The Wizarding Walker's at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Oh hey! Long time no talk, right? Well I’ve been in a perpetual state of writing and also wound licking from lack of agent responses to my queries! But it’s all good people, it’s all good. Because I am no weinie. That’s right. Bring on the rejection! Now, let’s get to why I’m really here! We went to Universal Studio’s, yo! But more importantly we went for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Because, you see, I gave birth to a female version of Harry Potter eight years ago. Mischievous, brave, smart mouthed and good hearted Vivienne. She fell in love with Harry Potter when she was two and started drawing his scar on her forehead (which was more of jagged lines everywhere). Soon Harry Potter was on at all times and then he became her imaginary friend. Yes, “Harry Potter did it” was a common term used in our house for a very long time.

Fast forward to present day, and not much has changed. Except she cops to her mischief, or just throws the hair she cut off her head behind her dresser and mysteriously has no idea why her got shorter. Ahh, I digress. Carry on!

Universal Studios Hollywood is a freaking great place. I think it’s overlooked and highly under-rated. But this post will only be about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, because that’s why we went. But the other rides are PHENOMMENAL! I will leave it at that. Also make sure to bring some spending cash. Muggle shit isn’t easy on the pockets.

First off, I got us t-shirts from Amazon. Griffyndor for my little Vivienne to represent her house and Ava is a Ravenclaw. William and I got matching glasses and scar t-shirts (I know the scar isn’t an accurate one, you fanatics, you). I thought they were cute but then a guy that work there high fived Ava for her Ravenclaw shirt and then high fived me for my John Lennon shirt. Seriously, dude?

Let me add that upon entering Universal Studios we went to customer service and got a birthday pin for Vivienne. They also gave my husband, Ava and I pins that said “Celebrating Vivienne”. It’s pretty cool. And everywhere throughout the park she was greeted with birthday wishes.

Alright, on with the show! Let me tell you that when you walk into Hogsmeade, it’s like you’re really walking into someplace magical. First the train conductor meets you, and this guy is full of charisma. He does all kinds of fun poses for pictures and really interacts with each person. We saw him later in the day walking through the park and he wished Vivienne a happy birthday again and even stopped to help with our wands. (More on wands to come) Every person that works there is in full on character at all times, and they are so helpful and kind and it was so refreshing.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

Walking through Hogsmeade is so surreal, because you feel like you’re in the movie. There are butterbeer carts, there’s Three Broomsticks, Honeydukes and Ollivander’s, cute shops where they sell merchandise and cloaks. With so much to explore, we all were seriously excited, but hauled our butt’s to the Forbidden Journey ride because the line can get long and it was still early. The Forbidden Journey ride is on the other end of Hogsmeade inside of Hogwarts, and it is a beauty to behold, let me say. It’s like the Big Show. You legitimately feel like you are walking into Hogwarts! Thankfully we were early enough that we didn’t have to wait too long but there’s a downside to this. Most of the line is inside the castle and they just have it so tricked out, you guys. If I went to all of the detail this post would be pages long, so just take my word for it and look at the pictures. As for the ride, it was so awesome. It’s a roller coaster of sorts all inside Hogwarts and we found it quite exhilarating. It all happens so fast and we only rode it once so I can’t go into too much detail about why it’s so awesome because apparently I’m getting old and can’t remember shit. Go on it. See for yourself.

Butterbeer

There’s a butterbeer cart right in the middle of Hogsmeade where they sell frozen and soda versions of butterbeer. My entire family preferred the frozen kind. Of course my daughter’s needed souvenir cups, which brings me back to my advice to bring lots of money. Two souvenir cups and two regular cups of butter beer cost over thirty dollars. Yes. They also sold Pumpkin Juice and Gilly Water. Next time I’ll try the pumpkin juice. So I googled what butterbeer actually consisted of and it’s cream soda and butterscotch, two things I thought I wasn’t really fond of, but I guess I’m wrong because I dug it!

Ollivander’s

The wand show at Ollivander’s was a twenty minute wait. One person gets chosen for the wand show, and I was told they lean on picking people that are either Harry Potter’d out or someone with a birthday and Vivienne was both. I kinda scooted her in front of me, so she was front and center and yes, she was chosen. It’s a really cute show and it was made even better by seeing my baby in front of a room of people casting spells. The right wand chose her, a wand made of birch with a unicorn hair at it’s core. Now the wands here are pricey at $52.00 each. They are interactive wands, with a map included. Once the girls got their wands they were able to walk around the park casting spells at different locations on the map. And if you’re having trouble there are workers walking about all the time that stop to help. Vivienne used the help of a fellow wizard and once the spell had been cast and a music box inside a window started playing, the wizard looked at me and said “She’s very powerful.” You have no idea, man. You have no idea.

Flight of the Hippogriff

It was 80 degrees so what we especially loved about this ride was the mister fans throughout the line. (Shit, I AM getting old.) But what a difference a little cool mist makes. You pass Hagrid’s house while waiting in line, lots of sticks and shrubs like you’re in the Forbidden Forest. The ride is a medium sized outdoors coaster. My kids enjoyed it. William and I felt a little smooshed.

Three Broomsticks

This is where we lunched! It was traditional English food and also, served no muggle drinks so we just had water. I got Shepard’s pie which I really liked but next time will try the fish and chips. The girl’s got mac and cheese and chicken tenders and they ended up switching with each other and were very pleased with the switch. William got a chicken sandwich that he loved. But the best, the absolute best was the desert. OMG. It was amazing. Toffee pudding with a cold scoop of ice cream. Yum. The staff was so friendly and jovial it made me want to work there. I asked a worker where I could find Diagon Alley, since I had been watching YouTube videos on what not to miss at the park. “Orlando,” was her response and I realized I had been watching videos on the Orlando location. I was little miffed at myself and at Hollywood for not being equal with Orlando but soon got over it. I was in Three Broomsticks after all.

Honeyduke’s

Honeyduke’s= heaven. A heaven filled with chocolate frogs, fudge flies, caramel covered apples and cauldron cakes. What’s not to love. After we purchased all of the aforementioned, while paying the worker asked if we would like to celebrate my little wizard’s birthday. Well, of course I said and as soon as I nodded my head she rang a bell so every patron in Honeyduke’s could hear. She announced that today was Vivienne’s birthday and the entire store clapped for my baby. It. Was. Magical. William got a caramel covered apple, the girls got chocolate frogs and I got a delicious cauldron cake. Yum.