A No Snooze Bar Christmas, Harry & Mickey are Waiting..it is done

[shocky5]

LOVE LOVE LOOOOOVE that candy store!!! Oh my goodness it looks amazing! I want to know what flying whizbees are?? Do you know? I think it was your last pic.

ALSO for the record... I do not pretend to be your dis friend! Silly girl... Love your TR including the cliffhangers!

 

[Monknmom]

LOVE LOVE LOOOOOVE that candy store!!! Oh my goodness it looks amazing! I want to know what flying whizbees are?? Do you know? I think it was your last pic.

ALSO for the record... I do not pretend to be your dis friend! Silly girl... Love your TR including the cliffhangers!

I was wondering that when I ead, but didn't want to feel silly so I looked it up (google) and this website came up- but those don't look like poprocks, they look like chocolate!

 

[petals]

You and all your stuffed creatures!

Next time I change the bedclothes I will take a pic of exactly what lives on my bed at the moment! Those aren't even the half of the stuffed creature collection and Momma wonders how I actually fit in the bed at all
My nieces and nephews think they're in Disney World in my bedroom


I love your new update btw. Sorry to hear your breakfast was a bit of a meltdown moment. I have never noticed the three brooms on the wall/roof that you got a pic of before.

 

[momabaarjo]

LOVE LOVE LOOOOOVE that candy store!!! Oh my goodness it looks amazing! I want to know what flying whizbees are?? Do you know? I think it was your last pic.

ALSO for the record... I do not pretend to be your dis friend! Silly girl... Love your TR including the cliffhangers!

I was wondering that when I ead, but didn't want to feel silly so I looked it up (google) and this website came up- but those don't look like poprocks, they look like chocolate!

Probably more than you want to know about Fizzing Whizbees....

Fizzing Whizzbees are a popular magical sweet made by Queenbee. They are large sherbet balls that will cause a person who sucks on them to float a few inches off the ground.

Dried Billywig stings are rumoured to be one of this sweet's ingredients.This idea is supported by the fact that being stung by a Billywig will make a person levitate for a short period. Although Fizzing Whizzbees were one of his favourite sweets, when Harry Potter learned they might contain animal parts, he wrote in his copy of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them that he would never eat them again.

Honeydukes sweetshop in Hogsmeade stocks Fizzing Whizzbees in a large barrel.Ron Weasley described them to Harry Potter and Hermione Granger in anticipation of their first weekend trip to Hogsmeade in 1993.

Albus Dumbledore used "Fizzing Whizzbee" as the password to his office in 1995.

Heather is right...they are basicially pop rocks, but I believe there was some sorta conflict the with marketing so Universal has their own type of Fizzing Whizbees...

Honeydukes at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter sells another version of Fizzing Whizzbees. They are chocolate bees with a fruity flavoured fizzy in the center. They maintain the film version packaging.​

 

[momabaarjo]

I know it isnt disney... but doesn't that candy store look magical? The pink spiral staircase... so cool. . My kids loved when Bernie Bots came out. Of course, my boys loved to actually eat them.. A couple years ago, when dh, dd and I went to San Fran, we made sure to tour the jelly belly factory and they had them there. Course, dd wasn't into them at all!!

Of course boys would love to eat these things... I was regretting that I ever bought any for the kids because I was always falling prey to their tricks into eating them...I love jelly beans. I would love to get to San Fran and not only go to Jelly Belly but to Ghiradeli!

I have to agree that Honeydukes does look magical. I love the green color they use on the walls! There is something about all the pastel colors and candy!

 

[momabaarjo]

Love the conversation. Sweet little boy to still think like that!

I am still trying to figure out the talking part and that Mickey is real. I guess I should have gone and found the talking Mickey character spot!

Haha... I guess I enjoyed the updates soo much I didn't realize I had already read two!

The three Broomsticks sounds like a great CS restaurant. Eek about the meltdown, but every day can't be a perfect Disney day! The boys sound like typical boys and even the most super of mom's reach their limits!

No means super mom, most days I am that grumpy one that was in Three Broomsticks! I hate when I melt down like that, and I seem to do it a lot lately!

ALSO for the record... I do not pretend to be your dis friend! Silly girl... Love your TR including the cliffhangers!

You ladies know so much more about what is going on in my life then the people I see everyday as well as my family! I know that is sad...

