Escaping Snowy New England for Freezing Florida Feb 2015 Final Hours 11/17 p. 23

[afwdwfan]

We started the morning with breakfast in the club lounge at 7 am. It was not very crowded when we first arrived, but filled up within 10 minutes. Here is a link to pictures of the breakfast offerings.

Insert Link

I think you forgot something...

Flight of the Hippogriff (not-so-extreme coaster).

Pretty soon you will enter the greenhouse, which I find to be the least magical of all of the areas of the castle. The line here, just before you enter the castle, backs up. In the summer months it is wicked hot with only fans, not air-conditioning. There are a few things to look at but is there a reason they couldn’t have animatronic Mandrakes screaming as they pop out of their pots?

I can't even imagine waiting in that line. How long of a wait would that be????

I am going to put in portrait gallery here. Like in the books and movies, the subjects in the portraits can move and talk!

That is my favorite part. I mean, I don't know all the ins and outs of Harry Potter or what everything represents. But from the perspective of some clueless muggle (see, I figured that one out), that portrait gallery was pretty amazing.

It is a phenomenal ride, but the broom scenes might just be the most nauseating attraction I've ever experienced.

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

That's interesting. So they check for eligibility for early entry after the turnstiles?

YAY Dragon Challenge!!!! Even without the duelling, I still love. it. I am absolutely a sucker for inverted coasters.

Forbidden Journey. EASILY the worst locker experience of your life. But also one of the best rides.

 

[SarahDisney]

For me, a true Gryffindork, the queue through Hogwarts castle is almost better than the ride because of all of the Harry Potter details and references.

I loved the castle so much! I mean, I loved the ride too ... but I will never forget my amazed reaction when I first saw the house points ... that was when I realized I was actually inside Hogwarts. The same Hogwarts I had loved since I discovered it in 8th grade. So I'm totally with you on this one.

Thanks to my trusty fanny pack, I have not had to endure the Locker Torture Experience, but at times it can get really crowded and chaotic in there. Avoid if possible!

Yeah, that was a really fun experience. And, of course, one of our water bottles spilled in the locker and got our stuff all wet ... which made it even worse.

There are a few things to look at but is there a reason they couldn’t have animatronic Mandrakes screaming as they pop out of their pots?

That's a really good idea (although, maybe killing guests is a bad idea ...). I thought that part of the line was a little boring, so I definitely wish they could do something to make it more interesting.

I really loved seeing all of your pictures inside the castle! When we went in 2011, by the time we got to the castle we had been in line for well over an hour (maybe even closer to two houjrs) and there were basically rushing us through the castle, and at that point I really wanted to just go on the ride and while I looked around the castle as much as I could (and pointed out things like the portrait gallery to my sister, who has never read the books or seen the movies), I really did miss some of the details, and it's really nice to see the pictures of things I just didn't have time to focus on. So thank you for sharing so many pictures!

 

[KatMark]

I read the entire update but know nothing about it so can't say much.

I do enjoy all of your pictures, and I love the family picture on the ride at the end.

 

[MEK]

Holy detail pictures! You did a fabulous job. I have to admit that I know next to nothing about the Harry Potter series, but your pictures make me want to read every book and see every movie now.

Here is the truth - no more delays. I am finally going to visit next February after the PHM because I am not going to renew my AP. Perfect excuse.

Great updates!

 

[saintstickets]

Great update fellow Gryffindork! We have not made it to the new Diagon Alley part but really enjoyed our trip to Hogwart's a couple of years ago. Most people don't realize that J K Rowling was actually in discussion with Disney first for WWoHP but Disney would not give her final creative control (anyone seen Saving Mr. Banks?) so she went to Universal where they obviously relented and the rest is history. Disney learned their lesson so when they started talking to James Cameron about Avatar, they gave him much more creative input than they have in the past with any others. Can you imagine WWoHP at Hollywood Studios?!?!? Sighhhhh

 

[dreamseeker9]

Wow, I really need to go through the castle again. The only time I rode Forbidden Journey was the Sunday after Thanksgiving in November 2012 - the park was dead, so we walked right on to the ride 3 times! We couldn't believe our luck, but of course that meant we missed a lot of the castle. Thanks for the wonderful detailed review!

 

[natebenma]

I want to skip it, I want to read it, I want to skip it, I want to see it. Torture. I could not keep myself from reading, of course.

Thanks for reading!!!

Oh, I think I inserted some additional pictures from when you read. It took me awhile to get this update up.

