Welcome to Hogsmeade.
Harry Potter Nerd Alert
Warning… Warning…
I’ve read all the Harry Potter books three times.
When I finished the last one I was distraught and didn’t know how to go on, so I gave it an hour and then read the last few chapters again for closure. So good.
Please respect the spell limits.
Enjoy the butterbeer.
I had two frozen, and they were delicious.
On a recent trip to Orlando for Young Life’s All Staff Conference I had a few hours of free time and decided to embrace my nerdy obsessive side and venture over to Universal Studios Islands of Adventure to explore The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It was all I had hoped for and more.
Jed does not share my Harry Potter obsession. It is an issue we are working through in our marriage. During our full day of free time we went to Epcot and the Magic Kingdom so that he could have fun, too. Thankfully my friend Jen shares my obsession and was willing to nerd out with me for a bit. We were like giddy schoolgirls. In wizard robes. Just kidding, we didn’t have wizard robes. But I wish we did.
It was magical.
All aboard the Hogwarts Express.
The ride inside the castle rocked. Seriously, the scenery from the line was amazing. They really did a phenomenal job. There are only three rides, and the lines were short so we rode all of them. Hagrid’s house was in the line for the Flight of the Hippogriff ride. Flight of the Hippogriff is more of a kiddie coaster, so I was thankful we only had to wait 10 minutes. The Dragon Challenge is a super fun double coaster with tons of flips and twists. It rocked. So did the 5 minute line.
The village of Hogsmeade is so cute and magical. The shops stay true to the Harry Potter books, and I had to buy some candy in Honeydukes. I wish we had time to eat at The Three Broomsticks or Hogshead Pub. We did go in and explore, and they were both so well done.
If you are a fellow Harry Potter nerd, The Wizarding World is a must do. It isn’t cheap or in any way frugal, but it is a trip into the world of your imagination straight out of the books. If you aren’t a Harry Potter nerd, you are missing out on so much and I can’t help you. Read the books and join the fun. The movies are great, too, but the books are pure magic.
You should make Raychel figure out a way to not have a job over my spring break so that I can go again! And so she can go for the first time! I went within a month of its opening two summers ago, and I’ve heard that there is actually a bit more inside the castle while in line for that ride than there was when I went. I completely agree that the books are magical. You feel like part of the trio (quartet I guess). I got so attached to the characters and am so opinionated on everything Potter. Love love love the Wizarding World and HP in general :]