No need to use the Rennervate Spell this Christmas..update 5/11

[modegard]

I am loving your trip report! Your husband sounds like mine - always wandering off. I spend more time looking for him then I do watching my four boys.

[natebenma]

Originally Posted by momabaarjo

I think that is the best thing about WWofHP is the theming is done to the tiniest of all details! And once again it has JK's stamp all over it! From what I understand this is why the WWofHP went to Universal over Disney...Universal gave her control where Disney would not. Smart lady, and it sure paid off for Universal, because it is her vision...and you can see it. People think that HP will fade away now that the movies are over, but the true test is the book behind the movie...which I am certain will influence more Pot-heads over the next generations.

Really, really smart of Universal, too! In my last 3 years of hard-core DISing, I am seeing more and more people incorporating trips of various lengths to US/IoA and you know that WWoHP is the initial draw. Die-hard Disney folks who never really considered these theme parks before are getting introduced to these parks.

[natebenma]

Sorry to hear about the meltdown at 3 Broomsticks. I can totally understand it though. You have had a long, busy morning so far.

I agree with you- the ordering process is fairly confusing. I think we had to go back to the podium 3 times before we got what we wanted. I was so flustered that I initially forgot to ask for my AAA discount on the meal.
I do love the seating procedure, though. It is really nice to be escorted to a table rather than wandering around with your trays.

I didn't know about the house elf and owl shadows on hte walls until after our trip, so I didn't notice them.

We had lunch. I would go back. The food was decent enough, and the atmosphere is great.

[natebenma]

Thanks for sharing your movie marathon ideas with us. They are great! Was it family only, or did you have friends/neighbors for any of the shows?

We were actually at Universal from July 10-15. It was really cool- there was a fan convention going on that week (LeakyCon) so we saw a lot of very clever costumes including a Moaning Myrtle. On Wednesday night, they had an after hours convention-only event at WWoHP (Open at the Close). Movie goers who attended the midnight premier of HPDH2 were surprised with free admission to WWoHP from 3 am to 5 am. We didn't see the movie during our trip, but we were at WW 2 hours after the fans had their private run of the park.

I have had a couple of HP themed birthday parties, during one of them I had the kids work in teams on an O.W.L. (this was around the time Order of the Phoenix had just been released). I am going to put the link to the part of my TR in case your kids (or you) would like to check it out.

*Contest * Entrance Exam for Hogwarts. Can you pass this O.W.L. ???

Answer Key to O.W.L.

[momabaarjo]

Begging, Bribing, and Crowds...Oh My!

As we leave 3 Broomsticks we are in the perfect location to see the Dragon Challenge

and I began begging for someone to go on the roller coaster with me…yes, I was reduced to begging my chicken family to ride with me (I even went as far as bribing cash). But sadly no one would appease mom and ride! I knew I should have gotten them shirts with the words “Fun Haters” on them. We passed by

for Sirus Black where we stood and watched for awhile, because every few moments it changes and is animated! By this time the crowds are looking like this…

and none of us really want to fight the crowds, so we decide to bid Harry a goodbye and check out the rest that IOA has to offer, knowing that we have 3 more days of early entry ahead of us to enjoy Harry without the crowd. As we leave we are told that once we leave WWofHP we cannot re-enter except by the standby line located across the drawbridge. Yikes 10:00 am, the park has been open for all guests for 2 hours and they are about to start the stand by line procedure. It was my plan to leave WWofHP and do the rest of IOA in a counter clockwise fashion (starting with Jurassic Park), but of course on this trip my family has decided that they want to do things differently and stray from the plans that I have labored over for the last year. Goo is really dying to get on more rides, so we decide to head make our way towards Seuss Landing. But before we get there we have to pass through the Lost Continent

which captures Ab and Boo’s attention since they both love mythology. Knowing about Poseidon’s Fury from my past trip, this is the perfect stop before we get to Seuss Landing. As we make our way towards Poseidon’s Fury of course there are too many gift shops to explore

and yes Jeff has disappeared once again, sheesh do these people not understand touring plans and time tables? Ab things the Henna tattoos look cool as well as the Blue Evil Eyes, Boo spots a shop with Family Coats of Arms, Joseph discovers the fountain (which I am thankful is still turned off), and Jeff, who knows where he disappeared too!!

Somehow he finds as we reach Poseidon’s Fury,

only to discover…

[momabaarjo]

Originally Posted by modegard

I am loving your trip report! Your husband sounds like mine - always wandering off. I spend more time looking for him then I do watching my four boys.

I know....and he is always behind us! I swear I wanted to kill him...he had no clue about touring plans and schedules! But, he was sure thankful that I did!

I see you go to DL a lot! I am really thinking this is where we need to head next March for Spring Break or maybe summer 2013! CARS land opens this summer and I really want to take Goo there before he loses his love for Lightning! I may have lots of questions for you!

Originally Posted by natebenma

Really, really smart of Universal, too! In my last 3 years of hard-core DISing, I am seeing more and more people incorporating trips of various lengths to US/IoA and you know that WWoHP is the initial draw. Die-hard Disney folks who never really considered these theme parks before are getting introduced to these parks.

