I've always wanted Universal to add secret wand spots maybe even throughout the park or even secret rooms or tunnels that are harry potter related because I loved the feeling of finding the secret wand spots which still almost no one knows about
sometimes the workers at the hogsmeade train will give a person a secret location and a spell (that will give a code that you bring back to them) and then when you come back tell the the code they give you a harry potter prize ! they only tell a few people a day.
I’d love to see a second video that includes the Port of Entry bridge (you can get to it from the second floor of the restaurant!) and the Camp Jurassic caves.
I love all of Universal Orlando but these places have a soft spot for me due to the theming and ambience involved without being completely attached to an attraction. Great video once again and thanks for covering this!
The original plan was to have a boat dock at every island. That walkway behind Bluto's was for Toon Lagoon's intended dock. You can even see an area that looks like a dock down by the water's edge.
After we ate, I wandered out of the Leaky Cauldron while the family was in the bathroom and i stumbled upon Nocturne Alley. I could not believe there were not signs pointing you to it because it is such a cool part of the park. It was nice and cool in there and really well themed.
All of these are neat and places I want to check out but the hidden piece of the Berlin Wall is my favorite. Not only for the real world history, but the theme park history of how it ended up in an almost hidden spot.
I worked at Universal during the summer of 2004, and can partially answer this. This was right at the end of the Nickelodeon Studios, which later was converted into the Blue Man Group Theatre. I worked entry, aka ticket taker and turnstile operator. There was actually a little-known, single-turnstile entrance to Universal Studios behind the Hard Rock Cafe. I think the idea was to offer an easy shortcut for people who wanted to eat at the Hard Rock. We would work it in rotation with the main entrance. Very few people knew about it, so it was nice to get a little quiet from the main entry. And it was a great way to get into the park without the lines. So that's at least why the walkway exists there. Why there's a piece of the Berlin Wall standing there is for someone else to answer. Though I will note that, in looking at the Nickelodeon Studios Wikipedia article, it does discuss a time capsule that was buried there in 1992. One of the items inside is... A piece of the Berlin Wall. My guess would be, taken from that much larger piece standing right there.
This is one of the best UOR Videos I've seen! I'm so excited to share this video with my family and go to the hidden locates we haven't visited before!
The New York smoking area is nice and if you stand at the side door for Mummy (when it’s open) you can hear the audio for the opening “Are you insane?” scene.
Hi! In 2005, I shot a movie at Universal Studios Florida. We shot on the New York sections of the park after the park closed. One of the sets we used was St. Alley. The movie is called EL SUEÑO DEL REGRESO. I had a lot of fun!
There is a hidden viewing area that a few people know about behind the spider-man shop. It's a designated smoking area. But, even then not slot of people know it's there.
you left out the viewing area out behind mythos in lost continent there is a nice pathway and veiwing area. you left out off to the left of jusrrasic river adventure where the drop is is also another quiet area where folks go for photos and watch the boats dorp down in up the steps of the new york library and the new york subway tunnel anpther little quiet spot useually
There is also a piece of the Berlin Wall in the time capsule that was buried at Nickelodeon studios, that building behind the fence @4:40. When Nickelodeon moved out of that building the time capsule was moved, i think it's in Burbank, CA now.
We love Sting Alley! We would stay in Sneetch Beach a lot longer but the soundtrack back there can be a little much for us. Our favorite sign is back there though- has both of our hometowns on it! Kitchen Alley is our favorite photo spot in Hogsmeade too!
One of my favorite hidden spots at Universal is/was Gardens of Allah (don't know if it is still there, has been a while since I was there.) It feels as if someone really lives there and that a silent film era star might walk out the door any minute Just love that kind of architecture, same as Hollywood Blvd. at Disney's Hollywood Studios, especially the area around Guest Relations / Sid Cahuenga and also the 50's Prime Time Cafe building.
You forgot Navigators Club - above Confisco Grille. Also There is also a place in Suess land that you can rent to host birthday parties. The tribute store in New York. Also the firehouse in New York has a secret ghostbusters tour.
When we went In 2020 the parks closed at 7pm because of the pandemic. So we didn't get to experience the parks in the dark so the atmosphere of diagon alley was pretty standard. I'm excited to go back in September and experience it all in the dark too! It looks so cool!
Great vid. Thanks for sharing these. I will add them to my list of things to check out. We are coming later this year. Haven’t been in over 20 years. Things like this list are really helpful. Keep them coming.
I have only been to Disney in Orlando, and I am going to Universal for the first time, I am so excited, and I am watching as many Universal videos as I can. I am so used to Disney and I know where everything is there, but at Universal I literally don't know where anything is, I may have to actually get a park map when I arrive!
