3 sisters + 2 worlds=5 days of Orlando fun! An Aug. '10 TR...final thoughts p. 45

[RachelNinja]

Great pictures! I immediately sent the links to the 2 posts to my cousin and her DBF! They're so excited to go in February! I'm excited to finally finish watching the movies in February~ haha.

 

[Angies1274]

Great updates!! I can't believe how much you got done in AK for only being there a couple hours! Great Safari pics! I liked the one with the giraffe near Flamingo island....so cool!

Your WWOHP pictures are amazing!! I'll have to show my boys tomorrow. I think IOA is in our future!

 

[dismagiclover]

Great updates! Brings back memories! The FJ queue is IMHO the best ride queue ever! I just love all of the details. When we went people stopped and listened during the speaking parts so we were able to hear them. I suppose people could have cut ahead, but nobody did. Everybody wanted to hear the parts. Can't wait to hear what you thought of the ride.

 

[meeko_33785]

WWoHP looks pretty cool. I'm not that big of a Harry Potter fan, but I'd like to give it a try one day. Maybe I'll wait a little longer before the wait isn't 40 minutes at park opening.

 

[mickeysmyboy]

WOW! Fabulous HP update! We have to get over there at some point! I really want DD to read at least some of the book first! I know she'll love them!

 

[LisaKeys]

NO NO NO NO NO!!!! You simply cannot stop there - no fair! My stomach is clenched in anticipation of riding along with you (even if it is virtually) . I can't wait to hear what you thought of the ride. (I too would need Dramamine.)

Really enjoyed the new post, and the pictures are wonderful. Hope to read more soon!

 

[Jennifer48]

 

[Cat0727]

Awesome pictures! I had no idea that Harry Potter song is called "Hedwig's theme," I love it even more now! The FJ queue looks amazing. I honestly think I wouldn't mind waiting on a long line, there's so much to look at and take pictures of.

 

[mom2shayleeandlogan]

Great job, can't wait to read more!

 

[wdwgirl03]

Wow! Awesome pictures! My husband was reading your posts over my shoulder declaring that we "have to" go there next year

Can't wait for more!

LOL, glad your husband enjoyed the pictures too. You definitely have to go there!

I love this update! My boys read it with me - Alex who has read the books over and over kept saying how cool it looked and Demetri, who has no idea who Harry Potter is, really liked it too.

I so wish we could have fit HP into our trip. Definately in for the next one no question!

Yeah, it really was a lot of fun. Just like right out of the books! I think you guys will really enjoy it when you go.

Great pictures! I immediately sent the links to the 2 posts to my cousin and her DBF! They're so excited to go in February! I'm excited to finally finish watching the movies in February~ haha.

I hope your cousin enjoyed the links!

Great updates!! I can't believe how much you got done in AK for only being there a couple hours! Great Safari pics! I liked the one with the giraffe near Flamingo island....so cool!

Your WWOHP pictures are amazing!! I'll have to show my boys tomorrow. I think IOA is in our future!

I really like that one picture too. It almost reminds me of the ones they use as promotional shots for the ride.

haha, sounds like IOA is in everyone's future!

Great updates! Brings back memories! The FJ queue is IMHO the best ride queue ever! I just love all of the details. When we went people stopped and listened during the speaking parts so we were able to hear them. I suppose people could have cut ahead, but nobody did. Everybody wanted to hear the parts. Can't wait to hear what you thought of the ride.

Hmm, maybe we should've thought of that when we were there. Oh well, I think my sisters were just ready to ride. haha

WWoHP looks pretty cool. I'm not that big of a Harry Potter fan, but I'd like to give it a try one day. Maybe I'll wait a little longer before the wait isn't 40 minutes at park opening.

Well, you also have to remember some of the people may have already been in the area if they were Universal resort guests. I already sounds like things are slowing down now that school is started up again. But yeah, you should go sometime.

