Harry Potter and the Detailed Highlights

While Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is showing in every cinema, I thought it was the perfect time to remember the amazing attention to detail given to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal's Islands of Adventure in Orlando.

I won't talk about how you feel transported to a magical world upon entering Hogsmeade. I won't talk about the obvious sights and attractions - the tour of the Hogwarts Castle, Hagrid's hut, the Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade shops - which you can surely find via Google or on YouTube.

Because apart from the obvious sights, I particularly loved two subtle details. First, the Moaning Myrtle in the bathroom. It's really just an audio recording of Myrtle's moans, but I love that they thought to put in that little detail. So make sure to pay a visit to the washroom even if you don't really need to go. :) Second, this wizard's note-taking! He's the wizard "guarding" the door to Ollivander's Wand Shop. He basically decides how many people from the long line can go through the door for the interactive wand-selection experience. He has this moleskin-looking notebook where he logs the number of people entering the store per show. And look! Look at the heading on his notebook!

He does not flaunt his notebook at all (the only reason we noticed was because we were at the very front of the line and we were incredibly nosy observant) and yet, he takes the trouble to call us "Muggles" in it. 

Apart from everything there was to love about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, I especially loved these subtle details.

Hogwarts Express photo from here. The rest of the photos are our own.