LOVE LOVE LOVE your FJ commentary (where did the worship smilie run off too lol). My DD7 is dying to ride it, she loves HP. The other kids enjoyed it, I usually take DD7 & DS6 on Hippogriff over and over She is small for her age, and I am so hoping she hits 48" this summer, we go to her Peds endocrinologist in July. My DH always says he needs to stretch her. She's my daredevil thrill ride girl too, poor thing. BUT we will all definitely be able to do Diagon Alley!!

Thank you so much!!! Glad you enjoyed it.

I hope she can ride! Even so, I hope you have all at least walked through the castle.

:

Wow loved the photo tour! Absolutely amazing! Now I want to go visit it all!

Thank you!

Me, too!

One of my best friends is there RIGHT now! Her 12 year old son is really into Harry Potter and she just texted me that he s GEEKING OUT big time after being in the Wizarding World and Hogwarts Castle. I am so excited for them.

I think you forgot something...

Corrected now.

One of the funniest things I read in a trip report was a woman who tried to hold her breath through the whole Hippogriff ride. She almost made it.

I can't even imagine waiting in that line. How long of a wait would that be????

That's probably about a 20 minute-er right there!

That is my favorite part. I mean, I don't know all the ins and outs of Harry Potter or what everything represents. But from the perspective of some clueless muggle (see, I figured that one out), that portrait gallery was pretty amazing.

It is a phenomenal ride, but the broom scenes might just be the most nauseating attraction I've ever experienced.

The portraits are really cool.

Sorry that the ride doesn't agree with you. I have moments where I can feel the nausea on Forbidden Journey, but it doesn't last.

That's interesting. So they check for eligibility for early entry after the turnstiles?

YAY Dragon Challenge!!!! Even without the duelling, I still love. it. I am absolutely a sucker for inverted coasters.

Forbidden Journey. EASILY the worst locker experience of your life. But also one of the best rides.

Isn't that ridiculous!!! You can get into the park early without proving you are staying on site. But you can't get to any attractions that are open. You can only go to the food places or gift shops that are open. Say, maybe not such a bad plan by US at all! Of course, given the situation at the turnstiles, you can be there by early opening and still not get through before the regular opening time.

I have to say that I think Dragon Challenge scares me more than any other coaster I have ever been on. I am convinced that I am going to fly off when going over the top of one of those loops!

No lockers for us!

 

[pas130]

Thank you so much!!! Glad you enjoyed it.

I hope she can ride! Even so, I hope you have all at least walked through the castle.

:

DS6 is scared of it so not all of us have. He does love the shops and storefronts so maybe he will decide to try it this year

 

[natebenma]

I loved the castle so much! I mean, I loved the ride too ... but I will never forget my amazed reaction when I first saw the house points ... that was when I realized I was actually inside Hogwarts. The same Hogwarts I had loved since I discovered it in 8th grade. So I'm totally with you on this one.

I love the House Points, too! That and the Pensieve are the most beautiful things in the Castle.

Yeah, that was a really fun experience. And, of course, one of our water bottles spilled in the locker and got our stuff all wet ... which made it even worse.

No thank you! As I have said, I have only had to use the lockers once because we had a souvenir butter beer mug.

That sounds terrible that your stuff got wet!

That's a really good idea (although, maybe killing guests is a bad idea ...). I thought that part of the line was a little boring, so I definitely wish they could do something to make it more interesting.

I really loved seeing all of your pictures inside the castle! When we went in 2011, by the time we got to the castle we had been in line for well over an hour (maybe even closer to two houjrs) and there were basically rushing us through the castle, and at that point I really wanted to just go on the ride and while I looked around the castle as much as I could (and pointed out things like the portrait gallery to my sister, who has never read the books or seen the movies), I really did miss some of the details, and it's really nice to see the pictures of things I just didn't have time to focus on. So thank you for sharing so many pictures!

Something is needed in the Greenhouse!

The longest wait we have had for FJ has been about an hour.

We have been on Forbidden Journey somewhere around a dozen times- I would have to count out my PhotoConnect pictures to figure it out. I see something new every time I go through the castle.

I read the entire update but know nothing about it so can't say much.

I do enjoy all of your pictures, and I love the family picture on the ride at the end.

Thanks for reading. I know it does not really mean much to you since you are not familiar with the series.

Holy detail pictures! You did a fabulous job. I have to admit that I know next to nothing about the Harry Potter series, but your pictures make me want to read every book and see every movie now.

