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

[petals]

I think they should make hogwarts express a working train as well. I heard that they were building more harry Potter stuff where Jaws is over at Universal wouldn't it be cool if you could ride the Hogwarts express from Hogsmeade over to the new stuff if that rumour is true!

And yes I want Frozen butterbeer and to be in Florida right now as well

 

[momabaarjo]

Jokes & Sweets…A Boy’s 2 Favorite Things: Part 1​

Directly across from the Hogwart’s Express are the 2 shops (yes, actual shops) that Boo has been dying to get into…a joke shop and a candy shop. For any tween boy, a heavenly combination!

Zonko's Joke Shop was a favorite place for Hogwarts students to shop on Hogsmeade trips as it carried "jokes and tricks to fulfill even Fred and George Weasley's wildest dreams." Such products were Dungbombs, Hiccough Sweets, Frog Spawn Soap, Sugar Quills and Nose-Biting Teacups.

The boys had a really good time exploring all the tricks and jokes. I have to say that I am pretty impressed with the selection inside this (and all the gift shops in WWofHP)…the selection of items to purchase are not those kinds of things that you would find in a Toys R Us or a discount store, but really original good quality merchandise (and with the price tag to match) and the packaging is so much fun. JK again took control of what would/could be sold in WWofHP as far as merchandise and products. Again that creative control really adds to bringing HP to life. The boys really did not find anything they could not live without for the time being…which really surprised me considering Boo loves to waste money on stuff without thinking. Adjoined to Zonkos is…

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[lovethattink]

Ooooh, do I see desserts up next?!

That joke and trick store looks fun!

 

[reelmom]

Ahhhh...Is that Honeydukes I see? I think I am looking forward to that shop the most out of everything there.

 

[petals]

I love Zonkos and Honeydukes. The only thing I really want from Zonkos is the purple pygmy puff though. I got a pink one in 2010 I think it needs a playmate now

 

[MrsPMC00]

We are taking our 6 & 9 year old daughters to Universal for the first time in March! This trip report has me even more excited!!!! Thanks for sharing...can't wait for more!

 

[momabaarjo]

Ooooh, do I see desserts up next?!

That joke and trick store looks fun!

Maybe....

Ahhhh...Is that Honeydukes I see? I think I am looking forward to that shop the most out of everything there.

Maybe...

I love Zonkos and Honeydukes. The only thing I really want from Zonkos is the purple pygmy puff though. I got a pink one in 2010 I think it needs a playmate now

You and all your stuffed creatures!

We are taking our 6 & 9 year old daughters to Universal for the first time in March! This trip report has me even more excited!!!! Thanks for sharing...can't wait for more!

Welcome, glad to have you along...I see you are also cruisin...I envy you! Hope I can add even more excitement and tips before you leave to make your trip even better!

 

[momabaarjo]

Calling Monkmon...aka Heather! I am going to post 2 updates today just for you since you say I leave you hanging for a week at a time...

Just to clarify, I have been trying to update every few days, not my fault if you leave yourself hanging between posts and do not get yourself in here and read my TR! I bet you thought I would not catch your comments in Amy's TR!

You know I love you lots! Right?!

 

[momabaarjo]

Jokes & Sweets, A Boy's 2 Favorite Things: Part 2

Honeydukes is one of the famous attractions in Hogsmeade, loved by teachers and students alike. It is a sweet shop famous for its chocolate and many wonderfully wild sweets. It also houses the entrance to a secret passageway to Hogwarts. When Harry Potter wasn't able to go to Hogsmeade, Fred and George Weasley gave him the Marauder's Map, which showed Harry the location of a secret passage between Hogwarts and the basement of Honeydukes.

"You want to be careful with these. When they say every flavour, they mean every flavour - you know you get all the ordinary ones like chocolate and peppermint and marmalade, but then you can get spinach and liver and tripe. George reckons he had a bogey-flavoured one once."
—Ron Weasley to Harry Potter[src]

Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans are one of the most popular sweets in the wizarding world. They are the same as Muggle jelly beans, except the range encompasses every flavour imaginable. There is also no way of telling for sure what flavour any given bean is without tasting it, although you can try and guess by the colour. The inventor of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans was Bertie Bott, who created them in mid-20th century by mistake. He was planning on making tasty sweets from food, but accidentally made one taste like a dirty sock. He immediately recognised the sales potential of "a risk with every mouthful!"There are ordinary flavours like chocolate, peppermint, and marmalade, but also less fanciable ones like spinach, liver, and tripe. There are also flavours that are not actual foods, like grass, farm dirt, vomit, earwax, paper and bogeys!

