MagiQuest, Enchanted Castle cast a magical spell

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens at Universal Orlando Resort this spring, but you don't need to make a trip to Florida to have some magic-themed fun. It seems the town of Lombard is the center of this vortex of fantasy and fun.

Fantasy lovers of all ages can take on the role of adventurous wizards at the newly opened MagiQuest or spend the day playing games amid Enchanted Castle's knights and dragons all within a couple of miles of each other.

MagiQuest

203 Yorktown Shopping Center, Lombard, (877) 797-8855, magiquest.com

Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday

The newest addition to the nationwide MagiQuest franchise opened at Yorktown Shopping Center earlier this month. Guests take on the roles of magi as they explore the 19,000-square-foot space seeking adventure. After choosing to join one of five clans, each with unique abilities, players must purchase a wand for $16.95 and game time in 30-minute increments for $4.95. There is no admission fee for parents accompanying young quest seekers.

Waving wands triggers interactive elements throughout the live-action game. Magi must gain the use of magic spells by hunting for items and activating them with their wands. These include images on the walls that light up when triggered and sigils hidden in magic chests that spring open with the flick of the wrist.

The space is filled with 3-D elements, including caldrons that constantly churn smoke, mazelike walls and a set of standing stones where visitors consult with a video showing a quest-giving wizard.

Different zones include a dragon's lair, a princess's castle and a forest inhabited by pixies. Kids are kept constantly moving between areas on their quest to become master magi.

"As a mom, it's nice when you can have kids running around and doing something, especially on a rainy day," said co-owner Kirsten Legner. "The creators wanted this to be a physical experience."

Fantastic characters aren't relegated to MagiQuest's many computer screens. Staff members take on roles as bards, elves, nobles and woodsmen, constantly engaging visitors, doling out hints and trying to keep everyone having fun.

Legner said her employees went through a two-hour audition to test their ability to stay in character while dealing with problems during busy days.

"A lot of my staff makes their own costumes," she said. "They teach us how to speak. They teach us how to do this better."

While the game is targeted toward kids ages 7 to 14, Legner said fantasy lovers of all ages have found something to love. Older players enjoy getting to compete in duels, using the spells they've learned and special rewards from completing quests to defeat their opponents.

Enchanted Castle

1103 S. Main St., Lombard, (630) 953-7860, enchanted.com

Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday

Enchanted Castle first opened in a 10,000-square-foot space in 1983 and has never stopped expanding. Now the massive entertainment center includes a huge room for parties, a restaurant, a room packed with all varieties of video games, a kids' play area, laser tag, miniature golf, inflatables and go-karts. Each attraction comes with a separate price and ranges from $3 to $5.

The huge arcade is sectioned into areas by game type. Games that appeal to younger kids are clustered near Kids Quest Playland, an area filled with tunnels, slides and nets where children can have some active fun. An area geared more toward older guests offers air hockey, sports games and shooting games. Guests can take out some aggression in bumper cars or practice putting on a nine-hole indoor miniature golf course decorated with a neon castle, fountains and trees.

Laser tag is an especially complex affair at Enchanted Castle. Instead of the conventional two teams, three teams can face off in an open court. Along with shooting as many opponents as possible, players can raid bases for rewards and hit targets that rob points from nearby players. The cost is $5 a person.

An indoor go-kart course lets visitors drive up to 22 mph, with up to eight cars going at a time. If a kid isn't tall enough to ride alone or doesn't want to drive by themselves, parents can share the car for free.

Enchanted Castle's newest attraction is a set of inflatables including an obstacle course and a slide. While they're mostly occupied by birthday parties, kids can play on them for $3 per half-hour when they're available. It's easy to spend a whole day there, and while pizza is the most popular choice for lunch, the restaurant offers wraps, sandwiches and salads made on-site.

The decor stays true to Enchanted Castle's fantasy roots, with statues of their wizard mascot, murals of dragons and knights, and walls made to look like castle bricks. An animatronics show features a singing dragon, wizard and princess.

Elena Ruane, vice president of events and marketing, said she wants to bring in more costumed characters such as fairies sprinkling pixie dust on guests.

"Any themed restaurant has to maintain that theme," she said. "We want to make it memorable and special by keeping that fantasy element."