Butterbeer hits the spot at the new Harry Potter theme park

Don't go looking for corn dogs and glow sticks when you go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which opened two weeks ago at Universal Orlando Resort's Islands of Adventure.

Read all about how author J.K. Rowling signed off on all sketches, models, film footage, and even the food and beverages served at the park.

In fact, Thierry Coup, vice president of Universal Orlando Creative, said his most anxious moment was watching Rowling take her first taste of butterbeer, the preferred beverage of Harry and his friends when they visited Hogsmeade's Three Broomsticks Inn.

"She was quite specific about how it tasted in the books," Coup says. "But still, it was a big relief when she smiled."

Photo: Park guests Jillian Woodworth and Steven Hopke try out butterbeer at the grand opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando theme park in Orlando, Fla. Credit: John Raoux / Associated Press

Comments

[rubyoxy]

It was awesome! Most of us were able to ride the castle ride two days before, then again the day before. It is so cool! I am almost 40 and I really enjoyed all of it. I didn't ride the Dragon coaster because that is too intense for me, but I did ride the smaller coaster next to it and the castle coaster. I got a little dizzy and queasy, but I really loved it! There is a humongous screen with beautiful pictures and scenery. It's so awesome how they can make it look and feel like you are in the movie. My son told me that you are in one room and they move your seat a bunch, then they move you to a different room, move your seat around again, then move you on to the next room, etc. That made me feel a lot better because the thought of going up and down and all around on the rails of the coaster really scares me, but knowing that I was basically just in one spot, I felt a lot safer, so I was able to enjoy it a lot more. I loved it!

[Bill]

I had some butterbeer a week after it opened. It taste great, sort of a cream soda taste only sweeter. The frozen type last longer in the hot sun down here.