Wow I missed a bunch of updates!
Glad to hear there wasn't a big deal with Allison's nail.
How awesome to be able to explore the park with friends!
Sorry - now that my schedule is a little crazy - I have more time to update on weekends vs. week days.
Not too much of a big deal - just painful for her the repeated times she bumped it (or I bumped it...) - but it was a relief once she was able to trim it.
It was really cool!!! So glad that many of our friends could join up with us.
My oldest still has his frog from when we went in 2012. He never wanted to eat it.
First, I have to say I love Monica's Bag--is that a Lapu Lapu? I must go back in your reports and see if I can find details. I'm a minimalist, so I love the small size!
I have the Where's Mickey mini-hipster. Funny story, I bought it for my trip this past fall. We went with myself, DH, DS, BFF, and DS's GF. DS's GF is the sweetest thing, but a terrible traveler--ie terrible packer for travel. She didn't have a bag for the parks, so I ended up lending her my mini-hipster to her for the trip. I used my other tiny bag that I had with me!
Are there silks in that photo? All I see is a gorgeous man!
I have to hope their diligence is also due to them protecting the resort--there seemed to be some upgraded security around the parks lateley, which I have to wonder if it was because of some perceived threat?
Love the Night Bus and all your HP photos. Confession, I read the books to both my DS's starting back before there were movies. Older DS and I are probably the biggest fans, but I think I'm a bigger fan than he is. I've read the books and watched the movies multiple times. Hmmm, I wonder if I should sneak a day into my "maybe trip" to US?
Wish the weather had been a bit better for you on your trip, but looks like you had a great time! I am booked at POFQ for my "maybe trip". I will definitely seek out Santos--such a great guy to tour with you and show you around! I will say "hi" to him!
Hahahaha... No one here has eaten their frogs either - I suspect they won't. Well, maybe they will - but they might make me get them more in oct?
Yes - I am still debating on the backpack for V... My issue is that it was on Ebay last week for $69 shipped... Of course - that one sold... So now there is only ONE available on there and it's $89 shipped. Do I cave and pay the $89 (which is still better than it was at WDW new - but I know it was at the outlet last summer/fall for much cheaper) since they are no longer for sale anywhere - including the outlet. Do I pay the $20 more? Or do I risk not getting it at all? GAH!!! I dunno??? I really want her to have the set as her carry on for our trip - and she would get sooo much use out of it otherwise... Help! LOL
Hahaha... I had issues seeing the silks myself.
I am certain that is the reason they are so protective of the resort - there were many times though that I truly felt like a naughty child... Sigh - I know they are just trying to keep everyone safe, it's just sad that our world has come to this.
You should! We loved HP - I was kind of sad that we didn't have enough time for another day there... We had 2 more days on our tickets that we had to let expire - so it wouldn't have cost us anything - besides food - to do another day there. Oh well.
Please do say hi to him - he loves that... And give him hugs from his "MN girls".
I am so jealous of your HP experience. It is now a must do for our next trip. Haha. I went to Hogsmeade three years ago but I have been dying to go to Diagon Alley!
I think Allison should do a trip report so we can see some of her pics too!
It was awesome! I highly recommend it! Personally - we enjoyed Diagon Alley more... I sure hope they add on to these areas.
I wish she'd do a TR... She's had a Dis account here for years - but she hasn't logged in - well - in years either. LOL She's just not as into it as I am. I am sure many would enjoy the trip from her perspective though - including me.
I'll mention it - she might be interested?
Universal like amazing. Might hav to make my girls read the books some can go.
You should - it was a lot of fun! Reading the books and seeing the movies really adds to the experience... I wouldn't understand a thing had I not done both.
I would love to experience Cirque once. I think the show looks awesome! I noticed a lot of empty seats. Do you know if it's pretty common for the show to not sell out or do you think it has more to do with the time of year you were there?
Your Universal day looks like fun. One day I hope to be able to tear myself away from Disney to spend a few days there. I think I'll wait until my boys are a little older though. I'd like to start reading the Harry Potter series with them this summer so maybe when we read through all the books we'll consider a trip there. I'm sure you were glad to have Santos along; he was probably a great tour guide!
It was really cool. I have no idea if it's common for the show to sell out or not? I do know it was much more crowded by us, than it was in the "worse" seats.
