The Sorting Hat was a big draw for kids and adults alike.

Opened on June 18, 2010, Islands of Adventure’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter sent shock waves through the theme park community. A faithful recreation of the wizarding village of Hogsmeade, the Wizarding World also contains what is arguably the most immersive and technologically advanced theme park attraction in the world. Housed inside a lovingly replicated Hogwarts, “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” places visitors in the middle of some of the series’ most iconic locations and situations.

The immense success of the Wizarding World soon led to an announcement for an expansion. Diagon Alley, located inside Universal Studios Florida, opens in June 2014. The Hogwarts Express train will transport visitors between the two areas.

A Celebration of Harry Potter

Of course, the Wizarding World is not just another theme park land. It is also a place for the series’ most loyal fans to gather and indulge their own dreams of becoming a wizard for a day. Against this passionate, energetic backdrop, it only makes sense for Universal to host conventions and events that bring fans together with the people who created the magic.

The Expo featured authentic movie props such as a Death Eater mask.

A Celebration of Harry Potter, held January 24-26, 2014, was one of the biggest Harry Potter conventions to date. Dad and I attended with my cousin Eric and his 12-year-old daughter Erica. Although we were only able to attend on Saturday, we managed to catch almost all of the special shows and events.

The kickoff party was held Friday night in the Universal Music Plaza. A large, fully-equipped stage with a massive general admission viewing area, the plaza is normally used for concerts. Several of the film stars appeared on stage for a question and answer session. Fans were also treated to clips from the movies, a presentation by the illustrator who created the all-new book covers, and even some details about the upcoming Diagon Alley expansion.

Our Experience: Panels and Classes

We arrived around 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. Eric and Erica were slightly ahead of us, and their first mission was to find event T-shirts for all of us. Surprisingly, Eric said that the shirts did not appear to be selling that well. We think it might be because they were not announced—people simply did not know they were available.

The panel discussions and classes were all held in the Toon Lagoon Amphitheater, a little-used venue with a large seating capacity on the opposite side of Islands of Adventure from the Wizarding World. The Expo center was in Soundstage 33, accessible only from the Universal Studios park. This proved to be an excellent way for Universal to disperse the crowd a bit.

The panel discussions and classes were held at the Toon Lagoon Amphitheater.

First on the schedule was a question and answer session with several of the film’s stars. The trio—Harry, Ron and Hermione (played by Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson) were not there. However, the major supporting child actors were, including those who played Luna Lovegood, Fred and George Weasley, Seamus Finnegan and Neville Longbottom. There was a rumor that Mark Williams, who played Arthur Weasley, would appear, but he was nowhere to be found. Nonetheless, the session was fascinating, as the actors regaled us with behind-the-scenes stories.

Next up was a presentation by the creative director of Pottermore, a highly interactive fan site. I had a passing familiarity with the site, but was unaware of just how much the site has to offer. After viewing the presentation and becoming addicted to Pottermore, I highly recommend it for any Harry Potter fan.

We took a lunch break at Blondie’s, also in Toon Lagoon, before returning for the 3:30 wand class. While waiting for the class to start, we saw most of the 2:00 Q&A with the actors. It featured the same group of actors as the morning session. Although the questions from the audience were obviously different, we felt like we hadn’t really missed anything by taking a lunch.

The wand class, taught by the fight choreographer, was full of surprises. It turns out that the fight choreographer was actually a dance choreographer. He invented a dance vocabulary for the basic fight moves, as well as a style for each character. The combination of moves and styles allowed him to choreograph even the complicated Ministry of Magic battle in “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” in a straightforward way that stayed true to the characters and prevented discrepancies between multiple takes.

At the end of the class, he invited several of the best students to show off their skills on stage. They assumed they would fight the choreographer, but instead were asked to engage with a special guest: Arthur Weasley, played by Mark Williams! So the rumor was accurate, but no one expected his appearance to be that dramatic!

Our Experience: Expo

After the wand class, we headed to the Studios park to visit the Expo. The line was very long, as they let in only a few dozen people at a time. This ensured that everyone was able to see the exhibits and displays in detail, without being trampled by a crowd.

