We were all amazed and impressed with the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. So many details, and so much fun. Part of the package I got for the trip was Express Passes, which helped at rides outside of the wizarding world, but not anything inside. The key was the early access that came with the on-resort lodging. We got up early on the three park mornings and were in line at the gate 20-30 minutes before the official early open time. Two of the three days, the park opened right around 7:30 (8 was the official early admission). We didn't sprint, but we headed straight for the Harry Potter areas.
We learned very quickly that these areas were WAY TOO crowded for our tastes by mid-morning. We'd spend the first few hours basking in the Harry Potter theme and then clear out to the rest of the parks for the middle of the day. By mid- to late-afternoon, Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley would start to empty out again and we could head back.
I'm not normally a big shopper at theme parks and we didn't really buy very much, but it was fun to wander through all the shops because they are exactly what you would expect to find in Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade. Same shop names, same products.
Delish ice cream at Florian Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. I had chocolate chili (some real spice to it!) and everyone else had salted caramel blondie.
After we got our ice cream, we sat on the stairs beside Gringotts to relax for a few minutes.
Supplies for every wizard at Wiseacres Wizarding Equipment:
A quiet street corner in Diagon Alley:
Visit Weasley's Wizard Wheezes for joke supplies and toys
Sweets at Honeydukes. Brady couldn't pass up a chocolate frog, and Rudy picked up a chocolate cauldron.
Pygmy puffs, pheonixes, three-headed dogs, and more at the Magical Menagerie. No one was surprised when Rudy came home with a pygmy puff!
We got our first butterbeers (one frozen, one regular) from the Leaky Cauldron. We all liked the frozen the best!
Gringotts Bank is the centerpiece of Diagon Alley, with the escaping dragon towering over everything else.
We rode Escape from Gringotts at least three times. It was just that cool. You walk through the bank first, feeling as if you are actually in Gringotts...for real! Then, we were whisked into a 'tour' of the bank which happened to coincide with Harry, Ron, and Hermione trying to steal the horcrux from the Lestrange vault.
The newspapers even had moving pictures, just like in the books!
Getting ready to head into the vaults for our tour...these are the elevator stops...
We had to stop and visit the shrunken head and conductor of the knight bus. They were pretty insulted when we asked if they'd ever been in an accident!
Olivanders Wand Shop is stuffed to the brim with wands for every witch and wizard. They even do a wand selection process for one guest; the boys weren't chosen, which was fine because, while they loved looking at the wands, they weren't prepared to part with $45 to own one!
We each tried to decide which type of wand would be our best match. Just as hokey and about as reliable as a horoscope, but still fun. I think we decided that
James should have an oak wand
I would have an alder wand
Brady would match with an elder wand
Rudy's wand would be ash
- Ivy - associated with tenacity, stamina, and endless patience. Ivy people are strong and determined; they set goals and achieve them. Ivy people should take care that their ability to easily overcome obstacles does not lead them unwittingly into ever more challenging situations.
- Reed - associated with scholarship and knowledge. Reed people are good with words, and steadfast in their beliefs. They are deeply rooted and extremely flexible. Reed people should trust in their ability to adapt to new situations without ever losing sense of who they are.
- Elder - associated with death and renewal and protection from negative influence. Elder people are extremely perceptive and very sensitive; they are easily wounded but quick to recover. Elder people should trust in their natural persistence and they will succeed where many others give up.
- Ash - Tools, magical and ordinary, made form Ash are especially productive as Ash trees are known to attract energy. Ash people are kind and generous with a gift for seeing what is beautiful in the world and in others. Ash people should be careful that their romantic hearts do not lead them into danger.
- Willow - Willow wood has powers of protection, especially against natural disasters. Willow people are strong and flexible; they recover quickly from the unexpected. Willow people should face new challenges confident that each encounter only makes them stronger.
- Hawthorn - The Hawthorn tree makes excellent barriers with its beautiful flowers and big thorns. This wood is strong yet flexible. Hawthorn people have intense family ties and are highly protective of those for whom they care. Hawthorn people should remember that it is relationships that connect us to the future and the past.
- Oak - Wood from these huge steadfast trees is associated with truth and wisdom. Oak people are confident and optimistic, with great inner strength and a deep well of knowledge. Oak people should trust in their natural intuition and understanding, using it for the benefit of all.
- Alder - Alder wood is well suited for making flutes and pipes, and for building bridges. Alder people are adventurous travelers and confident decision makers who trust their inner voices. Alder people should work hard to maintain a balance between work and play.
The owlery:
Money exchange. We chose not to trade away our perfectly good American money for Gringotts money, but it was fun to 'talk' to the goblin.
Worried about flying? Stop here for your magical cures and preventions
The best show we saw was the puppet presentation of the Deathly Hallows.
Borgin and Burkes was just as creepy as it should be!
We rode the Hogwarts Express each way several times. It was a fun way to move between the parks, and it was fascinating to watch the special effects (which, unfortunately, don't photograph all that well).
We even got to crash through Platform 9 3/4! The lighting is better in the first clip, but the 'acting' is better in the second!
All aboard!
Remember this billboard?
Hagrid riding up beside the train window:
Death eaters outside the window!
And Dementors at the compartment entrance!
Approaching Hogwarts:
There was some trick to calling the Ministry of Magic, but we couldn't get it to work the first time we tried it. We were in a hurry to get on the train, and every time we came back there was a long line...
More of Gringotts. Apparently, we really liked this photo op!
Hagrid's motorcyle and sidecar...
Grimmauld Place. See Dobby?
Once we made it to Hogsmeade, we entered Hogwarts for the wait to ride Harry Potter and the
Forbidden Journey. We waited once for about 45 minutes; the other waits
for this ride weren't nearly as long, but we almost needed the 45
minutes to absorb everything to see in the castle!
The sorting hat:
Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the Defense of Dark Arts classroom, plotting how to get us out of Binn's boring history class.
Waiting outside of Dumbledore's office:
The fat lady, guarding the entrance to Gryffindor.
Portrait hall. The portraits move and talk!
Views of Hogsmeade...
We had lunch at the Three Broomsticks. The plan was that it would be a light lunch, but when we did the math, the 'light lunch' would have cost more than the Great Feast Platter. THAT was not a light lunch! Four corncobs, ribs, grilled veggies, bbq chicken, potatoes, and salad. Wow! And, this was our view after lunch...
More butterbeer while we watch the frog chorus perform...
Hagrid's house, seen while waiting to ride the Flight of the Hippogriff...
We spent a lot of time outside of Hogwarts, gaping at the view. It's a little silly to be so in awe of a fictional place, but we were all so enthralled with the books and then the movies that it was really hard to believe that we could actually go in and experience the castle ourselves!
