Am I Up to the Challenge of the 2014 F&WF? Bring on the Food!

[kimmar067]

...it is!

 

[Wood Nymph]

I am a serious Harry Potter fan, having read the books many times, and we are thinking about taking our first trip ever to Universal just so I can see all the HP stuff. How many hours would you need to see it all? And how do we get there from WDW when we won't have a car?

 

[kimmar067]

I am a serious Harry Potter fan, having read the books many times, and we are thinking about taking our first trip ever to Universal just so I can see all the HP stuff. How many hours would you need to see it all? And how do we get there from WDW when we won't have a car?

....you could probably do it in one long day, provided you stick to the HP stuff and not linger too much on the other US/IoA attractions - of course, life is so much easier with the addition of the Hogwarts Express rather than the 'traditional' way of going from park to park via walking....you can probably get a cab from WDW to the Universal area....

 

[kimmar067]

"...I'd Like to Make a Withdrawal at Gringott's....a BIG Withdrawal Please...."

.....if nothing else, one has to admit that the giant Horcrux hovering dangerously above the entrance of Gringott's Bank is a truly awesome sight:

....we perused down the alley searching the end of the queue, which was quickly lengthening. Already it would be almost an hour's wait, at best, but this was the premier reason for our visit, so wait we did. I was sensing that Jean-Pierre was not too keen on such a lengthy wait, touting that the HP's Forbidden Journey ride was so much better......uh, dude.....let ME be the judge of that....we finally reached the doorways of the bank's impressive entrance and I was grateful that we were now, at the very least, inside - it was beginning to, yet again, get hotter, which really amused me, being it was Halloween!

....as usual, US/IoA spares no expense when it comes to thrills and authenticity! OMG, just when I thought nothing could top Forbidden Journey - WOW! Sorry Jean, but I beg to differ - this ride IS better than the latter, and it is definitely NOT for the faint of heart...we only stayed at Diagon Alley long enough to explore the seedy underbelly of Knockturn Alley, home to Borgin and Burkes and its traveling wardrobe - a scary place indeed! Well, back towards King's Cross, we decided to make the trek to Hogwart's via the Hogwarts Express:

....the whole concept of the authenticity of traveling on a magical train through the English countryside is a bit far-fetched, as are some of the, well, cornier aspects of the ride itself. That being said, the ride is BRILLIANT! To be able to traverse from one park to another was a stroke of genius, although I could have done without the staged 'window special effect', along with the 'actors' in the hallways....

[next post - Page 8 ~ Post #117]​

 

[PrincessInOz]

Now I wish I had a trip planned to see DA.

Brilliant!

 

[LegoMom3]

Never been to US but really enjoying your pictorial journey!

.

 

[snapppyd]

Excellent trip report! Now I can't wait to go back! I haven't been to Universal since......OMG.......1994!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Excellent trip report! Now I can't wait to go back! I haven't been to Universal since......OMG.......1994!

And what a good year that was!

 

[MICKEY'S DREAMERS]

wow !! ABSOLUTELY LOVING YOUR TRIPPIE !! AND PARTICULARLY this section!

As I'm still bedridden
I'm watching Harry Potter's movies and dreaming of our visit at US this upcoming August !
Your pics made me feel ... ALREADY IN DIAGON ALLEY !!

Did you try some food there ? How was it ?

"Next Stop - Diagon Alley...and No Muggles Allowed! Just Mind the Horcruxes...Right This Way."


....we wanted to explore 'London proper' before actually stepping into that which is home of The Leaky Cauldron pub, Ollivander's, and Eeylop's Ow Emporium. That, in of itself, is quite intriguing, and if you stand before the facade of row homes, you will catch a glimpse of someone peering through from behind a curtain or partially drawn shade, or hear the sound of music wafting through an open window and it is here where you can take up with that most cheeky fellow 'hanging around' to poke fun of, and generally just harass the passersby:

....of course, I am referring to the shrunken head hanging in the doorway of the Knight bus.... He really should mind his manners, especially since he hasn't a leg to stand on.....

We searched for the 'opening' to Diagon Alley with little difficulty, and when we were through the bricked wall, a completely different and strange world opened before us:

 

[MICKEY'S DREAMERS]

ABSOLUTELY LOVING IT ALL !!
Wonderful pics again !! I imagine we will spend a whole day just ... looking around and about ...

Can't wait to visit !!!

THANKS !!

"...I'd Like to Make a Withdrawal at Gringott's....a BIG Withdrawal Please...."