WOW! Fabulous HP update! We have to get over there at some point! I really want DD to read at least some of the book first! I know she'll love them!

If she reads the books I think she'll appreciate it a little bit more than if you just go. Plus, the books are so much fun to read. I really need to reread Deathly Hallows to prep for the movie!

NO NO NO NO NO!!!! You simply cannot stop there - no fair! My stomach is clenched in anticipation of riding along with you (even if it is virtually) . I can't wait to hear what you thought of the ride. (I too would need Dramamine.)

Really enjoyed the new post, and the pictures are wonderful. Hope to read more soon!

LOL. I promise the next update is coming up...so stay tuned!

So you didn't like the update?

Awesome pictures! I had no idea that Harry Potter song is called "Hedwig's theme," I love it even more now! The FJ queue looks amazing. I honestly think I wouldn't mind waiting on a long line, there's so much to look at and take pictures of.

Yeah, I don't know when I found out what the theme song is called. But it is a great song. We didn't mind the long wait either. And like I said, it really didn't even seem that long.

 

[wdwgirl03]

Great job, can't wait to read more!

Thanks! Working on the next update now...

 

[lauren_elizabeth]

Oh my gosh! Seeing the pics of the WWoHP is making me so excited to head over there on our Disney trip next year!

I can't wait to hear how you liked the Forbidden Journey! Did yall end up trying Butterbeer?

 

[wdwgirl03]

WARNING: POST MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS!!!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010 cont'd (part 3)

So I left you all in anticipation of the Forbidden Journey ride. As I said, the last thing you see before boarding the ride vehicle is the Sorting Hat giving the safety spiel.

I should also mention that they do have a single riders line (but it sure didn't seem like it was very well advertised). Each ride vehicle holds four people, so my sisters and I went in one and we had a single rider. It was so cool because the loading area had the floating candles on the ceiling like in the movies. The ride loads sort of like the Haunted Mansion and Buzz Lightyear. As soon as we got on our vehicle, Emma kept saying how she was so excited. I had to admit, I was getting pretty excited too. You know how your legs dangle on Soarin and people will wave them around? That's sort of how it was on that. hehe

At the beginning of the ride, Hermione's friend casts a spell that lifts you into the air. At that moment I was hooked. It must be that sense of being airborne that is so thrilling and exciting. It was absolutely amazing. We were soaring through scenes reminiscent of the movies, encountering some of the creatures (I won't say which ones...), and doing a whole lot of screaming.

I'd say the whole ride is almost five minutes, which before we went on I was kind of nervous about that because I had read that it seemed longer than that. The first thing my sister said to me when it was over was "Are you OK?" Of course I was OK! I was actually kind of sad when it was over because it was absolutely AMAZING!!!!!! I'll tell you, they were not kidding when they said there was nothing like it out there. I cannot think of one ride to compare it to. In terms of Disney attractions, I had heard someone say it's like a cross between Soarin and Sum of All Thrills at Innoventions. I'd even go further than that and say it's part dark-ride, part Dinosaur (with things popping out at you and also it is QUITE jerky), and part roller coaster (there are times when you are nearly upside down). Needless to say we all really enjoyed it. I was so glad I didn't chicken out because I definitely would've regretted it. In fact, I was so proud of myself I decided to call home as soon as we got outside again. I wanted to brag to Dad and just tell him I did it and survived. Too bad he wasn't home. I did tell Mom though.

After our Forbidden Journey, we decided to check out a few more of the details in the area:

House banners, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, though I always forget which one is which.

But whenver I think of Hufflepuff I always think of this one thing I saw on facebook that said "Edward Cullen was a Hufflepuff." If you're at all confused, let me explain...there is one character in Harry Potter named Cedric Diggory. He is played by the same guy who plays Edward Cullen in the Twilight movies (for the record, I hate Twilight...LOL). So yeah, I always think of that. Sorry for that random bit.

Gryffindor and Slytherin. Harry's a loyal, brave Gryffindor and the Slytherin house members pretty much all hate Harry. Boo Slytherin!

