There was a line to get into some more lines to get into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This is the entrance above, which I thought I would never reach in the blazing heat. I recommend finding each place where water spews out, and running in it with the children while you walk the whole Islands of Adventure park to reach it. Or just get there the minute the park opens.
I was incredibly impressed by the detail and true-to-the-movie replica of Hogsmeade, Hogwarts, and the world created in the books. It really was crazy to realize that J.K. Rowling thought of this whole entire land in her head! Hogsmeade’s lined with shops exactly like the movies and filled with the appropriate things. The stores were all pretty crowded so I don’t have any photos to show you.
There are 3 rides inside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and the most impressive is the brand new ride, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. If you want to get on this ride in no time, go into the “single riders” lane. While the one line boasted a 90 minute wait time, we were on the ride and rolling in 10 or less! You pass through the corridors of Hogwarts while you wait, and you get to see the photographs, Dumbledore’s office, the Gryffindor common room, The Sorting Hat, and more. The Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride requires no 3D glasses, yet you feel like you’re inside the ride anyway. It’s interactive, you get to play Quidditch, and it won “Best New Attraction” in 2010 from the ThemeParkInsider.com
The Hippogriff ride is an outdoor roller coaster that is much less intense, and then the Dragon Challenge is home to two totally different rides. You can choose Chinese Fireball or Hungarian Horntail (we did the Chinese one), and then prepare yourself for a good (and possibly the scariest of the 3) ride.
Make sure to cool off with a Butterbeer (frozen or cold), a butterscotch-flavored non-alcoholic beverage, from one of the carts selling it and, if you’re hungry, eat a meal in The Three Broomsticks cafe just like Harry, Ron, and Hermoine.
Outside of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, be sure to ride The Hulk, Revenge of The Mummy, Spiderman, and Dudley Do-Right. The Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit lets you choose your own music while you ride and has a great start, but it gave me a pretty bad headache overall. It videotapes you during the whole ride, and it’s available for purchase after you get off the ride.