It’s Official. This is The Most Magical Experience You Can Have in Harry Potter Land at Universal

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is easily my favorite part of both Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios in Universal Orlando and has been since the first time I visited the parks about ten years ago.

I love the ambiance of the land, the attractions, the live entertainment — you name it. In fact, I love the land so much that I spent an ENTIRE three-day trip only exploring Hogsmeade for my 13th birthday (Diagon Alley wasn’t open yet) and didn’t get bored once. But there’s one experience here that I think beats out ALL others, and on one of my last trips, I got to watch one of my friends experience it for the first time.

After we finished filming early one day, Angie and I decided to head over to Universal Orlando so I could activate my Annual Pass, and she could grab a gift for someone from inside the park. After discussing our mutual love for Frozen Butterbeer, we found ourselves over in Hogsmeade to grab one!

As we drank them, we watched the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students perform as they prepared for the Triwizard Tournament, and I asked if she’d ever done the Ollivander’s experience. While I shared with her that I got to do it as a kid and how magical it was to have my wand choose me (and yes, I still have that wand, though it doesn’t have the same fancy spellcasting abilities the ones now do!), she told me that the lines were always too long on her past trips so she had skipped it.

Seeing a golden opportunity, as the Ollivander’s line was extremely short, I asked if she wanted to do it quickly before we got on the Forbidden Journey attraction. She agreed, and after we finished our Butterbeers, we got in line and I began crossing all my fingers that she’d be chosen for the experience.

My hoping and wishing paid off, because Angie WAS chosen for the ceremony, and then I got to sit back and watch all the magic unfold for her. I was so glad I HADN’T been chosen, since I felt my wand had already been chosen all those years ago when I was young enough to be going to Hogwarts myself, but words can’t describe how it feels to see your friend get to experience such a unique, powerful experience for the first time.

The whole experience only takes around 10 minutes, and no matter who gets chosen, it’s always fun to watch how it happens. If a major Harry Potter fan gets chosen, you get to see their face light up as something they’ve only read about/seen on a screen happens to them in real life, and if any child is chosen, it’s incredible to see their wonder at the magic taking place around them. However, I stand by the fact that it’s most magical if it happens to you (IF you want it to happen) or someone you’re traveling with if it’s their first time, or something they’ve been really hoping for.

There are so many secrets and details hidden around both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, and I can’t wait to see what others will be available at The Ministry of Magic, opening in Epic Universe in just a few months! I highly recommend that all Harry Potter fans really thoroughly explore the areas to see all the shows, experience all the attractions, and see those hidden details that other guests may easily miss!