!

14. The Free Live Shows in Carkitt Market

One of my favorite things to do in Diagon Alley is grab an ice cream and then sit to watch one of the live shows, especially if wait times are long and you are sick of standing in line!

On the right side of Diagon Alley is Carkitt Market, a covered area with a few more shops, a food stand, and a stage!

Here on the stage, two live shows are performed a few times throughout the day:

• Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees: a jazzy, high-energy performance from the “singing sorceress.” Celestina is Molly Weasley’s favorite singer in the books, so this is another fun Easter egg for book readers that wasn’t in the movies!
• The Tales of Beedle the Bard: much more well known! This is a puppet show that brings wizarding fairy tales to life, including The Tale of the Three Brothers from the Deathly Hallows. I definitely prefer watching this one of the two!

Showtimes change throughout the year, so check the Universal Orlando app for what to expect on the day you are visiting.

The stage is also covered, which makes it a perfect place to rest your feet or wait out an afternoon rainstorm!

15. Run Through the Wall to Platform 9¾

Last but not least in Diagon Alley might just be the best hidden gem in the entire park.

I mentioned at the beginning of this post that you can take the train from King’s Cross Station in Universal Studios over to Hogsmeade Station in Islands of Adventure (as long as you have a park-to-park ticket).

While the actual train ride is a must-do, there is another special surprise when you enter the station in King’s Cross.

Just like in the books and movies, you will disappear through a wall in between Platforms 9 and 10 to get to Platform 9¾!!

I won’t spoil exactly how it’s done, but make sure your group walks through one at a time so you can see the effect!

Good to know: This effect only happens at King’s Cross. Hogsmeade Station doesn’t have it, so if you only ride the train once, ride it from Diagon Alley to Hogsmeade!

Hidden Gems in Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure

Welcome to Hogsmeade!!

Hogsmeade Village is located inside Islands of Adventure, a separate park from Universal Studios (where Diagon Alley is).

To get here, you can ride the train from Diagon Alley (recommended) or just walk in from the other lands of Islands!

There are tons of hidden gems and Easter eggs inside of Hogsmeade Village and the rides themselves!

16. Props inside the Forbidden Journey Queue

While the entire village of Hogsmeade is miraculous, if your goal is to see hidden gems and Easter eggs, you absolutely can’t miss the Forbidden Journey ride, which is inside the Hogwarts Castle.

My hot take: the best part of Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is the queue itself. The line winds through Hogwarts Castle, and nearly every room is packed with hidden gems.

You’ll walk through the greenhouses with mandrakes, Dumbledore’s office with the pensieve, the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, and the Gryffindor common room. Along the way, look for:

• The Mirror of Erised on your left right as you enter the ride queue
• The Fat Lady portrait guarding the Gryffindor common room
• Moving, talking portraits lining the castle walls (with some familiar faces!)
• The Griffin statue guarding the entrance to Dumbledore’s office
• The Sorting Hat, which talks to guests as they pass

The single rider line skips most of the castle, so if it’s your first time, wait in the regular line!

Insider tip: If you don’t want to ride (or you get motion sick), you can sometimes ask a team member for a castle tour to walk through the queue without riding. It depends on staff availability, so don’t bank on it. Another option is to wait in line with your group and skip the ride at the end.

17. The Real-Life Marauder’s Map in Filch’s Emporium

When you exit Forbidden Journey, you’ll walk straight into Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods, a gift shop where you can purchase lots of fun themed goodies!

Most people beeline for the merchandise, but there are many hidden gems inside the store too.

My favorite is the real-life Marauder’s Map right in front of the check-out counter, which shows actual footsteps exploring the grounds, just like in the movies!

And of course, while you’re in the shop, take a look at the confiscated items Filch has collected over the years. You can also buy your own copy of the Marauder’s Map here too.

18. The Hog’s Head Pub

The main restaurant to eat at inside of Hogsmeade is the Three Broomsticks, just like in the books/movies.

However, unlike the source material, Universal combined the Three Broomsticks with the Hog’s Head Inn (where Dumbledore’s brother worked).

You can find the Hog’s Head bar in the back right corner of the Three Broomsticks, and yes, it’s a real bar!!

Here, you can grab both non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks, including some fun themed drinks like Butterbeer or Firewhiskey!

They also brew their own beer for the Wizarding World, which is one of my favorite parts of the park. You can grab a Dark Forest Ale, a Dragon Scale (my favorite), or a Wizards Brew (my husband’s favorite).

Or, if you want to really lean into the Easter eggs, you can get a “Deathly Hallows” beer, which is 3 beers layered together. Legally, Universal can’t recognize this as an order, so you have to tell them which beers you want (Guinness should be on top!).

And lastly, don’t miss the animatronic hog’s head on the wall, which sometimes wakes up and moves around!

19. Moaning Myrtle in the Hogsmeade Bathroom

Yes, I’m including a bathroom on this list!!! Lol.

If you’re a girl, don’t miss taking a quick trip into the girls’ bathroom inside Hogsmeade and listen closely. You’ll hear a very familiar, very dramatic voice. Hint: she’s a bit moaning!

It’s one of the funniest Easter eggs in the park, and since it’s hidden in a bathroom, most guests have no idea it exists!!

