Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Our Harry Potter Experience, Part 1

I know it has been FOREVER since I posted anything on this blog...seeing as the baby blog took over when the baby took over our lives :)  Luckily, Shawn and I had the chance to take a short vacation without the little one!  It only took us 18 months to get up the courage to leave her and do something for ourselves, but we did it!  Nora stayed behind with her Abuela and her Auntie Mimi splitting the responsibility of watching her.  They did great and Nora had a great time without us.  I don't think she even missed us :)  We missed her like crazy though!

So what did we do for our first vacation without Nora?
We went to Orlando and spent 3 days at Universal Studios in order to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!  It was an amazing trip!  I am gonna do a few posts over the next few days with the details of our days there.

We left Monday and spent our first day at the park on Tuesday at Universal Studios, then Wednesday at Islands of Adventure.  Thursday we slept in but then hit up both parks throughout the day.  Thank goodness our package included the early admission to the Harry Potter portions of the park and an Express Pass (if you ever go, you NEED the Express Pass!)


The newest part of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is Diagon Alley in Universal Studios, as well as the addition of a real Hogwarts Express that you can ride between the 2 parks.

When you first approach, it looks like you are in London.

#12 Grimmauld Place
 
But just behind the secret door...the entrance to Diagon Alley!
 
First thing you have to do is ride the Escape from Gringotts ride.

Even with the early admission, we still waited in line almost an hour!
 
 

You are lead on the adventure through Gringotts by Bill Weasley!

Breakfast at The Leaky Cauldron, then off to explore Diagon Alley!


Diagon Alley felt so real!


Weasley Wizard Wheezes
  
Quality Quidditch Supplies
 

Flourish & Blotts
 

 Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream

The Magical Menagerie

Time for a Butterbeer!

Must swing by Olivanders to find a wand that chooses me...

Pottermore.com says my wand is Hazel...is this the wand that chooses me?
 

It only took me 3 days to find the one!

Now to ride the Hogwarts Express!

 Tomorrow I'll post all about Hogsmeade!

No comments: