Jen's Harry Potter Bucket List
There are books and movies that you enjoy and forget, and there are those that stay with you forever. J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, and the films that followed, captured my imagination and never let go.
Below is my Harry Potter Bucket List, what I feel are the top Harry Potter-related things to do all over the world. I have personally done all of the items except those indicated with a *. If you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them. I hope this list helps you plan your next magical Harry Potter adventure!
Note: If the text is green, click it to read Jen's related story or review.
Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade at Universal’s Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort (opening date: June 18th, 2010) Tour Hogwarts Castle (The "tour" is the queue for the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride) Take a wild ride through the world of Harry Potter on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (ride) Get a photo taken with Hogwarts castle in the background *Get chosen by a wand at Ollivanders wand shop (show) Take a journey on Hogwarts Express (ride) (note: riders must have a Park-to-Park ticket) *Take a hair-raising rollercoaster ride on Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (ride) See a “real” Hippogriff from the mild rollercoaster, Flight of the Hippogriff (ride) Pose with a train conductor in front of the Hogwarts Express train Have a frozen butterbeer at Hog’s Head Pub (restaurant) Stroll through Hogsmeade after dark Get attacked by the Monster Book of Monsters at Dervish and Banges (shop) Try a chocolate frog Look for shadows of house elves and owls during a meal at Three Broomsticks (restaurant) Mail a postcard at Owl Post (shop) Hear Moaning Myrtle lament inside the restrooms *Experience Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (holiday decorations and foods, and a projection light show on Hogwarts Castle) Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida at Universal Orlando Resort (opening date: July 8, 2014) Take a harrowing ride on Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts (ride) *Get chosen by a wand at Ollivanders wand shop (show) Take a journey on the Hogwarts Express (ride) (note: riders must have a Park-to-Park ticket) Dine in the Leaky Cauldron (restaurant) Try Butterbeer ice cream at Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour (restaurant) Explore the shops of Knockturn Alley (shopping) Check out the shops of Diagon Alley (shopping) *Experience Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (holiday decorations and foods) |
Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood (opening date: April 7, 2016) Tour Hogwarts Castle (The "tour" is the queue for the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride) Take a wild ride through the world of Harry Potter on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (ride) *Get a photo taken with Hogwarts castle in the background *Get chosen by a wand at Ollivanders wand shop (show) Dine at Three Broomsticks (restaurant) See a “real” Hippogriff from the mild rollercoaster, Flight of the Hippogriff (ride) Watch The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle (projection light show) *Pose with a train conductor in front of the Hogwarts Express train Have a frozen butterbeer at Hog’s Head Pub (restaurant) Stroll through Hogsmeade after dark Get attacked by the Monster Book of Monsters at Dervish and Banges (shop) Try a chocolate frog Mail a postcard at Owl Post (shop) See Hogwarts light up the night with special effects set to music (schedule and show theme varies seasonally)[past/current shows include: Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle and The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle] Hear Moaning Myrtle lament inside the restrooms Experience Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (holiday decorations and foods, and a projection light show on Hogwarts Castle) |
*Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Japan (opening date: July 15, 2014) *Tour Hogwarts Castle (The "tour" is the queue for the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride) *Take a wild ride through the world of Harry Potter on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (ride) *Get a photo taken with Hogwarts castle in the background *Get chosen by a wand at Ollivanders wand shop (show) *Dine at Three Broomsticks (restaurant) *See a “real” Hippogriff from the mild rollercoaster, Flight of the Hippogriff (ride) |
Stand face-to-face with costumes and props from Harry Potter movies at Harry Potter: The Exhibition |
Go to Oxford, UK Stay overnight at an actual Hogwarts filming location Tour Harry Potter filming locations |
Go to London, UK See real Harry Potter movie sets at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter *See the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre Tour Harry Potter filming locations Visit "Platform 9 ¾" at King's Cross Station (the actual filming location was between platforms 4 and 5) |
See the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Lyric Theatre in New York City |
See the legendary John Williams conduct an orchestra playing music from the Harry Potter movies |
Read every Harry Potter book by J.K. Rowling 1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone 2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 8. The Tales of Beedle the Bard 9. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 10. Quidditch Through the Ages *11. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child |
See every Harry Potter movie 1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) 2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) 3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) 4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) 5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) 6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) 7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010) 8. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011) |
See the movie Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) *See the movie Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) |
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ABOUT JEN Jen is also known as J.W. Lynne, a best selling author of eleven novels. Click on any of the titles below to see the book on Amazon! THE UNKNOWN: Eight kids learn the shocking reason why they were kidnapped. ABOVE THE SKY: A girl lives in a world where touching her soulmate is forbidden. THE DARKNESS OUTSIDE: A teen is locked in a bunker to take a simulated trip to the moon. KID DOCS: An experimental program turns kids into doctors. WILD ANIMAL SCHOOL: A girl falls in love with a boy at an exotic animal ranch. WHAT HE DIDN'T TELL ME: A traumatized girl meets a boy with a horrible secret. IF I TELL: A teen wonders if her father is a serial killer. Besides reading books and dreaming up stories to write, Jen's favorite activities are singing along to musical theater soundtracks and hiking in California's beautiful parks. **Jen's books are available on Kindle Unlimited.** |