9 minute read
HARRY POTTER & THE MAGICAL FAMILY GETAWAY
by MISSI WILSON
A wizarding adventure in Philadelphia & New York City
Wesley grinds herbs
Wizarding robes on display Like many Millennials, my husband, Brian, and I grew up obsessed with the Wizarding World® since our hands first turned the pages of Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone in 1998. Now, our three-year-old wizard, Wesley, is as obsessed as we are but at a remarkably young age. To embrace his love for magic, we summoned our suitcases (accio!) and went to Philadelphia for Harry Potter: The Exhibition and New York City for Harry Potter New York and The Cauldron NYC.
Harry Potter: The Exhibition
Making its world premiere in 2022, Harry Potter: The Exhibition is a technologically immersive display showcasing authentic props, costumes, and set recreations from the Harry Potterand Fantastic Beasts® fi lms, plus the Broadway performance of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
You begin at King’s Cross Station with a kiosk that sorts you into your Hogwarts house (dormitory). You then choose a wand and your patronus, a magical creature defensive charm that is linked to a wristband. This personalizes your experience as you follow the golden snitch, a fl ying gold ball with Mercury-like wings, throughout the exhibit. When interacting with various spells, potions, and activities, you earn points for your Hogwarts house – 10 points to Ravenclaw and Slytherin (our houses, of course)!
Each section brought magic to life–our names appeared on the Marauder’s Map; only glass separated us from Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s robes; mandrakes squealed as Wesley pulled them from their pots; we threw rugby-like quaffl e balls through hoops
"Before exiting, we stopped to have a glass (or three) of Butterbeer. This was definitely Wesley’s highlight as he first thought it was ice cream and then realized it’s soda! Seeing a Butterbeer mustache on him is something I will always remember."
The cupboard under the stairs
to win the Quidditch Cup; dueled with hero-Harry and villain-Lord Voldemort’s wands at the Battle of Hogwarts; and, Wesley’s favorite, we curled up in “the cupboard under the stairs” at 4 Privet Drive, where Harry lived as a child.
Harry Potter New York
Located in the heart of New York City, Harry Potter New York is the fi rst offi cial Harry Potter fl agship store with the largest collection of Harry Potter series and Fantastic Beasts merchandise in one place. Once I walked inside, I honestly considered just handing over my 401k.
Giant magical creatures welcomed us throughout, and we discovered tasty treats like Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans and Chocolate Frogs; wands from over 50 characters; personalized house robes; graphic prints by MinaLima, who did the graphics for the fi lms; plus, we posed for a photo in Hagrid’s shoes and the telephone booth to the Ministry of Magic! For Brian and me, the most incredible part of Harry Potter New York was the one-of-a-kind virtual reality experiences. I did “Chaos at Hogwarts,” a thrilling journey with house elf Dobby to contain magical creatures loose in the castle. And Brian did “Wizards Take Flight,” where you fl y through the skies of London to defeat Death Eaters, followers of Lord Voldemort.
Before exiting, we stopped to have a glass (or three) of Butterbeer. This was defi nitely Wesley’s highlight as he fi rst thought it was ice cream and then realized it’s soda! Seeing a Butterbeer mustache on him is something I will always remember.
The Cauldron NYC
Although not affi liated with the Wizarding World franchise, The Cauldron NYC’s Harry Potterinspired experience truly feels as if you’re sitting in Professor Snape’s potions class trying to pass your Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations. They off er multiple immersive cocktail brewing classes for adults and families alike. We did Wizard Aft ernoon Tea so Wesley could enjoy the experience. The hour and 45-minute interactive session included two diff erent tea brewing experiences, a selection of tea “sandwitches,” and assorted dessert treats.
Wesley was given an interactive wand that was used to unlock the ingredients for brewing our custom teas. He was taught to perform “spells” and loved shouting “Abracadabra!” to summon our incredible server. Brian and I assisted him with grinding various herbs and dropping fl avorful mixes into his tea concoction.
To make sure we properly fermented our tea, our server dropped some dry ice into a tray and it billowed over our table. Watching Wesley’s eyes in amazement was priceless, and we were pleasantly surprised Wesley enjoyed the tea he created! This was a wonderful family activity that we highly recommend. The Cauldron
Dry ice billows on the table at The Cauldron NYC
Photos: Courtesy of Missi Wilson
Co. can be experienced in New York City, Edinburgh, Central London, East London, and newly in Philadelphia.
For our family, the Wizarding World is real. We immerse in it daily with the books, fi lms, and music that have been part of our lives for over 20 years. But Harry Potter: The Exhibition, Harry Potter New York, and The Cauldron NYC gave Brian and me something we had not felt before–real magic. I’m not talking about casting spells and enchantments, but the magic of being parents and experiencing Harry Potter through the eyes of our son. Seeing and hearing Wesley’s genuine laugh, excitement, and astonishment that Harry Potter isn’t just a movie he watches or music he listens to—but something he can actually feel, taste, and touch—makes me want to put the memories made during this trip into a pensieve (a magical device to store memories) so I can watch them over and
being parents and experiencing Harry Potter through the eyes of our son. Seeing and hearing excitement, and astonishment that Harry Potter isn’t just a he listens to—but something he can actually feel, taste, and touch—makes me want to put the memories made during this (a magical device to store memories) so
over…“Always.”
Where do eggs go on vacation? New Yolk City!
Built in 1926 and newly renovated, InterContinental New York Barclay is a family-friendly, Wesley-approved hotel in midtown east. They offer connecting rooms, rollaway beds, and cribs for younger children; plus, children under 12 stay free when sharing a room with their parents.
Our Agency Exclusive Amenities
• Personalized welcome & VIP check-in • Boxed to-go continental breakfast from local Ole & Steen Bakery for two daily • $100 hotel credit per room, per stay (may be used for in-room mini-bar) • Free in-room high-speed wireless access • Waived daily $20 New York City amenity fee • Daily housekeeping / evening turndown upon guest’s request
Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts and Pottermore Publishing and Stage Theatrical Rights © J.K. Rowling. All Rights Reserved.
WIZARDING WORLD is a trademark of J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
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