At times, it was difficult, as a child, to remember that I have not in fact traveled to another world. It was that transcendental experience that set the place apart, which may have played a role in how magical that trip was for me. My mother ordered our Universal Orlando Resort tickets and surprised me and we flew out a few weeks later. I remember flying with ET, fighting angry spirits with the Ghostbusters, rocking out with Beetlejuice, and I went Back to the Future. It was mesmerizing and intense, and I laughed, I cried and they had my heart pumping. As a child, I was changed forever, eyes open to worlds and feelings I never knew before.
A few years ago, I returned to Universal and I explored Hogsmeade village, Diagon Alley, and the Hogwarts Castle, bringing me back to the days when I read the series and was also changed by the magic of fiction and the beauty of fiction. The too good to be real world from the Harry Potter series was brought to life, and for a moment I lost myself in the possibilities, if only there magic as JK Rowling portrayed it. If only.
More recently, Universal Orlando Resort has expanded their real life exhibit of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter with a rollercoaster based on Hagrid’s magical motorbike adventure. Beyond, Universal also has a ton of age appropriate entertainment for children like Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, as well as adult experiences like Revenge of the Mummy, King’s Cross Station and the Hogwarts Express, and a whole lot more. Click here to find out more information about Universal Orlando Resort. It’s never too late to start creating memories that last and have a forever sort of an effect.
(Photo by nfcj via Flickr)