.....if nothing else, one has to admit that the giant Horcrux hovering dangerously above the entrance of Gringott's Bank is a truly awesome sight:

....we perused down the alley searching the end of the queue, which was quickly lengthening. Already it would be almost an hour's wait, at best, but this was the premier reason for our visit, so wait we did. I was sensing that Jean-Pierre was not too keen on such a lengthy wait, touting that the HP's Forbidden Journey ride was so much better......uh, dude.....let ME be the judge of that....we finally reached the doorways of the bank's impressive entrance and I was grateful that we were now, at the very least, inside - it was beginning to, yet again, get hotter, which really amused me, being it was Halloween!

....as usual, US/IoA spares no expense when it comes to thrills and authenticity! OMG, just when I thought nothing could top Forbidden Journey - WOW! Sorry Jean, but I beg to differ - this ride IS better than the latter, and it is definitely NOT for the faint of heart...we only stayed at Diagon Alley long enough to explore the seedy underbelly of Knockturn Alley, home to Borgin and Burkes and its traveling wardrobe - a scary place indeed! Well, back towards King's Cross, we decided to make the trek to Hogwart's via the Hogwarts Express:

....the whole concept of the authenticity of traveling on a magical train through the English countryside is a bit far-fetched, as are some of the, well, cornier aspects of the ride itself. That being said, the ride is BRILLIANT! To be able to traverse from one park to another was a stroke of genius, although I could have done without the staged 'window special effect', along with the 'actors' in the hallways....

 

[BestVacaEver]

So FJ made me queasy so have been nervous about trying Gringotts...any thought on comparing the two for slight motion sickness or should I just take some Dramamine

 

[franandaj]

This is the first that I've seen pictures of Diagon Alley. It looks really cool! Universal keeps building things that make me need to go back.

 

[kimmar067]

So FJ made me queasy so have been nervous about trying Gringotts...any thought on comparing the two for slight motion sickness or should I just take some Dramamine

..... hmmmmm, rides like that don't make me queasy.....that is, unless I happen to have a full stomach... If anything, it's more 'intense' than FJ.....hope that helps!

 

[athenna]

CORRECTION: OUR favorite character ever!

 

[kimmar067]

Excellent trip report! Now I can't wait to go back! I haven't been to Universal since......OMG.......1994!

....what are you waitin' fed?

 

[kimmar067]

Never been to US but really enjoying your pictorial journey!

.

...thanks!

 

[kimmar067]

"Hogsmeade, We Are Here.....But I'm Kinda HUNGRY"

....so we disembarked the Hogwarts Express and headed directly towards Forbidden Journey to jump on the end of the line, and jump we did, because right after that, one of the workers moved the chains to direct the folks behind us to the longer queue. Whew, what a stroke of luck; the line wasn't even that long and inched forward at a pretty steady pace, and within 15 minutes we were boarding our own 'car' and lifting up to the back of Hogwarts castle....

....we walked around the shops scattered here and there and decided that it was time for a meal, as we were beginning to get hungry. US/IoA [for ME, anyway] has always been notoriously famous for lacking in the culinary art of tastebud-worthy food, amenable service, and gluten-free eateries/food, so both Ron and I were a bit wary of the offerings in the general vicinity of where we happened to be. Well, we opted to check out the menu of Mythos, located in the Lost Continent. We were happy to learn that the wait would only be around 15 to 20 minutes AND they did have several gluten-free choices on the menu, so it was here that we chose to have a lovely sit-down lunch:

My DH ordered the Tuscan Tomato Soup, accompanied with GF bread and the Baby Spinach salad with grilled chicken. He didn't complain once about his order, and there was nary a drop left on his plate - my estimation is that he enjoyed his meal, which seemed to be hearty, filling and reasonably priced. I ordered the Roast Beef panini, which was quite tasty (I was STUFFED). Jean-Pierre and Maureen ordered the Tuscan Tomato Soup and Cordon Bleu Grilled Chicken Sandwich, and the Roasted Corn and Tortilla Soup with the Mythos Pad Thai, respectively. All in all, I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised. Our table was located in a sort of 'out-of-the-way' location, the food was surprisingly tasty and well-presented, and the service was not half-bad. Dare I say, I'd actually probably eat there again....

[next post - Page 9 ~ Post #135]​

 

[PrincessInOz]

Mythos used to be rated as the best place to eat in any theme park. Glad to see you enjoyed it too.

But...where's the food porn??

 

[kimmar067]

....I forgot....saw-ry.... [ ]

 

[PrincessInOz]

Dare I say.......Old Fogie??