If you’re not into roller coasters and you’re not all about the merchandise, then the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is going to be a bit of a rough ride. On the other hand, if you love thrills and having your stomach tied in knots and you crave a taste of Butterbeer, then you might pronounce it “brilliant.” And if you just plain love the Harry Potter books and films, as millions do, then you just have to see for yourself, as millions already have.
It cost $82 for a day pass to Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure, the home of the Harry Potter theme park that opened a year ago June. That also gets you into Marvel Super Hero Island, Toon Lagoon, Seuss Landing and Jurassic Park, but not into the Universal Studios portion of the park.
The first view is a doozy. The bright red engine of the Hogwarts Express is a photo op to the right, and in front of you is a winding boulevard lined with shops that are a combination of the town of Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, with mansard protrusions decked out in winter white. Snow on the rooftops and shorts weather in the street adds to the magical mood as you approach Hogwarts, which looms majestically at the end of the rows of shops.
Here’s where it may fall apart if, like me, you are a die-hard Harry Potter fan but you have motion sickness or don’t do well on roller coasters. There are four main activities including two roller coasters: the younger-skewing, smaller Flight of the Hippogriff, or Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, a dizzying ride that combines virtual reality and practical effects.
Starting near the entry, we took a walk through Zonko’s Joke Shop (founded by Fred and George Weasley in the books and films) and Honeydukes (Bertie Botts’ Every Flavor Beans and Chocolate Frogs were in abundance), and then passed the long line at Olivander’s wand shop and headed straight to Hogwarts castle for the Forbidden Journey.
Forbidden Journey, in which you follow Harry & Co. on their broomstick ride through the castle grounds and the Quidditch pitch, past a steam-breathing dragon and through Hogwarts’ Great Hall, is about four minutes long but feels twice that, even though it is nonstop without a moment to catch your breath.
After, we headed straight for the Butterbeer keg — we had earned it. The outdoor stand had a slow-moving line, but a waitress arrived for those who were paying cash. One “frozen” Butterbeer in a souvenir cup ($11.25) was delivered on a tray. It was frosty cold but still liquid and foamy at the top. Our intent was to share it, but Phil said I had better drink up because he wanted it all for himself.
Finally, after a walk around the Wizarding World, we came back to eat at the Three Broomsticks restaurant, which has a menu similar to those of other Islands of Adventure restaurants but with a wood-beamed interior. The fare was mostly meat (ribs, chicken, etc.) with red potatoes and corn on the cob as complements.
As we walked the length of the park one more time. Past a window near the Three Broomsticks, we heard a whiny cry. A Mandrake root (if you don’t know what that is, you’ve failed Professor Sprout’s herbology class) was peeking out of a pot and giving passers-by an earful.
Details like that will bring a smile to the face of hard-core fans even if, unlike Harry, they are not naturals when it comes to riding a broomstick.
