7-20-10 The Adventure Begins...
Friends:
Here I am, “back-blogging” again…
On our family vacation, we decided to go to Florida to see the wonderful Wizarding World of Harry Potter! We decided to start our day in other parts of the part to avoid the longer lines… First stop, Seuss Landing!
7-20-10 The whole family in front of Seuss Landing
I loved being in Dr. Seuss’ world! Oh, the places he took me!
7-20-10 Oh, the stories you'll hear! LOVE IT!
The girls had fun posing in front of One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. It was one of Soleil’s favorite books when she was a little girl!
7-20-10 Eliana and Soleil having fun with One Fish Two Fish...
One of my favorite pictures… Look at all the books I wrote! LOL
7-20-10 Look at my stack of books!
Of course, we were celebrating Soleil’s birthday so she had to stop and take a picture in the Seuss Birthday Flower Jungle!
7-20-10 Since we were celebrating Soleil's birthday, she had to take a picture in the Birthday Flower Jungle!
Our first attraction we did was Poseidon’s Adventure so we entered the mighty lost world of Atlantis…
7-20-10 The Lost Continent
And look at Poseidon’s mighty triton!
7-20-10 The Mighty Poseidon behind Eliana and Soleil
Next, it was on to Jurassic Park. We rode the Jurassic Park Adventure ride, a combination of a water ride and a roller coaster. Fun!
7-20-10 Eliana and Soleil run from T-Rex!
Finally, it was time… to enter Hogsmeade and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. We were dying to taste butterbeer and to experience the magic, even though we were mere muggles…
7-20-10 Entering Hogsmeade at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!
We walked through the village, taking in all the sights of Hogsmeade. There was Ollivander’s Wand Shop, Honey Duke’s, and Three Broomsticks, where we had lunch and… butterbeer!
7-20-10 Three Broomsticks for hot food & butterbeer
The food was so so but the butterbeer was the bomb! Butterbeer tastes like a mixture of vanilla cream soda and butterscotch with a frothy foam you want to lick from the sides of the cup. Needless to say, it was one of the highlights of my visit to Hogsmeade!
7-20-10 Butterbeer!!!!
After eating, we decided to wait in line for The Forbidden Journey Ride. And boy, did we wait. It was a 90 minute wait. We had plenty of time to digest our food. The inside of Hogwarts Castle is filled with magical pictures that move and talk, enchanted objects, and has the feel of musty old castle. The ride was spectacular, part simulation part real ride. We followed Harry Potter flying on a broomstick. Wow!
7-20-10 Hogwarts Castle!
After that phenomenal ride, we decided to buy our wands. Oh boy. Another LOOOOOONG line. The line to get into Ollivander’s Wand shop was another 90 minutes. There is a 5 minute pre-show and only 30 people are admitted at a time. But we met some nice people and managed to pass the time. Soleil ended up with Hermione’s wand, Eliana chose Harry Potter’s wand, and I have Sirius Black’s wand. Too cool!
7-20-10 Soleil and Eliana are ready to select their wands at Olliander's
After that experience, it was time for another butterbeer! Here, the girls take a picture by the Hogwarts Express. I only wish that this was an actual ride. Alas, it’s only a prop.
7-20-10 All aboard the Hogwarts Express!
We left The Wizarding World of Harry Potter happy and exhausted! And at the stroke of midnight, Soleil turned 20 years old. Happy Birthday, Soleil!
7-20-10 Soleil and Eliana in Universal Studios
Then it was really time for bed…
7-20-10 After a magical day...
Until next time…
Warmly, Dianne
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
thank you so much for picture tour. i enjoyed it very much. I am an old fan…but i love him nonethe less..I am so sorry to have his story end. I read the last book backwards and then forward and then listened to it from a cd in my car and finished it in the dark in my living room by myself… it was so great..I think J>K> Rawlings could wirte more if she really wanted to because I saw her on Opra and she said all the characters are still with her. Maybe we should all write to her and beg her to write some more. She actually said she could do an 8,9, and 10. If only. Your so lucky you got to go and see the place. I was actually in florida in July and could have gone but decided to wait til the crowds slowed down a bit. Wonder if they will. thank you so much Dianne for your story…I loved it. I have 2 little grand daughters in Fla. thats why I did’nt go now. … But someday I will. bye and thanks again…..a friend in Harry Potter, Lily
P.S. If you have not listened to the books on C Ds you are truly missing something. The Reader is excellent and takes on all the voices. So exciting and such a good way to pass the time on a trip or on t;he way to work. bye bye again…..lily
i was wondering if i could use this picture for my yearbook page on the book club. please let me know
thank you, jennifer