Great Escape: Do You Believe in Magic?

This muggle had the good fortune of making a great escape to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter last week.

Assuming that the Sunshine State and its premiere theme parks are also your escape of choice this spring, here is a Maurader's Map, if you will, that you and your family can use to make the most of the magic.

So pack your bags, organize your credit cards and prepare to enter the Wizarding World.

Fares, Please: Park Tickets

Located in Universal's Islands of Adventure, Harry Potter world is the newest addition to what is otherwise a less-than-time-consuming theme park.

If you are planning to buy your tickets at the park or upon arrival in Orlando, a word of advice: Buy admission to both Universal parks if you plan to spend an entire day at the studios. While Islands does offer other amusements, the movie-inspired rides advertised on billboards along I-4 are located in Universal Studios–the other park.

Butterbeer, Sweets and Pub Grub

As any visitor to the hallowed grounds of Hogwarts will tell you, a visit to Hogsmeade is not complete until you have enjoyed your first taste of Butterbeer. The preferred drink of wizards and witches alike, Butterbeer is nothing short of gastronomical genius. Grab a pint of this golden (nonalcoholic) brew at The Three Broomsticks or at one of the roadside kiosks in the streets of Hogsmeade (these kiosks also sell bottles of pumpkin juice).

Butterbeer is sold in souvenir mugs (they're a neat keepsake, but cost about $10) or standard 12-ounce plastic cups, and unlike the warm liquid described in the book series, Universal's Butterbeer is served cold or frozen. I recommend a taste of both.

Traditional pub fare can be found in The Three Broomsticks, the only restaurant in the Wizarding World, but there is no table service here and the menu is limited. If you can convince your little wizards to dine outside the park, you'll save time if not money.

However, be prepared to shell out a few galleons at Honeydukes. From chocolate frogs (complete with wizard cards) to Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans (I'm almost positive I got a vomit-flavored bean) and Dark Mark lollipops, you'll find all your favorite magical treats here, for a price.

Hold onto Your Broomstick: Wizarding Rides

There are only three rides within the Wizarding World, but none should be missed.

For the speed junkies, young and old, there are two roller coasters: Flight of the Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge. With its slower speed and less death-defying drops, Flight is a better option for the smaller wizards, while Dragon Challenge is definitely one for the daredevils. Based on the Triwizard Tournament from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, this dueling dragon coaster leaves you saying, "Merlin's beard!" (At one point, the coasters come within 18 inches of colliding!)

But however thrilling the coasters, the premiere ride of the park remains Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, located within the walls of Hogwarts itself.

Winding through the greenhouses, dungeons, Dumbledore's Office and Great Hall (depending on how long the line is), you meet a few portraits, listen to the Sorting Hat's ride precautions and meet the Golden Trio as you embark on a truly magical adventure.

Following Harry on his broom, you're chased by dementors, spiders and dragons, dropped in the middle of a Gryffindor-Slytherin quidditch game and swept through the Chamber of Secrets in about three minutes.

In short, there is always a line for this ride.

However, unless you absolutely have to have a photograph of you and your party screaming like banshees, you can reduce the almost always 45-minute plus wait time to mere minutes by hopping into the single rider line.

If the kiddies are too small to ride, drop your tyke and spouse at the Child Swap room located just before you board the ride. When you finish the ride, simply trade places and continue on your adventure.

Word of warning. Ride the Forbidden Journey, then drink a tankard of Butterbeer. You'll thank me later.

It's All in the Presentation: Shows

Upon arrival to the park, get in the line for Ollivander's Wand Shop. Ollivander himself selects a witch or wizard to "fit" for his or her wand and you, as the audience, can watch as the wand "chooses" the wizard–after a few obvious mismatches of course. Once the show is over, swiftly guide your tiny witch through the actual wand shop or risk dolling out $29.95 for a wand to take home.

Keep an eye out for the Beaubatons ladies and Durmstrang men as they parade through the streets of Hogsmeade and be sure to check the times of the Hogwarts choir performances–the frogs alone are worth the wait.

Wand Storage: Lockers

Within Hogwarts Castle itself as well as next to the Hogwarts Express, you'll find a series of lockers than can be used for free for a certain length of time. Sorry Harry, you won't find any old-fashioned keys here, these lockers lock and open based on the fingerprint you press to the electronic keypad.

A Few Things to Keep in Mind

• When overindulging in Butterbeers forces a visit to the little wizard's room, be sure to listen for the voice of Moaning Myrtle from Harry Potter and the Chambers of Secrets. It makes the trip.
• The Owl Post is actually a working post office, and items mailed from this location will have a special Hogsmeade postmark. Of course postcards and such are available for purchase.
• Photo Ops: The best shots of the Hogwarts Castle can be taken from the bridge between Hogsmeade and the entrance to Jurassic Park. Hogwarts students are more than willing to pose for a pic, but if you want someone really official in your shot, look out for the Hogwarts Express conductor, who shows up frequently throughout the day.

There you have it, muggles. Safe apparating!