"I Wanna See My Castle!" October 2013 TR *COMPLETE* **NEW TR LINK!!** 7/3

[courtneybelle]

The picture of you and DS in front of the fountain is adorable!

I haven't eaten at Margaritaville at Citywalk but I've been to one near where I live and it's so good! Plus it's a really fun themed restaurant.

I too have wanted to ride the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit...until I heard about the people getting stuck at the top for two hours.

I saw the basketballs and thought HIDDEN MICKEY! Wrong park

HOGWARTS IS SO CLOSE! I still remember driving by and seeing it for the first time. Shrieking ensued. UGH it's so magical!!! I can't wait to hear what you think of it!

 

[Nermel9]

I'm here, I'm sorry I'm so late! Wow that Universal hotel looks beautiful! I really want to stay in one someday, but I can't tear myself away from Disney property!

City Walk looks like fun too, ahhh, I really need to go to Universal soon! I always say I'm going to go but I never do! Margaritaville looks so good! There's one in the casino here in CT but I've only been in there for drinks, I didn't get to eat anything, but the next time I go, I will definitely stop there!

Can't wait to read more!

 

[WildernessExplorer04]

I'm here and BEYOND excited to read this thing!
Sounds like your first day was phenomenal!
Paxton is just so darn adorable. I watched your video of him on the airplane and I basically died of cuteness overload.
AHHHHHHHH YOU GET TO EXPERIENCE HOGWARTS IN THE NEXT UPDATE! THAT'S SO EXCITING!

 

[eandesmom]

Day 1 Continued: Tuesday October 22nd

After a bit of a walk and stopping at the bag check, we were in CityWalk! We came out right next to Margaritaville, where we thought we might want to eat. But we had a little trouble finding the host stand! We thought it was on the porch, but there was no one there. So we thought we might be too early for dinner since it was only around 4:30. We kept walking and came across Pastamore, an Italian place, but they definitely weren't open until 5 according to their sign. We walked through the big Universal gift shop right there while I tried to pull up the hours for Margaritaville on my phone, and it looked like they opened for lunch and stayed open until they closed down for the night. So we walked back over there and finally found the host stand, way far from where we thought it should be!

The host stand is in a weird spot! We had the same issue the first time.

That is a lot of food! Glad you liked it, it is our go to spot there for sure!

As soon as we got back to the room, I took my shower and dried my hair so I wouldn't be trying to do that when DS was ready to go to sleep. I definitely don't think I could handle sharing a hotel room with a toddler for an entire week, but for one night, we were okay. After that, I put DS in the bath, read him a couple of books, and he was ready for bed by 8 pm. He slept in the second bed with pillows shoved under the fitted sheet to keep him from rolling out. But the TV ended up being too big of a distraction for him, so we had to turn it off. Not even 5 minutes later he was snoring! DH watched a movie on his phone with headphones and I read a little on my Nook before we decided to go to sleep as well.

UP NEXT: Welcome to Hogsmeade!

UGH. I do not miss those days, putting the kids down when they needed to but basically being stuck in a dark room with them so they could sleep while I was wide awake. Only solution was a condo, 2 rooms or a balcony! Which at that point, we couldn't really swing. It will get better plus he is so cute a night of it is ok . Once mine were out cold I could turn on a small light and read but that was it.

 

[kastoney]

Subbing in. Looks like u r off to a great start. Love me some margaritaville. The one in Key West has a catfish Reuben that is hands down the greatest sandwich ever. Those fish n chips took my mind right there ; )

We made the mistake of sleeping in the same room as our 2 1/2 year old in Sept. Nights and naps in the dark are the worst. Headed down for her 3rd bday in Jan and getting 2 rooms this time.

 

[amberg93]

I am so excited to read this! And really excited because I haven't been to Universal, so it's cool to see everything there through your pictures even if fish and chips are nothing that interest me. Someday I'll have to convince Marie to go over there if not just to see HP world.

Can't wait to see all your pictures of it

 

[leshunlenese]

Not sure How I missed this but I am here. Paxton s getting so big!! Love your pictures! It feels like forever since I went to universal!

