A Celebration of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort – complete insider’s guide

A Celebration of Harry Potter was discontinued after 2018 at Universal Orlando Resort. You can still explore our complete insider’s guide to past events below.

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What was A Celebration of Harry Potter?

The event, which ran for five years, gave Harry Potter fans a special opportunity to learn more about and be a part of the wizarding world. Guests could participate in question-and-answer sessions with talent from the films, attend panels and demonstrations by the creators of the theme parks’ Wizarding World of Harry Potter, walk the expo floor to peruse exclusive items and virtual-reality experiences, and more.

After a relatively short lifespan of just five years, Universal and Warner Bros. suspended their popular Celebration of Harry Potter annual event in 2019 with no return date ever announced.

Given this finality, we’ve preserved our coverage of the 2018 Celebration, including its schedule and array of experiences, from actor Q&As to exclusive merchandise. On this page, you’ll find everything about the event — now to be remembered in memoriam.

2018’s lineup of movie stars consisted of first-timer Stanislav Ianevski (Viktor Krum from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire); Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley), who had last appeared at the 2016 event; another newcomer, Natalia Tena (Nymphadora Tonks); and old stand-bys – and fan favorites – James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley). These five actors comprised the entirety of the film roster, marking the first time Universal had expanded it to five guests since 2016.

A Celebration of Harry Potter 2018 – experiences

Each and every Celebration of Harry Potter strove for a balance between new additions and returning favorites, and 2018 was no different.

Opening event

The Harry Potter Film Concert Series featured the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra performing some of the iconic music from the first four movies as those memorable scenes played out on a big screen.

Panels

Five brand-new panels were rolled out that year:

• Explore Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery – the creators of the then-upcoming mobile role-playing game broke down its visuals, gameplay, and narrative.
• Sound and Image: The Magic behind the Music – conductor Justin Freer and producer Brady Beaubien, co-founders of CineConcerts and the men responsible for the Harry Potter Film Concert Series, discussed and dissected the films’ legendary soundtracks.
• Special effects supervisor John Richardson Q&A – “special effects” referred to anything done practically on-set, and in the case of the Harry Potter films, that included everything from flying broomsticks to fire-breathing dragons. The award-winning SFX supervisor for all eight movies shared behind-the-scenes secrets on how he pulled them all off.
• Graphic Design for Film: Creating the Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes – Eduardo Lima and Miraphora Mina of MinaLima chatted about what went into bringing Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes to life.
• The Magic of Costumes in Harry Potter – Jany Temime, the award-winning costume designer behind the last six films, and Eddie Newquist, exhibition curator, talked about the amazing costumes in the Harry Potter series.

Activities

While hopping from one experience to another, guests made sure to leave enough time to tackle the Celebration of Harry Potter 2018 Scavenger Hunt, which tasked them with finding the answers to a series of clues hidden throughout both halves of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’s Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley.

There was also a special sneak preview of The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle, the then-new projection-mapping show (for Orlando, at least), on the nights of Saturday, January 27, and Sunday, January 28. Vacation-package holders received one additional — and far more exclusive — preview on Friday night. (We broke down the various packages a little further down this page.)

Harry Potter Expo

The Harry Potter Expo (the portion of the Celebration held in two soundstages and featuring a number of different booths for guests to visit) offered a slew of first-time experiences:

• Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment booth – guests were among the first to play the new Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery game, talk to the developers, take a photo against a life-sized gallery wall, and participate in giveaways.
• The Harry Potter Film Concert Series – attendees got info on CineConcerts’s live performances, took an “exclusive” selfie at the photo booth, and joined in on giveaways.
• The Wizarding Costumes from Harry Potter: The Exhibition – fans examined a collection of the films’ costumes to their hearts’ content. There was even a “one of a kind” photo op in the form of a wizarding fashion runway.

Returning experiences

Returning attractions included the Sorting Hat Experience (where guests were sorted into a Hogwarts house), Pottermore trivia questions, the Hogwarts Houses Rally and Costume Showcase (where cos-playing fans entered a contest for “magical prizes”), Scholastic‘s book booth, a Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them virtual-reality experience, and a section representing the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London. There was also an updated look at Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the stage play that was set to open on Broadway on April 22, 2018 (it had held its world premiere in London on July 30, 2016).

(For a full accounting of every returning favorite, see the complete schedule toward the bottom of this page.)

Just to give you a taste of what the event offered, here’s a look back at the previous year’s festivities:

Want even more? Check out our Celebration of Harry Potter 2016 recap.

A Celebration of Harry Potter 2018 – vacation packages

Celebration vacation packages went on sale starting November 20, 2017. In previous years, all packages had sold out anywhere from two weeks to just two days after going on sale, so fans were encouraged to act quickly.