Next time I change the bedclothes I will take a pic of exactly what lives on my bed at the moment! Those aren't even the half of the stuffed creature collection and Momma wonders how I actually fit in the bed at all
My nieces and nephews think they're in Disney World in my bedroom


I would love to see a picture. I am not a stuffed thing type of person...my sister on the other hand reminds me a lot of you! As I get older I find more and more that I do not like clutter!


I love your new update btw. Sorry to hear your breakfast was a bit of a meltdown moment. I have never noticed the three brooms on the wall/roof that you got a pic of before.

We happened to be seated right next to the broomsticks...they are located in the entry between Hogs Head and Three Broomsticks. I caught the detailing on the chimeny on my prior trip...yes, I confess some of my pictures are from June 2010!

 

[momabaarjo]

I feel like there are so many people following along and I have not gotten the chance to get to know you! I have really focused on the TR not being too personal, because I think that most people following along really want to know about the trip!

So let's back up and let me apologize for my overlook that the personal stuff also makes things fun! I found a great group of ladies on my PTR and know that there are more friends to meet in my TR!

Please take a moment to post a little about yourself! I would so like to get to know you!​

If you would rather remain a lurker, that is fine with me to. Just know that I really do appreciate having you along on my TR!

 

[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…

 

[Dream426]

Is there anything specific you would like to know?

My name is Gina (which you knew) and I am 29 years old. I will be 30 in October. Where did the time go? My husbands name is Jon (Jonathan). He is 30. We live on Long Island in New York. I went to school to be a teacher and well you know how the economy is. Instead of positions being available they are letting teachers go and closing a bunch of schools so I have been looking into anything. We have a daughter who is 7 1/2 months. Her name is Gianna. Her name is my name and Jon's female version name in italian. We can not wait to take her to Disney. We are thinking next year when she is 2. We originally thought when she was closer to 3 but I don't think we can wait that long to go back so we will go both times.

 

[Dream426]

Wow those crowds are crazy. I am not surprised though.

 

[lovethattink]

Wow, big crowds!

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

I'll give you a few details about me if you want too.
I'm a 32 year old guy. I live in Toronto and love all things Disney and Harry Potter. I've made a few solo trips to WDW and one with my family. I've also been on 3 Disney cruise and made 4 trips to Disneyland.

 

[Mom&RN]

I've been reading along and really enjoying your TR. My name is Barb, I'm 45 and currently I'm a nurse. I'm also going to school to become a Nurse Practitioner and graduate later this year (hooray, its been a long road). I have a great 16 year old son who, thankfully, loves Disney as much as I do. My husband is not a fan so all of our trips except one have been mother/son trips. I'm not complaining, I'm glad he lets us go! I've never been to Universal, but both my son and I are Harry Potter fans so I'm enjoying seeing pix and hearing your input on WWoHP.

 

[reelmom]

My name is Ronda. I am married to Lang and we have 2 kids, Ethan and Evan. I work part time in a church preschool. I teach in the two year old program. I love it because I work Monday-Friday from 8:30-12:30. We are on the same schedule as the public school system so I am able to be home when my kids are. Plus it pays for my Disney obsession. This year we are going to Universal. We have been before years ago but this will be our first trip to see Harry Potter. We are so excited! I love your TR and thank you for the great ideas for our trip reveal. Like I mentioned before, my kids know we are going June 2-June 8. We are taking my Mom, niece, and nephew. What they don't know is the I am taking the boys down early for a mother/sons portion. We are now leaving May 27th, staying at POP Century for 2 days ( I have to get my Disney fix), checking in to the Royal Pacific Hotel on May 29th until June 2nd. Then we are staying at an offsite condo for the rest of the trip with the family. I am planning on surprising them the night before we leave. I will be having a Harry Potter themed dinner using your ideas. Only 91 more days to go!!!!!

 

[momabaarjo]

Is there anything specific you would like to know?

My name is Gina (which you knew) and I am 29 years old. I will be 30 in October. Where did the time go? My husbands name is Jon (Jonathan). He is 30. We live on Long Island in New York. I went to school to be a teacher and well you know how the economy is. Instead of positions being available they are letting teachers go and closing a bunch of schools so I have been looking into anything. We have a daughter who is 7 1/2 months. Her name is Gianna. Her name is my name and Jon's female version name in italian. We can not wait to take her to Disney. We are thinking next year when she is 2. We originally thought when she was closer to 3 but I don't think we can wait that long to go back so we will go both times.

