We had a Disney December, Bahamian Xmas, NYC NYE and then some!! COMPLETED!

[lffam]

Hard Rock Hotel & Universal City Walk

After settling into the room and unpacking a bit, we decided we would go for a walk around the resort grounds and then over to Universal City Walk. Before we did that we went and arranged our Express passes which were part of the benefit of staying at the hotel. They had Kiosks in the lobby where your had your photo taken and express passes printed. We then went to avail ourselves of the “Evening Reception” at the Hard Rock Hotel Club. This was from 5:30pm to 7:00pm and was drinks and canapés. It was nice to be able to have some drinks and some hot and cold appetiser like dishes. This evening we spoke to one of the staff, Koshie and he was awesome. We asked him for his opinion on a plan of attach for the parks. He gave us some great advice and we decided to follow it.

After the having some drinks and food at the club, we walked around the grounds around the pool, checked out the menu for the two restaurants on site.

Then we walked over to Universal City walk. We saw the entrance for USO. I hadn’t been aware that there was a Macy’s parade which was on each day, so that was a bonus. We saw a sign which whet our appetite for seeing the new Diagon Alley and the Hogwarts Express, both which we planned to do first thing the next morning.

DS photobombing

As for dinner, in the end we ended going back to the hotel and having dinner in one of the restaurants on site, The Kitchen. Food was plentiful and very nice. We ended up eating here another evening also.

 

[lffam]

Day 8 – Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios – Hogwarts Express

We all rested well and woke quite early. We weren’t sure if we were going to go to breakfast at the Hard Rock Club before we went to the parks this morning. We decided not to given that we wanted to get away a little early to make the most of the early entrance into Islands of Adventure and also because both DW & I was going to ride the Forbidden Journey ride so we thought that would be better to do on an empty stomach! We did pick up some bottles of water from the club before we left. The advice we got from Cochie at the Club the night before was to go to Hogwarts first with the early entry and ride Forbidden Journey and any others there you might like then make our way to Hogmeade’s station to catch the Hogwarts express over to Kings Cross Station and Diagon Alley in Universal Studios. This worked out really well. We did rider swap as DS did not want to ride Forbidden Journey. Then I rode it again so I felt I got my fill of it. After this we went to the much anticipated Hogsmeade station to catch the Hogwarts Express. The cast members scan your tickets going into the station as you need to have Park to Park tickets given that the Hogwarts Express takes you into Universal Studios Park. I had purposely not read to much about the journey on the Hogwarts express as I wanted to experience it well relatively fresh eyes so to speak.


We walked through the station and up to the platform. Just as we arrived at the platform there was a train leaving.

Here is a short video of the train leaving.

Not too long later the train that would be taking us to kings Cross Station, London arrived. Here is a video of the train arriving.

There are plenty of youtube videos of the journey itself. I didn’t take one as it does say you are not supposed to take any videos or photos which in motion and I really just wanted to enjoy it. We were in a carriage with 3 others. There is a video screen which is the window which has all the scenery going by as you make the trip which starts of leaving Hogwarts and a Hippogriff flying along side. You also have shadows and voice from people in the hallway. It is really well done and a must experience. The trip itself is short about 4 minutes.


Arrived at Kings Cross Station

I remember is was really cold walking through the station after we got off the train.

And then, Diagon Alley……

 

[LivingforDisney]

I agree the train is very well done, hope you did the trip both ways.

We got a couple of videos of us walking through platform 9 /3 qtrs.

 

[lffam]

I agree the train is very well done, hope you did the trip both ways.

We got a couple of videos of us walking through platform 9 /3 qtrs.

Yes we did the trip back the other way on a different day.

