By Ryan Wallace

For those of you privy enough to share with us on SnapChat, you likely got a sneak peek to Universal Studios’ newest attractions. But because we’re not spoil sports, we decided to keep the best details under wraps.

Last week, Thursday April 7th, Universal Studios Hollywood unveiled its long-awaited “Wizarding World of Harry Potter”, but for a lucky few, they had a chance to go behind-the-scenes last month and we were amongst the small crowd. There was butterbeer, wands and wizards galore, and now with the gates open and enchantments aside, you can enjoy a bit of the magic yourself. Want to know what you should expect when you visit Hogsmeade? Let our adventure be your guide.

Photo Courtesy of Kevin Kolczynski.

The City

Entering the gates of Hogsmeade you’re immediately immersed into the action. Barrels brimming with butterbeer line the cobblestone streets, and there’s no shortage of wizards in cloaks. But perhaps what is the greatest achievement of this make-believe city is that it creates a tangible experience so close to what was dreamt up in the books.

“I am delighted to see ‘The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’ brought to life in a way that is so close to what I imagined when writing the books” author of the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling says. “I’m thrilled that Harry Potter fans can now experience the wonderful immersive experience created at Universal Studios Hollywood.”

Sure, it looks like an elaborate movie set, but in all the best ways. And when it comes to details, even the most pessimistic of Muggles could hardly complain. There are all of the shops we’d expect—Honeydukes, Zonko’s and even Ollivanders, for you every wand need. And the creative landscape they fill leaves few wanting more. Personally, we could move into one of the shops, if you could keep the enchanted creatures in their cages. But even just hanging outside of the buildings’ facades felt like living inside your favorite book or movie.

Evanna Lynch, who played Luna Lovegood in four of the Harry Potter movies, takes a look around the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood. Photo Courtesy Of David Sprague.

The Attractions

Though few, the two attractions Universal Studios Hollywood has created pay homage to the world of Harry Potter and meet the needs of children of every age. Introducing their first outdoor roller coaster, the “Flight of the Hippogriff” is enchanting ride perfect for the whole family. Short and sweet, it packs in a little roller coaster punch with some allusions to one of Hagrid’s favorite friends.

But it really is “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” that truly dominated this scene. And for the adventurous ones out of the group, it’s a fun-filled journey for the thrill-seeker in you. The multi-dimensional 3D ride will have you twisting and turning, flying and soaring, and meting nearly every creature and character we’ve come to hold so dear. But beware, it’s fast-moving, heart-pounding and you may even see some scarier magical beings. So if you don’t do well with motion-sickness, or you’re not up for the ride of your life, you may want to see what else Hogsmeade has in store.

Photo Courtesy Of David Sprague.

The Experience & The MAGIC

For us, the true take-away was the experience, and of course the trinkets. So we spent a large amount of time wandering the shops. And what we came to find was that we were entirely sold on the the people, the place and the products. Two noteworthy stops you can’t miss—Ollivanders and Honeydukes.

Honeydukes has all of the sweet treats this magical world has to offer. And even though you may find some familiar candies up on the walls, there are some ingenious desserts and sweets that you can only find here. Plus, it’s right near the entrance which makes it perfect to fuel-charge the start of your adventure or help you leave with sweet memories in mind.

Photo Courtesy of Archaic Press.

Ollivanders is EVERYTHING! And I mean everything. If there’s a single, must-stop shop on your list, make it the wand shop on the left. Through the doors you’ll find walls brimming full of wands. Disheveled boxes, marked with the magical contents inside, let you pick the perfect one for yourself. Whether you want one of the basics, made of woods like Alder or Birch, or whether you want a wand just like the characters themselves, here you’ll find whatever you want. And perhaps, if you’re lucky, the perfect wand may choose you. Believe it or not, but like us you may even favor a Death Eater wand—but don’t worry, we’ll never tell.