 

[emmysmommy]

That resort was lovely and the elephant fountain looked like fun.

Heck I'm with your son, I'd want to figure out a way to get inside that plane too - even if on the ceiling! I've only been to the Margaritaville in Vegas but it was a fun place to eat.

Sounds like everything was a go for your IoA park day. Good thing you were able to get your EP settled. One less thing to do in the morning.

 

[khertz]

The picture of you and DS in front of the fountain is adorable!

I haven't eaten at Margaritaville at Citywalk but I've been to one near where I live and it's so good! Plus it's a really fun themed restaurant.

I too have wanted to ride the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit...until I heard about the people getting stuck at the top for two hours.

I saw the basketballs and thought HIDDEN MICKEY! Wrong park

HOGWARTS IS SO CLOSE! I still remember driving by and seeing it for the first time. Shrieking ensued. UGH it's so magical!!! I can't wait to hear what you think of it!

Thank you! I like that photo of us too. It's always great when we can get DS to cooperate for a picture.

Uh, yeah...I wasn't a big fan of Rip Ride Rockit after our one an only experience on it a few years ago, so I was already in no hurry to ride it. But those people getting stuck for hours made that decision pretty solid! That had to be awful for those guests!!

I was so excited in 2009 just to see the HP themed "pardon our dust" signs, so knowing I was ACTUALLY going to be stepping inside WWoHP the next day was almost unbearably exciting!!

I'm here, I'm sorry I'm so late! Wow that Universal hotel looks beautiful! I really want to stay in one someday, but I can't tear myself away from Disney property!

City Walk looks like fun too, ahhh, I really need to go to Universal soon! I always say I'm going to go but I never do! Margaritaville looks so good! There's one in the casino here in CT but I've only been in there for drinks, I didn't get to eat anything, but the next time I go, I will definitely stop there!

Can't wait to read more!

That was one of the reasons we passed on Universal the past two trips with DS. It was too hard to tear ourselves away from Disney knowing we would be touring the parks a little slower and would probably need more time to be able to really experienced all 4 parks there. But this year, I just couldn't wait any longer, I HAD TO SEE HARRY POTTER! Staying onsite for a night was great for the Express Pass, but like I said in the update, sharing a hotel room with a toddler was rough, even for only one night.

The food & the atmosphere at every Margaritaville I have ever been to is just FUN. And I have never had a bad meal/experience!

I'm here and BEYOND excited to read this thing!
Sounds like your first day was phenomenal!
Paxton is just so darn adorable. I watched your video of him on the airplane and I basically died of cuteness overload.
AHHHHHHHH YOU GET TO EXPERIENCE HOGWARTS IN THE NEXT UPDATE! THAT'S SO EXCITING!

Excited to see you here!!

Haha He is really funny, he makes us laugh ALL THE TIME with the silly stuff he says and does.

I don't know if I will get to the next update today, probably tomorrow, but I can't wait to share!!

The host stand is in a weird spot! We had the same issue the first time.

That is a lot of food! Glad you liked it, it is our go to spot there for sure!

UGH. I do not miss those days, putting the kids down when they needed to but basically being stuck in a dark room with them so they could sleep while I was wide awake. Only solution was a condo, 2 rooms or a balcony! Which at that point, we couldn't really swing. It will get better plus he is so cute a night of it is ok . Once mine were out cold I could turn on a small light and read but that was it.

It is so secluded and off to the side! Strange place for a host stand.

We have gotten SO spoiled with our Wyndham ownership. When he was little we could get by with just a 1 bedroom and let him sleep in the pack & play in the living room and keep our door closed until we were ready to go to bed. Now that he's a little bigger, we do the 2 bedrooms and it's even better! Every time we have to stay in a regular hotel room even just for a night we are whining about it.