 

[viaggiamo]

So cool!
We are reading the Harry Potter books now and I am more excited about going here than anyone. I have been waiting until the kids were old enough! LOL.
Do you think the rides are OK for a 9 and 7 yo? We watched the Gringotts one on youtube and DS6 was a bit scared.
Would love to hear what you all think. Both children want to get an interactive wand. did you guys do this and was it worth it? Or anyone?
I am totally enjoying your TR lffam. Thank you

 

[lffam]

So cool!
We are reading the Harry Potter books now and I am more excited about going here than anyone. I have been waiting until the kids were old enough! LOL.
Do you think the rides are OK for a 9 and 7 yo? We watched the Gringotts one on youtube and DS6 was a bit scared.
Would love to hear what you all think. Both children want to get an interactive wand. did you guys do this and was it worth it? Or anyone?
I am totally enjoying your TR lffam. Thank you

There are scary elements of both rides, and if you have seen them on youtube, then I think you are going to be the best judge as to if your kids will like them or not. We did get the interactive wand for DS he liked it. "worth it" well that's subjective really lol It's and experience they can have that s pretty unique as far as I know so for us yes it was, others may think different.

 

[Zosha]

Looks fab! Glad you are off and trip-reporting again!

 

[viaggiamo]

There are scary elements of both rides, and if you have seen them on youtube, then I think you are going to be the best judge as to if your kids will like them or not. We did get the interactive wand for DS he liked it. "worth it" well that's subjective really lol It's and experience they can have that s pretty unique as far as I know so for us yes it was, others may think different.

Thanks. I think we will get the wand but will check out the rides a bit more closely and maybe do a rider swap with our eldest.

 

[lffam]

Thanks. I think we will get the wand but will check out the rides a bit more closely and maybe do a rider swap with our eldest.

You have probably seen them in action, but I have a couple of short videos of DS using them I will post when I get to them which will be soon I hope !

 

[mimishat]

Loving the trip report!

 

[lffam]

Loving the trip report!

thanks a lot! appreciate the comments.

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Great photos of Carsland. I think your DW is reliving her childhood on the Silly Swings! I loved them a a kid but now they make me feel motion sick

Hardrock Hotel looks good - I am impressed - dedication - making the beds before you leave for photo purposes! If I forget you get unmade bed pics - lol! Glad you enjoyed US and the HP parts. In retrospect wish I'd bought an interactive wand (felt a bit odd a 50 something buying one and using it!)

 

[lffam]

Great photos of Carsland. I think your DW is reliving her childhood on the Silly Swings! I loved them a a kid but now they make me feel motion sick

Hardrock Hotel looks good - I am impressed - dedication - making the beds before you leave for photo purposes! If I forget you get unmade bed pics - lol! Glad you enjoyed US and the HP parts. In retrospect wish I'd bought an interactive wand (felt a bit odd a 50 something buying one and using it!)

Thanks AW appreciate the comments.

Yes DW does have a great look of joy on her face when on Silly Swings. I was pretty happy with my photography also

HRH was great. I'd stay there again in a heartbeat. We ended up staying 3 nights, rather than 2 night like the last time, because we said we wanted to have some down time at the resort, but we didn't end up doing this at all, we loved USO and IOA so much we spent most of our time at the parks

 

[lffam]

Day 8 – Diagon Alley

We walked into Diagon Alley and we felt we had been truly transported. From the very first sight of the cast members, to then look up to see Diagon Alley. It has been so well done I’ll just post the photos and let you all see for yourselves.

Weasleys Wizard Wheezes

One of the interactive wand positions which makes the water run.

 

[Travel Mum]

Your Universal photos are awesome and, again, thanks for sharing. It's fun reading your TR and get me excited to think we are actually finally going back in January. However, as you know, I'm extremely keen to read of your BWV experiences so will that be coming soon?

 

[lffam]

Your Universal photos are awesome and, again, thanks for sharing. It's fun reading your TR and get me excited to think we are actually finally going back in January. However, as you know, I'm extremely keen to read of your BWV experiences so will that be coming soon?

@Travel Mum thanks so much for your feedback. I'm glad you like them. I've got a few more days of USO to post and then we get to BWV so please stay tuned! I hope I don't let you down now that you have waited so long lol !