For 2018, Universal offered three different Celebration of Harry Potter vacation packages (excluding the Florida resident option). All packages included:

• Three-night hotel accommodations
• Access to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter evening event
• Commemorative pin
• Special guest access to the expo and to select panels and demonstrations
• Commemorative merchandise
• Early park admission
• Breakfast at The Three Broomsticks
• An exclusive talent question-and-answer session

Universal also announced that vacation-package holders would be able to attend a special sneak preview of the then-new Harry Potter projection-mapping show, The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle, on the night of Friday, January 26.

Premium vacation package

The Celebration of Harry Potter Premium vacation package boasted the best offerings and the highest pricing. In addition to the items listed above, it also included:

• Three-day park-to-park admission (for Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure)
• Exclusive autograph and photo session with select Harry Potter film talent
• Shutterbutton’s Photography Studio session
• Breakfast at the The Leaky Cauldron (in addition to breakfast at The Three Broomsticks on a separate morning)
• Reception at the expo

For accommodations at Sapphire Falls Resort or Royal Pacific Resort, pricing started at $599 per adult, per night, tax inclusive (a 25% price increase from 2017).

For accommodations at either Hard Rock Hotel or Portofino Bay Hotel, pricing started at $669 per adult, per night, tax inclusive (25% price increase from 2017).

Celebration vacation package

This was the standard package for A Celebration of Harry Potter. It was more budget-friendly but missed out on the exclusive autograph-and-photo session with film talent, along with a few other benefits of the premium package. It did, however, include all of the benefits listed at the top and also three-day park-to-park admission (to Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure).

For accommodations at an Universal partner hotel, pricing began at $235 per adult, per night, tax inclusive (a 9% price increase from 2017).

At Cabana Bay Beach Resort, pricing began at $285 per adult, per night, tax inclusive (a 14% price increase from 2017).

At Sapphire Falls Resort or Royal Pacific Resort, Universal’s Preferred on-site hotels, pricing began at $315 per adult, per night, tax inclusive (a 12.9% price increase from 2017).

At Hard Rock Hotel or Portofino Bay Hotel, pricing began at $385 per adult, per night, tax inclusive (a 13.5% price increase from 2017).

Universal ran a special, limited-time sale on Celebration vacation packages. Guests could save $150 by using promotional code UNICOHP at the time of purchase — provided they did so before January 22, 2018 (or before the limited number of slots sold out).

Annual passholder vacation package

This was essentially the Celebration vacation package above, without theme park tickets included. It was important to note that guests needed a valid annual pass at the time of booking and visiting to be eligible for this package.

For accommodations at a Universal partner hotel, pricing began at $139 per adult, per night, tax inclusive (a 3% price increase from 2017).

At Cabana Bay Beach Resort, pricing began at $189 per adult, per night, tax inclusive (an 11.8% price increase from 2017).

At Sapphire Falls Resort or Royal Pacific Resort, pricing began at $199 per adult, per night, tax inclusive (an 8% price increase from 2017).

At Hard Rock Hotel or Portofino Bay Hotel, pricing began at $245 per adult, per night, tax inclusive (a 16% price increase from 2017).

A Celebration of Harry Potter 2018 – film stars

Once again, the film talent lineup for 2018 was announced. Those who purchased the Premium vacation package had an opportunity for autographs and photos with select members of this roster. (There were no other official autograph or photo sessions.)

• Stanislav Ianevski (Viktor Krum)
• Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley)
• James Phelps (Fred Weasley)
• Oliver Phelps (George Weasley)

A Celebration of Harry Potter 2018 – schedule

Here was the full schedule for the 2018 event:

Friday, January 26, 2018

The Harry Potter Expo was open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at Soundstages 21 and 33 (their entrances were near Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit and Revenge of the Mummy, respectively).

Movies in the Park (Universal Music Plaza) – 11:00 am – 1:30 pm
Opening night event (Music Plaza) – 7:15 pm – 8:30 pm

A special showing of The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle commenced at dusk for vacation-package holders only

Saturday, January 27, 2018

The Harry Potter Expo was open from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm at Soundstages 21 and 33.

Dance Like a Beauxbatons and Battle Like a Durmstrang (Universal Music Plaza) – 10:00 am – 10:30 am
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: Discover Special Effects Secrets with John Richardson (Toon Lagoon Amphitheater) – 10:00 am – 10:30 am
Learn Wand Combat Skills with Paul Harris (Kids) (Music Plaza) – 11:15 am – 11:45 am
MinaLima: Graphic Design of Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes (Amphitheater) – 11:15 am – 11:45 am
Learn Wand Combat Skills with Paul Harris (All Levels) (Music Plaza) – 2:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Harry Potter: The Exhibition – The Magic of Costumes in Harry Potter (Amphitheater) – 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Harry Potter Knowledge Challenge (Music Plaza) – 3:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment: Explore Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery (Amphitheater) – 3:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Film Talent Q&A (Music Plaza) – 4:00 pm – 4:45 pm
CineConcerts: Sound and Image – The Magic behind the Music, and the Journey to Construct a Complete Score Live to Picture (Amphitheater) – 4:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Hogwarts House Rally and Costume Showcase (Music Plaza) – 5:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Evening Tribute (Music Plaza) – 6:45 pm – 7:45

Showings of The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle commenced at dusk.