20. Props Inside Dervish and Banges

Dervish and Banges is the go-to Hogsmeade shop for Hogwarts gear, robes, and magical gadgets. It’s located right in the center of Hogsmeade, right next to the large covered seating area.

There are lots of fun Easter eggs from the book and movies inside the shop, including sneakoscopes and remembralls.

My favorite prop, however, is the animated Monster Book of Monsters in the cage. If you get too close, it will growl and snap at you, just like the one in Prisoner of Azkaban.

21. Send Real Mail with a Hogsmeade Postmark

Connected to Dervish and Banges is the Owl Post. Most people walk through it to look at the owl plushies and stationery, but you can actually send real mail from here with an official Hogsmeade postmark!!

This makes for an easy, inexpensive souvenir. Send a postcard home to yourself or to a Harry Potter fan who couldn’t make the trip!

22. Posters and Storefronts

As you wander through Hogsmeade Village, make sure to slow down and look at the ground, the walls, and the storefronts!! This applies to Diagon Alley, too.

My favorite photo-op is in front of the Three Broomsticks, where there’s an animated “Wanted” poster for Sirius Black.

And of course, all of the shop windows are on-theme, nothing is random or unplanned!

For example, you’ll find a small window display for Madam Puddifoot’s.

If you haven’t read the books, you might think is just a filler store. But there is a whole chapter in Order of the Phoenix where Harry meets Cho Chang here for Valentine’s Day!

A lot of the storefronts have the interactive spells, too, so it’s fun to walk around and explore them all!

23. Chat with the Hogwarts Express Conductor

While the actual Hogwarts Express is located just outside of Hogsmeade Village, there is a prop train right as you enter the village on the right side, next to the lockers for the Hagrid’s ride.

(This train existed before they built the actual train connecting the two parks!).

Not only is this area a great photo op with the train in the background, but there is almost always a conductor in front of the train.

He often interacts with guests and will answer questions about the train, Hogwarts, and even your house. It’s a fun little moment, especially for kids!

24. Cast Spells with an Interactive Wand (Including the Hidden Ones)

An interactive wand turns all of Harry Potter World into one big hidden gem hunt!!

Interactive wands cost around $65 (standard wands are around $35), and they let you cast spells at marked spots throughout Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. It truly is so fun!!!

Each wand comes with a map of the spell locations, and each spot is marked by a gold medallion on the ground showing the spell name and the motion to make. A few of my favorites:

• Incendio at Flimflam’s Lanterns in Diagon Alley
• The snowman in Hogsmeade, who blows bubbles when you cast the right spell
• The mermaid water fountain in Diagon Alley (you may get wet!)
• Knockturn Alley, which has a few spell spots with darker magic effects

Here’s the real hidden gem, though!! There are a few unmarked spell locations that aren’t on the official map. Keep an eye out for windows and props that look like they might react to a wand.

And here are my other insider tips regarding the wands:

• If a spell doesn’t work, try smaller, more deliberate motions. There’s sometimes an attendant nearby who can help.
• Look for the camera near the effect and point your wand at it
• Save some spells for after dark. The effects look even better at night!
• You don’t have to wait in line at Ollivanders to buy a wand. You can buy one in the main shop or at the wand cart in Hogsmeade.
• Already have a wand from a past visit? Bring it back. They don’t expire!

For more on wands and other insider secrets, check out my 19 Harry Potter World tips!

25. Ride the Hogwarts Express Both Ways

Most people ride the Hogwarts Express once to get from one park to the other. What they don’t realize is that the show is completely different depending on which direction you’re going!!

From King’s Cross to Hogsmeade, you’re traveling to Hogwarts for the first time, with familiar faces and magical sights out the “window.”

The return trip from Hogsmeade Station has a darker storyline with its own surprises on the way back to London.

I won’t spoil either one, but if you have a Park-to-Park ticket, I do recommend riding it in both directions if you can.

The line can get long midday (I’ve seen it anywhere from 10 to 120 minutes), so ride early in the morning or in the evening for shorter waits!

26. Movie Props for Sale

While the merchandise inside both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade Village are amazing, I actually prefer souvenir shopping at the shop at the front of Islands of Adventure (called Islands of Adventure Trading Company).

At the back of this store (which you will reach first when exiting the park) has a massive Harry Potter section with some of the best merch from the park!

Here, you’ll also find some unique items for purchase that are official replicas of props from the movies, like the Time-Turner necklace, the golden egg from the Triwizard Tournament, and even Hagrid’s umbrella!

They also have a lot of unique Harry Potter-themed jewelry that I just love.

While you can find some of these items inside Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment (the gift shop after Gringotts ride), I think this souvenir store at the front of Islands has a better selection!

Final Thoughts

While the rides get all the attention, these little hidden gems and small details are what keep me coming back to Harry Potter World after more than 50 visits. It’s truly what makes the park so special for Harry Potter lovers!!

If you’re short on time, my top five are Kreacher in the window, the Ministry of Magic phone booth, Knockturn Alley, the Forbidden Journey queue, and an interactive wand.

But you should be able to see all of these hidden gems with 1-2 days in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Still planning your trip? Make sure to read my comprehensive Harry Potter World guide for more details to help!