I Tried Universal Studios’ New Hogwarts House Churros

The boy who lived is making a return with HBO Max’s upcoming Harry Potter series, which means muggles and fans have a reason to break out their wands once more. While you may be excited to see the Wizarding World come to life again with a cast of new characters, including John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, you’ll need to wait ‘til 2027 for the reimagined version.

For those who are impatient, Universal Studios has plenty of new Harry Potter-themed menu items and attractions coming to the parks in Hollywood, California, and Orlando, Florida, throughout 2025. For the fans, Universal Studios Hollywood is hosting an all-new after hours ticketed event now through May 18 that includes the Wizarding World as well as Back to the Future, Wicked, Super Nintendo World, and more.

Below is my honest review of the new Hogwarts-themed treats at Universal Fan Fest Nights, along with the Butterbeer season highlights and exciting new images of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic at Epic Universe.

The Three Broomsticks Has A Magical Three-Course Menu

On select nights in May, Universal Studios Hollywood is hosting Fan Fest Nights, featuring exclusive menu items, merch, and attractions. This after hours event is similar to Halloween Horror Nights with walk-through attractions and in-world experiences. The Back to the Future: Destination Hill Valley experience was a highlight of my night, putting guests in the middle of the first movie of the series on the actual set where it was filmed. Wicked fans also have the chance to meet Elphaba and Glinda for the first time in Hollywood.

There’s also some deliciousness for foodies and Harry Potter fans in the Wizarding World. For the event, The Three Broomsticks has a special $40 three-course menu with your choice of four Cornish pasties as your appetizer — each paired with a different chutney inspired by one of the Hogwarts houses. The Gryffindor comes with red pepper, Ravenclaw is blueberry, Hufflepuff is mango, and Slytherin is cilantro and mint.

For the main course, your options include a Sunday Roast, Toad in the Hole vegan Yorkshire pudding, Fish and Chips, and Curry Chicken. To finish off your meal, there are two desserts — a Golden Snitch vanilla sponge cake or Hogwarts House Cup Triffle with pineapple, kiwi, strawberries, and blueberries. As a Ravenclaw, I got the blueberry chutney along with the fish and chips plus the Golden Snitch. Everything was delicious and reminded me of the Insta-worthy menu at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in Tokyo, Japan. Even the massive fish on my plate felt like an upgrade from what’s normally offered during regular park hours, so I’d give it a 5 out of 5.

Support Your Hogwarts House With All-New Churros

If you’re not down to spend $40 on a meal and take away some time from the party — which lasts till 2 a.m. — you can grab some exclusive snacks for Fan Fest Nights. The popcorn cart across from Ollivander's Wand Shop has specialty churros ($7) themed to each of the Hogwarts houses. There are only two flavors offered each night, depending on who is playing in the Quidditch game that day.

I was able to try the blue raspberry Ravenclaw churro and cherry Gryffindor churro, which were both as tasty as they were picture-perfect. I do have to give the cup to Ravenclaw, though, because the blue raspberry icing and sugar was so good that it enhanced the already delicious, warm churro. The cherry flavor on the Gryffindor treat was too subtle and not as exciting.

If you end up going to Fan Fest Nights, you may get to try the green apple Slytherin churro or pineapple Hufflepuff churro. Since I want to complete the Hogwarts taste-test, I really hope Universal keeps these churros on the menu once Fan Fest Nights ends.

The cart also has a collectible $40 Time-Turner Popcorn Bucket and $6 Hogwarts Meat Pie for the savory snackers. The meat pie is warm, flaky, and just what I needed to counteract all the sugar I was eating. After trying the Pumpkin Pasty, it’s clear that Universal Studios Hollywood knows how to make a delicious pastry.

Check Out Fantastic Beasts For The First Time

If you’re not hungry, the Wizarding World also has magical creatures wandering Hogsmeade for the first time in the U.S. You can interact with an adorable baby dragon, gorgeous Occamy, and hilarious Niffler from the Fantastic Beasts franchise. These creatures have appeared at Universal Studios Japan, but this is their American debut.

General admission tickets for Fan Fest Nights are still available for $74 to $84.

I Solemnly Swear The Butterbeer Cream Puff Is Good

Universal is still celebrating Butterbeer season until May 31, with new merch and menu items, including a Butterbeer Cream Puff. I’ve tried every single Butterbeer item on the menu. The cold and frozen Butterbeers are still at the top, but the Butterbeer Cream Puff took over third place from the soft serve. The new pastry, which can be found at The Three Broomsticks for $8, is filled with a Butterbeer cream and topped with whipped cream, Butterbeer sauce, and a shortbread cookie that says “Butterbeer.” It’s picture-perfect like something you’d find at Honeydukes or on the Hogwarts Express trolley cart, and has just the right amount of butterscotch flavor without being overly sweet.

The other two new additions, ice lolly and Butterbeer Chocolate Bar, were kind of a disappointment, but you may enjoy them if you really love sugar and white chocolate. It’s just too much sweetness added to an already sweet treat.

Epic Universe Looks Straight Out Of Harry Potter And The Order of the Phoenix

Epic Universe officially opens May 22 at Universal Orlando Resort, but with all the previews, fans have basically seen everything in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic. The new land is inspired by 1920s Paris, and set around the same time as the Fantastic Beasts franchise. It includes dining locations like the Café L’air De La Sirène, stores like Les Galeries Mirifiques, and a Le Cirque Arcanus theater for live shows.

The menu at Café L’air De La Sirène has a $20 Butterbeer Crêpe with shortbread cookie butter, Bavarian cream, Butterbeer cream, strawberries, Butterbeer drizzle, and a Butterbeer shortbread cookie. The cafe also has an Alchemist’s Platter charcuterie board and Quiche Lorraine that’s at the top of my to-eat list.

Of course, the main attraction of Epic Universe’s Wizarding World is the Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry ride. In the queue, guests travel forward in time from Paris to the British Ministry of Magic for Dolores Umbridge’s trial via the Floo Network.

Once you arrive, you enter the massive Ministry of Magic building. YouTuber Peter Sciretta from Ordinary Adventures was able to visit the actual set of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and told his subscribers that the attraction at Universal’s Epic Universe is “more impressive” than the IRL filming location.

Since the ride takes place after Deathly Hallows, when Harry Potter and Ron Weasley work at the Ministry of Magic, fans can also search for Easter eggs in the queue that support that timeline, like their lockers. Along with hidden nods to the films and details within the line, you’ll also come across an animatronic of Dolores Umbridge’s former house-elf named Higgledy in her office.

The ride is similar to other Harry Potter attractions that mix both practical sets and screen simulators, and has drops and fast-paced movement. After you’re done flying through the Ministry of Magic, you may want to go shopping for something sweet or a new wand. K. Rammelle is a new confectionary at Epic Universe filled with Harry Potter French treats like macarons and bonbons as well as coffee bags to take home.

If your go-to purchase within the Wizarding World is a wand, you’ll want to make your way to Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique. You’ll find in the shop gorgeous wands that are exclusive to Epic Universe, and can be used to create magic throughout the land. As you cast spells, you may even run into a few creatures from the Fantastic Beasts franchise.

Fans can buy ticket packages now, starting at $117 per day, for Universal Epic Universe.