At first glance, it might seem that there's no question about the Wizarding World. Universal's new Harry Potter land has won, well, universal acclaim. It won our Theme Park Insider Award for Best New Attraction of 2010. It's been sitting atop of Best Themed Ride rankings since it opened. And this week, the themed amusement industry's designers and managers honored it with four Thea Awards at the 2010 IAAPA Attractions Expo.
No question, huh?
Not so fast. There is one question roiling the Wizarding World - one question that divides fans into bitter enemy camps, like Gryffindors battling Slytherins.
How do you like your Butterbeer, regular or frozen?
If you've visited the park, go ahead and respond with your favorite version of Universal's highly addictive drink. If you've not yet visited, take a look at the pros and cons listed below and in the comments, then respond with the version you'll pick first when you do visit.
(And you must visit. If you're a theme park fans - even if you don't care for Harry Potter - you really should see this, to see the ultimate in immersive area theming.)
Why Frozen Butterbeer?
It's colder, and that's a plus on a hot Orlando day.
You have to drink it more slowly, allowing you to savor the flavor longer.
The flavor seems a bit more intensive in the frozen version.
Why Regular Butterbeer?
Authenticity - The gang in Harry Potter didn't drink Butterbeer slushies. You only get the smooth, beer-like mouth feel with the regular version.
It's not frozen - Visiting the Wizarding World is enough of a head rush. Do you really want a brain freeze, too?
Cost - The regular version's a buck cheaper.
So which will it be?
If you're already a Butterbeer fan, explain your choice in the comments, please. And have a wonderful weekend queuing for the Harry Potter movie, the Wizarding World, or whatever else you have planned. Thanks again for reading Theme Park Insider.
Beverly? Whazzat?
As for the question at hand...my first sip of Butterbeer will be the frozen variety!
For those that don't like sweet drinks... try the pear cider!
Doesn't sound like y'all are on the same page. Sounds like Terry's a BIG fan of what James refers to as "yucky soda!"
I smell a Hell In A Cell match to settle this!
And somebody above referenced butterscotch in describing Butterbeer. I like butterscotch, so this is sounding more appealing by the minute. Maybe I'll win the contest I'm entering EVERY day in the NY Daily News through the 26th of this month. Trip for four to Universal, stay at Hard Rock Hotel. Right now, I have nobody to go with. Any takers???
Besides, the debate about that nasty, yucky Italian soda is a "tale as old as time" anyway. However, I do have one ace in my pocket, since Disney Insiders themselves are not too fond of the bitter beverage either.
On another note, I am sure Warner Bros and Universal are raising their Butterbeers high after Harry Potter 7a grossed $24M post-midnight Thursday night - third best of all time.
Did someone say HP was just a fad?
UPDATE on HP7a: There are now 65 million more reasons for Universal & WB execs to celebrate with tankards of Butterbeer: the penultimate Potter installment took in an estimated $65 million on Friday, which could lead to upwards of $140 - $150 million for its opening weekend. Talk about magical....
You can pretty much ignore his opinions on food and drink because he has a freakishly "picky" palate (the only person I know of that is worse is our dad), and the family catered to it (my mom is a Saint, or should be). I have so many examples of this happening with him. Never in my life, have I seen him eat something he doesn't like without coercion, Never. I was with him in that shop, and every single time I glanced over, or was looking for him for some reason, he was getting a little cup of that drink. I couldn't believe he even tried it, much less kept drinking it, and we kept popping into that store whenever we'd walk by, so he could get more. There's no way that happens, not with him, unless he legitimately likes it. None. If he says he likes or doesn't like a food or drink, just disregard it, because his taste buds seem to be misproportioned, skewed towards sour and bitter. He'll probably like Moxie, too, a drink found primarily in New England, and which I was only able to tolerate a sip, because of it's bitterness. Ok? Done? Good. Back to butterbeer. . .
I look forward to trying the butterbeer when we travel that way in about a year and a half, and I'm glad to see there's an article and some comments to help me decide which one to try, though I probably have to have one of each. It sounds like something I am going to enjoy! I like to eat the "park food." Since I'm in charge of planning, we'll make it over there for a day.
Why? Not sure. I think the frozen allows you to savor the sweetness of the drink as it melts. Personal preference I guess. I also like something else frozen a few hundred yards away in City Walk - Margarita from Jimmy Buffett's.
From polling my friends, they either really love butterbeer or hate it, no inbetweens at all.
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From what I've read about Butterbeer as served in Florida, it's similar in taste and texture to cream soda. I like cream soda, but the idea of having it (or soda in general) frozen doesn't really appeal to me. So I voted for regular non-frozen Butterbeer.