Here is the truth - no more delays. I am finally going to visit next February after the PHM because I am not going to renew my AP. Perfect excuse.

Great updates!

Thank you!!!

The books are absolutely amazing, a really interesting and well-told story. Glad to hear you have plans to go next year. You should try to watch some of the movie if you don't get to the books. The Wizarding World part is focused and set during book/movie 3 and 4, so watching the first 4 would allow you to recognize and appreciate a lot of the details. Diagon Alley is from the final book (and movies 7 and 8), but I don't think you need to read or see those to appreciate the area.

Great update fellow Gryffindork! We have not made it to the new Diagon Alley part but really enjoyed our trip to Hogwart's a couple of years ago. Most people don't realize that J K Rowling was actually in discussion with Disney first for WWoHP but Disney would not give her final creative control (anyone seen Saving Mr. Banks?) so she went to Universal where they obviously relented and the rest is history. Disney learned their lesson so when they started talking to James Cameron about Avatar, they gave him much more creative input than they have in the past with any others. Can you imagine WWoHP at Hollywood Studios?!?!? Sighhhhh

Thank you!!!

I think I'm glad Harry Potter lives over at Universal. The effect those lands have had on the attendance at those parks astounds me and I would be afraid at what would happen if those areas were at Disney. The other thing is that Universal really seems to crank out the new attractions quickly. If Disney had made the deal with JK Rowling they would still be building the castle!

Wow, I really need to go through the castle again. The only time I rode Forbidden Journey was the Sunday after Thanksgiving in November 2012 - the park was dead, so we walked right on to the ride 3 times! We couldn't believe our luck, but of course that meant we missed a lot of the castle. Thanks for the wonderful detailed review!

I notice new details every single time I go through the castle. I'm glad you enjoyed my photo tour!

 

[natebenma]

Dragon Challenge & Flight of the Hippogriff

In my last update, I posted a thorough description and photo review of the Forbidden Journey ride. The other two things we did for early opening on our first morning were Dragon Challenge and Flight of the Hippogriff.

Dragon Challenge -You’ll need the courage of a Triwizard Tournament champion as you climb aboard one of the two ferocious dragons that twist and loop in a high-speed roller coaster ride across the sky. Each “dragon” is a completely different ride.





This ride was formerly “Dueling Dragons” both the red track and blue track would run vehicles at the same time and at a couple of points in the attraction, riders would come within inches of riders on the other track. Shortly after our 2011 trip, there were a couple of incidents where riders were injured by items coming from people on the other track, so Universal is no longer sending the vehicles out at the same time.

The two tracks are pretty similar, but my family prefers the red track.










This is not an every-time ride for me. To paraphrase “The Most Interesting Man in the World”… I don’t always ride Dragon Challenge, but when I do, I am scared out of my mind!

Most coasters don’t bother me and I can talk myself into believing that the ride is perfectly safe, but for Dragon Challenge, I am convinced that I will be flung from the ride as I am at the top of one of those loops.

This morning I chose to ride.


You get some pretty incredible views of Hogwart's Castle from the line.








The queue for this ride is pretty cool and there are quite a few nods to the Harry Potter book/movie Goblet of Fire. Artifacts from the Tri-Wizard tournament appear both in the outside line and the inside line.

You will find banners supporting your favorite Tri-Wizard Champion.












You will encounter Mr. Weasley’s crashed Ford Anglia* here, but I am still not sure why it appears here since the car does not feature prominently in the Goblet of Fire story.

*Thanks for the correction, SarahDisney!!!






We have never encountered a long line for this ride unless it has gone down for some reason.

If you use the Express Pass, you miss some of the displays like the Tri-Wizard cup and the dragons’ eggs, but since the express pass isn’t needed/valid during that first early opening hour, we went through the entire line.

Continued in Next Post

 

[natebenma]

Everyone enters into the castle where you see the Goblet of Fire in the entrance room (why is this a bedroom?)









It is this point where you split off and go right to the loading area if you have the Express Pass. If you don't, you continue through the stone corridors where you will see the Tri Wizard Cup and the golden dragons' eggs.










You will arrive at this wooden sign, where you choose which flight/track you want






Here is the seat. You ride suspended with the track at the top and your feet dangling down. You pull down a harness and hope that you get that extra "click" that means you are securely locked into place. At times on the ride you are upside down, and that is that part that terrifies me.




Continued in Next Post

 

[natebenma]

Are you ready???

