⚡ The Second Chance

Years ago, I’d snagged tickets when The Forbidden Forest Experience opened in Virginia—but then I got pregnant, and apparently “wandering through dark, muddy woods while summoning spells” wasn’t considered ideal prenatal care. So when it came to Illinois this year, I wasn’t missing it. Not even a Confundus Charm could’ve stopped me this time.

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🚗 The Crew and the Journey

Seven of us—Mom, Tim, Jessie, Kira, Evie, Ellie, and me—crammed into Mom’s Chrysler Pacifica for a five-hour road trip. The van was packed with snacks, chaos, and just enough energy to make the Weasley family look organized.

We stopped at Fratello’s Hotdogs for dinner—because nothing says “ready for magic” like dining at a Midwestern Muggle delicacy.

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🌙 The Village Before the Forest

We couldn’t have timed it better. The sky dimmed to that perfect twilight—dark enough for the lanterns to glow, but not so dark that we lost sight of the toddlers.

You enter through a cozy village area, all twinkling lights, rustic stalls, and wet hay underfoot. It smelled like autumn after rain—earthy and alive—and honestly, it fit. There was Butterbeer advertised (tragically sold out in that section), and the hum of chatter made it feel like stepping into a small-town version of Hogsmeade.

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🌲 Into the Forbidden Forest

After passing through the bustling gift shop (because merch is the true Dark Arts), we entered the forest—and it was enchanting in that eerie, cinematic way only Potter fans truly appreciate.

The trees glowed in shades of blue, white, and violet, mist curling low across the path as Patronuses shimmered between branches. Every so often, Voldemort’s voice slithered through the speakers—that chilling, telepathic announcement from the final battle: “Bring Harry Potter to me.” Ellie hissed back, naturally.

Interactive stations let you cast spells like Bombarda, where you could blow up a keg, or Expecto Patronum to summon a ghostly animal protector.

Evie was completely mesmerized by the glowing lights and the animatronic creatures—spiders, owls, and unicorns—while Ellie just wanted to be held, tucked safely away from all the noise. Kira? She slept through most of it, like Filch on night patrol—or maybe one of Fluffy’s heads between shifts.

Midway through, we finally found a Butterbeer stand. It was good—sweet and nostalgic—but not quite as magical as Universal’s version (I blame the foam… always the foam).

We even got to bow to Buckbeak, his feathers glinting under the forest lights, which might have been the highlight for me.

We felt rushed through the whole experience, honestly. Despite being let in by groups, the pacing never really evened out, and it was more shuffle than stroll from start to finish. Jessie and I made the best of it, quoting lines as we went, geeking out like it was 2011 all over again.

I was a little disappointed not to see any house-elves, though. It felt like they belonged there—lurking under the roots, waiting to scold us for our Muggle shoes.

At the very end, there was a duel station, letting brave witches and wizards test their reflexes and wand skills one last time before returning to the Muggle world—via, of course, one last gift shop, mercifully less chaotic than the first. I actually got to browse without being shoulder-checked by a Slytherin dad with stroller rage before we exited back into the village, which had gotten significantly busier since we first arrived.

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🧙‍♀️ The Magic & The Mood

The whole experience was a love letter to Potter fans. Wands glowing, robes swishing, kids shouting “Expecto Patronum!” like it actually worked. I wore my Hufflepuff cardigan, naturally, surrounded by Gryffindors and Slytherins pretending to get along for one night.

It was cozy, nostalgic, and messy in that perfectly human way. Nothing beats the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London, but this was its own brand of magic—less cinematic, more communal.

And for a mom who once dreamed of Hogwarts but now walks its forests hand-in-hand with her daughters…maybe this is the real magic. 🖤

Side note: Even moving quickly, it still took us about 90 minutes from entering to exiting. I have no idea how anyone does it in 60 minutes, so don’t let the website fool you.