It was hard to resist buying replicas of the graphic props used in the films.

The Expo was simply breathtaking. One area contained valuable props from the films, including a Death Eater mask, Hermione’s Time Turner, and even a gold Galleon. Another section was home to MinaLina, the team who created the graphic props, such as the Marauder’s Map and the Daily Prophet, for the movies. They had reproductions of virtually every graphic prop for sale, and were kind enough to autograph their catalog for us. Eric and Erica stood in line to be sorted by the Sorting Hat, while Dad and I watched and took pictures. The U.S. Postal Service was there to hand-cancel its new limited edition Harry Potter stamps, while the artist who designed the stamps was available to autograph them.

We spent a little over an hour in the Expo, and easily could have stayed longer. But we knew it was close to closing time, and everyone was getting hungry. So I bought a commemorative pin for my best friend and, after one last look, we were on our way.

Tips for Parents

Although this specific event will not be repeated, Universal hosts similar Harry Potter conventions on a semi-regular basis. This fact kept the crowds from being as large as we had feared. The layout, with venues scattered across both parks and well away from the Wizarding World, also helped to prevent mass crowding. It was definitely busy, but not bad enough to put people in a bad mood. Throughout the day, we chatted and laughed with Harry Potter fans from around the world.

At the panel talks and classes, Universal staff did an excellent job of ensuring that every seat in the amphitheater was filled. Although those who had paid for a vacation package got priority seating, we were able to get into every session. Persistence really paid off, as staff at the end of the line did not always know exactly what was going inside. Several times we were told that the theater was full, only to be admitted a few minutes later. The theater was cleared after every event, giving everyone a fair shot at getting into the next one.

If you want event-specific merchandise, buy it when you arrive. Although there seemed to be plenty of merchandise for this special event, it is impossible to tell what the demand will be on the day of your visit. For example, on the Wizarding World’s opening day, even very expensive merchandise sold out almost immediately.

Make a game plan. If you are in town for several days, try to see the Wizarding World before or after the event weekend. Pay attention to the daily schedule and plan to arrive an hour or two before each activity to ensure that you get seats.

The village of Hogsmeade has a distinctive skyline.

When author J.K. Rowling burst onto the scene in 1997, no one expected the Harry Potter frenzy that was to follow. As of 2013, the seven-book series had sold nearly 450 million copies, and had been translated into a stunning 73 languages. The film series is the highest-grossing of all time, making $7.7 billion dollars in theater receipts worldwide.

In the early 2000s, Disney and Universal entered a fierce bidding war for the rights to bring Harry and his friends to the theme parks. As a bigger entity with a legendary reputation, it seemed nearly certain that Disney would win the war. They nearly succeeded in 2003, but could not come to an agreement with Rowling about the scale and scope of the project. In 2007, Universal announced to a stunned public that it had won the exclusive theme park rights to the Harry Potter franchise.

Bringing Harry Potter to Life
Speculation ran rampant over the next three years as Universal, Rowling, and the film and book rights holders tried to clamp down on spoilers. The rumor mill pressed on, and some of the predictions turned out to be highly accurate. But nothing could have prepared the fans for the spectacle that awaited them.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure on June 8, 2010. I was not able to attend, as Dad and I were RVing around the American Southwest, but from all reports, the Grand Opening was a phenomenal success. With appearances by some of the films’ most iconic stars and an opening ceremony that was broadcast worldwide, some fans lined up as early as midnight the night before. By late morning, the line to get into the Wizarding World was eight hours long! Though tempers occasionally flared as guests waited in the near-recordbreaking summer heat, almost all agreed that the Wizarding World was worth the hassles.

Be sure to check out the lovingly recreated Hogwarts, including the Portrait Gallery seen here, even if your kids are too small for the ride.

