In a few hours time, Virgin Holidays customers will be the first people into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal’s Islands of Adventures in Orlando – the rest of the not-so-wizarding world gets in from June 18.
Lookswise, the new park is pretty spectacular – see some of the pics below – but sizewise, it could see some people queueing for a quite a while to get into star attractions like Olivander’s Wand Shop where, through some cute acting and clever animatronics, your wand may choose you (before you then pay $25 for it).
Some people are bound to be disappointed by the signature ride Harry Potter & The Forbidden Journey, not only will some larger people be unable to ride it, there is a form of ritual humiliation for them outside. They have to sit in a tester ride seat in full public view: get a green light and you are good to go, get a red one and you’re off…
The snow-capped houses and shops of Hogsmeade village
Hogsmeade and the Hogwarts Express
Hogwarts Castle home of the signature ride - unlucky if you're overweight
Souvenir wand, it picks you for $25
I think I would probably pay $25 for a silly old wand. Is that sad? Haha. But I mean, it PICKED me. Hoping to hit up Universal in October, thanks for the heads up info!
I’m actually disappointed that only one person in a group gets to have a wand pick them, so I won’t be buying one. If I wanted to buy just any old wand I could order one from any of 100 online shops. I’m also disappointed that I probably won’t be able to ride forbidden journey due to my double D’s. But I guess I should be happy I’m going.