Professor Spindlewink's World of Wizardry — Attraction in Salem

I walked into the shop to look around and buy some things but instead myself and my family were stopped at the door and told "no dogs." I let the shop keeper know that she's a service dog (cardiac alert) and by ADA law, legally allowed. The keepers both said that that the owner doesn't want any dogs, even service dogs, which is illegal and is discrimination.

My dog was well behaved and quiet. We barely walked in the door before being stopped. During the conversation I did start having a cardiac event due to stress and my dog appropriately alerted by pawing my abdomen but was quiet the whole time, so she was not denied access due to any legal reason. Just that the owner says no service dogs which discriminates against their disabled handlers.

According to Mass. gov

Service animals:

Are permitted to go wherever their handler is permitted to go. Must be under the handler’s control at all times. In most cases this involves use of a harness or leash. Must be housebroken. May not pose a legitimate, direct threat to health or safety. Are allowed even if others have fears of or allergies to dogs. Do not have to be allowed to sit on furniture meant for patrons, to eat from plates provided by a food service establishment, or to ride in shopping carts.

According to ADA. gov:

Q25. When can service animals be excluded? A. The ADA does not require covered entities to modify policies, practices, or procedures if it would “fundamentally alter” the nature of the goods, services, programs, or activities provided to the public. Nor does it overrule legitimate safety requirements. If admitting service animals would fundamentally alter the nature of a service or program, service animals may be prohibited. In addition, if a particular service animal is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it, or if it is not housebroken, that animal may be excluded.

Q26. When might a service dog's presence fundamentally alter the nature of a service or program provided to the public? A. In most settings, the presence of a service animal will not result in a fundamental alteration. However, there are some exceptions. For example, at a boarding school, service animals could be restricted from a specific area of a dormitory reserved specifically for students with allergies to dog dander. At a zoo, service animals can be restricted from areas where the animals on display are the natural prey or natural predators of dogs, where the presence of a dog would be disruptive, causing the displayed animals to behave aggressively or become agitated. They cannot be restricted from other areas of the zoo.

Q30. What happens if a person thinks a covered entity's staff has discriminated against him or her? A. Individuals who believe that they have been illegally denied access or service because they use service animals may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice. Individuals also have the right to file a private lawsuit in Federal court charging the entity with discrimination...

I'm a Salem resident and I am on a mission to tour all the local attractions.

About this one:

Professor Spindlewink's World of Wizardry is a brand new fantasy-themed attraction located in downtown Salem. I visited it very recently with a friend and I truly enjoyed it!

What it is:

You first enter a room which is Professor Spindlewink's magic workshop. The room is meticulously designed with a keen attention to details and it's remarkably well put together. It does really feel like being inside a wizard's lab from a movie or a cartoon!

Professor Spindlewink appears as a hologram and a few items "magically" move or talk around you until, after a couple of minutes of this introduction, a wall opens to the magic realms that visitors can explore at their own pace. You are given a map of the realms that makes a nice memento to remember your visit by.

The various realms consists each of a room themed with a different fantasy trope - the forest, crystals, underwater etc - with some interactive activities, some reading, some hidden elements, some animatronics, videos etc. The attraction offers a good variety of activities and doesn't feel repetitive at all.

When you finish, you exit directly on the street basically two doors away from the entrance.

Overall, it is a very well designed, satisfying, esthetically pleasing, whimsical experience!

There are no scares, no actors, no loud sounds or strobes. The dark realm has a warning at its entrance and can be skipped (this room too doesn't really have any substantial sensory trigger or scare, but it is nice that they give the option to skip it, just in case).

This attraction is great especially for families, even with very young children, but it can be fun for groups of adults only too, especially if they are fans of the fantasy genre.

PROs

While some of the other Salem attractions are.. well.. old, and, if I may say, a bit tacky and occasionally feel cheaply made... this one feels like a breath of fresh air. It's artistically well thought and very well made.

Pictures are allowed and encouraged.

As residents, we were given a resident discount.

CONs

This is not really a CON but more a consideration based on the attraction's location. World of Wizardry is located right on Essex Street, which in Salem is the main tourist area, cramped with shops and restaurants, coffee places and attractions. There is not much space left 😊 So, as you can imagine, this attraction, even if it's not small by any means, it is still a bit limited in space. As every self-paced experience, it relays on the ability and the will of the visitor to make the best out of the experience and not just quickly walk through the rooms and be done. So,...

This experience was such a delight!! A great little adventure for both kids and adults alike, especially if you want to reawaken your imagination! It's evident that the attraction is crafted with love and attention to detail by the owner. Even if you think the attraction isn't for you, I would HIGHLY recommend, at the very least, checking out the store. It has a ton of unique merchandise and the employees that work there are what truly make the whole experience magical! We had the pleasure of meeting Wendy who embodies a level of kindness, charm and delight rarely seen in people these days! She made our entire trip to Salem complete and unforgettable. If you swing by the store, make sure to look for Wendy! Can't wait to see what new additions they make to the store and attraction, we will be back to Salem just for...