Good-bye Florida

A few more pictures before we left Universal, Florida.

It's a tricky shot with the globe turning.



Freaky roller coaster! Start by going vertical, then woosh!



The loot!


We a fabulous time!!! Thanks to Mom & Dad for watching the boys. Nothing like getting away.

Day 3: Hogwarts & More

We spent our second day at Hogwarts, prepared from our previous day's venture. We knew right away that we would head to Olivanader's Wand Shop. The line gets super long, so to hit it first thing in the morning, especially with our hour early entrance, was a must. It worked, too! We ended up getting cut and the first in the next show.

What a fantastic show! About 30 people are allowed in, and right away you see the walls piled with wands.

Olivander is there, and you wait for him to notice you. He begins by telling about the history of wands and how the wand chooses the wizard. He looks up, and notices a young boy, about 10 years old. The boy is Michael, and is given the opportunity to discover his wand. Olivander has Michael try out a wand by asking to wave down a box from way up high. Oops! That didn't work. A couple more tries, but to no avail. Olivander asks the boy when his birthday is. "Today," the boy responds. Oh! (tear up here) It's pretty obvious that everyone now agrees that Michael deserves this wand, even though we all wanted to be chosen. Too bad that wand didn't work! Finally, Michael tries another wand, and with a celestial glow, his wand has been discovered! He and his family are escorted through one door, the rest of us allowed to enter the shop.

Jason and I knew that you can either buy a character wand or a birthday that coincides with your birthday. Right away the birthday wands are what we check out (below).

Elisha's wand, ash for February, is pretty cool with ivy going around. Jason's, August, is shorter with a handle that looks like it's wrapped with leather strips and is wavy. But, hey! What about our anniversary? Can you see the wand on the left, in between the 2 blue boxes? That's for March: a cobra snake with a skeleton inside! Yikes! Um, I'll stick to my birthday wand, thanks. And that's exactly what we do.

There are also robes ($100) and scarves ($30) to buy, so we try them on for fun. Almost bought the scarf!
Whew! Why not get some butter beer? Cold or frozen? You pick.

The Tri-Wizard Cup

The Merauder's Map (feet frozen in time)

The wild car, stuck in a tree and revving.

Hey, it's the Hogwarts choir, complete with bull frogs. So fun! When they pose, the leader tells the others that we're muggles, so our photos don't move; they'll have to stand still. She goes so far as to say don't breath. One gentleman takes it to heart, and she has to remind him to breath again.




We also see the Ladies of Beauxbatons and the Brothers of Durmstrang.





Elisha meets 2 Deaf ladies from Maryland and also interprets the show. Within the hour she also speaks some Portuguese (not to mention half of Brasil was in the park!)

Oh, Moaning Myrtle's in the bathroom! She didn't want us to go since Harry hasn't visited for a long time.



We're going to head out into the rest of the park now.
Lunch time! Let's eat at Blondie's: Home of the Dagwood (cartoon area). MUST eat the Dagwood!

Betty Boop!

Seuss-land! Let's ride the Carou-seus-sel!

Playin' around


Jason was in a movie! The film studios "Disaster" chose him to be an actor, while Elisha was an extra. This is super fun attraction where people learn how clips and special effects are brought together.


There's Jason, on the far left in the orange. The director needed someone in closed toe shoes and pants. No one rose their hand. "Okay, who has clothes on?" Jason rose his hand, and was selected! What will they have him do?


Jason doing his part with a green screen and in a box of green balls. He was told to look terrified; he looked terrified when he was told his daughter was Lady Gaga. Who wouldn't?



The movie, starring The Rock



Let's get into some more trouble with Jaws!

There's no Back to Future ride, but the Doc was hanging out. Look! The car's flying right at us!


Out on the City Walk, enjoying the waves

Day 2: The Rest of the Island

After the Magical World of Harry Potter, we stumble into Jurassic Park!



The dinosaurs fade, and the super heroes appear!

What will Peter Parker's fax machine show?


Yeah, we decided we went to the wrong park if we wanted to stock up on souvenirs for Harrison. He doesn't know Spider Man, Bat Man, and all those cool action heroes. His preferences are Pixar and Disney oriented. I guess we saved money that way, but also a reason to take him in person to see Mickey!

Day 2: Hogwarts!

We are going to speak as if we are taking you on tour with us. So, come on! Let's have fun!

Can you see the tilted chimneys around the Cat's red hat? There's the first sight of Hogsmead!

Of course, you can't just magically enter into Harry Potter world. You have to go through a few other lands, or islands. First, is a Greek gods area with Sinbad and such. Elisha thought it was the first sight of Hogsmead. Who can blame her? Look at the coloring and buildings and say it doesn't resemble.

After becoming confused in Dr. Seuss' world, you enter upon the gateway

And the sign telling you no magic is allowed in Hogsmead (whew!)

CHILLS! Harry Potter music is playing all around as you enter, you see what you've only dreamed of and seen on post cards. Now it's really happening. It feels as if you are part of something real. You're really here! Emotions are definitely stirring high now.


We decide that going to the castle would be best, even though we arrived an early. Line's are already forming. The Forbidden Journey takes you through the Hogwarts castle, giving a thorough tour. You can just tour, or choose to do that and the fun flying ride. We had to do the tour first with the ride not working. That worked out great, allowing us to take tons of photos. (bags have to be put in lockers (free with your fingerprint) for this ride).

THE castle!

Enter through the dungeon where Professor Snape lingers.

The mirror if Erised

Snape's office up those steps

As you come out of the dungeon, you enter the greenhouse for herbology class

Mandrakes (oddly quiet)

All the garbage cans are themed. Elisha warms up before we enter the castle.

The architect of Hogwarts. He has representations of each of the 4 (we can only find 3) of the house founders (Griffendor, Hufflepuff, Slitheren, Ravenclaw)

Who's winning the house cup? Oh, it's Griffendor!


The pictures really talk!
Room of requirement

Entrance to Dumbledor's office


We actually see Dumbledore and he says that we're headed to a long lecture. Ron, Hermoine, and Harry show up, hiding under the cloak. Hermoine's going to put a levitation charm on the benches in the room of requirement. We just have to get there. That's where the ride happens! You flee from a fire breathing dragon, run from Aragog and his spitting spiders, escape the dementor's kiss, scale away from the womping willow, all ending up at the end of the quidditch match. Whew!

On Flight of the Hippogrif we see Buckbeak! Of course, you have to bow when you meet. Even though this is considered a kiddy roller coaster, Elisha was screaming on the climb to the drop. 3 kids dressed in wizard robes turned around, smiling. "It's because you're wizards!" They must have felt much braver. The screaming continued on the drop.

In the gift shop of all places we see a Death Eater mask (not for sale)


Let's go get some sweets at Honeyduke's and see some fun gags at Zonkos.

Extendable ears!
Pumpkin juice - YUM!


Hey! We have reservations at the 3 Broomsticks for breakfast! Jason's going to eat the traditional English breakfast, complete with black pudding, and Elisha's going to eat the pancake breakfast. How about you? Don't forget the butterbeer and pumpkin juice!

The bar at the 3 Broomsticks. You can get drinks anytime! If you listen, you can hear the argument upstairs about Sirius betraying Harry's parents.

We are lucky to catch a glimpse of the Hogwarts choir! Yes, even the toads sing.

Why stand in line to take a picture with the Hogwarts train conductor? He was funny, though. He thanked another family for bringing their own Weasley (a cute, red headed girl).

The postal system and character wands you may purchase

Someone needs to pot this mandrake, and quick!