Sunday, January 28, 2018

The Harry Potter Expo was open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at Soundstages 21 and 33.

Dance Like a Beauxbatons and Battle Like a Durmstrang (Universal Music Plaza) – 10:00 am – 10:30 am
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: Discover Special Effects Secrets with John Richardson (Toon Lagoon Amphitheater) – 10:00 am – 10:30 am
Learn Wand Combat Skills with Paul Harris (Kids) (Music Plaza) – 11:15 am – 11:45 am
Harry Potter: The Exhibition – The Magic of Costumes in Harry Potter (Amphitheater) – 11:15 am – 11:45 am
Learn Wand Combat Skills with Paul Harris (All Levels) (Music Plaza) – 2:15 pm – 2:45 pm
CineConcerts: Sound and Image – The Magic behind the Music, and the Journey to Construct a Complete Score Live to Picture (Amphitheater) – 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
MinaLima: Graphic Design of Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes (Amphitheater) – 3:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Harry Potter Knowledge Challenge (Music Plaza) – 4:15 pm – 4:45 pm
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment: Explore Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery (Amphitheater) – 4:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Film Talent Q&A (Music Plaza) – 5:30 pm – 6:15 pm

Showings of The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle commenced at dusk.

A Celebration of Harry Potter 2018 – FAQ

What – you crave even more info on the 2018 event? Well, sure – no problem.  Let’s start with:

Expanded details on some of the 2018 panels

Behind the Scenes: Harry Potter Film Talent Q&A – guests enjoyed a fascinating and interactive question-and-answer session featuring some of their favorite actors from the Harry Potter films. They discovered what it was like to work on one of the most successful film franchises in history.

Graphic Design for the Harry Potter Films with MinaLima – Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima, from the graphic design studio MinaLima, shared insights into their role as graphic prop designers and how their paths crossed at the WB film studios, where they worked for 10 years on the Harry Potter movies.

The following two panels and demonstrations were geared toward younger attendees at A Celebration of Harry Potter. They were recommended for ages 12 and under:

Dance Like a Beauxbatons and Battle Like a Durmstrang – if younger Harry Potter fans were entranced by the dances performed by Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students in the films, they loved this demonstration. A Universal Orlando choreographer, working with Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students who performed at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, explained the movements and techniques behind the mesmerizing dance routines.

Harry Potter Knowledge Challenge – children (and sometimes adults) tested their knowledge during this fun, audience-interaction game that invited younger fans to shout out the answers to film-specific questions. A Harry Potter film marathon beforehand may have given some contestants an extra edge!

Did guests need to purchase a special package to participate in the event?

Yes and no. Most of the festivities during A Celebration of Harry Potter 2018 were accessible to all park guests. Anyone with a daytime park ticket was able to attend the film talent question-and-answer sessions, panels and demonstrations, and the special expo. However, guests who purchased a special Celebration vacation package were eligible for “special guest access” to the expo and panels. Package holders also received access to an exclusive Q&A with the film talent.

Although general-admission guests technically could attend most events, in past years the lines for many demonstrations and sessions were so long that they were often unable to exit one session, get in line, and re-enter in time for the next. In this sense, the Celebration vacation package was the best way to ensure access, as it offered “special access for discussions and demonstrations.”

Additionally, visitors who purchased a vacation package received a few other benefits (highlighted in our vacation package section).

Speaking of which…

Exclusive evening in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and reception at the expo

At previous events, one of the major benefits of purchasing a vacation package was that it granted guests access to an exclusive evening at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, complete with desserts and one complimentary Butterbeer. Regular park guests were not able to partake in this activity.

Guests who purchased the Premium Celebration of Harry Potter vacation package also received access to a special reception at the expo. This was limited only to premium vacation package holders, meaning those who purchased any other package or attended as daytime guests were not able to attend.

What about costumes?

Attendees were allowed to wear costumes at both theme parks during the event. Here’s what they needed to know:

• No masks, veils, long trains, live animals, swords, or weapons. All home-crafted wands must be rounded on either end
• Must not give the impression you are a Universal team member
• Certain costumes may not be allowed on select rides due to safety concerns
• You may not linger in CityWalk with a costume
• Universal Orlando will have sole discretion on costumes. You may be asked to change or leave the resort. Any items deemed inappropriate may be retrieved at the end of the day at the CityWalk hub