After hitting an absurd temperature mark (plus windchill) of -30 degrees Fahrenheit this past week, it’s safe to say most of us are eager for spring to make its way into New England. And what does spring mean to college students everywhere? A well-deserved vacation from all the stress of the semester: spring break 2016.
This year also marks the return of the world’s favorite boy wizard, Harry Potter, to bookstores in the form of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” the 8th “book” of the series. The Washington Post clarified for Potter enthusiasts, however, that the publication is a little different. Although the book is actually the printed script for the upcoming theater production set to release in July and is not written by Rowling herself, many Harry Potter fans are eager to continue with their favorite childhood series.
In the spirit of freedom, warmer weather, and anticipation of more wizardly mischief, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida is the stuff of dreams this year. Although a bit of a pricey investment, it’s well worth the cost for an avid Harry Potter fan who has always dreamed of receiving their very own Hogwarts acceptance letter and entering Harry’s world of magic.
What’s most important to know about Wizarding World is that it is not its own park, but is actually portioned between Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Hogsmeade, the original Harry Potter-themed area, is in Universal’s Islands, and the 2014 addition, Diagon Alley, is located in Universal Studios. If you want to experience the entirety of Wizarding World, you’ll need a park-to-park pass. As a plus, though, you’ll get to ride the Hogwarts Express to travel between the two locations, which is an experience in itself.
Although I personally went with the 3-day park-to-park pass for about $250, I managed to finish everything I wanted to do in both parks (most of my time spent at Wizarding World, but about 10 other rides as well) in two days. There is not a huge price difference between the 3-day pass and 2-day pass, which is about $240. But keep in mind that food in the parks is expensive, and this cost does not include hotel, transportation, and souvenirs.
Wizarding World in both parks is also located opposite to the park entrances, which means a lot of walking to get where you want. Much of the Harry Potter sections are more about the experience of being enveloped in the Potter universe than about rides – in fact, Diagon Alley only has one ride, Escape From Gringotts. So even within Wizarding World, you will be spending a lot of time walking around and exploring. I ended up being far too tired to do much the third day after two days of intensive walking from park opening to park closing (9 a.m. to 9 p.m.).
That said, experiencing the shops, decor, and tiny magical details of Wizarding World was what made it more than just a section of an amusement park. Although Hogsmeade is spectacularly detailed with places like the Three Broomsticks and the snow-capped buildings you see in the movies (a little silly for a place as hot as Florida), it has nothing on the experience of walking into Diagon Alley.
If you’re like me and probably any other massive Harry Potter fan, you can visualize the exact breathtaking moment Harry first steps into Diagon Alley in the film version of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” As you make your way into Diagon Alley at Universal, you pass through a brick entrance, much like Harry, and are suddenly slammed with awe-inspiring sensory overload. Diagon Alley is spot on, including all of the vibrant colors, wriggly creatures, and robed wizards you could ask for.
The street features famous shops like Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, the Weasley twins’ joke shop filled with elegantly packaged Chocolate Frogs and goofy knickknacks; Ollivander’s, where you can purchase your own interactive wand that can actually make things move at certain places in the park; and Madam Malkin’s Robes for all Occasions for those who really want to get their Hogwarts House on. Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes is perhaps the most intricately decorated of all of the shops, truly capturing the popping toys and rattling puppets Fred and George would have been proud to create.
Diagon Alley is also home to perhaps one of the best-crafted simulator rides I have ever been on: Escape from Gringotts. As you wait for your turn, you travel through an elaborate and realistic representation of Gringotts Bank, down to the life-like mechanical Goblins who scribble away in the great hall that Harry sees in his first official day as a wizard. While waiting in the 60+ minute line, you might enjoy your very first and much anticipated cup of Butterbeer, which is served frozen, iced, or hot. Although I never got a chance to try hot Butterbeer, I definitely preferred the frozen to the iced, as the iced Butterbeer just tasted like glorified cream soda whilst the frozen was a completely unique experience.
The park’s trend of accurately capturing the Potter world for fans continues with the experience of the Hogwarts Express ride, which involves walking through an exact replica of the King’s Cross Station in England. The park-makers even cleverly designed a way for travelers to “walk through” a wall to get to Platform 9 3/4. The ride itself features an interactive experience complete with surprise magical visits from some of our favorite characters.
If you’re the type of person who is big on rides, Hogsmeade is the section of Wizarding World for you. It features multiple roller coasters as well as another simulator in the form of Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. The ride involves an elaborate and breathtaking (in my view, not as impressive as Gringotts) replication of Hogwarts, which waiting in line grants you a tour of. The simulator itself was probably one of the more enjoyable ones in the entirety of the park, giving you the chance to truly feel as though you are flying a broomstick.
Despite costing quite a bit of money, any Harry Potter fan will have the wizarding experience of their lives at Wizarding World.

Gallery | 1 Photos

A dragon gazes down at park goers from its perch on the Escape From Gringotts ride. Located in Diagon Alley.