 

[lffam]

Day 8 Cont Diagon Alley Part 2

Ok so after the photo dump I figured I better have a bit of narrative.

Escape from Gringotts ride – AWESOME!! Neither DS or DW wanted to do this so I was on my own. As with The Forbidden Journey Ride, there is no Express pass for this ride. I went up the single rider line, bypassing a very very long line. The down side of this is that you don’t really get to see inside the main bank itself with the Goblins. So if this is something you really want to see up close, you get a bit of view but not a great one, then you will need to go in the normal line. The single rider path was kind of parallel to the main one but as I mentioned the view is obscured and then blocked, it then turns and basically runs down the other side and you end up meeting back and then splitting on a two way staircase and on all my rides (4 of them) I walked right up the stairs to only have to wait a short amount of time to fit into a cart .

As I said earlier the ride is fantastic, I just loved it. It does have some drops and fast turns but I could handle them and I don’t like rollercoaster rides. Which ages is suited for? Well that really depends on your child. I saw kids 10yo going on it. Really just depends, it is dark and there are drops and turns and HP imagery all around. If they like Forbidden Journey, then this would be no problem for them I think. If they do any of the roller coasters, then provided that being indoors and the HP imagery from the later movies isn’t a problem then I would think they would be fine. But you are going to know your kids best to decide what is right for them.

Here is a short video of the Gringotts Dragon

Here is another short video of one of the Interactive wand spots. You will see the curtains open and then there was a model inside of moving characters and music which started, which unfortunately I didn’t actually video lol

Some of the interactive wands spots took quite a number of turns to get it to work. There are cast members usually around to help out when someone was having a bit of difficulty. It is a very immersive experience and this is another one that is quite unique. I can’t remember how much the wands were, but I know DS would have been disappointed if he didn’t experience it. Plus, we are softies so he was always going to get one lol!

Some more photos from this truly magical place.

Breakfast in the Leaky Cauldron

Harry Potter Chess Set was really tempting to buy

Olivanders

You could do this whole interactive video at Shutterbuttons, which put you into various scenes/sets from HP . it looked kind of cool, but we didn’t end up doing it, but you should check it out as it might really appeal to some.

 

[lffam]

Day 8 cont..Animal Actors and The Blues Brothers


After getting our fill of Harry Potter for a while, we headed out and across to Animal Actors. We had seen this twice before, once in Hollywood, and once here at Orlando and one we really enjoyed. Before they show they had a meet and greet with two of the dogs. We were hoping one of them would be the Yellow Lab, but it wasn’t, but they were really nice dogs nonetheless and being a dog loving family it was nice to interact with them.

Great Scott It's a Delorean!

Animal Actors Show. Hasn't changed since we first saw it in 2010, but still worth seeing.

We all have a massive soft spot for Labradors especially Yellow ones as we have one ourselves. This one was from Marley & Me.

This one looks like our cat at home.

We saw the Blues Brothers show. This was quite short but entertaining. The one in Hollywood that we saw in 2010 was a lot better we all thought. DS was disappointed they didn't do his favorite song from BB, "Shake your Tail Feather".

 

[lffam]

Day 8 cont..Macy's Holiday Parade

After this we were able to get a spot close by The Macy’s Holiday parade. We actually didn’t know it was on prior to coming to USO the day before. It was really well done. Heaps of huge inflated “balloon’ animals, floats and performers. It is quite a production getting them around, with people tied to them walking them along following the directions of a spotter.

The are creating a new 3D attraction - Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon due to open in in 2017.

Continued next post...

 

[lffam]

More Macy's Holiday Parade...

My artistic shot

After that the park was closing so we made our way to the water taxi for our short trip back to Hard Rock Hotel. We went to the hard Rock Club for the Evening reception & drinks and then went to the Kitchen again for dinner.

Hard Rock Hotel Offerings for the day

End day 8.