I have been to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! And now I'm home (that's the sad part). For a true Harry Potter fan like me, this was beyond thrilling.
My journey starts with a trip to Orlando, FL where the Wizarding World of Harry Potter exists inside Universal Studios. Alas, my journey does not include a portkey, flu powder, apparating, or even the Hogwarts Express. It is a bit more mundane. I fly. In an airplane-probably a bit too far to fly on a broomstick.
When I get to the park, there's a bit of torture: the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is so far in, I can't see it! But around the time when I'm in Seuss Landing, it happens. I look up, and I see Hogwarts, rising above the park. I won't lie, I have chills. And then I squeal like a little girl and set off with even greater haste towards Hogsmeade. I want to run, but it seems undignified, and my roommate, Kate, whose idea the whole trip was, doesn't seem amenable to it.
Please Respect the Spell Limits while in Hogsmeade.
Entering Hogsmeade is truly like entering another world. The Hogwarts Express is there, newly arrived from Platform 9 3/4. Zonko's and Honeydukes are nearby. Look in the window, and a chocolate frog moves. A few storefronts down, I see and hear (it's pretty horrifying and totally unsafe) an unpotted Mandrake. Good thing it's still a baby! In the window of Madam Malkin's, I'm convinced that I see Hermione's dress from the Yule Ball, as well as some dress robes (not Ron's, as there is neither mold nor lace). In line for the Dragon Challenge, a truly excellent rollercoaster, I spot the Weasley's flying Ford Anglia, no longer flying. Later on, the Goblet of Fire makes an appearance, as does the Triwizard Cup. From a distance, I see students from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons, and everywhere are the residents of both Hogsmeade and Hogwarts. Among the Hogwarts residents are the Frog Choir, singing Double Trouble, my personal favorite song from Prisoner of Azkaban.
Those are my trunks, I swear!
What this picture doesn't accurately portray is the billions of people in Hogsmeade.
I don't eat things that are still moving!
I could have used this when I saw Aragog!
Is that Dean Thomas? I didn't know he could sing!Lunch is at the Three Broomsticks (I know, right?). Things I now know: Cornish Pasties are delicious, and Butterbeer (non-alcoholic, no worries) is to die for. Outside, a moving poster warns about escaped prisoner, Sirius Black. As I'm pretty sure no one has ever escaped from Azkaban before, this is troublesome. However, the day passes with no sightings of him. What I do spot, however: Buckbeak, chained outside Hagrid's Hut! Note to Hagrid-next time leave your Norwegian Ridgeback crate inside the house! Literally everywhere I look, there's something amazing to see. And over it all looms Hogwarts.
Mmmm...Butterbeer.
That's Sirius, honest.
Is Buckbeak a boy or a girl? We had a debate.
As awesome as everything else is, the piece de resistance is Hogwarts. Everyone else knows it too, because the line to get in is at least an hour long, starting in Jurassic Park and at one point winding out through a gate into an employees only area. It's not too bad, though, because 1) we can see all the poor saps behind us in line, 2) even though the line is freakishly long, it never stops moving for long, and 3) we can people-watch everyone else in the crowd. A few turns ahead of us are a mother/daughter who both are wearing super cute HP sweatshirts. I end up buying the same one as the daughter. Directly in front of us are a girl (big HP fan) and her boyfriend (non-fan). She keeps telling him how awesome it is, and saying, "Now don't you want to read the books?" He seems at least partially convinced. Do it, boyfriend! You won't be sorry! My personal favorite is a guy about a turn ahead of us in the super twisty line who looks like an adult Harry Potter. He's there with two little twin boys who are extremely unenthusiastic about waiting in the line. But he looks like Harry! That's got to make him feel better. I wish we'd gotten a picture of him, but that seemed a little creepy, so we didn't do it.
Hogwarts as seen from Jurassic Park.
After an hour outside, I finally enter Hogwarts. After about 20 minutes inside, I reach the end of the line and the ride, but even without the ride, the time inside would be worth it. I pass the House hourglasses, showing the current standings for House Cup. Gryffindor is winning. I pass through Dumbledore's office, and he talks to me. In the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, Ron accidentally makes it snow before he, Harry, and Hermione disappear beneath Harry's invisibility cloak. In the hall, moving portraits talk to me and move through the frames to visit other pictures. Before I enter the Gryffindor common room, the Fat Lady asks for the password. And the sorting hat gives out sage advice about safety. I don't mind telling you that I'm giddy beyond words the entire time.
Come on, Hufflepuff! This is your year!
Luckily, the ride at the end of the tour is just as amazing. I fly through a Quidditch game (Malfoy taunts me. He's so mean!), into the Chamber of Secrets (luckily the basilisk is just a skeleton now), into the forbidden forest to see Aragog and the acromantulas (I'm pretty sure one spits some gross spider stuff at me), escape from a dragon's fire (I felt the heat!), and I'm saved from a whole group of dementors by Harry himself. In the end, the entire school is cheering for me and my successful journey. It's magic. There's no other way to describe it.
When Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was released, I cried. I was so sad that it was over. But through the enthusiasm of fans, Harry Potter lives on. To see all of those fans together, in a place that works so hard to recreate the magic that first drew us all to Harry Potter, was one of the most thrilling things I've ever seen. A true gift to any fan of Harry Potter. And to the non-fans: What are you waiting for? Magic and adventure are at your fingertips, and you don't have to travel to Orlando to find them. All you have to do is open a book.