Phase One: Hogsmeade
Located part of the Lost Continent section of Islands of Adventure, the first phase of the Wizarding World replicates Hogsmeade, the magical village that plays an important role in the books and films. With a skyline dominated by Hogwarts Castle, the village is known for its winding pathways, shop windows filled with magical items, and a blend of age and mystery that perfectly captures the atmosphere of Hogsmeade as described in the films and novels.

The anchor attraction is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, located inside Hogwarts Castle. The queue winds through the castle, which recreates many of the most iconic rooms from the stories. High-tech video projections featuring the film cast draw guests into the adventure that awaits them. Even if your kids are too small to meet the 48-inch height requirement for the ride, take them on a stroll through the queue. If you or they are big fans, consider letting other guests pass by while you soak in the details.

The ride uses KUKA robot arms to create a highly immersive experience in which four people, each with his own over-the-shoulder restraint system, sit along an enchanted bench. The bench, attached to a robot arm, is able to pivot, swerve and spin in any direction, creating a smooth ride that gives a realistic feeling of flight. The scenes use a combination of old dark ride traditions, high-tech motion simulation and high-definition projections to create what is arguably the most believable ride experience in the world. Interestingly, not only did Universal win exclusive theme park rights to Harry Potter, it also won an exclusive ten-year contract to use KUKA ride technology in U.S. theme parks.

Leave time for shopping at such iconic locations as Honeyduke’s.

Other Attractions
Although Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is Hogsmeade’s star, it is by no means the only thing that it is worth doing. Dueling Dragons was rethemed to create the Dragon Challenge, a pair of inverted roller coasters that recreate elements of the Triwizard Tournament. Those over 54 inches tall can choose to ride the Chinese Fireball or the Hungarian Horntail dragon. Each side provides a slightly different experience.

Don’t miss the Flying Hippogriff, a kid-sized coaster with a height restriction of just 36 inches. Even the adults will love the fun of flying around Hagrid’s Hut. Keep an eye out for the animatronic hippogriff as you ride!

Ollivanders Wand Shop is a must-see experience for the entire family. Guests enter the shop in groups of 20, and one child is selected to test the premise that “the wand chooses the wizard.” After the interactive show, you will exit into a bigger shop where you can purchase wands and numerous other items of Potter merchandise.

Butterbeer stands are located at both ends of Hogsmeade. The nonalcoholic beverage is a favorite of Potter fans. Also available is pumpkin juice, a blend of pumpkin and other fruit flavors that is mentioned frequently throughout the series. For a sweet treat, stop by Honeyduke’s for Every Flavor Beans, Chocolate Frogs and other iconic offerings.

If you get hungry, the Three Broomsticks offers hearty counter service dishes in a recreation of the famed tavern. Prices are reasonable and portions are huge. Plan to split unless your family is extremely hungry. If the adults are so inclined, the attached Hog’s Head Pub sells a house beer along with several known brands, and also provides a full bar.

Part of the fun of Hogsmeade is wandering through the various shops, so allow plenty of time in your schedule. If your family loves Harry Potter as much as we do, the squeals of delight will be audible from the adults as well as the kids! From moderately priced robes and brooms to expensive collector’s items, each piece of merchandise is something truly special.

Phase Two: Diagon Alley
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was an immediate hit, raising attendance at Islands of Adventure by an estimated 36 percent in 2010. Just one year later, Universal announced plans to expand. Located inside Universal Studios, the other gated theme park in the Universal Orlando complex, the expansion replaced the Amity area including the Jaws ride.

Opening in the summer of 2014, the new section recreates Diagon Alley, the magical street that exists inside London in the books and films. The anchor attraction is Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, a high-thrill ride based on the one that travels between the vaults at the Gringotts wizard bank. Shops will include a branch of Ollivanders and Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes, while food will be available at the Leaky Cauldron. Fans of the Death Eaters will be happy to know that Knockturn Alley is also recreated, with shopping available at Borgin and Burkes.

The Hogwarts Express will transport guests with park-to-park admission privileges between Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. The interactive journey is rumored to provide different adventures in each direction, making it worthwhile to take a round trip. I plan to visit shortly after the expansion is complete, and will publish a detailed review at that time.