Crushable’s Adventures At The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter: Exploring The Park

No joke, guys--when I walked through the archway and beheld snow-covered Hogsmeade, I teared up a little.

(Even though I ironically took this at night, this is the official entrance to the park.)

The iconic train is the first thing you see, with the bell chiming and smoke billowing out. It was definitely one of the most-photographed spots in the park.

All the Universal rides just had normal lockers for your bags and cameras. Wizarding World dressed their lockers up like Hogsmeade Station, which made locking our stuff away so we could go on the Dragon Challenge ride (more in a sec) that much more fun.

I got to the park around 9:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, breezed through the lines, and made a beeline for the Wizarding World and, more importantly, the Butterbeer carts. Because I was going to get my sweet frothy drink, dammit!

And oh boy, was it wonderful. Here's the best way I can describe it: The main part is a mixture of ginger ale/root beer/shortbread cookies/butterscotch, and then on top they spurt some cream soda foam. The two never mix, so you have to make sure you get both in one sip.

That said, I found the "cold brew" version a bit too sweet, and preferred the frozen slushie. (I'm a little ashamed to say that I drank three butterbeers total on the trip, but if I won't get to have it again for at least a year, why wouldn't I?)

I didn't get it at quite the right angle, but if you squint you can see the same wanted poster from The Prisoner of Azkaban. It was one of the first details I noticed at the park, and because of how faithful to the movies it was--that is, it had a moving image--it was really exciting.

This ride was pretty tame: A roller coaster with some sharp turns, but nothing too exciting. It went too fast to really show us around the park, but it was still a fun, simple ride to ease into things with.

Here's where parents could stock up on beer--the Hog's Head brew--to drink with lunch at The Three Broomsticks next door.

Protip: Skip the endless lines at the Butterbeer carts and buy some at the bar. You'll still have to wait a little, but not for long. Plus, you get all the same options: Carbonated or frozen, in a plastic cup ($4) or commemorative mug ($12).

It's just like I envisioned it from the books! Sadly, the food wasn't up to snuff, but you really can't expect to eat something delicious at any theme park.

As you might've guessed, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a hodgepodge of Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade: You have these two restaurants feet away from Honeydukes, which is located in the village near Hogwarts. And of course, there are all the stores for buying books, robes, and wands!

The illusion is shattered!

This was literally floor-to-window treats, and connected to Zonko's Joke Shop with all its tricks. The selection was kind of pick-and-choose; a lot of the loose candy was like anything you could get at a regular shop, but otherwise the products were all faithful to the series. There were Chocolate Frogs, Peppermint Toads, Fizzing Whizbees, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Cauldron Cakes, etc. etc.

Believe it or not, this is the real dress that 14-year-old Emma Watson wore in the fourth movie. Yes, it's as tiny as it looks. (And can you see the little measuring-tape cat in the corner?)

I was so distracted snapping these on a winding path that I didn't realize where I was actually headed...

...to this terrifying coaster! I couldn't believe that the sweet Harry Potter park would have a coaster this death-defying, and I almost chickened out. But I sucked it up and rode the dragon... and it was so much fun! I got another ride in at the red carpet party that night.

Another prop to distract myself with before my imminent dragons doom.

You can leave the way you came, or out of the Hogsmeade entrance!