Showing posts with label Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Show all posts

Disney World Continued...

Monday, June 13, 2011 -

This post is extremely delayed. As I mentioned, work is extremely busy right now. Sometimes life gets busy. It just happens. With work, I've been working at home in the evenings as well to ensure all is set for our upcoming event. That means, not as much time for blogging. But alas, I'm slowly getting back into it (though I can guarantee I'll be better in July).

Just wanted to share a few more photos from Disney. We really had a great time with our close friends Sean and Melinda. We visited Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Blizzard Beach and, my favorite, Epcot. Lots of great food (which you can ready about over at City Nom Noms), entertaining rides and amusing shows - building on memories and making new ones. I love Disney, I can't help it, it is the happiest place on earth after all!

We also went to Universal Studios for some Harry Potter love.

It was really hard to come back - I'm still having withdrawals. For some reason, it was really hard to come back. Not the normal "I don't want vacation to end" but different - like what's next? I guess we'll see...

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Labels: Disney, Friends, Universal Studios, Vacation, Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Part III: The 'Other' Rides

Wednesday, August 25, 2010 -

I'm delayed, and I apologize. I'm slowly catching up on the vacation recap. After this post, only one more Wizarding World of Harry Potter post to describe the streets of Hogwarts. However, the "other" rides definitely played a part of the experience. There are two rides besides the Forbidden Journey to round out the ride amusement of this magical world. They include:

Flight of the Hippogriff (formerly known as the Flight of the Unicorn I believe)

The Dragon Challenge (formerly known as the Dueling Dragons)

Flight of the Hippogriff is a child appropriate ride, but of course, we had to ride it. The Hippogriff is a magical creature from Hagrid's (gamekeeper and Prof. of Magical Creatures.) With the head of an eagle and body of a horse, Buckbeak (a specific Hippogriff from the books/movies) flies Harry and company through the skies, and in this ride, you get to ride the creature!

The ride queue moved very quickly, we were maybe in line for 10 minutes. And throughout the queue, you were able to see Hagrid's hut and surrounding area. What would have made this that much more entertaining was if you got to walk through the hut rather than just looking at it. But I understand it is a small area, and I was appreciative of all the pumpkins (my fave!)

The ride was definitely more thrill than I was anticipating. But yes, still child appropriate. No loops or anything, so your friends who do not like roller coasters will be fine. It was very quick, less than one minute, ride. But with a 10 minute wait, I wasn't complaining.

The Dragon Challenge was more of a thrill roller coaster. The queue went by very quickly and was focused on the Triwizard Tournament. As you were walking, you saw banners cheering for the students of choice from the particular school that you would cheer for, including Hogwarts, Beauxbatons (which is an all girls school) and Durmstrang (all male.)

Inside, it was SO dark. I managed to take a few photos with my phone - including the Triwizard Cup and Golden Egg.

There was also the candlelight ceiling, like what you would expect in the Great Hall. It looked amazing at candles seemed to float over you, but because of the darkness, photos just weren't turning out. Here is a video, I know it isn't much, but at least you can see a flicker here and there and listen to some beautiful HP music!

Besides those items, there wasn't much to look at. Seemed very much like a dungeon. I was surprised, Universal could have done much more with jazzing up that queue - maybe they will in the future as it will need it.

When you arrived to the actually ride portion, you had to choose the Chinese Fireball or Hungarian Horntail. We choose the shorter line, which happened to be the Chinese Fireball. We opted to wait just a little longer so we could have front row seats of the excitement (there is a separate line to do so.) Both tracks run at the same time as you twist and turn your way through the ride. At one point, it looks like you are going to collide with the other dragon only to do a loop and continue to scream some more. It was exciting, a great roller coaster that hasn't changed from the original form.

All in all, the two rides were great additions to keep everyone happy. Of course, the Forbidden Journey was just so amazing that it is hard to compare these two - just so different.

Next up - the rest of Hogsmeade!

