I got to visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood again. My first visit was a year ago, and the magic in the place still hasn’t ceased for me. The “Harry Potter” series was a large part of my childhood, so the chance to venture into Hogsmeade made me swell with happiness.
Unlike Disneyland, Universal Studios allows everyone to dress up. So of course I had to show off my Hufflepuff pride. And my boyfriend, a fellow “Harry Potter” fan and Gryffindor, also represented his house. Here we were posing with the conductor of the Hogwarts Express!
Our first stop was the Three Broomsticks, because we were starving by the time we go to the theme park. Not to mention, it was a scorching day and any chance to hide in the shade was welcomed. Admittedly, my outfit for the occasion didn’t help me at all!
One thing to keep in mind is that you should expect the food to be very expensive. But of course, every “Harry Potter” fan should taste the famous Butterbeer, pulled straight from the series. The drink can be served in a regular cup or a stein (for a little bit more money).
To be honest, I wasn’t fond of the drink itself. In fact, I only ordered it for the foam on top. The foam was the best part of the drink! But don’t let my opinion of the drink sway you- perhaps you’d enjoy the entire Butterbeer!
The Wizarding World only had two rides. Flight of the Hippogriff was a small and short rollercoaster. As someone who hated riding rollercoasters, I could assure you that it isn’t too terrible. It’ll be over before you know it. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey was an immersive 4D ride that spun your seat every which way as you flew throughout the “Harry Potter” world. If you have a problem with motion sickness, this is one ride that I would not recommend.
The best part of Wizarding World was visiting all the shops that you read about in the books, including Honeydukes. I stopped by Ollivanders to buy my own wand. Considering how the robes cost over $100, around $40 for a wand wasn’t too bad. Now, if you bought a wand at the Wizarding World, you could “cast magic” throughout Hogsmeade. The wands all came with a map of places where you could try it out. Each spot had its own spell you had to say out loud as you performed a specific wave of your wand- your map would detail what was required. You could yell “Silencio!” to silence a loud potion pot or “Alohomora!” to unlock a box. Buying a wand at the theme park was worth it if you wanted to fully experience the magic.
I stayed until night time to experience the new Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle. I expected it to be as amazing as the fireworks shows at Disneyland, but I ended up being underwhelmed. It was a simple light show on the castle that gave a shout out to all four Hogwarts houses. The show was short, and a majority of the crowd simply stood there for several minutes after it ended. It took us a while to realize that it was over.
Regardless of the disappointing end to my night, I nevertheless had a blast at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It also didn’t hurt to visit the other sections of Universal Studios Hollywood. However, the Wizarding World is a must-visit destination for every “Harry Potter” fan.
Do you want to read more “Harry Potter”-related posts? See “Heart of a Hufflepuff,” my review of the “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” film.
Zeila Joanne 