Trust me that these jelly beans are the real disgusting thing! My kids had a great time playing tricks on everyone they met when I brought them back a bag during my 1st trip!

Chocolate Frogs and Fizzing Whizbees​

I LOVE THIS STORE…who doesn’t love a good candy store. The kids had so much fun in here looking at all the candy that they only had read about (and we tried to create this summer when we did HP movie night). On my first trip to WWofHP, I brought back lots of little treats for them from Honeydukes so I guess they did not feel the need to stalk up on more treats. My favorite things are found in the bakery showcase…mental note, come back later and get some of these after breakfast.

Speaking of breakfast…yikes what time is it:?

 

[annmarieda]

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!!

 

[Monknmom]

I already looked at all your pictures!

I know... I cheated on yours too BUT you have no idea how hard it was to get those photos!

Calling Monkmon...aka Heather! I am going to post 2 updates today just for you since you say I leave you hanging for a week at a time...

Just to clarify, I have been trying to update every few days, not my fault if you leave yourself hanging between posts and do not get yourself in here and read my TR! I bet you thought I would not catch your comments in Amy's TR!

You know I love you lots! Right?!

Oy, just to make sure... I wasn't starting trouble I was making a joke because Amy tried a Tammie cliffhanger, but she wrote the next part right after! But I know you read hers, I saw all of the comments and no one reminded me that I wasn't commenting! There was one time though that you left them hanging (not me because I wasn't caught up) and they were all commenting on when you were coming back.. that's the time I was refering to!

Yes I know it's all jokes! Love you too!

Oh the joke shop looks fun! I think that when it's "thier" money they are a little less likely to spend it on things they don't need rather than it being your money!
I love jelly beans- just not sure I love those ones.... MMM... I love going into candy stores to see it all! That wouldn't be my son's favorite (a chocolate hater), but it would be mine!

That's right, your not at breakfast yet!

 

[lilpixiebabe101]

I resize them only because I put so many in...takes time but then I feel like I can bore you with more pictures!

You are never boring Tammie!!!!

Calling Monkmon...aka Heather! I am going to post 2 updates today just for you since you say I leave you hanging for a week at a time...

Just to clarify, I have been trying to update every few days, not my fault if you leave yourself hanging between posts and do not get yourself in here and read my TR! I bet you thought I would not catch your comments in Amy's TR!

You know I love you lots! Right?!

... Still waiting for that second one I think I might actually get an update or two in today... I know..

Jokes & Sweets, A Boy's 2 Favorite Things: Part 2

Trust me that these jelly beans are the real disgusting thing! My kids had a great time playing tricks on everyone they met when I brought them back a bag during my 1st trip!

Some of them really are gross. Ashley brought me some back from their trip a year ago.

I LOVE THIS STORE…who doesn’t love a good candy store. The kids had so much fun in here looking at all the candy that they only had read about (and we tried to create this summer when we did HP movie night). On my first trip to WWofHP, I brought back lots of little treats for them from Honeydukes so I guess they did not feel the need to stalk up on more treats. My favorite things are found in the bakery showcase…mental note, come back later and get some of these after breakfast.

Mmm Honeydukes... I agree with Amy... why not add another day and do WWoHP

Speaking of breakfast…yikes what time is it:?​

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hmm... wonder where y'all will end up after just pulling the kids out of a candy store..​

 

[momabaarjo]

I know... I cheated on yours too BUT you have no idea how hard it was to get those photos!




Oy, just to make sure... I wasn't starting trouble I was making a joke because Amy tried a Tammie cliffhanger, but she wrote the next part right after! But I know you read hers, I saw all of the comments and no one reminded me that I wasn't commenting! There was one time though that you left them hanging (not me because I wasn't caught up) and they were all commenting on when you were coming back.. that's the time I was refering to!

Yes I know it's all jokes! Love you too!

Yes I know you were joking, that is why I had to give you a hard time.

Oh the joke shop looks fun! I think that when it's "thier" money they are a little less likely to spend it on things they don't need rather than it being your money!

Not my boys...money burns through their pockets whether it is mine or theirs!

I love jelly beans- just not sure I love those ones.... MMM... I love going into candy stores to see it all! That wouldn't be my son's favorite (a chocolate hater), but it would be mine!

