Review of Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience in Little Elm, TX

Over the past few years, I’ve been trying to shift from spending money on things/gadgets to focusing our resources on experiences. Sure, travel definitely falls into the experience category. But, there are many other cool experiences that don’t involve overnight travel (see my list of Expereience Gift Ideas for DFW Area).

My family recently spent a few hours at Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience in Little Elm, Texas. Was it worth the price of admission?

What is Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience?

The website describes it  this way: “Walk into the depths of a dark forest and discover fantastic beasts and illuminated wizarding world moments.” The experience is only open at night, and it relocates to different cities in the U.S. and around the world.

Basically, an existing nature trail is enhanced with Harry Potter/Fantastic Beast lights, sounds and interactions.

The cost of tickets to the experience varies depending on the date. I purchased a group bundle (6 people) for $40 each. The price for adults is as high as $72 for peak dates like New Year’s Eve. You can also buy a bundle that includes a treat, drink and lanyard. Parking is $5 if paid in advance ($8 on-site). Tickets are capped by entrance time.

Our Time in Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience

Our ticket time was 7:00 p.m. The experience started a good 1/2 mile from the parking lot. This was the first major photo op:

My kids voted to skip the line and get to the main attractions. The first attraction was a little concession area selling hot chocolate, butter beer and sweets.

Our kids talked us into buying them chocolate wands. After a brief large group orientation explaining the interactive phone app, we were on our way into the forest.

At first, the walk was a bit crowded. But gradually, the crowd thinned as everyone walked at their own pace and stopped for photos.

Along the trail, there were some scenes from the movies:

Some of these scenes were interactive. This hippogriff didn’t bow to everyone:

Interactive scenes like this had lines, but we found the lines moved quickly.

Other scenes were more subtle in the depths of the forest. My 13-year-old daughter dressed up for the experience, and she was really in her element.

The trail had a lot of impressive lights and fog:

Toward the end of the trail, there were many interactive stations, including this wand duel:

I don’t want to post any more photos because that might spoil the experience for you!

At the end of the trail, we arrived in another little “town” that had more photo ops, drinks, food and merchandise. It was adorable!

In total, the trail was just over 2 miles long, and we spent around 2 hours at the experience.

Overall Thoughts

So, was it worth the $40 admission price? Absolutely, especially for my daughter who was just giddy the entire time. Our older son was a bit of a curmudgeon at first, but by the end of the trail, the experience had won him over.

I admit, there was more to this experience than I was expecting. The theming and attention to detail were amazing. However, if you’re not a fan of the Harry Potter franchise, you should skip it.

Tips for visiting:

• Dress warmly
• Wear a costume!
• Wear comfortable walking shoes
• Bring a stroller or wheelchair for anyone in your group who would have a hard time walking over 2 miles
• Consider leaving very young children at home. There are some scary scenes, and I saw a few little ones terrified at times.
• Prepare for your kids to talk you into expensive food, drinks and merchandise.

Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience runs through January 13 2024 in Little Elm, TX. It’s also currently running in Singapore and coming soon to Melbourne, Australia.