All of them together. I don't know where everyone was but let me tell you, it didn't look like that later on!

Our next stop was to the much tamer Flight of the Hippogriff. I think we waited a grand total of five minutes, if that, and I don't think I would've waited much longer. It's pretty much like Goofy's Barnstormer in that it's more designed for smaller kids.

In the queue we saw Hagrid's Hut.

The ride vehicle

A few shots from the ride:

Buckbeak

A view of WWOHP (and Universal!)

There's really not much to this ride. You pretty much go up a ramp, loop around, and are back where you started. We were like, that's it?! I swear it was maybe 20 seconds long. LOL. Maybe it's more fun for smaller kids. But whatever.

Now we were ready to do the other big thrill ride in WWOHP. But first I had to get a picture in front of Hogwarts after conquering the FJ!

The last ride in the area is the Dragon Challenge, formerly the Dueling Dragons roller coasters.

When we went to IOA in '06, I was too chicken to ride it so I was determined to change that. There are two coasters to choose from: The Chinese Fireball and the Hungarian Horntail. Both are names of dragons in the book, most prominently in Goblet of Fire when they have the Triwizard Tournament. In fact, most of the queue is themed to that. There are all sorts of banners saying "Support Potter" and such.

The flying car

The Goblet of Fire

The Triwizard Cup

This was literally a walk on. Most of the time we spent there was just getting through the queue because it was huge! I should also mention that you have to put your stuff in a locker for this ride too. Again, kind of a pain!

I forget which side we ended up doing. I think the blue one, whichever that one is called. It was kind of annoying at the loading area because there was nobody directing traffic or telling people which rows to sit in. Everyone was just really confused. Definitely not like Disney at all.

The ride itself was pretty cool. The two coasters are "dueling" (hence the old name Dueling Dragons) so they both start off going up an incline before veering off in their separate ways. They'll wind around and then come back together so you are literally inches from the other coaster. Cue screaming again! I know I closed my eyes a couple times. Still really fun. We'll have to go back sometime to ride the other side because we never got around to that.

By the time we got off Dragon Challenge, it was almost 10:00. So it took us about an hour to do all three rides, most of that time obviously with Forbidden Journey. We were off to a great start and were ready to explore some more of Harry's world!

 

[wdwgirl03]

Oh my gosh! Seeing the pics of the WWoHP is making me so excited to head over there on our Disney trip next year!

I can't wait to hear how you liked the Forbidden Journey! Did yall end up trying Butterbeer?

Of course we tried the butterbeer!!! It was awesome. So good!

 

[OrangeCat04]

Your reviews of WWoHP are so helpful! Having never been to Universal at all, we weren't sure what to expect, or even how to get there lol. Are there any big drops in Dueling Dragons? I can handle most coasters, but if there is a large drop i get a little . Thanks again for the great reviews!!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

great 2 updates!!

I've only seen the 1st movie and only read the 1st book (college class!) and enjoyed them but haven't really had a desire to see the rest..I don't know, maybe one day (after I pass my darn test and read Kingdom Keepers!!!!!!!!!!!)

 

[PrincessCaitlin]

Great pictures!

I am glad you rode the FJ!

That Hippogriff looks so cool!

The theming and different props are awesome!

I can't wait to hear about the rest of the world!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

But first I had to get a picture in front of Hogwarts after conquering the FJ!

Woo hoo, look at you! Love it!

Very awesome update.... can't wait to see more!

 

[swisely]

Hey, great pics and great details! I have a nine yeara old son who is a bit of a ride chicken, but is a HUGE Harry Potter fan. We are going next month and are trying to convince him to ride the FJ. I think he will regret it if he doesn't, but I don't want him terrified. He does love Soarin' but hates rollercoasters. With that little bit of knowledge, what are your thoughts on him liking it?

 

[Jennifer48]

Wow what a great start to your morning!