I can understand partly the reason why...there are lots of other fun little rides and attraction between IOA/USO, but nothing that would have drawn me away from Disney!

Originally Posted by natebenma

Sorry to hear about the meltdown at 3 Broomsticks. I can totally understand it though. You have had a long, busy morning so far.

I am prone to melt downs...I am so type A in a non type A personality. I think that was the only thing wrong about this trip...I did not allow us to stop and smell the roses very much! I was so determined to get it all done because I really did believe I would never get my husband into agreeing to go again!

I agree with you- the ordering process is fairly confusing. I think we had to go back to the podium 3 times before we got what we wanted. I was so flustered that I initially forgot to ask for my AAA discount on the meal.
I do love the seating procedure, though. It is really nice to be escorted to a table rather than wandering around with your trays.

I didn't know about the house elf and owl shadows on hte walls until after our trip, so I didn't notice them.

We had lunch. I would go back. The food was decent enough, and the atmosphere is great.

I should post a picture of the lunch that my friend and I shared when we went in 2010...we both really enjoyed it for fast food!

Originally Posted by natebenma

Thanks for sharing your movie marathon ideas with us. They are great! Was it family only, or did you have friends/neighbors for any of the shows?

We did this summer have the cousins come over a few times...but they moved and they are high maintance! I have really scaled back on the movie nights...only 1 or 2 a month instead of weekly and really no activity anymore...just a themed dinner that I try to get the kids to help with!

We were actually at Universal from July 10-15. It was really cool- there was a fan convention going on that week (LeakyCon) so we saw a lot of very clever costumes including a Moaning Myrtle. On Wednesday night, they had an after hours convention-only event at WWoHP (Open at the Close). Movie goers who attended the midnight premier of HPDH2 were surprised with free admission to WWoHP from 3 am to 5 am. We didn't see the movie during our trip, but we were at WW 2 hours after the fans had their private run of the park.

That would have been so awesome...I read about that on Facebook as we were waiting to go into our midnight showing!

I have had a couple of HP themed birthday parties, during one of them I had the kids work in teams on an O.W.L. (this was around the time Order of the Phoenix had just been released). I am going to put the link to the part of my TR in case your kids (or you) would like to check it out.

*Contest * Entrance Exam for Hogwarts. Can you pass this O.W.L. ???

Answer Key to O.W.L.

Thank you for sharing! I am filing some of your ideas away should I ever need a reason to do HP again... Please let the rumors be true about an expansion so I have an excuse to go back!

[natebenma]

Sounds like it was a good time to get out of Dodge! We had that same experience on our first morning visit. They were already issuing entry tickets around 9:30 or 10.

I'm sorry to hear nobody ould ride Dragon Challenge with you! Hopefully you will have plenty of opportunities later. And hopefully everyone will at least go through the queue. Pretty cool theming.

[momabaarjo]

Explosion of Christmas and Seuss

You guessed it, Poseidon's Fury is closed at the moment, they are having technical difficulties. That was actually okay by me, because I had planned to do PF the night we ate at Mythos later in the week…so keep it moving people. We pass by the most photographed statue in all of IOA the entrance of the Lost Continent and of course Boo needs a picture.

Finally we cross over to the bridge into Seuss Landing where I am delighted to discover that the annoying theme music that I had experienced on my first trip (and still plays in my ears) has been replaced by Christmas music; well there is something to celebrate.

Our first stop is the High in the Sky Trolley, which takes you high above Seuss Landing while telling several stories…our story on this ride was about the Snitches.

The end of the ride drops you into a candy store...

where my boys with money in their pockets decide it is time to buy something. Goo wanted one of those fill it yourself candy tubes, and thankfully he convinced his sister to help him out...

But if she knew what he was about to do to her, I think she would have refused helping him! From there we continued exploring all the theming and decorations Seuss Landing has to offer…and let me tell you it looks like all of Seuss books have exploded into reality and then Christmas exploded on top of that!

Our next stop was in Gertrude’s...

Jeff forgot his sunglasses, after I reminded him before he went and parked the truck at the airport so he made a purchase and of course Goo wanted a new pair (which you will see quickly becomes my nemesis). Ab and Boo just had fun looking and trying on things…knowing that they can come back later if they really want something.

Our next ride was carousel Seuss but before that we walked through the Lorax forest where Ab had to remind us that Taylor Swift was in the movie coming out this spring.

A carousel is a carousel and this one if filled with all creatures Seuss, but IOA could learn from WDW about upkeep and appearance of rides…they really need to be painted.

Across from Carousel Seuss One Fish Two Fish…now I know about this ride and I am not getting on it and Ab just wants to look around…so I send the boys to do it on their own, only for them to appear 5 minutes later telling us they have to have someone 14 or older ride with them…who will that be?

[natebenma]

I haven't seen you post your daughter's age, but going into HS next year probably puts her around 13-14. Even if she isn't 14 yet, I think she goes on 1F2F with the boys. If not, it is Jeff's turn. OR you should do some major negotiating... I'll go on this with you, if you go on Dragon Challenge with me!

