A Muggle in Hogsmeade

This an article I wrote for our company newsletter about my trip to Universal Studios last fall:

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened earlier this year at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure theme park. In November, I joined a few friends for three days of exploring Universal Studios and the Wizarding World, which is modeled on the village of Hogsmeade, the only all-wizarding village in Britain. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was described in a guidebook as “the most visually dense” attraction in the park, and I completely agree with that assessment. Every single nook, cranny, corner, and window has something to see, from a potted screeching Mandrake in the front window of the florist’s shop to the animatronic owls in the rafters of the owlery to the quill pen writing notes in a book at the scribe’s shop.

We did not do and see everything because the crowd size ranged from oppressive to overwhelming. We did have lunch at The Three Broomsticks, complete with mugs of butterbeer. I bought fudge flies and dark chocolate peppermint toads at Honeydukes’ sweet shop, but passed on the Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans (“various flavors, from Almonds to Vomit”). I did not get my magic wand and witch’s robe, however, because the lines for Olivander’s Wand Shop and Dervish & Bangles were just too long. Maybe next time.

There are three Harry Potter-themed rides in the Wizarding World. Dragon’s Challenge is a big roller coaster. It’s actually two roller coasters in one, as the rides provided by the two dragons (Chinese Fireball and Hungarian Horntail) are completely different. Only two of us were brave enough to ride and we chose the Chinese Fireball. All I will say about it is that it is possible that I may be just a wee bit too old to ride roller coasters any more. The Flight of the Hippogriff is a more kid-friendly roller coaster, with cars that look like big wicker baskets. Three of us were brave enough to ride this one. All I will say about it is that it is possible that I may be just a wee bit too old to ride roller coasters any more.

The shining showpiece of the Wizarding World is the attraction known as Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. While waiting in line, you weave your way through the passageways and corridors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, visiting Dumbledore’s office, the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, the Gryffindor common room, the Room of Requirement, and more. The ride itself is difficult to describe. It’s sort of a cross between a roller coaster and a motion simulator and mimics a flying broom ride in and around the grounds of Hogwarts. We all took the tour of Hogwarts, but I was the only one brave enough to actually go on the ride itself. All I will say about it is that it is possible that I may be just a wee bit too old to ride roller coasters or motion simulators any more.

If you have any wizards or witches in your family or even just some muggles who enjoy reading about Harry Potter, you should definitely plan a trip to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It is absolutely fantastic. And when you pass through Seuss Landing on your way to the Wizarding World, look around. You might see me enjoying the Caro-Seuss-el, the Cat in the Hat, or One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish with the under-10 set.