FOLIO LINE FOLIO LINE M c C l a t c h y - Tr i b u n e

Theme Park Ranger

Dewayne Bevil has
spent more time at the
Wizarding World
of Harry Potter than
the average Universal
Orlando guest staying
a week. Here are his
10 insider picks for
must-see stops at the
new $200 million-plus
attraction at Islands
of Adventure in 1
Orlando, Fla.

Restaurant serves authentic

8 6 British fare, including shep-
7 herd’s pie and fish and chips.
Check out the multi-Muggle
feast that includes rotisserie
9 chicken, ribs, roasted vegetables,
potatoes and corn on the cob.
I L L U S T R AT I O N
BY KAREN
B E L LV I L L E B E A M A N /
ORLANDO SENTINEL/
MCT

I M AG E S C O U RT E S Y
OF UNIVERSAL
O R L A N D O R E S O RT
( U N L E S S OT H E RW I S E
N OT E D )

Trademark castle houses the

new Harry Potter and the
Forbidden Journey ride and an
elaborate queue with tons of 10 ORLANDO SENTINEL/MCT
detailing. Watch for the Mirror
of Erised, Dumbledore’s office,
living portraits, mandrakes, the
Dark Arts classroom, levitating The recipe, created for Universal
candles and more, all before Orlando and approved by author
taking off on the ride’s J.K. Rowling, results in a taste
“enchanted benches.” that resembles a shortbread
Expect regular performances by
cookie and butterscotch. There’s
the Frog Chorus (an a cappella
no alcohol involved, but you can
quartet plus 2 amphibians), as
also belly up for a butterbeer in
Guests encounter magical well as physical demonstrations
the Hog’s Head Tavern.
talking portraits on the of the contrasting styles of
walls of Hogwarts Beauxbatons Academy of Magic
castle. (dancing with ribbons) and
Durmstrang Institute (very seri-
ous acrobatics and weaponry).

Don’t need to go to the restroom? Go anyway. You may hear unusu-

al things, especially the voice of Moaning Myrtle, the ghost of a
former Hogwarts student who haunts bathroom facilities.

The animatronic creature that’s Don’t ignore Hogsmeade vil-

part horse, part eagle is nestled lage storefronts, which are
behind the Flight of the Hippo- packed with Potter pieces. A
frog croaks at the Honeydukes Emma Watson (Hermione
griff roller coaster. It’s big and Granger) enjoys a taste of
demands attention but is easiest candy store, and pink pygmy
puffs are caged at Zonko’s, a frothy Butterbeer at the
to see once you’re on the ride. Hog’s Head pub.
ORLANDO SENTINEL/MCT joke shop. Some of the estab-
lishments are merely facades —
no entry allowed — but they
have items of interest on dis-
play, such as quivering At Honeydukes visitors can
Quidditch equipment at the fill a bag with Bertie Bott’s
faux Spintwitches, a sporting- Every-Flavour Beans —
goods store. from marshmallow to fish.

Here’s a place to relax, maybe

Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) took a ride on the Flight of sip a butterbeer, maybe recover
the Hippogriff with some of the first guests to the park. from the close-quarters shop-
ping experience of the attached The locomotive at the official
Dervish & Banges. It’s a cov- entry of Wizarding World repre-
ered pavilion with owls aplenty sents the first great photo opportu-
The wand shop pairs entertainment with retail. Through magical in its rafters. Cool off here nity for Hogsmeade visitors. (The
effects, a wandkeeper helps match wand with audience member. because there are very few station camouflages the storage
Secondary entertainment: Watching awe-struck kids watch the action. shade trees in this Hogsmeade. lockers for Dragon Challenge.)

POTTER PARK
MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE