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

[momabaarjo]

You know I don't have to buy him a refurbished one anymore I have to buy myself a new one-- he dropped mine in a parkinglot and the screen cracked up the left side! So I am going to wait until they have those deals on them!

I have seen videos on how to easily replace the screen...I always worry about the kids dropping my phone...

Okay starting at the 3rd one... Your daughter looks really excited! I love how smiley and gidy she is being! Oh you should be happy with that reaction you had a combo of all 3 different types!

I knew better than expect jumping up and down in delight...not my family and how much I talk about WDW they had to know...right?


I don't think that I have ever heard of the movie snowball express.... I will have to check that one out! Damien asked about movie nights, I told him we are going to be too busy pretty soon here, but may try to squeeze them in!

Ours are getting really low key...just mainly a themed dinner and that it is...I like it that way...not under the pressure of doing something out of this world every week...

Aww poor thing with the ears, my ears hurt really bad too and I find little relief in common things! When we go upstate I get that problem too, just not as bad anymore! You can always come here for Chrsitmas and skip the family drama!

I would so love to avoid the drama...but I am pretty much knowing it will be that way this year. I loved Christmas at WDW, but I am like Ab I want to go when you can really enjoy the night and pools with out freezing to death!

I am sure that Damien would love it! I love that Tony is just so friendly! And what a great ride it sounds like to get to Universal! And I would have loved to spend more time checking out hotels, although I would have liked to have more time in the parks- maybe before 2013 I can build this machine that stops time so that I can get things done and still have time for others! Oh I love that they have characters too!

They have quite a few characters...but we really only encountered Scoobey Doo at dinner...and few super heroes (to come in TR)


Yeah I don't think that Damien knows the Simpsons- I know I wouldn't have honestly! Oh it sounds like you had a really good meal (the boys had a really funsounding time and so great that Ab was able to make Goo smile)! And the pool sounds like the best- when we got back and he went to school one of the things he told the teacher was we never got to go in the pool! I regret not letting him go in! How funny Boo's birth story! That's a dedicated teacher! And happy belated birthday to him (I thinkI said hapy birthday to him on facebook...)! Oh my you were really close! And yeah I had to explain to K a few times why we would get there early! I hear that the WWoHP is worse than some parts of Disney with the crowd levels so I can't imagine!

The shear size and the amount of people make it WORSE than WDW on a 10 crowd level day...get in, get out...


I hate the pushing though! I hate when cars do that to me on the road too and sometimes I laugh when I see them stuck at the same light as I am and they rushed to be ahead of me to begin with! I am so glad that they got that reaction and how great not only for you, but for them to notice all of the little details from the books and movies! you know this happens everytime I come back to your trip report! I get happy because I bypass all of the good cliffhangers and them WHAMMMM in my face an awesome cliffhanger!!! Have you ever thought of writing a book? Adding al of your cliffhangers you would have people on the edge of their reading chairs!

I would not consider myself a writer, it has been fun since I started on cliff hangers with the reveal to figure out how to continue them...some will be better than others, you can bet on that!

 

[momabaarjo]

The Wand Chooses...​

I hold my breath, still praying…when Mr. Olivander’s assistant walks directly over to Ab. “Which is your wand arm, left or right?” “Right.” “Please step forward.” I hear her giggle with excitement and a smile larger than I have ever spreads across her face and her eyes are twinkling…behind the camera I am about to cry. She so needed this! And with that the wand choosing begins…

VIDEO LINK​

Be warned that the video is very dark...due to the lighting in Olivanders​

After the show, we are all whisked through the door and into one of the worst planned gift shops in history…the Owl Post.

Now, I love the theming of the Owl Post…but the size is extremely unpleasant. Think about dumping 40 people into a room the size of about 3 average elevators with a cashier cage stuck right in the middle...no sort of queuing for checking out and everyone searching for the perfect wand...along with people trying to get in the front door!

Jeff asks Ab if she wants to buy her wand, because he would pay for it (anything that brought that kind of smile is well worth it he told me and I have to agree). We had told the kids that we were not paying for their wants on the trip, they could use their Christmas money and savings, but this was a special occasion. Ab declines that just being picked was all she wanted. Looking back, I wish we would have insisted on buying it for her...but she does have the memory and the video. Boo is a little disappointed that he did not get picked, but I remind him that we have 3 more mornings to try if he wants!

For those of you not wanting to venture into the Owl Post in search of a wand, there are carts set up in WWofHP to buy wands!​

We spent a few more minutes looking at all the wands, and then entered into another shop…Dervish and Banges where I quickly try to round everyone back up and get out a door…we are wasting time and the line to Forbidden Journey is just getting longer…will I be successful?

 

[lovethattink]

I know nothing about HP, except for what I've read here. Very cool it picked Ab.

 

[momabaarjo]

I know nothing about HP, except for what I've read here. Very cool it picked Ab.

Kind of hard to follow this part of the TR for non HP fans...sorry! So much is tied up with knowing the books, characters, and movies to really enjoy WWofHP and understand the theming.