Subbing in. Looks like u r off to a great start. Love me some margaritaville. The one in Key West has a catfish Reuben that is hands down the greatest sandwich ever. Those fish n chips took my mind right there ; )

We made the mistake of sleeping in the same room as our 2 1/2 year old in Sept. Nights and naps in the dark are the worst. Headed down for her 3rd bday in Jan and getting 2 rooms this time.

OOh, that sounds good!! DH got a swordfish dish at the one we went to in Hawaii (I don't think it was a Margaritaville necessarily, but it was a JB restaurant) and it was soooo delicious! I only took a bite of his and I still think about how good it was!

Good idea on the 2 rooms! It is so nice to be able to close the door and let him sleep for a nap or for the night while we can still move around, watch TV, TALK. It has spoiled us for sure.

 

[khertz]

I am so excited to read this! And really excited because I haven't been to Universal, so it's cool to see everything there through your pictures even if fish and chips are nothing that interest me. Someday I'll have to convince Marie to go over there if not just to see HP world.

Can't wait to see all your pictures of it

I'm happy you joined in!

It's always cool to see what other people do on their vacations that you normally don't. I haven't been to Sea World in FOREVER, so it's fun to read other TR's where those families do go and to get to "experience" it through their pictures. I think it's worth the visit JUST for HP, but then once you get there, I'm sure you will appreciate all of the other fun stuff they have to do there.

Not sure How I missed this but I am here. Paxton s getting so big!! Love your pictures! It feels like forever since I went to universal!

Yay! Happy to see you!! Yes, he is getting big for sure.

That resort was lovely and the elephant fountain looked like fun.

Heck I'm with your son, I'd want to figure out a way to get inside that plane too - even if on the ceiling! I've only been to the Margaritaville in Vegas but it was a fun place to eat.

Sounds like everything was a go for your IoA park day. Good thing you were able to get your EP settled. One less thing to do in the morning.

Okay, I can see how it would be pretty cool to be sitting in that plane watching everyone down below. He must be on to something there. Surely they can make that into some kind of VIP experience.

I am ALL FOR less to do in the morning!! Every minute of extra sleep I can get, the better.

 

[khertz]

Day 2: Wednesday October 23rd

Our alarms were set for 6:30 am today, but I'm pretty sure I had been awake and checked my phone a million times during the night thinking it just HAD to be almost time to get up and moving! I guess I was a little excited or something...

We got up and got ourselves dressed and teeth brushed in no time, then repacked everything that had come out of the suitcases. DH had called down to the front desk the night before to ask what we could do with our luggage after we checked out, because our plan was to just pack everything into the car. But they told us we were welcome to leave our suitcases with baggage services. So after making sure we hadn't forgotten anything, we made our way up to the lobby. As we approached baggage services, the clerk greeted us by our last name! Not sure how that worked, but it was a nice touch.

After dropping our stuff off, we had to track down something for breakfast. It had occurred to me the night before that I had forgotten to throw some granola bars or Pop-Tarts in to give us something to eat this morning. We checked their little snack store that was open, but they only had chips and sodas really. But I asked the lady working the register and she directed us to a continental breakfast available in the back corner of the lobby! It was a little expensive, but it gave us something to eat on the way to the park.

I got a banana nut muffin, DH got a cinnamon roll, and DS got this ridiculous donut (I shouldn't even say DS "got it" because DH picked it out for him).

2 by disneymom1024, on Flickr​

We also got DS a milk to drink and an OJ for DH and I to share. We took our breakfasts to go and started walking towards IoA. All of our breakfasts were insanely sweet though, and I don't think any of us made it through the whole item without tossing the rest!

At 7:25 we arrived at the turnstiles, and there were a lot of people already there and lined up. But again, we got lucky going to the one all the way to the left where there were only a couple of families in front of us. I posted this photo on Instagram.

2-001 by disneymom1024, on Flickr​

I had time to make a restroom run for myself and with DS until they opened the gates and let us in around 7:45 am!

2-002 by disneymom1024, on Flickr​

This was the only photo DH managed to take before putting the camera away so we could fast pace it over to WWoHP. And oh my goodness, is that a WALK! I felt bad for DS because he seemed pretty excited when we were walking through Seuss Landing, but we didn't even slow down. Haha! We knew we would be back later, and it's not like that stuff was up and running anyway, so we're not awful parents!

