Confessions of a Harry Potter Fan

I'm hoping I qualify as a true Harry Potter fan, but I do have to admit a few things.  I haven't seen any of the movies in the theater - only on DVD in the comfort of my home where he-who-must-not-be-named is not as scary.  And I haven't yet seen Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I, even though it is available on DVD.  Finally, I had never read any of the books until I recently found myself with time on my hands while sitting and waiting for eleventy-million hours a week at my kids' extracurricular activities.  I am about to start reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.  Then I will wait until I see the last two movies to read the last book.  I seem to have more success liking both the book and the movie when I see the movie first (I guess because my experience is being added to instead of taken away from). 

But I do believe it is the reading of the books that has really made me into a fan.  Because when I recently realized that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is in the Islands of Adventure theme park, I had a sudden interest in urging my husband to use the two Islands of Adventure tickets he had received as a gift.  Roller coasters and thrill rides?  Meh.  Feeling like I'm in a Harry Potter book?  Yes, please.

So we went to Islands of Adventure yesterday!  We had a great time, it wasn't too crowded,  and we did everything there that we wanted to do (including the Incredible Hulk Roller Coaster because it came highly recommended and now I get it - awesome!).    But my favorite part was, no surprise, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  I know books are brought to life all the time when movie sets are created, but you usually only see those on the big screen or on TV.  How often can you actually feel like you're walking around in a book?!  Hogwart's Castle, Hogwart's Express, Hogsmeade Village . . . it felt so real! 

We rode Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and I thought it was even more exciting than the Hulk!  It's actually in Hogwart's Castle, so while you're waiting in line, you're also getting a tour of the Castle!  Afterwards, I had to sample Pumpkin Juice and Butterbeer.  I didn't know why.  I only knew that I must.  Pumpkin Juice was a little too sweet for me, but I'm not a big fan of juice in general.  The Butterbeer, however,  was delish.  I had it the regular way, but you can also get it frozen.  I really hated parting with my empty cup of that stuff.  In Hogsmeade, you can buy just about everything you can think of that has to do with Harry Potter, from Fizzing Whizbees and Bernie Bott's Every Flavor Beans to robes and wands.

Speaking of wands, we also waited in line for a little presentation at Ollivander's Wand Shop.  One of the guests was helped to find the wand that suited her.  It was cute, but very short considering we waited for over half an hour.  The most excitement for me was when I unknowingly knocked the little plastic pumpkin off the top of my pumpkin juice.  It bounced and clattered on the floor just as everyone had gone quiet.  It caused Mr. Ollivander himself to comment with a "No reason to go losing our pumpkins now."  For some reason unknown to me, I said, "Sorry!" in a British accent.

So if you consider yourself a Harry Potter fan at all, regardless of whether or not anyone else gives you credit for it, I highly recommend you get yourself over to Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort.  Riding your Firebolt there is optional.