The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Entrance

I’m one of the biggest Harry Potter fans in the world. I’ve read the books multiple times in multiple languages and even seven years after the publication of the last one I’m still not bored of the series at all. And it seems that I’m not the only one that feels that way: Although there aren’t any books or movies to follow anymore the phenomenon Harry Potter doesn’t die down. It even seems as if the opposite was the case:  Since the book and film series ended, numerous fan specials such as websites with extra information about the world of Harry Potter, computer games and much more have been launched. Among these is also The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, an amusement park that opened on the Islands of Adventure in the Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida. And for the most part this amusement park is the reason why visiting Florida is very high on my bucket list right now.

Dragon Challenge

Shortly before the release of the last Harry Potter book in 2007, Universal in partnership with Warner Bros announced their plans for the theme park. Construction began in early 2008 and in June 2010 the first phase of the park was opened. This part of the amusement park features three rides. The first roller coaster is called Dragon Challenge named after the first challenge Harry faces in the Triwizard Tournament in the fourth book of the series. The two sides of the coaster are called Hungarian Horntail and Chinese Fireball after two dragons that appear during that challenge. The second attraction is called Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and it leads visitors into a replica of the Hogwarts castle where they interact with book characters like Dumbledore, Ron, Hermione and Harry. After that guests enter a ride which leads them to the outskirts of the castle where they encounter dementors, giant spiders, the Whomping Willow and see a simulated Quidditch match. The last ride located directly next to Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a roller coaster named Flight of the Hippogriff which is based on the Care of Magical Creatures lesson in the third part where Harry and his friends learn about hippogriffs. 

Honeydukes

Besides the rides the park also features recreations of the Forbidden Forest and the village of Hogsmeade from the books. Hogsmeade is the area where souvenir shops and restaurants are located. The pub The Three Broomsticks offers a range of foods and drinks known from the Harry Potter series, such as butterbeer, pumpkin juice and chocolate cauldron cakes as well as traditional British dishes. Honeydukes sells typical sweets of the Harry Potter universe including Chocolate Frogs, Acid Pops, Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavour Beans, Pepper Imps, Exploding Bonbons and many more. Dervish and Bangles is a souvenir shops selling merchandise like magical items, Quidditch supplies and Hogwarts clothing. Zonko’s sells toys and Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods is a gift shop. Ollivander’s wand shop is located in Hogsmeade as well, although in the books it’s actually in the Diagon Alley. 

Inside Ollivander's

But that’s only the first part of the magical greatness. In 2011, Universal studios announced an expansion of the theme park with two additional rides planned: Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, a steel roller coaster imitating Harry’s ride in the Wizard bank Gringotts, and a recreation of the Hogwarts Express that will connect the two areas of the park. It is also planned to recreate the Diagon Alley with shops and restaurants like The Leaky Cauldron, Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes, Borgin and Burkes, Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions and Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour. Ollivander’s might get relocated to the alley as well. 

The Three Broomsticks

For the Universal studios the theme park was a complete hit. Attendance at the Islands of Adventure rose by over 30% and the reviews were mostly favorable stating that the recreation of the Harry Potter universe was very successful. However, even though the park is heaven for fans, it’s probably not that enjoyable for people who don’t know anything about the book series. The only real criticism besides that is the location of the park in the US even though Harry Potter is British. I personally would also prefer it if The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was located in London rather than Florida, because traveling to Great Britain would obviously be a lot easier and cheaper, but for me it’s still worth a visit and one day I’ll definitely go there. 

Official website of the theme park.