Thinking I might order some, unpackage them and give them to them for Easter!

That's right, your not at breakfast yet!

You are never boring Tammie!!!!


Trust me I lead a VERY BORING LIFE!

... Still waiting for that second one I think I might actually get an update or two in today... I know..



hmm... wonder where y'all will end up after just pulling the kids out of a candy store..

I did post 2 updates YESTERDAY...Part 1 & Part of Jokes & Sweets

 

[momabaarjo]

So here is my conversation I just had with Goo.

Goo: Did you know John is a huge Mickey fan?
Me: Really, did you tell him that you went and saw Mickey?
Goo: Yes, and he can't wait til his mom takes him there. But I did not tell him that Mickey is not real, because that would break his heart? You know they are just people dressed up.
Me: How do you know that?
Goo: Well because Mickey did not talk. You know the Mickey at Chef Mickey is not real, but Mickey at the Castle is real because he talks.

 

[momabaarjo]

Breakfast Amongst the House Elves​

I check my watch and we still have time before our breakfast ADR, but the troops are getting hungry and grumpy! So I round up the kids up and Jeff is nowhere to be found, yes he has disappeared once again. I get the kids out the door, who by this time are complaining of being hungry, only to find Jeff outside taking in 1 last store window that of McHavelock's Wizarding Headgear between Three Broomsticks and Honeydukes.

McHavelock's Wizarding Headgear was a wizarding headgear shop in Hogsmeade.​

We cross the cobblestone courtyard to our breakfast desination and I wonder what our chances are to get seated early? We make our way towards the check in station outside where the line is growing quite long with muggles who did not know that breakfast at Three Broomsticks is part of a ticket package for onsite guests, but they could come back for lunch or dinner, which apparently did not make some of them very happy. Finally, I reach the front of the line and ask if we can get seated early…not a problem. I hand over our tickets and we are lead inside to a semi-quick service atmosphere.

"The Three Broomsticks and I go way back, further than I care to admit. I can remember when it was One Broomstick!" —Horace Slughorn joking with Harry Potter in the Three Broomsticks Inn

The Three Broomsticks is an inn and pub in the all wizarding village of Hogsmeade. ​

As we make our way towards the ordering podium there is a display case with 6 different versions of breakfast displayed from which to choose.

Boo decides he is going the smoked salmon, to which both Jeff and I looked at him shocked. Really? I ask him…his reply was something that he wanted to be adventurous in eating, after a few minutes of discussing with him that he would be hungry later if he did not like it he decided that maybe something else would be a better choice. I should have known right then that things for him were about to go downhill rather quickly, but in the chaos of trying to decide what everyone was going to have and making our way to one of the podium ordering stations I did not realize we were headed for a meltdown. Let me mention that the ordering area and pick up area are all cramped into a tiny space, and this the peak of breakfast serving time. Your party gathers around a row of ordering stations, then you all are directed to a pickup area right diagonally a few steps to wait for your order…plus the fact that you have to wait until you have your food and all of your party before they allow you to be escorted to a place to sit. So when you combine this chaos,

being up for 4 hours already with no breakfast, and a little brother that is a pest and does not know when to stop…Boo has been pushed over his limit. Sometime from when I got to the podium and finished giving our orders Goo decides to do something to make Boo mad enough to scream at him and push him. Boo takes a lot from his little brother, but it was apparent that Goo had gone to far, so instead of me handling the situation in an adult manner I turn around at Boo and let him have it…yes, I must say all of the factors too lead me to a meltdown. I just wanted our food and to sit down (and of course Jeff is clueless as to what is going on and once again has disappeared). Finally we get our food and are lead to a table near Hogs Head Tavern near the back…which is fine with me because I am at my limit and could use a little food and peace and quiet. Apparently, so is the rest of my family because we all sit down without taking in the slightest of atmosphere or saying much (Boo is pouting because he is still mad that he got in trouble and I am mad because well…just because and the fact that I am mad at myself because I wanted to make this a magical vacation without being mad or upset). After about 5 minutes Jeff finds us, after wandering around (I would have hoped that at least he was taking the time to take in the atmosphere, but sadly he was trying to find his tea that they did not give him.)Hmmm, what did we all have…I think that Ab ordered the Continental (anything that says fresh fruit is what she wants),Boo and I ordered the American, Goo the Pancake breakfast, and Jeff decided to try the Traditional English Breakfast (just to try the Black Pudding…a sausage that uses blood).