It was a lot of fun! Yes - I think they'd enjoy it more if they were older, and at least old enough/tall enough to ride the rides. And definiitey reading the books and watching the movies before going is a must! Santos was a GREAT tour guide - we saw so much more with him there than we would have without him - I know it! It sounds like he wants to join V and I in October too - which would be awesome!
One other thing - Sorry!
I noticed in your pictures in the store where Allison purchased her wand it looks like shoe boxes on the walls. Do all those boxes have wands in them? If so, how on earth do you pick out a wand when there are so many to choose from? I'd be there all day. Also, what do you do with the wands?
No worries - LOL.
Yes - those are all wands... They are grouped together though - so there's really only maybe 25 different wands to choose from?
They are on display outside the boxes, so you know which wand you want... Then there are large groups of the same box color, and those are all the same wands - just many boxes of them. Make sense? Not sure I explained that right?
I loved the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. We justmissed the opening of Diagon Alley when we were last there, but the theming of Hogsmeade was on point! I was excited to try Butterbeer. We got 1 frozen and one not. The unfrozen one was too sweet for us, but pouring the remainder into the half-finished frozen one turned out to be a huge win! I also got a Pumpkin Juice, just to try. I liked the Pumpkin Juice wayyyyy better than the Butterbeer.
Your daughter looks delighted with her wand! Excellent purchase!!
It was awesome! I loved Diagon Alley more than Hogsmeade - but both were perfectly on point! That is my ONE big regret - I forgot to try the Pumpkin Juice - it's on my must do list for October!
She had so much fun with it - but she didn't do much with it at first... I'll get to that though.
This picture says it all! Her eyes are sparkly and bright and not posed for the picture.
I am loving all of these updates! Kudos to Allison for doing the minor surgery herself on her fingernail -- ouch! I'm glad it felt better after that. I think it's so neat that you make friends with the CMs and that they remember you.
We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE POFQ and the beignets there -- I could really go for some of those right now. I am hoping we do Universal on one of our future trips....it looks amazing.
She loved every moment - I was so happy that I was able to do this for her. She's wanted to go for several trips. In a way though - I am glad we waited for both areas to be open - I think the experience was better that way.
Yah - I wouldn't have been able to do that - no way. LOL Yes, it was so much better after that night - no more complaints about it at all - except that it's ugly. LOL
Most times, they don't remember me - unless I continue our friendship on FB - which I have done with several CMs. But the others - I usually have to show pictures, and even then, I think they just tell me that they remember me to shut me up. LOL But that's OK.
Yup - Beignets are amazing!!!! Life is good when they are included in your day!
I love your trip report! We are huge Disney people too, but we do try to get to the dark side every couple of years. My kids love HP. I am now planning an October 2016 trip with my daughter. We are so excited for a girls only trip.
Thank you!!! I am glad you are enjoying it! I am having so much fun sharing it with everyone!
HP is awesome! I am kind of excited that V wants to go too - not excited for the extra $500 it adds to our trip budget... but definitely excited to experience it again!
Oooh - you should PM me your dates... We could plan a Dismeet if our dates match up.
I love the zip a few doo da mug. And I would love to see coordinating shirt. You .must have restraint not buying souvenirs because I would want it all
Yah - it's my new favorite... Not dishwasher safe though - which is a bummer. But I will live with it. Hehehee. You should be able to see the coordinating sweatshirt on the
shop disney app - that's where I first saw these two items.
I do want it all... But after a while - it's just the same stuff, trip after trip... And I just wear the tees as pajamas - most of the time... And I prefer my own hand made customs/ears/bags - so it's pretty easy to pass most of it by. I have a hard time with the VB bags because I don't like to carry my own bags at home - but I do love to carry Disney bags - especially ones where they are Disney, but sort of hidden... we don't see many of the Disney VB bags here in our area - maybe once every month or two - I'll glimpse one, but they are pretty rare here.
I'm glad that you were able to get good seats but that is really a shame about the lights. It makes me feel as if our front row sets on the side weren't so bad after all, since we didn't have those lights in our eyes.
Did Allison enjoy the show?
I am a huge HP fan, too, so I would feel like Allison.
Good for you for conquering this ride. I've heard that this is one of the best rides. I get motion sick so I would probably chicken out.
My sister went to Universal and bought me a chocolate frog card. I got Dumbledore, too. We finally ate the chocolate frog about a year later and it was delicious.
Yah - if we were to ever do it again - I think I'd try for seats a little more off to the side, for that very reason.
