Lucky for me, I have a sister who lives 2 1/2 hours from Orlando, making trips to “The Kingdom” far more manageable. This past week my 12-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter insisted we skip Mickey and his clan and visit the new Harry Potter theme park. In short, we hit exactly two rides in nine hours time without once leaving J.K. Rowling’s world. Obviously, her genius has successfully transcended from the page to the screen, and now to the interactive roller-coaster.
Despite the lines, my kids loved it. They did point out that Universal had inaccurately created a snow-capped Scottish village by merging Diagon Alley with Hogsmeade, but no matter, they said. It was still awesome. We bought acid pops and exploding bon- bons at Honeydukes, waited 1 ½ hours to shop at Ollivanders, and dined at Three Broomsticks, sloshing back pumpkin juice and butter beer.
I think every writer has a bit of J.K. Rowling envy, and one wonders what she thinks of her phenomenal success. It’s doubtful she could have imagined that kids of all ages would be crazed enough to wait four hours to hop on the ride, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Granted, it is more than just a ride. As one cues through the line, talking portraits argue, devil’s snare and mandrake root hang from the green house, and snow falls from the sky as you wind through and around Hogwarts. The ride itself? Imagine playing in the Quidditch Cup alongside Malfoy, being spit on by spiders, and breathed on by dragons. In short, it’s the best ride I’ve ever been on. Quite clearly, J.K. Rowling’s imagination has triggered designers, creators, and makers to use their own gifts by developing her world one step deeper.
How lucky we are, to have such a writer among us.
Carrie Brown-Wolf • Rock, Paper, Write 