# The Wizarding World of HP - Anyone Been? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 8, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wizarding-world-of-hp-anyone-been/588330 "2011-07-08T17:03:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2011, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wizarding-world-of-hp-anyone-been/588330/21 "2011-07-10T02:50:36Z")
The Wizarding World of HP isn’t a theme park of it’s own, it’s just one of the themed areas (or island as they like to call it) in the larger previously existing Islands of Adventure theme park (sister park of Universal Studios) which also includes Super Hero Island, Dr.Seuss Island, Jurassic Park Island, Toon Island, and Lost Continent. It’s actually the old medevil area of the Lost Continent. The only new “ride” they created was the excellent “Forbidden Journey” housed inside the Hogwarts building. It takes you on a moving motion simulator through set pieces and video screens. Otherwise the Dueling Dragons coaster and Hipograph(sp?) coaster were already there just themed differently. The rest of the area is the new Diagon alley that includes many shops and a restaurant. They’re pretty cool but the aisles are very narrow and they get crowded really fast. Didn’t try the butterbeer but heard it was an oversweet butterscotch drink. Olivander’s had a waiting line outside since they do a “wand choosing” show inside. If you don’t want to fight people to get inside to buy a wand they sell the same ones at the Universal store at the airport. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2011, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wizarding-world-of-hp-anyone-been/588330/22 "2011-07-11T13:54:09Z")
> [@Sarabellum1976](#): > > Here in Texas, I’ve seen some pretty misleading commercials on TV that imply that Harry Potter is part of the Universal Studios park, when in fact, it’s part of Islands of Adventure, a different gated park at the resort. > > Probably easily cleared up once you’re actually there, but I’m sure there’ve been cases of people buying tickets to the wrong park. You can’t buy a ticket to the wrong park. The tickets aren’t park specific - you buy a 1, 2, or more day pass to the parks, and can go to either park on any day. You can switch parks in a single day if you pay a premium on the tickets. It’s probably happened that someone bought a 1 day ticket and walked into the wrong park, but hopefully if you ask where HP is 10 minutes after walking into the wrong park, they’d let you switch for free. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2011, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wizarding-world-of-hp-anyone-been/588330/23 "2011-07-11T14:04:27Z")
> [@Spatial\_Rift\_47](#): > > One lucky child is chosen from the group (and the Ollivander actor will always pick a child) to go through the process of choosing (or being chosen by) a wand. As they try out wands, various special effects props activate on the walls of the room, such as a collapsing shelf or a wilting plant. On the third wand, there is a magical light and the natural order of the Universe is restored, the kid gets to keep the wand, and everyone else gets shunted out into the actual wand shop to spend $35 if they want to get a wand. A friend took her son and he was the one lucky child. Word of warning if your kid is the lucky one, when the show is finished your child exits through one door while you exit with the rest of the crowd and you meet back up in the wand shop. By the time you arrive they have spent 10 mins upselling your kid on the $100 wand. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wizarding-world-of-hp-anyone-been/588330.md?page=1)