A Little Potter and a Lot of Magic - September 2010 Trip Report

[anbouk]

I can't believe I made page 2! I'm usually a slowpoke reader Anyway, I'm on board and ready for this trippie! Sounds so far you have been having ride mojo...walk-ons are a BIG plus! Can't wait to hear more! HP is really interesting me...sounds like a must to include in a future trip!

 

[swwake]

Good to know the butterbeer is really sweet and should be shared. I will definitely keep that in mind!

The theming is just incredible! It must feel like you are really there! So glad the crowds were light for you!

I didn't know Mythos was considered the best theme park restaurant in the world -- can you make reservations for it?

Do the wands do anything once they choose a person?

Those cauldron cakes look very interesting -- are they chocolate?

The butterbeer comes in a HUGE cup too! It's like 24 ounces. You can also get it in a souvenir mug, but we weren't sure what we'd do with the mug afterward, so we didn't get that.

Yes, the theming is amazing. Very well done, and I'm sure JK Rowling is happy.

Yes, Mythos is really, really good. And yes, you can make reservations. When we were there it was open from 11am to 4pm (no dinner).

The wands don't do anything. And they don't look very special when you handle them. They are plastic. They do come in a nice box though.

Cauldron cakes are chocolate, but I think they have a filling of some sort. This site says that they are a "soft chocolate muffin filled with chocolate mousse and topped off with a shaped chocolate handle and a sugar smoke plume".

thanks for the report! love the HP stuff...will be there in a week!

You're welcome! You will have so much fun!

 

[swwake]

I can't believe I made page 2 or 3! I'm usually a slowpoke reader Anyway, I'm on board and ready for this trippie! Sounds so far you have been having ride mojo...walk-ons are a BIG plus! Can't wait to hear more! HP is really interesting me...sounds like a must to include in a future trip!

Welcome! Yes, it is super cool to walk on to the rides. And I think everyone should see the Wizarding World at least once.

 

[Yacht Club Family]

Had to sub - we just got back Tuesday night from 2+ weeks at Disney and a side trip to Universal to see WWofHP also - staging and scenery are indeed amazing and defy apt descriptions, but you're doing a wonderful job!!!

 

[swwake]

Had to sub - we just got back Tuesday night from 2+ weeks at Disney and a side trip to Universal to see WWofHP also - staging and scenery are indeed amazing and defy apt descriptions, but you're doing a wonderful job!!!

We got back Tuesday as well! I wonder if you'll be in any of my photos? Thanks for joining!

 

[Native NYer]

Joining in!
Now going back to catch up

 

[Native NYer]

WWoHP looks amazing!
And Honeydukes looks like a dangerous place.
Definitely want to head over to Universal next summer.

 

[Checkers]

I'm loving your TR! Don't know when we will make it to Universal so this is just great as we are all HP fans. Thanks for sharing!

 

[swwake]

WWoHP looks amazing!
And Honeydukes looks like a dangerous place.
Definitely want to head over to Universal next summer.

Yay! I'm glad you joined in! WWoHP is definitely amazing, and you should try to squeeze it in next summer. Honeydukes would have been dangerous if I hadn't been so full!

I'm loving your TR! Don't know when we will make it to Universal so this is just great as we are all HP fans. Thanks for sharing!

Thank you! I sure hope you can get there, if just for a partial day. I think you'd find it money well spent. Thanks for joining in.

 

[thumper*]

Loving the TR. Love the themeing @ US it looks great. Glad you enjoyed yourself.

Had to laugh with the touch screens.

 

[MHTeacher]

I'm so glad I found your TR fairly early on.

WoHP looks absolutely amazing! It really looks like you are part of the movie sets. Lucky you on not having too long of a wait for your rides.

Enjoyed your butterbeer mustaches!

 

[micandminforever]

I am joining in on all the fun. I love all the Harry Potter pictures. I can't wait to visit Universal with my nieces and nephews. My dh is not a thrill ride person.

 

[Minnie]

Really wish we could work a visit to HP into our quick fall trip..... especially after reading this report

 

[swwake]

Loving the TR. Love the themeing @ US it looks great. Glad you enjoyed yourself.

Had to laugh with the touch screens.

Thank you! We had a blast - except for those touch screens. I am thinking about sending a letter to Continental.

I'm so glad I found your TR fairly early on.

WoHP looks absolutely amazing! It really looks like you are part of the movie sets. Lucky you on not having too long of a wait for your rides.