Overall, the meal was good. I really liked the breakfast potatoes (lots of rosemary and other herbs). Jeff thought the Black Pudding was interesting, he even got the boys to try it…and of course they thought it was disgusting! I have tried it before when I was in England and did not feel the need to try it again. Finally with a little food in our bellies the tension is eased, the kids begin to notice the details around them...

I tell the kids to look for house elves, because apparently some of Dobby’s friends are said to live in 3 Broomsticks and if you watch closely you might just catch a glimpse of them…and we begin watching for their shadows.

I am not sure if actually spotted an elf shadow or just shadows from patrons passing by. With breakfast finished (and all feeling better) the kids are ready to get moving…but to where?

 

[momabaarjo]

Someone asked me to share ideas for a Harry Potter Movie night...here is what I posted from last July in my PTR!

Summer Movie Marathon
Harry Potter 1-7.1
July 9-14​

Each night we tried to watch 1-2 movies in the series. I had some many fun things planned for this week, but between trying to watch all of the movies and coming off a week of lots of movies/activities I think we were all tired of movie nights. I had planned to have the kids make wands and then practice their spells afterwards. We had also planned to make potions, but sadly it just was not done either. What we did do was have 1 special meal along with making a Honeyduke's Candy store that we left out all week…and munched on after dinner while watching the next movie in the series.

Menu:

Banger and Mash Hand Pies

This was a great recipe, a very traditional English meal (Bangers & Mash) made into these great little sandwich pies. DH loved them…so I can see myself making more of them in the future.


Herbology Experiment

This is one of our favorite salads…broccoli, cauliflower, olives, scallions, cheese chunks with ranch dressing and bacon bits…just renamed it.


Butterbeer

I fell in love with butterbeer last summer at WWofHP! While the recipe I found is not the real thing as USO sells, it is pretty close!


Ron’s Spider web Trifle

I wanted to make a traditional British dessert, a trifle and then put a HP twist on it by making a spider web on top. I wish I would have had a few plastic spiders to really add to the effect.

Honeyduke’s

Ab made all the labels for the candy. She did such a great job! Here is what we included in our “Honeyduke’s”:

Cockroach Clusters (no bake cookies)
Pepper Imps (hot tamales)
Dumbledore’s Lemon Drops (lemon drops)
Drooble’s Best Blowing Gum (gum balls)
Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans (jelly beans)
Licorice Wands (twizzlers)
Ale Bottles (Coke Gummy Bottles)


Here are a couple pictures from the midnight release. I wish that I would have taken some of all the people dressed up in costume. There were some great Harry’s, Weasley Family, Voldomore, and even a golden snitch.

Line at 8:00 pm, yep the boys wanted to line up 4 hour early!!!!

Boo and his Friend Riley

 

[lovethattink]

Those juices look interesting! The smoked salmon breakfast looks interesting.

How did you get your pictures smaller?

 

[momabaarjo]

I upload my pictures into photobucket and it gives you the option to resize...most of the time I pick the 400 size.

I used to love Salmon...and then I had it fresh in Seattle and now I cannot stand to eat it unless it is 100% fresh...no freezing allowed!

 

[Monknmom]

I love that idea about packing them up for Easter! I am trying to think of what to do for Damien's easter basket and the class too so that I can order all of the stuff at once!
I love Goo's way of thinking! I had to keep answering Damien's questions about the characters to him in front of them! I let Damien be pretty "adventurous" because he eats like that here and what he didn't like we would swap with him, but I can see with 3 kids you would get worried about this! I love the update! I'm sorry that breakfast started out rough, but at least everyone was able to pull themselves back together and take in that wonderful world around them! Sometimes we all need that little bit of quiet to recooperate!
What was the butterbeer recipe? I would like to make that- maybe I will have Damien make that for one of the St. Patrick's day things (since he can't have real beer and Irish love beer)!

 

[lilpixiebabe101]

So here is my conversation I just had with Goo.

Goo: Did you know John is a huge Mickey fan?
Me: Really, did you tell him that you went and saw Mickey?
Goo: Yes, and he can't wait til his mom takes him there. But I did not tell him that Mickey is not real, because that would break his heart? You know they are just people dressed up.
Me: How do you know that?
Goo: Well because Mickey did not talk. You know the Mickey at Chef Mickey is not real, but Mickey at the Castle is real because he talks.

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

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!