FINALLY, we came to this sight...

2-003 by disneymom1024, on Flickr​

Guys, I seriously got GOOSEBUMPS walking under that archway!! It makes me tear up a little just thinking about it now! I was SO SO SO incredibly happy and excited to be there, I don't even think words could do it justice. Universal did an amazing job with this area, and finally walking in and seeing it with my own eyes after reading trip reports and seeing photos and hearing my parents talk about it, it was completely surreal. I had happy tears in that moment for sure! DH and I were both snapping away as we made our way with the crowd towards Hogwarts to ride Forbidden Journey!

2-004 by disneymom1024, on Flickr


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The guy on the left (whose name was actually GUY) looks like he fits in here SO PERFECTLY! Gah, I can't even stand how perfect this whole area is!!!


2-009 by disneymom1024, on Flickr
EEK!!!
​

And then the angels were singing, the heavens were parting, and I was standing in front of Hogwarts!! On second thought, there was absolutely no need to leave my suitcases with baggage services, since CLEARLY I was moving in here and would never be forced to leave!

2-010 by disneymom1024, on Flickr​

We weren't sure how child swap worked, so after parking the stroller, we asked the TM out front. She said we could all three enter the line, and that we would be directed to the child swap area at the loading platform. I think it was at this point we went like we were going to get a locker, and she said since we were swapping, we didn't have to get a locker and the non-rider could sit with the bags. You know what that means...

Queue photos!!

2-011 by disneymom1024, on Flickr
DH was about to pass this up and I said, "That's the MIRROR OF ERISED!! Take a picture!" Unfortunately, even looking in it didn't make me appear as a supermodel.


2-012 by disneymom1024, on Flickr
The PENSIEVE! Freaking. Out.


2-013 by disneymom1024, on Flickr
Sorry, Professor Sprout, no time for an herbology lesson, we are ready to ride!


2-014 by disneymom1024, on Flickr
The gems for House Cup!


2-015 by disneymom1024, on Flickr
I tried "Fizzing Whizbee" and "Sherbert Lemon" but neither password worked


2-016 by disneymom1024, on Flickr


2-017 by disneymom1024, on Flickr
The moving portraits are BRILLIANT!


2-018 by disneymom1024, on Flickr
Dumbledore!


2-019 by disneymom1024, on Flickr
By the time we got to the Sorting Hat, I was pretty much hyperventilating!
​

I told DH I was fine waiting while he rode first. NOT! He obviously could tell how emotional and excited I was about this, so he let me go first while he waited in the child swap room with DS. Oh, and all this time I forgot to mention that DS was not loving the darkness of the queue at ALL. All he kept telling me was, "I wanna get out of this castle!" Hahaha

So I get right on, and it was a little scary for a moment because I sat down in the ride vehicle with a group of 3, and they told a taller, bigger guy in their group to sit on the end seat. But he didn't. So I did. And then they are telling the guy to get up and switch with me, but he keeps saying he doesn't need to, and I'm starting to get a little worried because I don't know how long this conveyor belt is and I'm not strapped in all the way! Finally the guy gets up to switch with me so he could be in the roomier seat.

OH. MY. GOD. I can't even describe the perfection that is this ride, y'all!! So many TR's and even my own mom have tried to describe to me how the ride works, and I could never wrap my mind around it. And I won't even try to go into detail, because I'm sure I would fail miserably at explaining it. But the way you interact with all of the screens and the animatronics is SO incredible and feels SO real! Like there's a dragon, and you feel like the dragon is so close you could reach out and touch it. And you move in every direction to feel like you might actually be flying. The details are intense and so so perfect. Obviously I couldn't see myself, but I am pretty sure the huge grin on my face never left the entire time!!

I will say though, as a person who experiences motion sickness, this ride got to me, even with my usual dramamine routine of taking the less-drowsy formula the night before. By the end, I was feeling a little queasy and kind of relieved I had gone first so I could have a few minutes to sit down while waiting for DH to ride.

