USC’s been fun, but I know I belong at Hogwarts

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Hollywood opens on April 7, 2016, and I’ve literally never been more excited for anything in my life. They’re only opening Hogsmeade as of right now, but I have high hopes they’ll build Diagon Alley as well if Hogsmeade is a success (seriously everyone go, make it a success).

Rheagan Rizio, of South Figueroa Street (for now), is proud to say that she is perfectly ordinary, thank you very much.

Daniel Radcliffe: The original “Damn Daniel”

And by ordinary, I am that I, like any normal person my age, am absolutely head-over-heels obsessed with Harry Potter.

I was introduced to Harry Potter at the age of three, when my mom read me the first book, and I’ve never gotten over it.  Seeing the first movie when I was five was literally the most exciting thing that’s ever happened in my life, especially since my mom hadn’t seen it first so it was a big deal.

Daniel Radcliffe was/remains to this day the love of my life, and not gonna lie, the fact that Gryffindor and USC are basically the same colors weighed a little into my decision to come here.

The exterior of the “Forbidden Journey” ride (also my new home, I’m moving in

So, in preemptive celebration of it being just as great as the one in Florida, I decided to write up what you should be most excited for in light of my experience (hint: basically everything).

Rides/Attractions

“Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” was my absolute favorite ride (I think I went on it probably 40 times over the course of my three days there).

Everything about it is great: even the line is fun because it takes you through the entire castle, my personal favorite section being the dungeons (if you listen closely outside Snape’s classroom, you can hear him lecturing), and there are moving photos that talk to you and entertain you.

The second set of twins in the movie (I don’t have red hair so the Weasleys are ashamed of me).

On the ride itself, you fly all over the Hogwarts grounds into such places as the Forbidden Forest, the Chamber of Secrets, and a live Quidditch match. “Flight of the Hippogriff” is the other ride there: it’s a really fun and family-friendly roller-coaster, so for those of you who like high-speed, twisting metal tracks of death (aka “adult” roller coasters), this is not the ride for you.

However, Buckbeak will take you around Hagrid’s cabin and the pumpkin patch, so definitely don’t skip it just because it’s “for the kids:” or, if you’d prefer, wait until you yourself have kids and then go on it with them, that also works too.

First stop: Ollivander’s

“Ollivander’s: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC” was one of the highlights of my trip. Definitely go on the background tour if you get the chance (the line is long but it’s so worth it): you learn a lot about the wands, and Ollivander select someone from the group to test wands until theirs chooses them.  This could be you!

It wasn’t me.

See? Spell-casting ability (also yes, I may/may not have paid someone to take this picture of me, get over it)

Dining/Shopping

The only restaurant directly in Hogsmeade will be The Three Broomsticks, which serves such meals as fish & chips, shepherd’s pie, turkey legs, and tons of others. It also serves butterbeer (10/10 would recommend, hot or frozen) and pumpkin juice.

The Hog’s Head was located in the back of The Three Broomsticks in Florida (I have no defense for this, it’s just-straight up incorrect).

There are also so many shops to buy practically everything you’ve ever wanted from Harry’s world (this is where I got my “R” sweater, which is good because my attempt to knit one myself was pretty pathetic).

I fully intended to eat this but I can’t bring myself to open it, it’s too pretty

I went to the midnight premieres of the books and the movies, I finally made it to the other side of the United States just this year to experience my childhood come to life: it only seems right that I would go to Harry Potter World in Hollywood the day it opens (I feel like it doesn’t count as skipping school because technically Hogwarts is a school and The Forbidden Journey takes you through the castle so I’m fine).

I also elected to buy a season pass to Universal when buying my ticket, which means I can go pretty much whenever I want: so if you ever need me and I’m not around, that’s probably where I am (don’t bother calling/texting though, muggle electronics don’t work around Hogwarts).

It’s been real USC: but it’s time I moved to where I truly belong.