Let me start off by saying I’m pretty much a Disney zombie… While I can’t say I’m anywhere an expert on their short films or even some of their recent feature animated films I grew up with the idea that Disney did theme parks that were great.  As I grew older the more thrill rides of amusement parks lured me away for a bit, but I came back to Disney specifically because of their attention to detail and ability to transport you to anywhere they wanted.  Sure some roll coasters had so many loops and twists that fighter pilot would lose their lunch, Disney had… Class.

So with this I start off reviewing Universal Studio’s Islands of Adventure.  If you are looking for a review of the rides you won’t find it here… There are many people who review rides and have much more experience than I do.  This will be a quick review of atmosphere and did the new Harry Potter land impress me.

When you turn the corner and end up staring at Hogsmeade with Hogwarts perched above it any Harry Potter fan would think they have died and gone to heaven.  The setting is winter so the hot Florida temperature does not make it easy to suspend belief.  As you wander through the area that does not contain rides you might feel it is a bit small… While there are some larger, almost public square, areas it does not have the space it needs for the crowds that it is getting.  Crowded would be the best word for my Sunday visit.  Crowded with muggles (I’m sure most knew nothing about geocaching) dressed in their Harry Potter ball caps and t-shirts and those brave souls of various ages dressed in their Hogwarts robes.  The majority of the storefronts were false making me wish that I could go in a purchase a cauldron, or wizard’s hat.  

I could nitpicking about which stores were represented and if they had actually been mentioned in the books as being in Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley, but what is more important was the size of the shops which was small and the layout was not conducive to getting people through or even browsing items.  

One place that seemed to have thrown the park planners for a loop is Ollivander’s. I bring up this example because I feel that this was designed as a neat little place that people stop in, not the attraction it was at least for today.  I can imagine a few people popping in and the wand fitter just asking them if they require assistance… I imagine something like the lounge at the Adventurer’s Club at Disney’s Pleasure Island.  Nothing formal until the guests figure out the schedule.  Instead there was a 45 minute  line outside to witness one guest repeating the scene from Chapter five of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.  I’m sure the hubbub will die down at some point, but this just missed the mark in my opinion (fine, I wasn’t picked so I didn’t get to have the wand choose me- sour grapes).

Upon first look everything is wonderful in its detail touches here and there, but if you look really close some of it just isn’t perfect.  The flowers in the flower shop make noise, but don’t move while they do it- a little thing that only adults may notice or maybe only I would notice.

As far as food, the Three Broomsticks served nice English fare at typical Amusement park prices… The butterbeer was excellent and seemed to be a hit along with pumpkin juice of this warm day.

So if you are a Harry Potter fan I do recommend The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, I just would try it on a week day in the frigid Florida winter if you really want to immerse yourself in a well crafted theme park.  As for the rest of Islands of Adventure- I’m torn.  being a Disney zombie there is so much potential in many of the areas ideas that just are missing that certain something.  Some were general wear and tear issues that compared to the 800 pound mouse down the street stick out like a sore thumb.  Being a guy who reads comics I was looking forward to the Marvel island and was sadly disappointed in what I saw.  I don’t know what I was expecting, but what I saw just seemed cheap like someone who had read about people who read comics had designed it, not someone who reads comics.

Merchandising was another place that seemed lacking.  Not that they didn’t have lots of stuff to buy, but it again seemed not as planned out.  The example That comes to mind was in the island devoted to comic strips.  Here they pay homage to the classic comics and some of the more modern ones- looks like they cut a deal with one of the newspaper comic syndicates.  So here in the middle of this place is a storefront with “Flash Gordon” on the wall, not only that but a 1930’s style rocket blasting off in front.  Being a Flash Gordon fan I rushed into the store to see what they might have.  They had nothing.  Not even those tin toy replica rockets.  They missed the boat I would have left with a t-shirt at least instead I walked out with a souvenir butterbeer mug and two crushed pennies for Cecil.

Will I come back to Universal? Maybe… Probably just to give it one more chance (even at $82 for a one park one adult admission) when I have time to really look at everything and am not on a deadline.  For those who think I breezed in I was I the park for the better part of a day.

Positives: the people working there were polite, friendly, and nice (I had heard otherwise)
Negatives: not dealing with any rides and just the atmosphere of the park there just seems to be something missing.  Like all they wanted to do was build something like what Disney had built… There seems to be love put into the design at WDW, not so much at Universal – except for the Harry Potter area which while excellent seems just too small