Harry Potter at COSM: An Immersive Experience in Los Angeles
If you’re looking for a unique family experience that feels like much more than just going to see a movie, COSM in Los Angeles is definitely worth adding to your list! For us, it was a bit of an adventure because the drive was about three hours, but with a little planning, we turned it into a fun family road trip rather than simply a long drive to a movie.
8/20/20266 min read
Harry Potter at COSM: An Immersive Family Experience in Los Angeles
If you’re looking for a unique family experience that feels like much more than just going to see a movie, COSM in Los Angeles is definitely worth adding to your list! For us, it was a bit of an adventure because the drive was about three hours, but with a little planning, we turned it into a fun family road trip rather than simply a long drive to a movie.
Make the Drive Part of the Adventure
Since we knew we had three hours in the car, I wanted to make the drive feel like part of the experience rather than just something we had to get through. I put together themed car snacks and activities for the kids to keep them entertained along the way. Having special snacks that they wouldn't normally get made the drive feel a little more exciting, and I included activities they could do independently in the car. It was a simple way to keep the "Harry Potter adventure" going before we even arrived. With three boys, keeping everyone occupied on a three-hour drive is no small feat, so a little planning ahead made the trip much smoother! Here are some of the things I bought on Amazon prior to the trip:
Bertie Bott's Beans/Candy I Harry Potter Memory Game I Scratch Art I Harry Potter Origami
Start With Some Energy-Burning at Edward Vincent Park
Since we knew our kids would be sitting for quite a while during the COSM experience, we decided to make a stop before the movie and let them burn off some energy.
About 10 minutes from COSM, we found Edward Vincent Park in Inglewood, and it ended up being the perfect pre-movie stop.
The park was clean, had nice bathrooms, and there were plenty of families there with their kids. One of the biggest highlights for our boys was the pump track. We planned ahead and brought their scooters and bikes, and they absolutely loved getting some riding time in before heading to the theater.
It was a great way to break up the drive and let the kids run, ride, and play before asking them to sit through a movie.
Travel tip: If you're making a longer drive to COSM with kids, I highly recommend finding a nearby park or activity to add to your plans. It made a huge difference for us!
Next Stop: COSM Los Angeles
After the kids had worked up an appetite and burned off some energy, we hopped back in the car for the short drive to COSM. From the park, it was only about 10 minutes.
We were there to experience Harry Potter, and from the moment we arrived, it was clear this wasn't going to be an ordinary movie night.
One of the first things that caught our attention was the Harry Potter-themed food and drinks. They had popcorn flavors representing all four Hogwarts houses, and naturally, we had to get all four!
For the adults, there were also specialty cocktails. My husband and I tried the Gryffindor and Slytherin cocktails, and both were delicious.
It was fun to have the food and drinks become part of the experience rather than just something you grab at a typical movie concession stand.
Become Part of the Wizarding World
One of the coolest surprises for our kids was the opportunity to create a Quidditch Player Card.
They scanned a QR code, took a photo, and got to choose their Quidditch position. My youngest decided he wanted to be a Ravenclaw Keeper.
His picture was actually displayed in the theater, and afterward, we were able to pick up his personalized playing card.
That little extra touch was a huge hit with the kids. It gave them something they could take home and made them feel like they were actually part of the Harry Potter world.
Dinner... at the Movie?!
Once we took our seats, another unique part of the COSM experience began. Instead of getting up to visit a concession stand, we had a server who came to our seats and took our food and drink orders.
There were Harry Potter-themed food options as well as a variety of other choices.
My husband and I ordered tacos and poke, while the kids went with the classics: chicken strips, French fries, and Butterbeer.
Having a full meal while watching the movie was such a fun change from the traditional movie theater experience. It also meant we didn't have to worry about feeding everyone before or after the movie.
The Movie Is the Experience
Of course, the food and extras were fun, but the real star of COSM is the theater itself.
Watching Harry Potter on COSM's enormous immersive screen was an experience unlike any movie theater we've been to before. The visuals are so large and immersive that it genuinely felt like we were inside the movie.
Instead of simply watching Harry, Ron, and Hermione go through their adventures, it felt like we were right there with them.
The kids were completely captivated.
There were moments when the scale of the screen made the action feel like it was happening all around us. It was one of those experiences where you occasionally forget you're sitting in a theater because your brain starts treating the movie like you're actually part of the scene.
For our family, that was what made the experience so memorable.
Was COSM Worth the Road Trip?
For us, absolutely.
A three-hour drive is definitely an investment, especially with three kids, but we found that turning the trip into an entire day of activities made it much more enjoyable.
We played at the park, rode bikes and scooters, enjoyed themed food and drinks, made a Quidditch Player Card, had dinner during the movie, and experienced Harry Potter in a completely new way.
By the time we headed home, we were tired, but in that good kind of tired that comes after a really fun family adventure.
It was also the perfect way for us to kick off the start of a new school year. After the craziness of summer and before everyone jumped back into homework, sports, schedules, and early mornings, we had one more big family adventure together.
Our Tips for Visiting COSM With Kids
🚗 Make a day of it. If you're driving several hours, look for a nearby activity before your COSM showing.
🛴 Bring something for the kids to do in and out of the car. Bikes and scooters were perfect for our stop at Edward Vincent Park. I also brought Harry Potter themed activities for the car ride.
🍿 Try the themed food. The four Hogwarts house popcorns were too fun to pass up.
🍹 Adults, try a specialty cocktail. The Gryffindor and Slytherin cocktails we tried were both delicious.
🧙♂️ Let the kids do the Quidditch Player Card. It's a fun keepsake and one of those little details the kids will remember. This does cost extra.
🍽️ Plan to eat at COSM. Since you have table service during the movie, you don't necessarily need to find a separate restaurant before or afterward.
⏰ Give yourself plenty of time. There is more to experience than simply walking in and sitting down for a movie, so don't plan to arrive at the last minute.
One Last Family Adventure Before School
Our COSM experience ended up being much more than a movie. It was a family adventure, a Harry Potter experience, dinner, entertainment, and a chance to make one more great memory before the school year began.
Would I drive three hours again?
For the right movie and the right experience, yes.
And Harry Potter was definitely worth the trip. 🪄⚡
If you're looking for something different to do with your family in Los Angeles, especially if you have kids who love Harry Potter, COSM is an experience I'd definitely consider adding to your family adventure list.
