There is one school that I have dreamed of going to ever since I was a little girl. It was beautiful, unique, and everything I could ever wish for in a school. You may think that I am talking about Harvard, Yale, or Princeton, but then you would be highly mistaken. Ladies and gentlemen, the school I am talking about is none other than Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
When I found out my freshman year that Universal Studios had decided to build a Harry Potter Theme Park inside of their Islands of Adventure Theme Park, I knew that is where I wanted to go for my senior trip for high school. When I told my mother of this, however, it didn’t seem like I’d be able to go.
“Paige… I’m sorry to tell you this, but you know we simply just cannot afford this trip. We have so much going on, with dance practices, competitions, and nationals, I just… I don’t think this is possible for us. I’m so sorry.”
I just stood there in agony for a second, even in disappointment… but I realized what she said was true and there was no way of changing that. So all throughout my freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior years of high school, going to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Theme Park had been in the back of my mind… until graduation.
I will never forget my graduation day- May 14, 2010. No, it’s not because I graduated valedictorian from my school. And it is most definitely not because I almost tripped on my way up to the stage to give my speech. And I can PROMISE you it is not because I was so shaky while giving my speech, that my note cards almost fell straight out of my hands. No… it was because of the last graduation present I opened- the present telling me that I would be going to the Harry Potter Theme Park for my senior trip after all!
Now let me just tell you- when I opened this paper telling me I was going there for my senior trip, I screamed so loud that people came from around the building to see what was going on… literally. My dream had finally come true, and all my hard work in education had finally paid off.
So the day to leave for the theme park had finally come, and I was so excited. I had dance practice that day, and I remember my friends all cracking jokes about it with me because that was all I could talk about… but I didn’t care. I was stoked. When dance practice finally ended, me and my three other friends, hoped into my boyfriends small Honda Accord and began our thirteen hour drive from Mt. Juliet, Tennessee to Orlando, Florida.
I thought we would never get there… we were scheduled to get to the theme park just in time for the grand opening on June 18th, 2010, but we had been stuck in traffic, stopped for numerous bathroom and food breaks, and even got a little lost on the way… but it was well worth the drive. When we walked into the entrance of Universal Studios, I came to a screeching halt and my jaw dropped. There were at least ten thousand people already there waiting in line for the park to open. I knew it was going to be busy… this is the event of a life time for many Potter fans… but nothing could have prepared me for the journey we would be going through just to get into this park.
Me and my friends started off on the side that leads you into Islands of Adventure. With much running, leaping, and hustling we ended up the first people in line on the Islands of Adventure side. Soon afterwards, however, we were informed that people waiting on this side of the park would not be getting in, because there were people who were waiting on the Universal Studios side that had been there for hours and it simply was not fair. Understanding the situation, yet somewhat upset to lose our place at the beginning of the line, we begin to walk over to the Universal Studios side. About twenty minutes later I was in complete shock of what was going on… they were letting people in on the Islands of Adventure side! I was in great rage because I had been at the beginning of that line and was informed we would not be getting in… it was a huge disappointment. Everyone on the Universal Studios side joined in together for a loud “BOO!”, but it did no good.
By the time we finally got into the park, we began running towards the Harry Potter part, not knowing what to expect. It was when we saw a line starting all the way from the entrance of the park to the Harry Potter area that my heart sank. I asked the guard how long the wait was and he told me that it was about a ten hour wait just to get into the Harry Potter park… that’s not even counting the wait for the rides. I was so upset that we drove through the night thirteen hours and we knew we would never even get into the park that day. And it KILLED me that we made these amazing shirts for the park and no one would get to see them. As a group, however, me and my friends decided we would be the very first people to get into the park the next time we came, and decided to enjoy the rest of our day at the park.
Sunday came along and it was time to try the park again. We woke up at five o’clock in the morning so we could get to the park early this time. We were walking into the gates by five forty five o’clock and running to the Harry Potter part. It was only by running a couple miles to the back of the park where the Harry Potter part was that we were the first people in line, but we did it. They held us at the Jurassic Park area until nine o’clock, but we didn’t care. We were the first people there, and that was all that mattered. While waiting, we befriended many people… a few people even asked to take a picture with us since we were the first people in line! It was an amazing experience, even if it was taunting sitting there for three hours being able to see the Hogwarts castle, but not being able to go in it.
When we were finally allowed to go into the park, I don’t think I could’ve gotten there soon enough. It seemed like an endless journey to get into the actual park, but once I did, my heart stopped beating… I was in heaven. As I saw the Hogwarts castle to my left and the Hogsmeade village to my right, my eyes began to water. It was just as I had imagined… just like in the books and movies, and it was finally standing right here in front of me. I knew that day was about to be one of the best days of my life.
The first thing we did was go to the ride that was inside of Hogwarts Castle- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. I simply cannot even explain to you how amazing not only the ride is, but the castle is. Everything is so detailed and perfect, it was unreal. I got to experience the greenhouse, Dumbledore’s office, the Gryffindor common room… and even the pictures we’re moving and talking… just like in the books and movies! It was perfect… and the ride was unlike anything I’ve even ridden. It’s so impossible to explain… but even for people that aren’t Harry Potter fans, the ride is still amazing.
The lines for everything were insane. We made it into every single store, believe it or not, but it was tough. The lines were so long, and not to mention it was HOT outside… but it was definitely worth the wait. We even ate at the Three Broomsticks! Everything was just as I could have ever dreamed of it being… and then more. It’s my own personal little heaven on Earth, as I like to call it.
One of my favorite experiences, however, is the frozen butterbeer. Many people say they like the original butterbeer better, but I don’t do carbonated beverages, so the frozen one is just perfect for me. I would describe it as a cross between cream soda and butterscotch. It was AMAZING. It is one of those things that you just have to try out for yourself, but it’s definitely worth the wait.
All in all, I am so glad I was able to experience the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I made it through thirteen hours of traffic, crazy lines, psychotic people, and scorching heat, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. It is the experience of the journey that makes it worthwhile. It was so sad to leave Hogwarts on my final day there, but I’m just glad I got a chance to witness the wonderful and amazing Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
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