It's Opening Day at Universal Hollywood's Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Universal Studios in Hollywood held the official opening ceremony for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Tuesday night, L.A. Philharmonic and fireworks included, but today marks the first day the park is open to paying guests. As we could have predicted, the Muggles who were eager enough to buy opening day tickets have taken to social media to document their experiences in the newly opened park. Let’s take a look at the magic they’ve shared thus far.

Some people camped overnight outside the entrance of Hogsmeade to be the first in the Harry Potter theme park, a billion-dollar expansion plan that follows in the footsteps of two other theme parks in Florida and Japan. Park president Larry Kurzweil welcomed guests alongside some members of the cast of the Harry Potter film franchise including Warwick Davis (Professor Flitwick), Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood), James Phelps (Fred Weasley), and Oliver Phelps (George Weasley). With a burst of confetti and an uproar of applause, the park ushered in its first guests to experience the magic. Watch the video below:

Here’s a photo of Felton, the Phelps twins, Lynch, and Davis posing for a picture, clad in their respective Hogwarts House’s garb, wands at the ready.

It looks like Classy ChloBelle and her friend are sufficiently excited to be some of the first guests in Hollywood’s park. Before and after shots of their stoked reactions, you can catch a few glimpses of the immaculate Hogwarts tower and some brief footage of the Flight of the Hippogriff ride zooming by.

Here’s the same Twitter user’s view of Hogsmeade. Stunning, indeed.

Bless ChloBelle for being so thorough in her coverage, allowing the unfortunate souls who aren’t there to imagine what it would be like if we were at the Harry Potter theme park on the first day. This Three Broomsticks breakfast looks real dank, if I may say so.

@Weasley_Luna will sticks by her Hufflepuff classification, which means she’s probably one of the more dedicated, patient, and loyal visitors at the park today.

Mayor of L.A. Eric Garcetti even made it out to opening day. It looks like he approves of the Forbidden Journey ride. Dude on the right is one step ahead of him.

A gloriously sunny day makes for a magical first taste of Hollywood’s wizarding world. Most of us probably imagine an overcast backdrop for Hogwarts since it’s in England, but this ain’t half bad.

Looks like guests will have to wait a long time to get into Ollivander’s wand shop. Something tells me that the people who made the effort to come out on the first day won’t mind waiting in long lines, though.

Here’s someone posing in front of the Flying Ford Anglia and drinking a butterbeer. “This is the life,” her content gaze seems to say. Although there isn’t any alcohol in the butterbeer, this girl is buzzin’.

I think it’s safe to say that there’s a bit of @noelle15_ in all of us who are doing other things than experiencing the magic at the opening day of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Feel you, girl.