I am glad you followed me over from the PTR! 30 comes so fast...I think it was my worst birthday mentally! Now I have to actually calculate how old I am when asked...I will be 44 this summer!!! I so love the name Gianna, beautiful. She is getting to the fun age...I like the time between crawling and walking. So hoping you get that trip next summer (and the next year) !

 

[momabaarjo]

I'll give you a few details about me if you want too.
I'm a 32 year old guy. I live in Toronto and love all things Disney and Harry Potter. I've made a few solo trips to WDW and one with my family. I've also been on 3 Disney cruise and made 4 trips to Disneyland.

So glad to have you around for this adventure! I am so jealous of your cruises! I was hoping for one the summer of July 2013...but I just don't think my budget can be that tight. Then Boo's school choir is looking at a trip to Vienna, Vience, and Paris that summer...I would love to send him. I am hoping to maybe get in a trip next spring to DL...might need some advice on where to stay and park tips! I went to DL when I was a freshman in high school...too many moons ago!

 

[momabaarjo]

I've been reading along and really enjoying your TR. My name is Barb, I'm 45 and currently I'm a nurse. I'm also going to school to become a Nurse Practitioner and graduate later this year (hooray, its been a long road). I have a great 16 year old son who, thankfully, loves Disney as much as I do. My husband is not a fan so all of our trips except one have been mother/son trips. I'm not complaining, I'm glad he lets us go! I've never been to Universal, but both my son and I are Harry Potter fans so I'm enjoying seeing pix and hearing your input on WWoHP.

Congrats on going back and getting your Nurse Practitioner! That is a huge thing! Ab has been looking into being an ER nurse, but I keep telling her that she should do the Nurse Pratitioner route...she has a cousin who did this...and $$$ you get the best of 2 worlds without the huge medical school costs. She would love to work for Doctors without Boarders.

I am glad you have someone who likes Disney like you...jealous of mother and son trips...that sounds like fun! DH would rather be sitting with a fishing pole somewhere (but I did get him to watch Disney Cruise DVD last week and he liked it).

Glad you are enjoying the WWofHP pictures....happy to share!

 

[Dream426]

I am glad you followed me over from the PTR! 30 comes so fast...I think it was my worst birthday mentally! Now I have to actually calculate how old I am when asked...I will be 44 this summer!!! I so love the name Gianna, beautiful. She is getting to the fun age...I like the time between crawling and walking. So hoping you get that trip next summer (and the next year) !

Yeah I love this age. She gets on all fours and rocks back and forth but doesn't crawl yet. She tries to stand up without holding onto anything and I am like you can't do that. She is ready to be on the move. Once she actually figures out how to move I think we are in trouble...haha I love when she sits up on her own now. I feel like she can actually play. I always felt so bad when all she could do was lay on her back. She has such a personality now. It is awesome. She does something new every day. I have the video camera next to me at all times so we don't miss anything...haha

 

[momabaarjo]

My name is Ronda. I am married to Lang and we have 2 kids, Ethan and Evan. I work part time in a church preschool. I teach in the two year old program. I love it because I work Monday-Friday from 8:30-12:30. We are on the same schedule as the public school system so I am able to be home when my kids are. Plus it pays for my Disney obsession. This year we are going to Universal. We have been before years ago but this will be our first trip to see Harry Potter. We are so excited! I love your TR and thank you for the great ideas for our trip reveal. Like I mentioned before, my kids know we are going June 2-June 8. We are taking my Mom, niece, and nephew. What they don't know is the I am taking the boys down early for a mother/sons portion. We are now leaving May 27th, staying at POP Century for 2 days ( I have to get my Disney fix), checking in to the Royal Pacific Hotel on May 29th until June 2nd. Then we are staying at an offsite condo for the rest of the trip with the family. I am planning on surprising them the night before we leave. I will be having a Harry Potter themed dinner using your ideas. Only 91 more days to go!!!!!

I am so excited for you boys! That is the one thing I love about working in the school system, for the most part we are on the same schedule and I have time to spend with my family during vacations. I am a curriculum specialst, meaning I work with teachers to improve classroom instruction...after 16 years of being in the classroom.

I have some other ideas for a HP night that I have collected, should I ever need an excuse...like another trip to WWofHP ! When I find that folder, I will post some more ideas!

I think you are so smart staying onsite at the RPR...the early entry into WWofHP is a bonus...but we never stood in any line more than 10 minutes during our trip that had express pass option, and most were walk on...and wait times for almost EVERYTHING was at the 90+ mark!

 

[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?