The Harts Take on Harry Potter World

This trip, just over two month ago, seems like an entirely different time. I know we will look back and this time of staying home and uncertainty will be a memory, but in the midst of it, it feels odd to remember that this trip was mere weeks ago. We flew across the country and today airplanes across the world are grounded, travel all but halted. We spent an exhausted day exploring what is now a closed and empty theme park. We would leave on a cruise and weeks later cruise ships would become floating traps where a virus took advantage of confined spaces and where healthy, sick, and dead individuals would be stuck with no place to disembark for unpredictable periods of time.

I love to travel. I am heartbroken over cancelled trips, especially the trip I had planned to go home for Easter, where Harrison would meet more of his family and so many precious friends for the first time. I am sad that we had to put planning for our first big trip as a family of three on hold. And I’m thankful. Thankful that we are safe and employed and healthy. I am thankful for the virtual ways I can connect with friends and family near and far. And I’m thankful that I’ve had the privilege of traveling at all, for the memories of genuinely magical days like the one Brandon and I spent at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando.

It all started with a text. In the late fall after we had made it through the initial haze of the early days of parenthood and after I had transitioned back to work, my urge to plan a trip kicked back into high, that is to say normal, gear. I started to consider places we could go with a 6 or 7 month old in January/February. Before I booked anything, I got a text from my mother. The conversation went something like this:

Mom: We were thinking about making a trip out there in late January. We don’t want to wait until April to see Harrison again (side note: I am so glad they came when they did).

Me: Well, we were actually thinking about taking a vacation around that time.

Mom: Oh, we could come watch Harrison and you and Brandon could go somewhere.

Me: But then you wouldn’t really get to see me…

Mom: That’s okay!

At least I know where I stand these days. I just can’t compete with his sweet, squishy, kissable cheeks I guess. Anyway, from that moment, I began planning a romantic getaway instead of a family vacation. I knew I didn’t want to go too far away for too long given that this would be the first time we left him for more than a night. I also wanted something easy to plan. We may have been through the initial fog of parenthood, but we still had a baby. Enter, the cruise. Specifically the weekend cruise. And also, my secret plot to have an excuse to make a long, long awaited trip to Universal Orlando to spend a day at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, aka Harry Potter World. You see, if we cruised out of Cape Canaveral, we would fly into the Orlando airport. How could we not make a stop at Harry Potter World if we had the time? Of course, I booked the plane tickets. I made sure we had the time.

To save some time and money, we flew overnight from Eugene to Orlando via Seattle. We arrived early (but not so bright) in the morning. Because it was still before 6 am, it took no time at all to get our bags and pick up our one way rental car from Hertz. We still had some time before Universal opened at 8 and we needed fuel, so what better place for breakfast than IHOP? There is literally nothing better than unlimited coffee and a stack of blueberry pancakes after a red eye flight.

I quickly changed into my Harry Potter t-shirt, because of course I bought a special shirt. The parking lot was practically empty and we were at the barrier next to London, Grimmauld Place, and the Knight Bus before we knew it. We did not have early access, so the anticipation kept building as we waited in a slight drizzle until we were let into the attractions of the park just before 8.

There is always this worry when you have been looking forward to something for a long time, a worry that it won’t quite live up to the expectations, the dreams, that have been built up over the years. This was not one of those times. From the moment we walked into London, I was transported to another, magical world. The attention to detail was almost unbelievable. Magical spells, fire breathing dragons, and so many favorite places from the Harry Potter books brought to life. Even the weather cooperated - the cool and dreary weather, more reminiscent of Oregon than Florida, lent an authentic London feel to the day.

Usually, I incessantly research places before I go to ensure I maximize our usually limited time in the best way possible. However, for this day I specifically wanted to be able to just experience the park as organically as possible. I knew we would be there on a weekday during the low season, so I was hopeful that we would be able to see and do everything we wanted to. After briefly exploring London, we made our way through the brick wall into Diagon Alley.

One of our first stops was Ollivander’s Wand Shop to watch the wand choose the wizard and to pick out my own wand. I had a t-shirt made just for this day, of course I also bought an interactive wand to do my own spells.

We spent the rest of the morning exploring the shops of Diagon Alley, took a side trip into the foul smelling and dark Knockturn Alley, made our escape from Gringott’s (my commitment to the cause is such that I, someone who does not ride rollercoasters of any kind, rode all the Harry Potter rides). I was in my happy place.

One of the things that is unique about Harry Potter World in Orlando compared to Universal Hollywood is that it is set across two parks - Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Part of me think it is all a ploy so that you feel compelled to buy a two park ticket in order to have the full experience, but even if it seems like a scam, we bought the tickets anyway. Partly because we had a single day and partly because it meant riding the Hogwart’s Express. From Diagon Alley, you go back into London where you make your way to King’s Cross Station. After finding Platform 9 3/4, you catch the train, which takes you to Hogsmeade Station with some adventure along the way.

In Hogsmeade, we tried butterbeer at a dim Hog’s Head tavern before getting in line for what would be our absolutely favorite ride - Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. This is the newest ride and it was so much fun, worth the absolutely disheveled hair and facing my anxiety about rollercoasters.

After exploring more of Hogsmeade, we made our way to the castle that dominated the skyline. Waiting in line for the Forbidden Journey made the entire trip worthwhile. Everything else was just a bonus. Talking portraits, Hogwart’s classrooms, and an appearance by Dumbledore - it was like being inside the movies. Neither one of us felt great following the ride, which could have had more to do with exhaustion than anything else, but exploring the castle was amazing.

At this point, we took a break for a late lunch. We were going to eat at the Three Broomsticks, but the smell of fish and chips was especially unappetizing when we were both feeling queasy post Forbidden Journey. So we walked to the counter service restaurant in Jurassic Park and regrouped over mediocre burgers. By this point it was almost two and we were both ready for a nap. Although my original plan had been to stay until dark, we both were painfully realizing that in your mid-thirties, staying up all night has consequences. We decided to walk through Hogsmeade one last time, take the train back to make a final perusal of Diagon Alley, and pick up some coffee before heading toward Cape Canaveral. If you’re planning your own magical adventure, my main recommendations are to go on a lower crowd day and take advantage of the morning (and, I hear, evening) hours when the park is less crowded. Other than that, just soak it all in.

Harry Potter World was amazing. It was just as immersive and magical as I had long hoped it would be. I have been to many incredible places and this was one of my favorite days.

We made the relatively quick drive to Cape Canaveral. I had booked a night at the Residence Inn, which ended up being ideal. The Hertz location was literally in the same parking lot, so it was super simple to return our car the next morning and catch the shuttle to the port. We were perfectly positioned to take a long afternoon nap before finding a nearby seafood restaurant for dinner (Grills was fantastic if you’re looking for a recommendation) and then going to the grocery store to pickup important supplies. And by important supplies I mean the two bottles of wine we were allowed to bring on board. Balcony mimosas weren’t going to make themselves, after all.

Although flying all night before spending the day at a theme park on minimal sleep is not everyone’s idea of fun, I would do it all over again. A day I had dreamed of for years finally happened and it was every bit as magical as I had hoped. We ended the day with coconut shrimp and adult conversation and the ocean. The next day we would set sail to the Bahamas on Brandon’s first ever cruise. Life was good in that moment, a moment I appreciate even more today than I did then.