Been to IOA so many times before I ventured deeper into the cave at Camp Jurassic. I won't spoil it if folks haven't been there yet. It's fun. Actually climbing all the suspended paths at Camp Jurasssic is fun if you're with someone who's bad at it. It's fine for adults.
I'm curious, do they turn off the lights in Borgin & Burks when you go in the off-season? I went in early January and to my surprise, it was so dark inside that I couldn't see anything. If they were trying to push a creepy vibe, they freaked me out. The staff just stood there silently while I fumbled around like a fool, feeling with my hands. After my eyes adapted to the dark, I realized the lights were out! It was just CREEPY. I was so freaked out that I thought they didn't see me and left, thinking the place wasn't open yet but it was 10 am! Is this just a "thing" they do to sell the ambience of Knockturn Alley? In the books, whenever Harry sees Draco in KA, he's usually up to no good.
I see nice quiet places but what I don't see is seating. Why don't they put more benches in these places I wonder? I'm looking for good places my toddler could take a quick nap while her older sisters and Dad go on rides.
They do! Had the coolest experience in 2014ish w my wife Stiltwalker dressed like grim reaper stood at one end taunting us to enter the one long skinny alley
I would have included the cave inside camp jurassic, lot of adults don't know its there if they don't go in with their kids and it's usually pretty empty.
How do you make this list and not mention one of the best out of the way, usually empty spots...the area behind Cat in the Hat and One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish....great place to chill for a bit, uninterrupted?
I considered it because it’s definitely off the beaten path and has some park history with the abandoned stage from whatever Seuss shows they used to put on back there. Maybe for a part 2?
They once made me rescue at Park Services and they assigned me to sweep at Toon Lagoon. I just walked the Popeyes dock area for a little and looked at all the cute little designs. Nice little break from the busy loud main pathway
You missed a few places. Behind the restaurant in the lost continent there is a nice little hidden spot to view the lagoon and relax. Keep going and just as you enter Potter land, across from the train display there's a little hidden spot on the left to sit and rest, it's kinda behind that barrier. Used to be a smoking section lol (dunno if it still is) you also forgot about the caves inside of the jurassic park playground... not alot of people even know it's there. Before the new velocicoaster went up, you USED to be able to sneak into the old triceratops encounter area and see old rotting robots and stuff (see youtuber Adam The Woo for more content on that whole experience 😄) oh yeah and the small area behind the shops across from spider man. There's a few Easter eggs back there too (no pun intended as it's currently Easter lol) And for universal, you missed the fact that the blue man group building across from the Berlin wall used to be Nickelodeon Studios Headquarters, and there's a metal plate on the ground where the old slime fountain used to be... that whole area used to actually be the main entrance to universal studios and just past the fence was the parking lot (crazy to see how much it's expanded) OK so there are also secret-ish (less traveled anyway) bathrooms to the right of the outdoor stage, just behind Jimmy Fallon (also keep your eye out on the roof or the windows of the NBC building for the occasional panda sighting) And there are nice chill areas over looking the lagoon behind the restaurants in the old jaws section, that has no main cut through so it's very quiet and nice for a peaceful lunch. I think there was one more hidden-ish place but I haven't been there in a couple years. Lmk if anything changed since then.
A few years ago I used to go frequently; and a few more places I liked were: Inside the jurassic park land kids rope course/playground. Inside the water cave by the pterodactyl flyers was a light show and waterfall. Fun to play tag/manhunt in 🤣🤣 Also in Curious George kiddie area by E.T. i believe. Right before you enter the Balladium there was a mailbox on animated fake town to the right. Pull on the handle to the mailbox/package drop off box. Thank me later 🤣🤣🤣
I worked at Universal Studios Florida and didn't know most most places you showed. Most of the time I am walking to work or leaving. Point A to point B quickly. Lol
You remind me of Bazooka Joe in some of your close ups with that up-turned, long-bill hat! (Minus the sweater pulled up over your chin) All the way to the steps and big building facades in NY is pretty quiet and cool. Easy to see behind facades to see how little is needed to give a believable skyline or back drop.
A few spots over by Poseidon I would of added. Also not that it is particularly hidden but over by the old Fear Factor I love the benches and area to sit near the stand alone rest area. It is always much cooler there because of all the shade.
This video needed to be saved! I am taking my 2 kids this fall to Universal and they are still rather small so these areas are going to be my relief from the crazy that will be my time visiting! Thank you for the video and additional "off the beaten path" ideas, I would love to see them!
not only is kitchen alley a neat place to get photos and where workers and get around but also where they store some of the wands sold at the vendor in hogsmeade
You should definitely make a follow up, as others suggested there are a lot of hidden things. Such as the jurassic park caves, annual pass lounge, and much others