I'm glad your family enjoyed Seussland. My boys were total pills there. One ride on High in the Sky Trolley and they were out of there. GRRRR!

[momabaarjo]

Originally Posted by natebenma

I haven't seen you post your daughter's age, but going into HS next year probably puts her around 13-14. Even if she isn't 14 yet, I think she goes on 1F2F with the boys. If not, it is Jeff's turn. OR you should do some major negotiating... I'll go on this with you, if you go on Dragon Challenge with me!

I'm glad your family enjoyed Seussland. My boys were total pills there. One ride on High in the Sky Trolley and they were out of there. GRRRR!

Ab will be 15 at the beginning of May and is currently a freshman in high school....she is height challenged (Jeff's mom is barely 4 ft 8 in, while his dad is 6 foot...plus I am barely 5 ft 2 in...poor girl is inching closer to 5 foot, but doubt she gets there). She is extremely petite in size, but makes up for it in attitude.

They LOVED Seuss Landing...I cannot tell you how many times we kept finding ourselves in this area over the next 3 more days! Goo loved High in the Sky...I think he rode it (we rode it) probably 6-7 times! Ab loves Thing 1/2 and the Grinch.

I love your prediction...hmmm, maybe tomorrow I will reveal what happens!

[modegard]

I would be happy to chat Disneyland anytime. I love it there! We have never been to Florida before, and the size of it all intimidates me a bit. At the Disneyland Resort everything is within walking distance, it makes it so easy to run back to the room for a nap, or to change or whatever.

Still loving your trip report! We leave in 2 weeks and 5 days for WDW and will be at Universal for three days in 3 weeks and 5 days. I can hardly wait!


Merilee

[momabaarjo]

Originally Posted by modegard

I would be happy to chat Disneyland anytime. I love it there! We have never been to Florida before, and the size of it all intimidates me a bit. At the Disneyland Resort everything is within walking distance, it makes it so easy to run back to the room for a nap, or to change or whatever.

Still loving your trip report! We leave in 2 weeks and 5 days for WDW and will be at Universal for three days in 3 weeks and 5 days. I can hardly wait!


Merilee

Once you figure out the transportation system getting around WDW is really easy! I loved staying on the BW simply because we were walking distance to 2 parks which made things really easy!

I am so excited for you about your trip! I think 3 days at USO/IOA will give you lots of down time and to do the parks at a less fenzy pace!

[momabaarjo]

One Fish, Two Fish…Wet Sis, Mad Sis

Ab had not really been paying attention to the ride in front of her, so she volunteered to ride with Goo…yes, no bribing on my part to get her to ride she did it willingly…that will teach her to pay attention! One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish is a Dumbo type ride, but with water!

Basically you go up and down to the story that is narrated around you dodging the water sprayed at you by the fish. If you follow the story’s direction, you do not get wet…but if you ride with a little brother who figures out there is water involved…well you know what happens!

Ab came off the ride wet with a little brother giggling his heart out! Way to take one for the family Ab! Secretly, I think she had fun…I could see the smiles! Next we rode the Cat in the Hat…

of course Jeff is now aware of warning signs and starts reading them before he gets on a ride…sheesh this is a kid ride, get on it and like it, darn it. He of course questions the attendant who assures him that he can handle it. The ride is simple; much like Winnie the Pooh…except retelling the story Cat in the Hat…same rough twists and turns. I think we ended up riding this twice…the Express Pass line was walk on, while the regular line was a 50 minute wait! Afterwards Jeff decided he needed a bathroom and the kids wanted to check out the gift shop…while waiting we found Horton’s eggs…warning this pictures look pretty bad (100% boys)!

The kids noticed this sign,

and agreed with it (and I did too)! When Jeff did finally reappeared we left Seuss Landing

in search of…

[natebenma]

Great Chapter Title!!!

I love that Ab went on with the boys. The question is, did you guys ride it again later in the trip?

As I mentioned before, after the trolley ride, my boys refused all things Seuss. If you are interested in reading about our time in Seuss Landing, here is the link to my TR chapter:

Oh, the Places we Didn't Go!


Where do you go next? Well, some of you are a little wet already. Is it time to get thoroughly soaked?

Toon Lagoon?

[momabaarjo]

Originally Posted by natebenma

Great Chapter Title!!!

I love that Ab went on with the boys. The question is, did you guys ride it again later in the trip?

I had read they they turned down the spray on the water during the winter months...not sure if that is true!

As I mentioned before, after the trolley ride, my boys refused all things Seuss. If you are interested in reading about our time in Seuss Landing, here is the link to my TR chapter:

Oh, the Places we Didn't Go!


Where do you go next? Well, some of you are a little wet already. Is it time to get thoroughly soaked?

This is December...not July!

Toon Lagoon?

I LOVE HOW YOU WROTE THIS CHAPTER OF YOUR TRIP REPORT! I am so sorry that your boys did not enjoy Seuss Landing. I so can relate with no one wanting to do the extreme rides with me! (loved the picture on the trolley, BTW...)Looks like they are trying to hide or not be recognized)