Universal Studios: Harry Potter World

We had a wonderful day at Universal Studios which started in Harry Potter World. I had bought very expensive tickets in advance for today. They guaranteed entry in NintendoLand. NintendoLand is the only area of the park where you can't go unless you have a timed entry pass, and they are done by lottery on the day, or by very expensive ride passes where you get express passes for five to six different rides.

Given Michael has dreamed of going to Donkey Kong Country (which is the new area inside NintendoLand that only opened last December) ever since it was announced years ago, and he had agreed he would go on the Donkey Kong rollercoaster despite his immense fear of heights and dislike of rollercoasters, there was no way we were chancing it on a lottery. Therefore, the expensive tickets that guaranteed entry and included an express pass for this ride were bought, and our schedule for the day was determined in advance.

The first express ride we had on our pass was the Flight of the Hippogriff coaster. We needed to scan our pass between 10.30am-11am for this ride. We had gotten through all the massive lines for entry by 9.25am and as the Forbidden Journey ride was flagging as only having a 15 min wait, I suggested to Michael that we mad dash for this ride so that I could go on it. It is marked as one of the best rides in the world, and from what I could tell my inner ear would be able to handle it (I've had issues with dizziness and motion sickness on rides ever since my inner ear got overly impacted on a thrill ride when I was 20).

By the time we got there, it was a 30 min wait, so I hopped in line and Michael wandered about and took a chill pill. I'm so glad I did. The ride was hands down the best ride I've ever been on, and right on the border of what 33 year old me could handle. It mixes massive digital screen work and practical sets and effects and you fly around a range of scenes and creatures from Hogwarts. It was so immersive, so fun, and completely seamless. You really felt like you were flying and the actual mechanics of how you were moving were completely hidden.

By the time I got out, the line was 150 minutes long. By the time I did the express line of the Hippogriff ride (which was a very, VERY basic kids coaster, but a fun one that I could handle nonetheless), the queue was 200 minutes. So I was grateful to have gotten there when I did.

We then wandered about the world, enjoying the butterbeers, which were delicious and came in hot and cold options. They were kind of like creaming soda with a butterscotch caramel flavoured cream that had elements of the consistency of marshmallow fluff without the overt sweetness. Yum!

We also decided to grab an early lunch here before the lunch lines got crazy, and the lunch at the three broomsticks actually seemed somewhat nice. Michael got the beef roast, and I got fish and chips. We ended up splitting the meals between us, with me beelining for the veggies and thoroughly delighted to be eating mushy peas.

We really liked this world in the park. The music was varied and immersive, the castle was really well done, and the food and shop options were really interesting.Read more