When I got to the child swap room, DH asked me how was it and all I could tell him was, "The most amazing thing I have ever ridden in my life!" I settled on the bench next to DS and we watched a few minutes of HP & the Sorcerer's Stone on the TV in the child swap room while DH went to ride. He didn't have to wait at all, just walked right on with the next group of riders.

He took this photo with his phone I think, so it's not the best, but it's all the candles floating on the ceiling of the Great Hall when you load onto the ride!

2-019-1 by disneymom1024, on Flickr
​

In no time at all, DH was back with us and we acquiesced to DS's request to "leave that castle." Both of us were gushing with each other over how incredible the ride was. He shared my feelings of everything looking and feeling so close to you! We glanced around the dump shop quickly, but we knew we would be back to shop later and we wanted to do everything else we could before the park opened to regular day guests.

When we came out, DS spotted the Flight of the Hippogriff coaster and insisted he wanted to ride. I kept asking if he was sure and telling him it was fast, but he still maintained that he wanted to ride, even after he watched it fly past us. We stopped to have him measured and I almost wished he was too short because I knew he was going to hate it, but he made it in. In my mind, I had been comparing it to the Barnstormer at MK, but in person it looked SO much faster! Nevertheless, we walked right on to the ride, and at the incline, DS started getting nervous. Unfortunately, we didn't get any pictures, so we missed both Buckbeak greeting us and DS's comically horrified face as we took off. Thank God it's a short ride, because he hated it just as I had predicted. We came off and he kept saying, "That was too fast! Too fast!"

Continued in Next Post...

 

[khertz]

Day 2 Continued: Wednesday October 23rd

We had decided early on that we would only do Dragon Challenge if time allowed because we had ridden it so many times as Dueling Dragons. So the only other thing to accomplish was Ollivander's. There was a moderate line forming, but I think we only ended up having to wait through one entire show cycle.

2-020 by disneymom1024, on Flickr


2-021 by disneymom1024, on Flickr
View from the line


2-022 by disneymom1024, on Flickr


2-023 by disneymom1024, on Flickr
DS playing a puzzle game on the phone.


2-025 by disneymom1024, on Flickr
Seriously though. When can I move in?​

We got really lucky that as we approached the door, the TM asked the man in front of us how many were in his group, and he said there were 6 of them but there were 4 missing who had not made it there yet, so they were going to wait for them. She asked us how many we had, then let us in and shut the door behind us! So we just made it into the next show. I had read that it was really small and didn't hold a lot of people, and boy they weren't kidding! I don't even know if there were 25 people in that room!

2-026 by disneymom1024, on Flickr
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Two teenage brothers from England were chosen to pick wands. Not gonna lie, I was a little disappointed that I wasn't chosen!

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I don't want to give away all of the details of the show, because it is really incredibly done. But both boys ended up with their matching wand. It was a cute little show, but we were both glad we didn't have any longer of a wait for it because it's pretty short. As we walked out, I think both DH and I really wanted to purchase a wand just to say we bought a wand at Ollivander's, but we knew it would end up collecting dust somewhere, so we didn't.

After that, it was about 9 am, and it was starting to get busier as more and more people came into the area. I took DS through Zonko's and Honeydukes to look around for a few minutes while DH took a few more pictures outside.

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Three Broomsticks


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DS LOVED this, and I'll share a story about it in a second


2-035 by disneymom1024, on Flickr​

So the ad for the Puking Pastilles had the boy throwing up, and it was a continuously looping tape so it looked like the vomit was actually moving. (I'm sorry I realize that was a gross description, but that's what it looked like!). DS thought that was the greatest thing ever created! We spent a lot more time in WWoHP later in the day, of course, and at one point when DS was really cranky, he kept whining about something and all we could understand him saying was the word "boy." Finally I translated when I figured out he was saying, "I wanna see that throwin' up boy!"

