Epilogue

WARNING: This blog entry is lengthy, so prepare yourself.

I would like to inform you that I have uploaded all of my pictures. You may now click "View All" above under the image scroll to see them. I must tell you though: the pictures do not do justice to how it all is in reality.

Having now been to the Harry Potter theme park makes it hard for me to watch any of the movies or listen to the soundtracks; I miss being there so dearly. If I could hop on the next plane to Orlando I would do it! Anything to be reunited with that magical place. I highly recommend a visit to anyone and everyone! This a MUST on your bucket list. I suppose now I shall go into detail about the wonders of Harry's world I have been denying you...

Stepping through the archway and entering Hogsmeade is like stepping into JK Rowling's imagination. Universal was somehow able to bring her fictional world to life, and it is absolutely fantastic. The detail and hard work put into this place is just phenomenal. The Hogwarts Express blows steam as if its about to head off. The faux owls perched inside the Owlery flap their wings and hoot. The Monster Book of Monsters growls! It is all so wonderful, I don't understand how I was able to force my legs to walk away from it.

If you had to use the bathroom during your visit, you were gifted with the presence of Moaning Myrtle. You never see her, but her constant flow of moaning is impossible to drown out. The poor girl just whines and complains all day (in both bathrooms). 

Some of the amazing shop displays include:

- a magical writing quill

- a boy "puking" into a bucket advertising for Puking Pastilles

- instruments that perform Hedwig's Theme

- a Howler that yells at you, bursts into pieces and then starts over again

- and the Marauder's Map showing many characters' current locations inside the castle

On your tour of the castle while in line for the Forbidden Journey ride, the pictures move and talk to you! Including the four Hogwarts founders, who bicker about the Muggles in the castle. Its mostly Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw ganging up on Slytherin who thinks the dragon on the loose should kill all the Muggles. Oh, and also the Fat Lady is on the tour. She's a silly woman. The Sorting Hat even shares its wisdom and riddles with you.

In front of the Three Broomsticks is a moving Wanted poster of a struggling and deranged Sirius Black.

I enjoyed the Ministry of Magic signs in the shops and in front the rides, warning you against serious injury and consequences.

Even though I complained about Ollivander's Wand shop, it was great being able to experience it. To witness a child have their wand choose them, the process of the wrong wands and being united with the right one. I'm just jealous it wasn't me being chosen by my wand.

When you pass the bewitched and crashed Ford Anglia it honks at you. And when you pass Hagrid's Hut you hear Fang inside barking at all the passing visitors, as well as Hagrid teaching you how to approach a Hippogriff. One of the most wonderful things though, would be the Harry Potter movie scores playing throughout the park all day long. Everywhere you go, the magical tinkling of Harry Potter music.

My absolute favorite part of the whole park is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride. It takes you on an adventurous journey with Harry, Ron and Hermione. You get to experience dragons, dementors and spiders, oh my! I shan't divulge the entire ride though, it is something that must be experienced for yourself. It is just an absolutely magical time. The hour-long line wait is definitely worth it. As I said before, after the very first time I rode it I nearly cried. My eyes got teary, but they were the almost-tears of extreme happiness. It was one of those moments when you realize that if you were to die right then, it would be perfectly fine. You would die quite happy. Thank goodness I didn't though, then I wouldn't have been able to ride it three more glorious times!

I plan on returning to Harry Potter's World in the near future. Winter perhaps? I sure hope so! I do not know how I am going to go on with my drab Muggle life when I could be out there having the most wonderful time at Hogwarts! But for now, I shall dream of the taste of Butterbeer and the wonderful feeling I got from walking through Hogsmeade, until I can return to where I truly belong.

Jennifer

Farewell Hogwarts

I write to you, friends, a very happy girl. Michael and I have immersed ourselves in a pool of magic the past three days and have had an absolutely splendid time. Yesterday we finally did the only two things we had not done thus far: had ourselves a refreshing Butterbeer, and rode Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Lets start with the Butterbeer...

'Tis a most excellent drink that can be purchased in a souvenir Butterbeer mug. I love my mug! It was an extra hot day so we ordered frozen Butterbeer. It quenched the thirst quite wonderfully. Butterbeer subtly tastes of bubblegum snow cone and smells like butterscotch. The best part is the froth on top which leaves behind a beautiful snow white mustace. Its a good thing we waited until our last day in Hogsmeade to try them, we would have wasted all of our money on Butterbeer! It is addicting.

As for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey...all I can say is best. ride. EVER. After that very first time we rode I almost got emotional. It captivates the magic that there is to be had in JK Rowlings magical world. We loved it so much we ended up riding it four times. You get a souvenir picture afterwards that is taken whilst you pass Aragog and his arachnid children; our picture is pretty much the best picture ever taken. I shall scan it here later for you all to see the joy and excitement on our faces caused by such a fantastic ride.

We even got to ride the 3D Spider-Man ride! Its pretty fun, I actually got a bit scared. Michael was very extra happy after that. Guess what! I am the owner of new Hufflepuff robes! I am very excited about them. I have decided that this year Michael and I shall be Hogwarts students for Halloween.

This was one - if not the best - of the greatest vacations I have ever ventured on. When I awoke this morning, it was Hogwarts I wanted to go to, not the airport. Alas, it was something that needed to be done. Saying goodbye to Hogwarts was difficult, but I have high hopes that I shall return home again.