Enjoyed your butterbeer mustaches!

Yay! Welcome Michele! WWoHP is truly amazing. Weren't the mustaches funny?

I am joining in on all the fun. I love all the Harry Potter pictures. I can't wait to visit Universal with my nieces and nephews. My dh is not a thrill ride person.

Welcome! We had so much fun with the Harry Potter section. You don't have to enjoy thrill rides to like that area.

Really wish we could work a visit to HP into our quick fall trip..... especially after reading this report

Welcome! Maybe you can find a way to squeeze in an afternoon.

 

[swwake]

Right on cue with my trip report, life got in the way. I apologize for my absence. I will try to update maybe this weekend.

Thursday, Sept 23rd, I got a call from my Dad telling me that he has been diagnosed with lung cancer (yes, he was a smoker). He had surgery last Tuesday, and my sister and I scrambled to fly to Nashville on Monday to be with him. The surgeon removed the lower lobe of Dad's left lung, where the tumor was encapsulated. The surgery went very well. We are waiting on results of a biopsy on removed lymph nodes to make sure they are negative for cancer. Should hear something today.

Wednesday night, my sister flew home, and I flew to San Francisco to attend and speak at a conference on Thursday. Friday was a travel day for me.

In the meantime, our female golden retriever, Magic, has been sick for about a month. In mid-August, she started to refuse food, so we have been playing with different foods getting her to eat. Just before our Disney trip, she started seizuring, and they started her on Phenobarbitol the Sunday before we left. We had house/petsitters while we were gone, and reports were that Magic was getting more and more lethargic. She had a vet visit the Saturday we were gone, and they lowered her Phenobarb dosage and showed my sister and the pet sitter how to help Magic stand up and walk with a towel under her belly.

We got home on Tuesday, and Magic had a vet appointment Wednesday, followed by the neurologist on Thursday. On Friday, he ran an MRI on Magic, which identified a thumb-sized brain tumor and inflammation in her brain about the size of an apple. He put her on steroids to reduce the inflammation, and we discussed possible surgery to remove the tumor, in about 2 weeks. Magic stayed overnight after the anesthesia, and we brought her home Saturday the 25th.

That day, Magic had another seizure at 7pm, followed by a fourth at 4am. Chris got up and took her to the emergency vet (same office with the neurologist), where she began another seizure at 5am, but they were able to stop it with valium. That Sunday, Magic continued to decline, and developed distention in her belly. The vet on duty did a quick ultrasound and said she thought she found masses on Magic's spleen and liver, along with possible internal bleeding. We got to go back and visit with Magic for about 20 minutes before leaving her for another overnight. She stood up and came right to us, wagging her tail, and she hugged each of us with her muzzle.

Unfortunately, we had to make the decision to put Magic to sleep last Monday. The neurologist said she was really, really sick and not doing well. They ran a full ultrasound and found two masses on the spleen, both ruptured and bleeding, and over half of her liver was taken over by a mass.

Magic was Katie's dog, and Katie hasn't seen her since the day she left for college in mid-August. She was a wonderful, sweet, dog and companion, and the smartest dog I've ever had, almost human-like at times. She gave us the best 11-1/2 years and she leaves a huge hole in our household. We miss her dearly.

On Saturday, we got Magic's collar and ashes, which gives some closure, but also makes it real, knowing that Magic won't be coming home. We spent the weekend working on our taxes and grieving our loss, trying to make the most of our time together. We spent LOTS of quality time with Harry, our other dog, who has suddenly taken on some of Magic's qualities (like doing her "bow pretty" trick, playing with tennis balls (he's a frisbee dog), and chewing on Magic's natural bones).

Anyway, so that's what has delayed my trip report. I hope to be able to get back to it as soon as I can finish our taxes.

My avatar has a picture of Magic.

Here's another one:

 

[Flossbolna]

Oh Susan, I am so sorry about the loss of your dog and your father's illness. Life really hasn't been kind to you and your family recently, I hope things will improve. I am sending lots of hugs, especially to Katie. I know what it is like when the family dog dies while you are away at college.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Sending you lots of hugs, Susan!!!

 

[anbouk]

Hang in there Susan! So sorry to hear about your loss. Magic is resting peacefully with the rest of our lil' pet angels .

 

[mermaid764]

I'm joining in

I'm so sorry to hear about the troubles your family has been facing lately...prayers are being sent your way.

I am loving your TR and cannot wait to read more whenever you get a chance to update

 

[Minnie]