Sadly, after that, it was time to tear myself away from the perfection that is Wizarding World of Harry Potter so that we could hop over to Universal Studios and meet up with our family. But don't worry, we would be back there soon enough!!

UP NEXT: Minions Assemble!

 

[missangelalexis]

YAYYYY I am so so happy WWoHP was everything you hoped it would be and more The ride really is wonderful, unlike any other ride out there. LOVE all your pictures and I love your DS's fascination with the throwing up boy

 

[DDuck4Life]

Finally onto the good stuff! Park day!

Day 2: Wednesday October 23rd


After dropping our stuff off, we had to track down something for breakfast. It had occurred to me the night before that I had forgotten to throw some granola bars or Pop-Tarts in to give us something to eat this morning. We checked their little snack store that was open, but they only had chips and sodas really. But I asked the lady working the register and she directed us to a continental breakfast available in the back corner of the lobby! It was a little expensive, but it gave us something to eat on the way to the park.

I got a banana nut muffin, DH got a cinnamon roll, and DS got this ridiculous donut (I shouldn't even say DS "got it" because DH picked it out for him).

2 by disneymom1024, on Flickr​

I swear this is what he wanted and asked for it. I asked "do you want the plain or sprinkles?" He said sprinkles. That's my boy.

We weren't sure how child swap worked, so after parking the stroller, we asked the TM out front. She said we could all three enter the line, and that we would be directed to the child swap area at the loading platform. I think it was at this point we went like we were going to get a locker, and she said since we were swapping, we didn't have to get a locker and the non-rider could sit with the bags. You know what that means...

Queue photos!!

This was very tough to get photos since we were walking very fast to make it to the ride. DW was leaving me in her dust as I hesitated to snap some photos. Most came out super blury because I was still moving and taking pictures on the way past.

The queue is amazing, one of the few lines where I wouldn't mind a wait just to soak in everything that was there to see in the queue.

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

WWoHP just looks amazing. I'm not as huge a Harry Potter fan but somehow have managed to see all of the movies so I can definitely appreciate the details and theming. Happy to hear you had a great time! We'll be in Universal and IoA in another 2-3 years I hope.

And that donut looks like something Homer Simpson picked out!

 

[JessM]

Beautiful pictures of WWOHP! I love them all!

You just got me so excited for my first trip there in a couple weeks! I'm also a huge Harry Potter geek so I literally cannot wait!

I love the quene photos you took, they came out so good!

Too funny your DS wasn't a fan of the little coaster. My brother used to do the same thing when he was little, he would want to go on everything and then he always hated how fast it was haha.

Can't wait to hear about the rest of your day!

 

[afwdwfan]

I got a banana nut muffin, DH got a cinnamon roll, and DS got this ridiculous donut (I shouldn't even say DS "got it" because DH picked it out for him).

So where is the "after" picture? You know, the one where your DS and the stroller are covered with chocolate and sprinkles.

Guys, I seriously got GOOSEBUMPS walking under that archway!! It makes me tear up a little just thinking about it now! I was SO SO SO incredibly happy and excited to be there, I don't even think words could do it justice. Universal did an amazing job with this area, and finally walking in and seeing it with my own eyes after reading trip reports and seeing photos and hearing my parents talk about it, it was completely surreal. I had happy tears in that moment for sure! DH and I were both snapping away as we made our way with the crowd towards Hogwarts to ride Forbidden Journey!

Meh... it's a'ight...


Seriously though, even though I'm not a big Harry Potter fan, they did an amazing job. I mean it really feels like the temperature drops when you're there just because seeing that snow on all the roofs feels so real. The level of detail there is just amazing.

On second thought, there was absolutely no need to leave my suitcases with baggage services, since CLEARLY I was moving in here and would never be forced to leave!

Good luck with that.

I think it was at this point we went like we were going to get a locker, and she said since we were swapping, we didn't have to get a locker and the non-rider could sit with the bags.

Good to know. We never actually had to use the rider swap last time so I haven't had any experience with it.

"That's the MIRROR OF ERISED!!

