Comments on: Harry Potter Theme Park Promises Thrills

By: Emily

Emily — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 15:27:30 +0000

I imagine butterbeer like monster, It’s like nothing I’ve ever tasted!

By: diva_alix

diva_alix — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 23:15:05 +0000

I’ve tried an alcoholic version of butterbeer involving butterscotch schnapps and cream soda. It was tasty, but quite sweet.

By: Jenna St. Hilaire

Jenna St. Hilaire — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:22:49 +0000

Chances are good that I’d enjoy the park, even while being aware of the impossible attempts at approximating the wizarding experience. Like the movies, however, I just don’t expect it to match what I have in my head, and that would be the biggest problem for me.

I’ve tried at least one of the online butterbeer recipes–one involving butterscotch syrup and cream soda–and thought it far too sweet. The beer/sugar/eggs/nutmeg/butter thing sounds great, though. Hmm. Where’s my cauldron?

By: diva_alix

diva_alix — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:13:36 +0000

When I first heard about this park I was cynical and muttered about WB wanting to conintue to cash in on the francise. While that’s undoubtedly true, once I saw some concept art for Hogwarts though, I couldn’t help but think “that is soo cool”.
I don’t think in terms of design or looks, anything will stray too far from what Rowling approves of, as has been the case in the movies (though at times I’ve asked “Jo, why did you let them do that? why???”). I don’t think that the park will override or damage the pictures I have in my mind from the book. Like others, I do often lament, “why can’t I go to Hogwarts???” and with the theme park, I sort of can. It’ll be fun to pretend I’m a witch and buy a wand at Ollivander’s, head to the Three Broomsticks for butterbeer or firewhiskey, and go to the Forbidden Forest. I’ve never been to Florida and I do like rides and themeparks, so this is yet another reason for me to go (though sadly, I will not be able to make Infinitus).

By: aerisflowers

aerisflowers — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:13:13 +0000

I don’t believe that the theme park will change my imagination of the books (the movies certainly haven’t). For me, there is a difference between my personal enjoyment of the story (i.e. sitting down to read the books) and my involvement in the Harry Potter fandom. I separate the books and the movies in my mind and I think that I’ll be doing the same when I go to the theme park.

Melody, I’m going to Infinitus too! I’ve been waiting since Prophecy for Infinitus and the theme park .

By: deacondon

deacondon — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:04:47 +0000

I’ve imagined butterbeer to be a magical beverage, with no muggle equivalent, along with firewhisky. JKR seemed to approve that it caused some loss of inhabition in the HBP movie, since Hermione is obviously a little tipsy in the Three Broomsticks .

By: Arabella Figg

Arabella Figg — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:04:07 +0000

In Britain, there’s ginger beer, which is what we call ginger ale (beer, ale, hmm). So this would seem to be a carbonated nonalcoholic drink. However, consider caffeine in soft drinks and it’s high amounts in energy drinks. You can have a nonalcoholic drink that affects your adrenal levels and mood.

I’ve always thought butterbeer would taste like carbonated butterscotch with an edge, not as sweet, more buttery, and warm. Pretty much as Rowling describes it.

Matthew, I can understand your cynicism, but I seriously doubt anyone will go to that park expecting “the real thing.” (The Wizarding World doesn’t sell Coke. )

By: Jessica

Jessica — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:49:48 +0000

I would imagine butterbeer to be a very sweet (butterscotch, like said above) version of Root Beer (but that’s just me ^^;).

By: David

David — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:44:18 +0000

To those that are “books only” and” my imagination” will develop the images in my mind thank you. The new WWHP is of no interest. Just as many have said from that frame of mind, the “movies” don’t do it for them either.

Now, if you’re a book and movie enthusiast and you don’t mind the Universal and WB imagineers tinkering with JKR’s wizarding world from their frame of imagining Harry’s adventures, you’ll have a great time at this park from what I have seen developing in recent days.

By: Red Rocker

Red Rocker — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:16:43 +0000

Here’s what Wikipedia has to say on the subject of Butterbeer:

Butterbeer is the drink of choice for younger wizards. Harry is first presented with the beverage in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Although House-elves can become intoxicated on butterbeer, it has not been stated that there is any alcohol in the drink. In the sixth book, Harry wonders what Ron and Hermione might do at Professor Slughorn’s Christmas party “under the influence of Butterbeer”, indicating that it could potentially lower inhibitions. J. K. Rowling said in her interview to Bon Appétit magazine that she imagines it “to taste a little bit like less-sickly butterscotch”. Butterbeer can be served cold or hot but either way it has a warming effect. Roald Dahl used a similar word play in his book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in chapter 23 when he mentioned the Oompa-Loompas getting drunk on butterscotch and buttergin.

Butterbeer was a real drink however, made from beer, sugar, eggs, nutmeg and butter back in Tudor times.

And this is what Harry Potter Wiki says:

Butterbeer is a very popular drink among wizards and witches. It is sold at Hogsmeade in pubs like The Three Broomsticks and The Hog’s Head. [1] Butterbeer has a very slight alcohol content. Humans are usually unaffected by it save for a feeling of “warmth”[2], but house-elves can get drunk on it. Winky the House-Elf is known to get drunk on it frequently. [3]

Harry Potter is first presented with this beverage in 1993. In 1996, Harry wonders what Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger might do at Professor Horace Slughorn’s Christmas Party “under the influence of Butterbeer”, [4] indicating that it can lower inhibitions, though presumably in very small amounts.

At The Hog’s Head inn, customers are charged two sickles per Butterbeer [5] , however, it isn’t certain whether this is a universal price for the drink, or if the price of the drink varies from location to location.

So a difference of opinion about its alcohol content. Maybe the author should be consulted?

I always imagined it as similar to chewing khat leaves in Yemen or drinking coca tea in the Andes, i.e. a substance with mild euphoric or stimulant properties which is culturally accepted.