I'm not sure I am.

I have pictures of the track, but no pictures while on the actual ride because 1) It is forbidden and 2) Just no.

 

[natebenma]

Flight of the Hippogriff- Learn the proper way to approach a Hippogriff before you take off on a family-friendly coaster that spirals and dives around the pumpkin patch and swoops past Hagrid’s hut.


There is limited capacity for this ride and since it is one that most family members can do and the train cars are not very long so the wait here can be bad at times.





Thank you Early Entry and Express Pass!





The queue line is mostly themed to Hagrid's Hut, set in the fall scene of the book/movie Prisoner of Azkaban
















Continued in Next Post

 

[pas130]

I rode that before HP, and the part that gets me is the loop where you feel like you might collide with the people on the other track (I always ducked...like it would've helped LOL)


ETA: We are posting at the same time...the Hippogriff lines are always insane LOVE the Express Passes, because the kids always want to go on at least three times...even DS14

 

[natebenma]

Let's Ride!

This is a fun, but very quick family coaster. I have never been on Goofy’s Barnstormer at the Magic Kingdom, but my guess is that it is pretty comparable. The favorite review I have ever read about this ride was from the couple who tried to see if they could hold their breath for the entire ride. They weren’t successful, but it was close!


The first thing you encounter on the ride is Buckbeak, the Hippogriff, in his next. Make sure you politely bow your head to him.









You see Hagrid's Hut once again.






There are some pretty cool peeks at the theme parks from the ride and breathtaking views of Hogwart’s Castle as long as the sun is not blaring in that direction.
























Our plan after Hippogriff was to take the Hogwart’s Express to Diagon Alley in Universal Studios, but it was not running when we finished, so instead we decided we would make a loop through the rest of Islands of Adventure.


Next Up: The Lost World

 

[pas130]

Great pics on the ride Dee, I am impressed It is a wonderful view from up there!

 

[Sailormoon2]

Beautiful shots! I will ride Dragon Challenge (both courses over two days) on our very first up coming trip for my husband. Looping coasters don't scare me, but I don't overly enjoy them, I always feel like I've been put through a washing machine. It's funny how those harnesses make me feel more secure. Now RRR I am terrified to ride...

 

[kimmy85]

You will arrive at this wooden sign, where you choose which flight/track you want

Hi Dee!

Did this many many years ago with DS when it was Dueling Dragons. When I go back with DH, "not gonna do it"....

Can you walk along the ride queue (waiting in line/not cutting) to enjoy the themes/scenery and then bug out before actually getting on Fire or Ice??

Thanks!!

 

[natebenma]

I rode that before HP, and the part that gets me is the loop where you feel like you might collide with the people on the other track (I always ducked...like it would've helped LOL)

ETA: We are posting at the same time...the Hippogriff lines are always insane LOVE the Express Passes, because the kids always want to go on at least three times...even DS14

I rode Dueling Dragons (after it changed to the Harry Potter theme, but before they stopped running the two coasters at the same time). It was pretty terrifying! Ben rode this back in 2011, when he was 10 and he spent the entire ride screaming! He didn't ride it at all in 2013, but was back in the saddle for February.

I rode two or three times on the most recent trip.

There is no way I would wait in line for Hippogriff, so I am very thankful to be able to use the Express Pass here.

Great pics on the ride Dee, I am impressed It is a wonderful view from up there!

Thanks! I love to see what you can from the view on the coaster. I really like taking pictures on coasters like this, or Big Thunder.

Beautiful shots! I will ride Dragon Challenge (both courses over two days) on our very first up coming trip for my husband. Looping coasters don't scare me, but I don't overly enjoy them, I always feel like I've been put through a washing machine. It's funny how those harnesses make me feel more secure. Now RRR I am terrified to ride...

I actually find RRR to be smoother than Dragons. Although that straight up lift on the beginning is pretty intimidating!

I'll be interested to hear what you think about the coasters, and if you prefer one to the other. I haven't noticed a difference.

Hi Dee!

Did this many many years ago with DS when it was Dueling Dragons. When I go back with DH, "not gonna do it"....

Can you walk along the ride queue (waiting in line/not cutting) to enjoy the themes/scenery and then bug out before actually getting on Fire or Ice??

Thanks!!

Yes, absolutely!!!

I did that one time when the boys rode. I walked through with them, then bailed out and watched from the viewing area. I took a lot of the pictures I posted during that time waiting for them to ride.