Happee birthdae Harry!

So for Harry James Potter’s 39th birthday, I’d like to do another little travel throwback post to when my friends and I visited the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood. It was one of the most fun things I’ve ever done in my life, so I’d like to give a shoutout to one of my best buds Amie and her husband Scott for taking me there back in 2017!

I first got introduced to the book series in 2000. I was 13 years old, two years late in receiving my Hogwarts letter. One of my sisters bought the first HP book and let me borrow it, and I instantly loved the story. So much, in fact, that the book got banned in my Catholic high school (I brought it and asked if I could do our home reading report “of our choice” on it, and well… “it’s witchcraft, so no.”) – friggin’ hilarious!

Seven books and eight movies later, I found myself vacationing in Los Angeles and itching to dive into one of the many HP theme parks in the muggle world. This is my first, but certainly won’t be my last.

Of course I wore my Slytherin quidditch shirt, haha!

Depending on the day, tickets to Universal Studios Hollywood range from $109 to $139 for the 1-day general admission. If you plan on enjoying other attractions of the theme park, other tickets might be more worth buying. But if you’re just here for the Wizarding World, one full day is most likely enough. Plenty of things to do and see!

Butterbeer

Butterbeer carts are all over the park, every couple of yards. You can also get one from the Three Broomsticks/Hogs Head (more on that later)!

If you haven’t had an authentic glass of this before, let’s just say it tastes like a fizzy liquid butterscotch and cream soda mix. It’s sweet, frothy, and refreshing.

Personally, I’m not going to buy more than one serving per visit – I highly suspect it’s filled with so much sugar and not much else. But I’m so into it for the novelty!

Disposable cups are cheaper, with the basic butterbeer and its frozen and hot counterparts sold at $6.99 each. Those with a souvenir cup you can take home cost something around $12 if memory serves me right (a pensieve would be useful for this, eh?)

Hogwarts Castle and the Harry Potter Ride

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is one of two rides within the park, and is located inside a cool replica of Hogwarts castle. Places like Dumbledore’s office and the Gryffindor common room are replicated from the sets, as well as moving portraits in the halls, as a way to entertain you on your way up to the actual ride.

It’s basically an indoor roller coaster that uses projections and robotics to let you fly through both physical scenes and intangible ones.

You can take a photo of and with the majestic castle as well. It’s a really nice backdrop for photo ops and gives you a nostalgic feel, like you’re really in the movies.

Wand Selection Experience at Ollivanders

I’m a little sad there’s no actual Diagon Alley replica, and that everything was smushed into the Hogsmeade area of the park (more on that later). However, make sure to visit Ollivanders for a cool experience straight from the first movie.

If you’re lucky, the resident Mr. Ollivander actor will pick you (he asked who wanted to go and of course a bunch of people raised their hands; usually he chooses kids as the experience is probably more fun and magical for them). And then he will “let the wand choose the wizard” just like Harry’s wand picked him.

Now get this: some wands there are interactive! Much like the wizards and witches in the famous books and movies, you can “cast spells” all over the Wizarding World.

Hogsmeade, Hogwarts Express, and the Frog Choir

If anything, walking through Hogsmeade is comparable to the experience Hogwarts students must have whenever they’re allowed to step outside school grounds and have extracurricular fun. Each cottage appears blanketed in snow, and cobblestone paths add to the authentic feel as if you’re really in the magical Scottish village! Moving posters of Sirius Black will shock you. Shops, restaurants, and so much butterbeer carts abound, you won’t know what to do first. Here’s some of the stuff we did!

At Gladrags Wizardwear, you can find robes and other apparel, jewelry and the like, all inspired by the four school houses.

Honeydukes is filled with goodies inspired by the series, you can find Chocolate Frogs, Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavour Beans, and so much more.

Send mail via owl, using a bunch of cool Harry Potter series of stamps, stationery, and pens at the Owl Post.

The Monster Book of Monsters resides at Dervish and Banges, but you can also check out a bunch of quidditch stuff like brooms and the Golden Snitch!

Walk around and you’ll see the famous Hogwarts Express, and sometimes you’ll even run into a train conductor who’ll take you by the arm and onto a magical journey!

And a couple of times a day, the Frog Choir will come serenade you with classics for about 10 to 12 minutes. I tell ya, I know they’re robotic but them frogs are freaky!

Food for Magical Folk

You can visit either the Three Broomsticks for British food, or Hog’s Head Pub for more butterbeer and other wizardy drinks like fireball whiskey. The two places are linked together as well!

Other Cool Things to Do and See

There’s other stuff I wasn’t able to see as we had a full day and wanted to check out the rest of Universal Studios. Here’s what else you can check out!

• Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle – a limited attraction that runs on select nights between June 22 and August 11, 2019.
• Flight of the Hippogriff – the other ride, located across the castle, is a kid-friendly roller coaster with spectacular views of Hogwarts including Hagrid’s hut and pumpkin patch.
• Triwizard Spirit Rally – students from Hogwarts, Beaubaxtons, and Durmstrang perform an exciting cheer at Hogsmeade to lift spirits for the Triwizard Tournament.
• Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods – buy cool stuff like plush toys and collectibles, and check out confiscated items like the Marauder’s Map. I solemnly swear that I’m up to no good!
• Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment – if you’re looking for robes and other wizarding needs like crystal balls, this is the place to go.
• Hogsmeade Station – more apparel, plus travel items like passport cases and backpacks with the Platform 9 3/4 brand.
• Zonko’s Joke Shop – ridiculous things like Extendable Ears and Pygmy Puffs can be bought here.

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