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Labels: Florida, Forbidden Journey, Harry Potter, Orlando, Universal Studios, Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Part II: The Shops

Friday, August 13, 2010 -

Though our excitement was overwhelming for the Forbidden Journey, there was still so much to see and do. A whole section of Islands of Adventure is dedicated to Harry Potter - and the detail is impeccable. It feels so real, like you a character walking around the movie. Every time I watch a movie, I always think how I would love to be there - and this is as close as you could get. A whole different world - completely immersed in the magical world of Harry - and you could be a wizard. Extremely different from the other parts of the park - utterly amazing!

Before I begin - I encouraged my dear friend MM to read all the books (and I wanted her to watch the movies as well) before we got there. If you go to this park and are not a HP fan, at least watch the movies. You will appreciate the details and overall excitement SO much more! Even as a HUGE Disney fan, I wouldn't doubt that Disney isn't looking at this and thinking "wow" because it really is amazing. And if you have any previous knowledge, you'll appreciate it that much more!

As mentioned in my previous post, after you enter Hogsmeade, you immediately see the Hogwarts Express, billowing smoke. Great photo opporutnity for sure! And of course, Harry Potter soundtrack music is playing

The windows in Hogsmeade into "shops" are fantastic. There are a variety of fronts, ranging from a music shop to a cauldron. So much detail, I can't imagine the upkeep that the staff will have to do to ensure it is all clean. Here are just a few of the wonderful fronts!

Hermoine's dress from the ball

Two of the shops that you can enter are Zonkos Joke Shop & Honeydukes. Technically, they are one shop which you can walk between once in side. Beginning with Zonkos, the windows had some great displays -


Hilarious - LOVE it!

Overall, the entire decor was a red theme with fun items on the wall, just things you could see that the Weasley brothers would say or represent.

Many of the items you would imagine to be in Weasley's shop (the brother's joke shop) as well as items you may recognize, including a Skethoscope! The items just repeated over and over in the store, but there were many items for you to choose from.

Honeydukes - the candy store! There great windows on this store front, decorated with pink and green. There is a window with a large chocolate frog, and if that doesn't make you want to buy a $10 chocolate frog of your own, I don't know what will!

Lots of chocolate, great packaging, and a wizarding card. I did purchase one, but my chocolate frog melted before we even got back to the hotel. Disappointing? Absolutely - I wanted to see how it looked!

But the card I received was Ravenclaw - kind of perfect considering that is the House I think I would be sorted into. Other items do include Bernie Bott's Every Flavor Beans (small box for $10) and other bulk candy items.

It was so crowded, I had a tough time seeing everything!

Next up - Ollivanders! Random detail to point out, I believe this shop is supposed to be an extention of Ollivanders. I say this, because like all HP fans, we know the wand shop is located in Diagon Alley, not Hogsmeade. Small detail, but couldn't be happier that it was included

This is the longest line we waited in - to see the presentation of a wand to one lucky boy or girl (out of approximately 30 - which is about the number they can fit in the showroom.) The room is amazing, just rows and rows of wands, very similar to what I imagined in the book, and was reinforced in the movies.

It was a great show - the excited child stepped forward and the wizard tried out a few different wands. Of course, the first few weren't the right fit, and the wizard had to help step in to correct the 'mishaps' that had occurred. All in all, the show only took a few minutes, but was well worth the wait.

Once the right fit was found - we were all escorted into the Owl Post, where you can send postcards from Hogwarts or purchase your wand. And trust me, there are many characters wands to choose from! Plus, they have birthday wands! In the rafters, owls perch themselves and parcels wait to be picked up!.

It was extremely busy, you could barely move! Groups from the show kept being escorted in, but people weren't leaving at the same rate. You could barely move, let alone see everything you wanted to see. Once you make your way through the madhouse, you enter Dervish and Bangles, another store.

Inside, you can purchase all types of Quidditch items (including a Snitch or broomstick!) as well robes, keychains, etc. There were so many items, but this one is my favorite - and no, it is not for sale.

Book of Monsters!

The other shop is Filche's Emporium of Confiscated Goods, which is the store you end up in after riding the Forbidden Journy. Same thing, lots of souveniers, ranging from scarves to t-shirts, etc.