Disclaimer: This is going to be a long one. I took lots of pictures!
Or as Haven calls them, "pitch-kers."
Last night we arrived home LATE from our road trip to Florida.
It was a fun trip with lots of time for family bonding, especially since we drove for a total of 4 days (there and back). There is so much to tell about everything we did that I am going to break it up into a few different posts.
I don't think anybody except true, die-hard, dress-up to see the movie, stand-in-line-to-get-the-new-book Harry Potter fans will understand the unbelievable time my sister and I had at "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter." The second I heard it was being built I knew we had to plan a trip down South. I can tell you right now that the whole drive down there and back was well worth it just to go to that park. If we had done nothing else I would have been completely satisfied with our trip.
My mom and grandma were nice enough to stay at the hotel and watch Haven while my sister, Chelsea and I went to Universal. It was so nice that we didn't have to push a stroller or worry about Haven needing a nap while we were there. We were just able to completely enjoy and soak in the attractions.
I have to set the scene for you. It was HOT. As a matter of fact, I really don't recommend a vacation to Florida at the end of July/beginning of August. We dressed completely for comfort - tank tops, sport bras, shorts, flip-flops, ponytails, sunglasses, and if it would have been acceptable to wear less we would have. I don't think I have ever sweat as much as I did on this trip. Our clothes were totally drenched with sweat and our bodies felt slippery from the sunscreen we had applied earlier.
When we got inside Universal, it was quite a walk to the Harry Potter park. We walked and walked and when we finally got there a huge line was awaiting us. I mean HUGE, and this was just to walk in to the park!! It probably stretched a half a mile, (maybe more) outside of the entrance. We thought we would be waiting to get in for hours, but lucky for us once the line started moving we were inside within 10 minutes. I think they must have been waiting to let the crowds in, and then just let us all in at once.
When we finally got to the entrance I had mixed emotions. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I said before that you would have to be a true H.Po fan to appreciate this post, but I am pretty sure ANYBODY could appreciate the details and intricacies of this place. It was beautiful. This was my reaction when we arrived....
And here's one of me and Chels that a friendly passer-by took for us with my iPhone.
Phew! That's a lot of pictures. If you want to see the rest of them you can look at the album on facebook that I will put up in the next few days.
This may seem stupid to some of you, but seriously this was one of the coolest days of my life. It was soooo much fun and I feel privileged to have been able to go.
If you're a Harry Potter fan, simply put, YOU MUST GO!
I don't think anybody except true, die-hard, dress-up to see the movie, stand-in-line-to-get-the-new-book Harry Potter fans will understand the unbelievable time my sister and I had at "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter." The second I heard it was being built I knew we had to plan a trip down South. I can tell you right now that the whole drive down there and back was well worth it just to go to that park. If we had done nothing else I would have been completely satisfied with our trip.
My mom and grandma were nice enough to stay at the hotel and watch Haven while my sister, Chelsea and I went to Universal. It was so nice that we didn't have to push a stroller or worry about Haven needing a nap while we were there. We were just able to completely enjoy and soak in the attractions.
I have to set the scene for you. It was HOT. As a matter of fact, I really don't recommend a vacation to Florida at the end of July/beginning of August. We dressed completely for comfort - tank tops, sport bras, shorts, flip-flops, ponytails, sunglasses, and if it would have been acceptable to wear less we would have. I don't think I have ever sweat as much as I did on this trip. Our clothes were totally drenched with sweat and our bodies felt slippery from the sunscreen we had applied earlier.
When we got inside Universal, it was quite a walk to the Harry Potter park. We walked and walked and when we finally got there a huge line was awaiting us. I mean HUGE, and this was just to walk in to the park!! It probably stretched a half a mile, (maybe more) outside of the entrance. We thought we would be waiting to get in for hours, but lucky for us once the line started moving we were inside within 10 minutes. I think they must have been waiting to let the crowds in, and then just let us all in at once.
When we finally got to the entrance I had mixed emotions. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I said before that you would have to be a true H.Po fan to appreciate this post, but I am pretty sure ANYBODY could appreciate the details and intricacies of this place. It was beautiful. This was my reaction when we arrived....
The Hogwarts Express is sitting just inside the entrance.
A view of Hogsmeade without my head in the way.
Zonko's!
Inside Zonko's
Honeyduke's
Inside Honeyduke's
The Three Broomsticks
Inside The Three Broomsticks
Hog's Head
Hog's Head over the barrels of butterbeer
Trying butterbeer for the first time (tastes JUST like cream soda, mmmm!)
Chelsea's first sip
Our meal at the Three Broomsticks. Very authentic and very delish.
Chels diggin in to her turkey leg.
Owls
Talking and moving pictures inside Hogwarts
Dumbledore's Office
With the conductor of the Hogwarts Express.
Phew! That's a lot of pictures. If you want to see the rest of them you can look at the album on facebook that I will put up in the next few days.
This may seem stupid to some of you, but seriously this was one of the coolest days of my life. It was soooo much fun and I feel privileged to have been able to go.
If you're a Harry Potter fan, simply put, YOU MUST GO!
2 comments:
"This is by far the best day of my life... Besides getting married or the day haven was born... But seriously! It's up there"-Courtney harden :)
hahahaha, well it WAS a REALLY cool day! I hope I can do it again when the weather gets cooler.
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