Butterbeer, magic wands that “choose you” and a high-speed intertwining roller coaster whose G-forces will cause you to lose your sense of equilibrium are only a few of the new and exciting reasons for you and your family to make a return visit to Orlando.

On June 18, Harry Potter is opening his doors to Muggles like you to one of the most impatiently anticipated theme park entertainment experiences ever created: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando. This mystical place allows us Muggles (Potterese for non-magical beings) to literally experience Harry Potter’s magical world.

As journalists we attended last month’s US Travel Association’s International Pow Wow (http://www.ustravel.org) and were allowed a sneak peek of this remarkable attraction, which is much more than just sipping pumpkin juice in the Three Broomsticks family pub or buying Extendable Ears at Zonko’s magic shop: Our visit to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is unlike any theme park adventure we have ever experienced. 

Five years in the making and only 13 miles from where Walt Disney World opened 39 years ago, this new 20-acre, $265 million attraction is a jaw-dropping passage into a world of magic and mystery.

The centerpiece of this magical universe is Hogwarts — a massive stone castle soaring 15 stories into the sky. It is, of course, the wizarding and witchcraft school made famous by J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter books and movies.

The otherworldly experience of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter began the moment we passed through the stone and wrought iron gates of Hogsmeade — the tiny village as the base of Hogwarts Mountain. Just inside, a full-sized locomotive — the Hogwarts Express — stands ready at the quaint station platform, billowing clouds of steam and impatiently tooting its whistle.

Across from the red brick Hogsmeade railroad station is a cluster of gothic stone shops, the first of which is Zonko’s — a joke shop with a collection of tricks and bizarre amusements. Honeydukes — the shop next door — is a candy confectionary featuring treats like Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavor Beans. The Three Broomsticks and adjacent Hog’s Head family pub features traditional British fare and drinks such as Butterbeer and pumpkin juice. The pub’s sagging three-story façade appears to have settled, as if the granite blocks were laid there centuries ago. Across the cobblestone street is The Owlery, where owls await their next special delivery.

Next door to The Owlery, guests partake in the Ollivanders wand shop experience, which begins when the visitor enters a room stacked from floor to ceiling with thousands of wands sealed in dusty, multi-colored boxes. Just like Harry, the guest will be prompted to give the wand an experimental wave and a series of magical mishaps will occur until the “right fit” is found.

Completing the 18th Century “market square” in Hogsmeade is Dervish and Banges — the magical instruments and equipment shop where items on sale include Quidditch equipment, Triwizard apparel, Spectrespecs and Remembralls. However, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter offers more than evocative shops and pubs; there are three thrilling new rides:  Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, the Flight of the Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge.

The Flight of the Hippogriff is for family members of all ages and simulates a Hippogriff training flight over the grounds of Hogwarts castle. Next is the Dragon Challenge, which we tried.  It features a twin high-speed roller coaster with many iconic elements from the Triwizard Tournament. 

Having ridden the Dragon Challenge, we can share three insights: 1) This is a really scary ride, particularly if you’re afraid of heights or are not used to very extreme “G-forces” (the gravitational pulls one experiences while seated); 2) the ride zigzags violently and frequently suspends you upside down in roller coaster-like loop-to-loops, and 3) this ride may throw off your equilibrium: After finishing the ride, we literally staggered to the exit and had to pause a few minutes to regain our sense of balance.

The centerpiece of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, however, awaits visitors inside Hogwarts castle: this is the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride, which uses entirely new technology to bring the magic, characters and stories of Harry Potter to life in ways never before experienced. We felt anticipation at each step of our tour of the meandering passenger cue leading up to this ride. Chambers through which we passed eerily replicated iconic places in the Potter movies. (Alan Gilmore, the art director for the Potter films, supervised every detail, including visual elements in the ride itself.) 

Our sneak preview did not include experiencing this ride, but merely passing through the richly detailed chambers of Hogwarts castle that greet people waiting for the ride was a treat in itself.

We experienced Headmaster Dumbledore’s office, Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, Gryffindor common room, the Room of Requirement, and the greenhouse. Hanging from the high stone walls, we were greeted by talking portraits that included the Fat Lady and the never-before-seen four founders of Hogwarts: Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw. Additionally, we were “chatted up” by the One-Eyed Witch statue and the Mirror of Erised and even engaged in a conversation with the Sorting Hat.

At one point, Harry, Hermione and Ron appeared to us from behind an Invisibility Cloak and issued us some special warnings. (Universal Studios spent seven years developing the special video-display technology that facilitates this startling 3-D effect; we’re told that similar visual techniques are used throughout the Forbidden Journey ride.)

Exiting Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, we passed through Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods. This shop sells an irresistible array of souvenirs familiar to Harry Potter fans: Ministry of Magic and magical creatures merchandise, Omnioculars and even remote control Golden Snitches.

We definitely give the Wizarding World of Harry Potter a wholehearted thumbs-up. This attraction alone makes a return trip to Orlando — no matter how recently you’ve been there — worthwhile. Of course, there are other attractions at Universal Orlando Resort: Two exciting theme parks — Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure — as well as Universal CityWalk, a 30-acre restaurant, shopping and nighttime entertainment complex.

Flagship attractions at the theme parks include “The Simpsons Ride,” “Revenge of the Mummy — The Ride,” “The Incredible Hulk Coaster” and “The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man.”

Conveniently, guests to Universal Orlando can stay at any of three hotels on-site: The Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel and the Loews Royal Pacific Resort.

For more information about this terrific destination, go to www.UniversalOrlando.com.