Jennifer

P.S. It turns out that I suck at uploading pictures (we have been SO busy every day), so I shall upload them all soon! And don't forget about Michael's Corner.

Harry Birthday, Happy!

   Being a part of the first birthday of Harry Potter in the Wizarding World was quite an honor. How many people can say they were at the Harry Potter theme park for the for the first HP Birthday it would see?? Well, probably the other thousand people that were there today...oh well!
   In honor of Harry, Michael and I rode the Hugarian Horntail coaster of the Dragon Challenge ride. (There are two coasters for the ride: Hungarian Horntail and Chinese Fireball) But due to the threatening weather, the ride was suspended for thirty minutes for our safety. We braved the thirty minutes of waiting in line because we love Harry and it is his birthday!
   We finally started purchasing merch and magical goodies today; and boy did we spend some galleons! Something we did not expect though was waiting for us in one of our bags. Whilst going through our magical treasures about an hour ago, I found that a Dobby pin had somehow maneuvered itself into my bag! Which is a bizarrely strange coincidence, seeing as that was the pin that Michael desperately wanted but refused to spend nine dollars on. (No, he did not steal it. Nor did I!) He's good at getting free stuff. Yesterday he found a Slytherin lanyard lying next to a trashcan. Looks like he now has a pin for his lanyard.
   All in all, today was a wonderfully fantastic day! What a great birthday for Harry. I wish he could have been with us to have the fun we had. As I promised, I took a Knight Bus load of pictures today! But sadly I can not upload them tonight, for we must wake early to attend our Three Broomsticks breakfast on our last day in the Harry Potter theme park!

Jennifer

Entering Hogsmeade

We finally made it to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!
Even though we almost didn't get our tickets and we went into the wrong park, it all worked out for the better. Stepping into Harry's world is one of the most fascinating things I've ever done. Its hard to choose what to do first! We ended up participating in everything except for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride. The line wait was 70 minutes, all the time. 'Twas much too hot and humid outside for us to stand in that line, but we still have 2 days of magic ahead of us!

My only complaint about the park itself is Ollivanders Wand Shop. We stood in line for probably an hour (we had no idea it would be that long) in the persistent sun to enter the shop amongst a que of twenty people, to watch ONE SINGLE child have his wand choose him, then forced into the Owlery to find our own wands! Me and Michael were about ready to strangle somebody.

I didn't get many pictures; I was too excited experiencing the magic to pick up my camera. But now I have seen most everything and shall take loads of photographs for y'all to see! For now, view the image scroll above.

Jennifer

Day One

My internet is working faster now! I can go into further detail about our first day in Florida! Well, not too much detail. It's almost midnight in Florida and I am tired. Its time for sleep so we can wake early to finally go to the Harry Potter theme park! Which, by the way, is heavily advertised here. Every other bilboard is of Harry's face, and he's also plastered all over Wal Mart, Denny's, hotel rooms, etc.

Here are the things Michael and I were able to accomplish today:

- FORGET MY WONDERFUL NEW CHI AT HOME
- SURVIVE A 2 HOUR AND 20 MINUTE FLIGHT TO FLORIDA!
- RENT A FANCY NEW NISSAN ALTIMA AND DUB IT RUPERT
- CHECK INTO OUR CREEPY, FREEZING HOTEL
- GET LOST ON THE WAY TO DOWNTOWN DISNEY...
- IN WHICH WE EXPLORED AND PLAYED VIGOROUSLY
- AND GET LOST ON THE WAY BACK TO OUR CREEPY HOTEL FROM DOWNTOWN DISNEY

I shall post photos ASAP. Don't forget to check out Michael's Corner! It is located in the right sidebar just after the Mauraders Map and Muggles.
Tomorrow is the big day! HARRY POTTER THEME PARK!

Jennifer

Onward and Upward

Well, today is the day! The day we set out for Florida to play at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! I've been dreaming about it for two months now and it has finally come true. Granted we don't actually enter the park until tomorrow, today is the start of it all.

Michael and I awoke at 5AM and were on a plane by 9AM. His first time flying and my first time to remember; 'twas a wonderful experience! (I was so anxious though that I knocked over two suitcases and a pole before we even went thru security.) The Earth is beautiful from a birds eye view. My internet access is extra slow, so here are two images I captured of the sky.

This cloud looked like a bunny.

And this one resembled a badger.

(A sign! My house is Hufflepuff!)

After two hours we landed and embraced the pizza scented air that was Florida. We have been exploring ever since and let me tell you something: the Floridians are not near as good drivers as Texans, nor are they mannered. We are now on our way to Downtown Disney! I shall upload more of our journey later.

TTFN! Ta ta for now!

Jennifer

Preface

Welcome Muggles! You have gained access to the blog of Jennifer and Michael. In three days time, we shall be in Florida to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! This is where you will find all of our latest pictures, video and thoughts we collect whilst on our magical journey. I have to thank Michael and his mother for making this experience possible. If you know me visiting Hogwarts is something I only wish I could do in my dreams, so being able to go is so exhilarating! So if you were ever curious as to what it would be like to be a wizard for a day, follow us! The magic begins this Thursday, July 29TH at approximately 9AM. Come back then to adventure with us!

Jennifer