For Disney adults of a certain age like myself, Disney Dollars hold a near-mythical place in our hearts. This Disney currency allowed guests to swap their real-world money for fanciful bills featuring Mickey and company. While Disney discontinued Disney Dollars years ago, there’s a near-equal experience available to guests at Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Gringotts

That’s right, you can trade in your well-worn Muggle money for a magical alternative at Universal Studios Florida’s Diagon Alley.

Whether I’m visiting Universal solo or with my family, there’s one important stop I make almost every single time I’m planning to spend my day in the Wizarding World. As I find myself stepping through that magical brick wall and making my way out into the bustling street of Diagon Alley among the crowd, there’s one particular place I start my experience first.

Diagon Alley in Universal Studios

Here’s a little backstory– I’m truly just a big kid (even if it’s all just in my head). As a millennial, I remember the release of each Harry Potter book in sequence, followed by the films, and eventually the debut of the lands inside Universal’s theme parks, which only fueled my wish to stay immersed within the Wizarding World.

Wiseacre’s

When you step past the threshold, it doesn’t take long to really feel like you’ve stepped right out of reality and straight into the book’s pages (or scenes from the films). It’s an experience I relive each and every time I step inside, too (and one I hope to keep going for all of my kids, no matter how much they grow up on me). So believe me, I take full advantage of any time I can make my muggle-born self feel a little more like I belong in the “World”.

Weasleys Wizzard Wheezes

Ok, enough of the mushy stuff — here’s where the fun begins! As I make my way around the crowd that’s probably staked out in the same spot for several minutes, holding up their cameras for just the right moment that dragon over Gringotts Bank breathes out a fiery breath, I’ve got my sights set on one destination — Gringotts.

Gringotts

Yeah, I know what you’re thinking: ” Duh, the ride!” Sure, but a few doors down is where the magic really happens. If you’ve never taken the time to step inside the Gringotts Money Exchange, then you’re in for a real treat.

Gringotts Money Exchange

While it doesn’t look like much (and it’s not terribly big inside), just like with most magical things, there’s more here than meets the eye. Opening the door, you’ll immediately notice the goblin standing above you as you come face to face with one of the very creatures that is held responsible for the safekeeping of wizard money at the “safest place on Earth.” There’s a short switchback line that, as it winds, will bring you around to things like old counting scales in the window displays and eventually a few souvenirs to pick up — but that’s not exactly what we’re after here.

No, we’re headed straight for the Team Member assisting the overseeing, wisecracking goblin at the teller window to ask for an exchange (you know, just like what’s written on the sign out front). Most people don’t realize it, but this is the ONLY place in the Wizarding World where you can exchange your Muggle money (dollars and debit card purchases) for Gringotts bank notes. And yes, they DO actually hold value within the land (and technically the rest of Universal, too).

A Gringotts goblin

The Team Member can assist you in exchanging your dollars for banknotes in multiple small denominations, like $10 and $20, at a time. When you’re finished with the exchange, the notes will be handed to you in a souvenir envelope. Pretty cool, huh?

Wizard Money

After you’re finished, these bank notes spend the same way as the Muggle dollars would around the park, and add that extra touch to make you feel like you’re shopping legitimately within the Wizarding World for your souvenirs and dining.

In fact, you can truly immerse yourself by using Wizard bank notes to pick up some of the most popular in-universe Wizarding World souvenirs, like robes…

Emma in Diagon Alley

… a wand…

We love Harry Potter here!

… or even a Butterbeer!

Quincy and her butterbeer!

Of course, there’s always the option to keep them AS the souvenir if you prefer, which is perfectly acceptable as well. And, if you’re wise with your spending (or somehow conjure a money-multiplying spell and end up with leftover notes at the end of your trip), you can save them to spend the next time you’re visiting!

Gringotts bank notes

If you don’t want to hold on to whatever you have left of your Wizarding World money, don’t fret. According to Universal, you can transfer unused wizard money into U.S. currency at Guest Services. Though we have to ask, where’s the fun in that?

Universal Studios Florida Entrance

So tell me, have you ever performed a little “magic” with your own Muggle money in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter before? Or, are you just now discovering this trick?

©Universal

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