Of Wizards & Muggles: Things to do in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Ana P. Santos

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Whether you’re a muggle, a wizard or just a fan, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is where all roads lead for some wand – waving magical fun.

ORLANDO, Florida – Like the book and the the movie it is patterned after, there is no lengthy introduction needed for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, also affectionately called by some as “Potter World”. Even before the amusement park attraction opened, news had already leaked that Universal Studios was working with J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter film production designer Stuart Craig to design Hogsmeade village and Hogwarts Castle. Fans could barely contain their excitement and since the attraction finally opened in 2010, park visitors have come in by the thousands to experience “Potter World” firsthand. Some are dressed as wizards and witches (there’s an occasional little girl dressed as a princess), most are dressed as muggles, but all are coming in for a magical day where they can walk through the streets and the halls that the “real” great wizards and witches walked through.

We’ve whipped up with a quick guide of the best things to do to best experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

ALL ABOARD. The Hogwarts express brings you deeper into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Photos by Ana P Santos
1. Hop on the Hogwarts Express

Platform nine and three quarters is the first thing you will see when you enter the realm that is known as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Unlike the fabled train station, the Hogwarts Express juts out of the wall, not exactly appearing out of nowhere, but like most train stations it does have a lot of people gathering around there—mostly to have their picture taken.

SHOPPING TIME. Just like in the books, Hogsmeade is a village where Hogwarts students (and in this case, muggles) can stretch their legs and shop for knick knacks.

2. Stroll along and shop at Hogsmeade

Take a stroll along Hogsmeade. The shops like Honeyduke’s and the Owl Post are so real that you’ll feel like the book or the movie (whichever one you read or watched) has come alive. The buildings are all thickly covered with what looks realistically like the thick snow, which must have had a spell cast on it because it does not melt under the Florida sun.

CHOICE OF BREW. You can try the famous drink that's a certified favorite of Harry and the gang.
3.Get a drink of butterbeer

Going around Hogsmeade can make you thirsty. Make a beeline for a glass of butterbeer, which unlike in the book, is served cold instead of warm. Made from shortbread cookies and butterscotch, the frothy, foamy Butterbear comes in cold or frozen (slushie) variants. The difference? Except for the mild brain freeze that usually comes with the slushie, both variants are sweet and will satisfy every non-alcoholic lover. You can get them in a souvenir mug for a bump in the price (about $12 compared to $7), but best to pass on the refill unless you want to gain a couple of pounds and make it difficult for your Nimbus 2000 to take you anywhere.

Pumpkin juice is also available for those who want another kind of sweet, tasty drink.

4. Ride the Dragon challenge:

Take a high-speed loopy ride the Dragon Challenge – or the equivalent of the big kids’ rollercoaster. There are two kinds of dragons “fighting it out” on this ride: the blue Hungarian Horntail which is a tad bit slower and the red Chinese Fireball. Truth be told, they’re both heart stopping fast so just ride both of them.

For younger kids who don’t meet the height requirement or those who just want a more sedate ride, you can meet up with Hagrid on the Flight of the Hippogriff roller coaster.

5. Go for a ride on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey for a game of Quidditch

You’ll need to enter Hogwarts Castle for this ride, but don’t worry. The castle may be protected by all sorts of spells, but in the park—which is like the intersection between magic and realism–muggles and wizards alike can freely enter Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You’ll be welcomed by talking paintings as you walk through the castle’s classrooms and corridors. Harry, Ron, and Hermione will invite you to play a game of quidditch; she’ll blow you a potion which take on a thrilling ride where you’ll be fighting dementors, zooming around for the golden snitch and soaring high above Hogwarts Castle, without leaving your seat.
FOR THE SWEET TOOTH. The wizards at Honey Dukes are happy to ring up your total of weird tasty treats.

6. Feast on weird and quirky treats at Honeyduke’s

Frogs, flies and usually unedible treats are sweetened with chocolate and fudge at Honeyduke’s. The chocolate frogs are a favorite among visitors;
it’s a block of chocolate in the shape of a frog that’s as hard as hard chocolate goes, and delicious. Not like the Beans of Every Flavour where you’re sure to get the yummy flavors mixed in with yucky ones like—eewww…earwax. In Honeyduke’s, it’s not a box of chocolates where you don’t know what you’re going to get.
ONE STOP SHOP. Dervish and Banges for all the supplies a wizard needs.

7. Shop at Dervish and Banges

What’s a wizard without his arsenal of supplies? Shop at Dervish and Banges for include a broom, an owl, a Hogwarts robe – corresponding to which house you belong to—and of course, a wand. Actually, if you’re patient enough, you can line up outside Olivander’s (which is right next door to Dervish and Banges) for a short wand lesson before buying a replica of Professor Snape’s wand. Other wands for sale include that of Sirius Black, Harry, Ron and Hermione. Just remember to be patient, Olivander’s can accommodate only 18 people at a time for a wand lesson so the wait can be a long one.


8. Check out the other kinds of entertainment

What’s a theme park attraction without live entertainment? The singing wizards and witches of Hogwarts get on stage in between Hogwarts and Hogsmeade to sing a few bars beatbox-a cappella style. If you listen hard enough, you might hear a frog croaking and adding to the beat.

For some surprise entertainment for the ladies, don’t forget to take a bathroom break–the ghost of Moaning Myrtle will playfully haunt you as you powder your nose.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a park attraction found only in Universal Studios Island of Adventure https://www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/ in Orlando, Florida. Find out about the other attractions coming to Harry’s realm in 2014 on their website– Rappler.com


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Ana P. Santos

Ana P. Santos is an investigative journalist who specializes in reporting on the intersections of gender, sexuality, and migrant worker rights.