It was cool that Ab got picked, she was all smiles (most ) of the day afterwards!

 

[lovethattink]

Kind of hard to follow this part of the TR for non HP fans...sorry! So much is tied up with knowing the books, characters, and movies to really enjoy WWofHP and understand the theming.

It was cool that Ab got picked, she was all smiles (most ) of the day afterwards!

Maybe once Anakin isn't so easily spooked, we'll start reading the whole series. I'd like to start Kingdom Keepers with him, but I'm afraid he'll be afraid of IASW and other harmless attractions if we do.

 

[momabaarjo]

Maybe once Anakin isn't so easily spooked, we'll start reading the whole series. I'd like to start Kingdom Keepers with him, but I'm afraid he'll be afraid of IASW and other harmless attractions if we do.

Goo and I started Kingdom Keepers last night!

 

[SharonK0527]

Just read your whole TR start to finish and am loving it! I have to admit, I literally got tears in my eyes when I read how Ab got picked at Olivander's and when you described the smile that came over her face. My DD is a little younger than Ab (she's 11) but has had kind of a rough year in school this year, trying to make the transition from elementary school to middle school, trying to make new friends, etc. I loved how happy it made your DD to be in Hogsmeade and get chosen by a wand

Can't wait to hear more about your trip! Keep the updates coming!

 

[momabaarjo]

Just read your whole TR start to finish and am loving it! I have to admit, I literally got tears in my eyes when I read how Ab got picked at Olivander's and when you described the smile that came over her face. My DD is a little younger than Ab (she's 11) but has had kind of a rough year in school this year, trying to make the transition from elementary school to middle school, trying to make new friends, etc. I loved how happy it made your DD to be in Hogsmeade and get chosen by a wand

Can't wait to hear more about your trip! Keep the updates coming!

Sharon-So glad to have you along for my crazy TR! I know about the tears in my eyes...to see her happy was something we all needed. We are dealing with girl drama...the same drama we have been dealing with since 6th grade (Ab attends a small Catholic MS/HS) that no one at school has seemed to want to deal with and now it is at its breaking point 3 1/2 years later. In fact, Ab is doing a shadow day at another private school today to see if that would be a better fit next year for her (she has friends from her elementary Catholic school there). I am praying today goes well, and that God will give us the LIGHTNING BOLT that we need to decide what to do.

The transition between elementary and middle school seems really hard for girls...Boo on the other hand is doing it this year (and going from private to public) and is loving every minute of it.

 

[SharonK0527]

Sharon-So glad to have you along for my crazy TR! I know about the tears in my eyes...to see her happy was something we all needed. We are dealing with girl drama...the same drama we have been dealing with since 6th grade (Ab attends a small Catholic MS/HS) that no one at school has seemed to want to deal with and now it is at its breaking point 3 1/2 years later. In fact, Ab is doing a shadow day at another private school today to see if that would be a better fit next year for her (she has friends from her elementary Catholic school there). I am praying today goes well, and that God will give us the LIGHTNING BOLT that we need to decide what to do.

The transition between elementary and middle school seems really hard for girls...Boo on the other hand is doing it this year (and going from private to public) and is loving every minute of it.

I totally understand! Savannah is experiencing the same things - girl drama. She doesn't understand it because overall she's a really good kid with a good heart. She doesn't understand how some of the girls can be so mean and what their problem is. She's a really smart kid - straight A's (like Ab) and I think sometimes other kids resent that. I do think it's harder for girls than boys at that age. My sister has 2 boys and never experienced any of the drama with her boys that I go through with having a daughter.

I hope Ab likes the new school and you're able to make a change for the better, if that's the direction you decide to go in. Good luck and I hope everything works out well for you and for Ab

 

[LuvEeyore]

Signing on for more fun..better late than never.

 

[FosterA]

yay So happy that she got chosen!
I'm one of those that never read/watched Potter so I don't "get" it all but I know this must be a pretty big deal if she was all smiles. And I know how hard this age is to get to smile!

I'm so curious if any of your family gets picked again on the other days!!

 

[annmarieda]

OH!!! I am so happy that Ab got picked for the wand thing. (ok..yes... I am also one who has read not a single HP book. I don't think I have watched but maybe one or two of the movies ..but I try and keep up )

The shop sounds like a place that I could not get my dh or ds into... good thing we didn't have that on our list to do this last trip.

 

[momabaarjo]

I totally understand! Savannah is experiencing the same things - girl drama. She doesn't understand it because overall she's a really good kid with a good heart. She doesn't understand how some of the girls can be so mean and what their problem is. She's a really smart kid - straight A's (like Ab) and I think sometimes other kids resent that. I do think it's harder for girls than boys at that age. My sister has 2 boys and never experienced any of the drama with her boys that I go through with having a daughter.

I hope Ab likes the new school and you're able to make a change for the better, if that's the direction you decide to go in. Good luck and I hope everything works out well for you and for Ab

Thank you so much...she did have a very good day (I knew she would)...I just don't want her to think the grass is always greener on the other side and I certainly do not want to jump from the fire into the frying pan. We have a heavy decision to make.