The PENSIEVE! Freaking. Out.

The gems for House Cup!

Well... at least now I know what some of these things are called...

I really should watch these movies at some point.

The moving portraits are BRILLIANT!

That was extremely impressive!

Oh, and all this time I forgot to mention that DS was not loving the darkness of the queue at ALL. All he kept telling me was, "I wanna get out of this castle!" Hahaha

And this is what I don't like about the Universal rider swap. It seems like it would be quicker than the Disney version, but taking small kids through the line is definitely not something that seems too appealing. Especially the queue for something like that or the Mummy where it is dark and just not "kid friendly."

I will say though, as a person who experiences motion sickness, this ride got to me, even with my usual dramamine routine of taking the less-drowsy formula the night before. By the end, I was feeling a little queasy and kind of relieved I had gone first so I could have a few minutes to sit down while waiting for DH to ride.

This is the main reason I decided one ride was good enough for me. The animatronics (do they call them that there) elements and the motion of the ride vehicle were fantastic, but those movie screen portions of the ride...

Thank God it's a short ride, because he hated it just as I had predicted. We came off and he kept saying, "That was too fast! Too fast!"

We spent a lot more time in WWoHP later in the day, of course, and at one point when DS was really cranky, he kept whining about something and all we could understand him saying was the word "boy." Finally I translated when I figured out he was saying, "I wanna see that throwin' up boy!"

Well, whatever it takes to keep him entertained...

I swear this is what he wanted and asked for it. I asked "do you want the plain or sprinkles?" He said sprinkles. That's my boy.

Is that even a question that needs to be asked???

The queue is amazing, one of the few lines where I wouldn't mind a wait just to soak in everything that was there to see in the queue.

You make a good point. I mean I hate waiting in line anytime, but that queue is probably the most impressive I've ever seen and it does deserve more than just a passing glance.

 

[amazingact21]

Wow, I somehow missed the start of your TR! Don't know how that happened. Either way, I'm here now!




Ahhh, WWoHP sounds amazing. Just amazing. I almost wish there'd be one bad review of the place so I'd be a little less anxious to see it for myself.
My brother went to IoA for his grad night, and he said he had the same problem with motion sickness on the Forbidden Journey. But I think it must be worth it....


Your resort for the night looked gorgeous. I know the Express Pass is a major advantage and the main reason to stay there, but it does look like a nice place.

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

Wow that's a pretty neat trick addressing you by name at baggage services. It's amazing how many positive things I've heard recently about the level of service at Universal.

Haha, it IS a long walk in. I remember my first time I RAN the whole way (I know you shouldn't but everyone else was, so when in ROME). I don't recommend it though.

It is so funny now to look back and remember that Disney actually passed on Harry Potter. I imagine there's a bit of regret.

You are SO LUCKY not to need the locker which is without a doubt the biggest cluster of all time.

Not a cluster however is the magnificence of this ride. OMG I am SO GLAD you FINALLY got to ride. Truly there is nothing like it anywhere.

 

[Imagineer5]

I read the part about CityWalk but forgot to comment. The hotel looks awesome! I am now thinking maybe we will hop here after our adults only cruise and stay onsite? IDK we will see after I get to see what Paxton gets to do. Anyway, Margaritaville looks awesome (we went to one in Vegas like 10 years ago) and it sounds like a great first evening & getting to bed on time. I totally understand now about wanting more space - so tough with younger kids going to bed earlier. i'm glad sleeping in a bed wasn't bad at all for Paxton, good idea to use the pillows.

Moving on - how were the crowds at WWoHP overall? It sounds like they were very reasonable, esp considering the wait for Ollivander's. We never did that bc the wait was always crazy and it just didn't sound worth the wait, but I'd definitely want to do it now.

LOVE LOVE Forbidden Journey - glad you had an amazing ride and time in Hogsmeade. How excited for the new Diagon Alley are you?! Ugh I can't wait!! I like Universal's child swap policy, seems to make things go faster than having to come all the way out, find your family, switch and go back through FP line.

Looking forward to more!