Allison enjoyed the show - but like me, she did NOT enjoy the flashing lights all of the time.
Have you been to US yet?
This ride wasn't as motion sickening as some of the others... I will get to that issue later - believe me, I did have issues.
Glad to hear the chocolate is delicious - I am sometimes skeptical of theme park chocolate. LOL
Ok! I am all caught up! WOW! You did so many updates - but so much great stuff!
Yum your lunch at BOG sounds great! Glad you both enjoyed it and that the pre ordering worked out!
This looks really good. I am thinking about going here in July...
How nice! I love little magical moments like that!
That is too cute!
This is so cool! I never knew that MK had photo booths!
You guys got so lucky with the busses!
Oh my gosh! I have always wanted to experience this! Character Palooza has always looked like so much fun! The pictures came out great too!
Oh wow, that CM was very rude! Sorry that happened to Allison...
BEAUTIFUL! That would be like a dream!
I don't blame you - I find ToT so scary! I always scream when I'm on it!
Your experience at 50's sounded like so much fun! The aunts there can be either a hit or miss- glad you guys were able to experience it with a very fun Aunt! Too bad about the picture though...
How cool is that! How nice you and Allison were abel to spend time with your friend, and buy some Vera Bradley off of her!
That is so cool that worked out! You and Allison really lucked out with all your meets this trip!
I think it is so cool that you and Allison did the 4 Park challenge! It looked like you two had a lot of fun - and you really accomplished a lot! Something I would definitely want to do one day! Does V want to do that during her trip as well?
I am in LOVE with that mug!!! Where did you get it?! I would love to try and get one in July!
Your hair looks great! Allison did a great job! You two are like twins!
The show sounded fun - sorry about the lights and stuff but it looked like it was very exciting.
I love all the pictures from Universal - makes me want to go there and check it out! They really did such a wonderful job creating Hogwarts there! I love all the pictures and I love the wand that Allison got. I think that is such a cute idea!
Looking forward to the rest of your updates!
Gonna do my best on replies here Alison... LOL When I quote you - the quotes you've quoted from me, don't show up - so sometimes i have to guess what you are replying about. LOL So, if I am way off on my replies sometimes - I apologize.
We really loved BOG - and it was a definite must do to order in advance... If this is somewhere V wants to eat for her trip - we will definitely order ahead then too.
The photo booths are a lot of fun - I kind of hope they put more in around WDW.
Once we figured out how to coordinate the SoG buses with the Disney transportation system - it was a breeze to get from A to B. The only unknown - always - was the Disney buses... A person just never knows when they are going to show up.
I think if I were to ride ToT again - I'd pass out. Gonna try to see if Cindy will join us again when I go with V - then she can ride with V. LOL
I know - our own private VB trunk show... It was so funny! And awesome!
Not sure if V wants to do the 4 park challenge? Probably. LOL I have NO intention of mentioning the Kitchen Sink to her at all though - I cannot do that one again! No way! To this day - I want to barf when I think of it.
I got the mug in the dump shop of Splash Mountain. They have a matching sweatshirt too.
Hahaha... We got that "Twins" comment from everyone through out our trip - it was kind of funny. I kept telling everyone that she was my mom.
It was fun - the lights sucked, but the rest of it was amazing! If I were to go again - I think I'd try to sit more off to the side?
Universal was great... Definitely no Disney -but still great! I wish we would have had more time to explore the rest of the other park - oh well... We will do that on V's trip. One girl will get one park - the other girl will get the other - and I'll get both. It's fair.
Updates will be few and far between, I think, over the next couple of weeks. BMTL arrive on Friday - and our lives will be consumed with them until they go home... But I'll do the best I can... I can usually find time in the mornings, if I don't have a lot of replies to do.
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Not sure I will get to any updates today - which I think is OK... There's a lot to read from this weekend.
All I have left to update for this TR is the remainder of our Universal day... Our last full park day... And our travel day. Believe it or not - I am almost done with this TR. Lickety Split... Then I can go back to hiding in the PTR section untl V's trip in October 2016.
D~
I just get so excited reading about your trips D, they are just so much fun! 
Are you thinking about writing a TR?
They arrive Friday evening... And it's all we can do not to meet them at the airport - but we know the kids will be exhausted and cranky after a long flight and parents probably will be too... So we will let them settle and be there bright n' early Saturday morning. 