Signing on for more fun..better late than never.

Never late...so glad to have you We are only morning 1 of a 12 day trip (plus 2 travel days)....this is going to be a long venture!

yay So happy that she got chosen!
I'm one of those that never read/watched Potter so I don't "get" it all but I know this must be a pretty big deal if she was all smiles. And I know how hard this age is to get to smile!

I'm so curious if any of your family gets picked again on the other days!!

It was a big DEAL, for Ab...and thank you...you know how hard it is to get teenage girls to smile with their parents around....

I wonder if Boo will get picked too...and I hope quick because I don't think I want to see the Olivander (translation do not want to miss the other attractions) that many times!

OH!!! I am so happy that Ab got picked for the wand thing. (ok..yes... I am also one who has read not a single HP book. I don't think I have watched but maybe one or two of the movies ..but I try and keep up )

The shop sounds like a place that I could not get my dh or ds into... good thing we didn't have that on our list to do this last trip.

Let's just say it was not Jeff's favorite gift shop...nor mine!

 

[momabaarjo]

Dervish and Banges & Diagon Alley Together...A Fan Rebellls​

Was I successful in getting them out of Dervish and Banges?

Usually there is a cart set up here and a podium from which you can buy HP postage stamps and postcards, plus get the Hogsmeade PO stamp.

Well before I answer that, let's take a look around the shop (which is adjacent to the Owl Post...it has 3 entrances, one being directly from the Owl post, which was my demise). In the Harry Potter books Dervish and Banges is a shop in Hogsmeade that sells and repairs magical instruments, including Sneakoscopes. It is located at the end of High Street (but in the WWofHP one of the entrances is directly from Diagon Alley...don't get Ab started on this error and it sells all things that a wizard attending Hogswarts will need from uniforms to brooms).

So did I get everyone rounded up and out the door? Well not completely, it took me about 15 minutes (okay, look at your watch and breathe...WWofHP is still not open for the general public for another 15 minutes)...there were lots of protests and me promises we will come back. Before we leave the area we take a look at the owl roost above us (called the Owlery). This is a great place in summer in the shade with lots of benches to take a rest...but we had no time for rest only a quick glance into the rafters...

and then a peek down Diagon Alley (which Ab will tell you does not belong in Hogsmeade, with my rely you are right maybe when they expand WWofHP they will do it right...JK did not have a problem, so should you?).

I finally got everyone headed towards Hogwarts Castle,

where the sign for Forbidden Journey now reads a wait time of...

 

[Disneychix]

I am finally caught up! How happy was your DD?! That is wonderful that she was chosen.

BTW:My Dh wouldn't be nearly as pleasant as yours if I tried to get him out the door at 6am! Trying for an 8am ADR at WDW is an ordeal-and there's food involved with that

 

[annmarieda]

looks pretty empty so wondering what the wait time is... good? bad?

 

[Tiggerrn2]

Joining in. Went back and caught up on some of your PTR planning. You are very creative! I loved all the planning you put into your countdown calendar. Enjoying the report. Thanks for sharing.

 

[lovethattink]

Goo and I started Kingdom Keepers last night!

I hope you enjoy it! When you get to the part about VMK, it's kind of like Ab with the HP geography, he didn't quite get it right. I think the book was written before beta testing or right during beta testing, because so much was off about vmk. (I sure miss that game! It was awesome!)



Another great update. Never saw the pictures of all the owls before, or deserted streets. I'm interested to see what your wait time was.

 

[momabaarjo]

looks pretty empty so wondering what the wait time is... good? bad?

Another great update. Never saw the pictures of all the owls before, or deserted streets. I'm interested to see what your wait time was.

Don't let the empty street fool you...Diagon alley is a dead end (if you look closely at the picture with Goo you will see people at the end of the street...they are part of the line for Olivander's. Diagon Alley later in the day becomes the waiting line area for Dervish and Banges...yes, I said waiting line for a gift shop! By midmorning, you have to WAIT IN LINE to get in the gift shops!

 

[momabaarjo]

I am finally caught up! How happy was your DD?! That is wonderful that she was chosen.

BTW:My Dh wouldn't be nearly as pleasant as yours if I tried to get him out the door at 6am! Trying for an 8am ADR at WDW is an ordeal-and there's food involved with that

Dh is a hunter and fisherman...he tends to get up early and we all are generally morning people...but we are early to bed too...mixing early mornings and late nights for 12 days...well just wait and see what happens!

Joining in. Went back and caught up on some of your PTR planning. You are very creative! I loved all the planning you put into your countdown calendar. Enjoying the report. Thanks for sharing.

I am impressed that you wend to my PTR.. I think I loved the planning, more than the trip! Already planning for an imaginary cruise in 2013! Now to make it happen!

I hope you enjoy it! When you get to the part about VMK, it's kind of like Ab with the HP geography, he didn't quite get it right. I think the book was written before beta testing or right during beta testing, because so much was off about vmk. (I sure miss that game! It was awesome!)

I wonder if Goo will notice the geography...he is pretty sharp!