Since 2010, when Universal Studios Orlando announced the opening of a Harry Potter-themed area within Islands of Adventure, I knew I had to go. Last week, I was finally able to get there, and it was everything I had hoped it would be. The park allows you to walk through the streets of Hogsmeade Village and Diagon Alley, just as they were in the movies. It allows you to see the shops Harry, Ron, and Hermoine visited. For the day, you get to live in the world of your favorite book, which is the ultimate dream of every fan.

Hogsmeade Village

Stepping into Hogsmeade Village on my first day in Orlando was surreal. The snow-covered rooftops and brick streets were identical to the ones I grew up seeing on screen. The enormous Hogwarts castle sat at the end of the village, looking absolutely perfect, and a little like home.

The shops were perfect recreations of the fictional ones. I visited Ollivander's Wand Shop and purchased my own, functional wand that made magic happen at specific sites in the village. I even got to buy a chocolate frog at HoneyDuke's. The three rides in this area were also really entertaining. The ride that takes place in the castle spins you through different parts of Hogwarts, including the Quidditch pitch and the Forbidden Forest. And, the Dragon Challenge roller coaster here was one of my favorite rides in the whole park.

The Hogwarts Express

The Hogwarts Express was one of the coolest features Universal included. With park-to-park tickets, you can ride the train from Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure to King's Cross Station in Universal Studios, or vice versa. The King's Cross train station was spot-on. An optical illusion actually allows you to walk through the wall to Platform 9 3/4.

The train ride itself was pretty amazing. You get seated in a train car, and the window shows you the English countryside and the streets of London as you pass by on your way to or from Hogwarts. Any true Harry Potter fan will be truly thrilled by this experience.

Diagon Alley

Diagon Alley, the wizard hub hidden in London, was probably my favorite part of the whole park. Gringotts Bank, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment, and many other shops were there, and I felt like I was shopping for my first year at Hogwarts, just like Harry did. The Leaky Cauldron, one of the most important parts of Diagon Alley, was absolutely perfect. It's a functioning restaurant where I was able to eat fish and chips and drink butterbeer in a place I grew up dreaming about.

As a die-hard Harry Potter fan, I went into this trip with very high expectations. I wondered if this place could possibly live up to the sights and feelings that the movies and books gave me, and I was definitely impressed. I'm now back home, living my normal muggle life. But, I know that for a few days, I lived like a true wizard.