Two weeks ago—before the Coronavirus had taken over the world, before we all realized what a wild ride we were in for, before classes were suspended and amusement parks shut down—my friends and I began our spring break with a day trip to Universal Studios, Hollywood.
This was my first visit to Universal. I’m rather partial to Disneyland myself, so I admit I was skeptical of Universal, though my roommate had only raving things to say about it. The four of us left early (7am) and picked up coffees from a favorite local cafe so that we were properly caffeinated for the drive. We arrived early, found parking, flew through security, and took the classic group picture in front of the iconic Universal Studios globe.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is not just icing on the cake of Universal Studios; it is the cake. If you do nothing else the entire day but wander through the snowy streets of Hogsmeade and bask in the ambience of Hogwarts, you’ll have made the day worth your while.
Walking under the archway to the streets of Hogsmeade, the first sight I laid eyes on was the familiar steep rooflines and crooked chimneys covered in a blanket of sparkling snow—snow that could have been real, since the sky was overcast with clouds and it was weirdly cold for California. On our right was the Hogwarts Train, puffing out steam, the conductor standing next to it waving cheerfully.
As we walked down the winding streets, we passed shop windows decorated with tiny treasure troves of details. The Owl Post windows were piled high with packages and letters; fluffy owls waiting in the rafters above for delivery. Both Honeydukes and Weasley’s Wizarding Wheezes were colorfully decorated with displays of magical candy and chocolates. Of course, Ollivander’s had the longest line of all. (Who in their right mind wouldn’t want to buy an over-expensive plastic souvenir wand of their own?!)
There are two rides tucked into the far side of the park. The first, “Harry Potter & the Forbidden Journey,” takes you inside Hogwarts castle—through the dungeons, a greenhouse, the hall of moving portraits, the Gryffindor common room, Dumbledore’s Office, and the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom before you board the flying-motion dark ride on a wild adventure over the Hogwarts grounds. Dragons and dementors both make frightful appearances. The second ride, called “Flight of the Hippogriff,” is a rollercoaster that lasts exactly sixty-seconds but has the best view of the Hogwarts castle.
The Studio Tour
My friends and I took the four escalators down to the lower level of the park, where we encountered such hazardous adventures as the Mummy rollercoaster, the Transformers ride, and Jurassic World (which was, unfortunately, closed for maintenance).
The second highlight of the day was our Universal Studios Tour. A train carried hundreds of passengers down to the backlots of Universal Studios. We got to see several behind-the-scenes filming locations and warehouses, along with some other surprises. Our tour guide narrated the experience, filling us in with details about which movies were shot in various locations.
One set in particular, an urban-style location with tall brick buildings, is adapted to fit city locations for almost any film. With the help of some dirt and horse-drawn carriages, it could be transformed into Victorian-era London. By switching out the signs and bringing in vintage automobiles, this location was used as the set for the external New York scenes in Captain America: The First Avenger.
Afternoon
Over the course of the afternoon, we hit some other activities like the live WaterWorld performance, an interior Special Effects Show, and the picturesque sidestreets known as “Little Italy” (a terrific place to snap some pictures, have lunch, or just get some rest away from the crowds).
Dinner at the Three Broomsticks
As the day drew to an end, we navigated back to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter for dinner at the Three Broomsticks. The pub is tucked away in Hogsmeade and has a distinctly cozy atmosphere: shafts of light fall down from the rafters, chandeliers glowing with candlelight, dark booths tucked in the back of the pub beneath distorted windows.
The four of us found a vacant table near the Hog’s Head bar and settled in with our trays of food. I split a plate of fish & chips with my friend, and we both bought our own steaming hot cup of butterbeer. By the time we left the Three Broomsticks, the sky above was painted in broad brushstrokes of rosy pink and blue—a perfect end to a fun day.
A Brief Warning on the Financial Particulars
Be ye warned: this park will bleed you dry. The tickets cost around $100 per person just to get in the park, plus the split fee of a parking pass ($5 each) and the cost of dinner ($20). We brought our own snacks into the park to keep us going throughout the day, but we all decided we wanted to splurge on a nice dinner. Even though we split two meals between the four of us, it still cost at least $20 per person. Since we’re the stereotypical broke college students, such outrageous prices physically hurt.
My fatal mistake: I forgot my refillable water bottle in the car. I was dehydrated most the day (headache + theme park = no fun at all) and a single puny bottle of water cost $4.87. Also, there are no water refilling stations in the park. So all that to say, do yourself a favor and bring your own water bottle.
Final Thoughts
Personally, I still hold fast to the belief that Universal Studios pales in comparison with the shining magnificence of Disneyland. The rides, the ambience, the shows, the layout of the park, the flow of the crowds, and the customer service are all much better at the Happiest Place on Earth.
However, that being said, I’ll admit it’s still worth visiting Universal Studios once in your lifetime to get the full flavor of the Wizarding World (not to mention the backlot Studio Tour, which was my second highlight of the day). Like any park, Universal is most fun when you come prepared (i.e. bring a water bottle) and bring good company (friends make everything better).
That’s all for now. Hope you had a great time reliving the day with me. Thanks for coming along to Universal Studios!
<3 Olivia Grace
