I'm not a 'Harry Potter' fan, but I've visited the Wizarding World over 100 times. Here are 11 things I always do and 2 I skip.

Although easy to miss, the dark and windy alley is a must-visit for me on any trip.

The completely immersive section is dimly lit and embraces the creepy elements from the story — and even features a tattoo parlor with images of moving tattoo drawings inside.

There are several benches and interactive features, making it a great place to cool down and relax while enjoying the atmosphere.

There are several rides within the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but my favorite is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.

It's an absolute thrill to set foot in Hogwarts Castle and see the likes of the Mirror of Erised and the Sorting Hat.

The motion-based dark ride takes you through iconic scenes from the film. Its ride system was pretty unique when it opened as you're held up above the track by a robotic arm to mimic the feeling of flying.

Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is a unique and highly themed roller coaster.

The thrilling story-based ride takes guests through the Forbidden Forest aboard a motorbike that's modeled after Hagrid's from the films.

When I want a break from the rides, I always enjoy the alcoholic drinks that can only be found in the Wizarding World.

My favorite is the Wizard's Brew, a dark yet sweet stout with notes of chocolate. I also enjoy the land's Fire Whisky, which is similar to Fireball Cinnamon Whisky.

My favorite places to enjoy the beverages are at the highly themed Hog's Head Pub in Hogsmeade or the Hopping Pot in the middle of Diagon Alley.

I'm a big fan of the food at Universal, but some of my favorite snacks can be found in the Wizarding World.

This includes savory beef pasties from the Hopping Pot, a delicious sticky-toffee pudding from the Leaky Cauldron, and the jacket potatoes from the London Taxi Hut.

Unsurprisingly, there are plenty of British-inspired foods in the land that go well beyond standard theme-park fare. My favorite is the fish and chips from the Leaky Cauldron.

Impressively, the pub uses flown-in North Atlantic cod, resulting in some of the best fish and chips I've had stateside.

For breakfast, I can't resist the Leaky Cauldron's traditional full English, complete with black pudding, sausage links, English-style bacon, and baked beans.

It's absolutely delicious and hearty. But the portion is plenty for two people, so I often get the kid's version if I'm traveling solo.

Without a doubt, my favorite desserts at Universal can be found at Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream Parlour in Diagon Alley.

There's Butterbeer-flavored ice cream along with a wide range of inventive flavors, like Earl Grey and lavender, apple crumble, toffee, and (my personal favorite) chocolate chili.

I love to grab a cone and head outside to catch the fire-breathing dragon above Gringotts Wizarding Bank.

The Wizarding World is home to merchandise shops and well-themed boutiques that I love to explore — from the dark Borgin and Burkes to the brightly colored Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.

Honeydukes is the go-to spot for "Harry Potter"-themed sweet treats, including Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans.

There are several shows to enjoy in the Wizarding World, like the Hogwarts students' Frog Choir. But my personal favorite is Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees.

The upbeat Diagon Alley show features original songs like "A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love."

Although you can walk from park to park to visit both Wizarding World of Harry Potter lands, the best way to get between Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade is via the Hogwarts Express.

You can even visit Platform 9 ¾ before boarding the famous train.

The experience is more than just transportation, it's an attraction in and of itself. Each train-car window depicts a video sequence as if you're actually traveling between London King's Cross Station and the fictional town of Hogsmeade.

This may be a bit controversial, but I find the famous Butterbeer in all of the beverage forms (hot, cold, and frozen) to be cloyingly sweet.

Instead, I enjoy the franchise's signature flavor in other variations, like fudge, potted cream, and (my favorite) Butterbeer ice cream.

It's available in both soft serve and a hard-pack cup, and it uses the flavors of toffee, cream soda, and butterscotch without being overly sweet.

Buying a wand may be a right of passage for a Potterhead, but I skip it.

They offer special interactive moments throughout the land that are cued by casting a "spell." But guests are using the wands throughout the park at any given moment, so I never feel like I'm missing out on the special effects.

Instead, I always visit Ollivanders Wand Shop. The unique interactive attraction is a show that brings guests into a small room of the wand shop as a performer recreates the process of a wand choosing a wizard.

To me, this is the epitome of the land's immersive quality.