If you know me, you know that I have an undying love for all things Harry Potter. (I mean, I do have the Deathly Hallows tattooed on my arm in only a way a true fan could tell…). I am a diehard fan, obsessed with the fantasy world. Yes, I was one of those kids always waiting for their Hogwarts acceptance letter… I immersed myself completely in the books while I was growing up and the movies only made me love the story even more. So, naturally when the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened up in Orlando a few years ago at Universal Studios Island of Adventure, I hopped on a plane and spent the day pretending I was actually at Hogwarts and strolling through the streets of Hogsmeade.
A Weekend At The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
And then, when I thought it couldn’t get any better, Universal Studios opened up Diagon Alley…complete with the Hogwarts Express running between the two locations. When I found out I would be spending a few months living in Florida, I told my Mom that we had to make a trip up to Orlando.
A couple of weeks ago, we did just that… And let me tell you, it was awesome.
When you look forward to something so much, sometimes the real thing doesn’t live up to your expectations…. Diagon Alley was perfect. I felt like I was there, and when the wand maker in Olivander’s wand shop chose me to pick out a wand, I really felt apart of the world…. Call me lame, but when he picked me, and not one of the many seven year olds in the room, I was ecstatic.
Our adventure didnt stop there… We walked around the Alley, even stopping in Knockturn Alley to check out Borgin and Burkes and take a peak at the vanishing cabinet from The Half Blood Prince. We stopped for lunch at the Leaky Cauldron, which was so incredibly awesome (and delicious). Afterwards, we browsed in Weasleys’ Wizarding Wheezes and then we made our way to Gringotts to check out the new ride, Escape from Gringotts.
This ride was EPIC. You duel with Voldemort and Bellatrix. You get to walk through the bank to get to the ride…the Goblins in the lobby are the coolest thing ever and the ride is on another level. They did such an amazing job with it. If it weren’t for the extremely long line, I would have ridden it again and again.
We hopped on the Hogwarts Express which isn’t just a little train ride. You actually feel like you’re headed to Hogwarts! Plus, at Kings Cross Station you actually go through the wall to Platform 9 3/4!!! Make sure to ride the train in both directions because you’ll have different experiences depending on which way you’re going.
The Best Time Ever
I had already been to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter a few years ago. Still, it was so much fun to visit again. Plus, we were staying at a Universal Studios hotel. This allowed us to enter Hogsmeade an hour before regular visitors! We took advantage of the emptiness. I got some amazing photos. Afterwards, we headed to the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride, which is inside of Hogwarts. It was just how I remembered it, with a much shorter line!
Later in the day we enjoyed some beers at the Three Broomsticks and then had some sweets at Honeydukes…. Now, thats what I would call a perfect ending…
I just have to make it back to London to do the Studio Tour!!
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