Club Level, Diagon Alley and Express Pass...Look Out Portofino Here We Come!!!

[hpfan100]

Hello everyone,

My solo venture to see the greatness that is sure to be Diagon Alley has recently changed. Now my fiancee (is that how you spell it???) is joining me. We are normally big penny pinchers and really I hate to spend money. He likes to spend money like its burning a hole in his pocket. As my grandma would say he has champagne taste on a beer budget .

Anywho...we both agreed for this trip that the benefits of early entry and express pass would be worth the cost of staying onsite. I hate changing hotels without a car so we are staying at the Portofino the whole time. I have an AP so that saved us quite a bit on the room. We agreed to stay in the Garden View room which would cost us 500 a person after taxes and fees. But I have a surprise in store for him...I booked club level as I know he loves it.

So it's gonna be a great time...I get more Potter and he gets club level.

We leave on the 24th of July....I can't wait

 

[hpfan100]

Here's a couple snapshots of us enjoying life...

Splash anyone...I hate this ride...big drops scare me But I pulled it together for a pose



Here's one on Screamin....love this one...I've got my posing down on this puppy



In front of the Tree of Life at my third favorite Disney Park. Man we are getting chubby...I guess that's what happens when you're love.

 

[macraven]

PBH and club, sounds like a plan !!

i know you will have a wonderful time at the Darkside.

 

[schumigirl]

Sounds like a fantastic plan......he'll be so surprised

Looking forward to hearing about your trip

 

[hpfan100]

PBH and club, sounds like a plan !!

i know you will have a wonderful time at the Darkside.

Thanks!!!! I'm looking forward to it.

Sounds like a fantastic plan......he'll be so surprised

Looking forward to hearing about your trip

I'm sure he will...now I just have to keep the secret for a few more weeks.

 

[hpfan100]

So a little background information...

I'm a special education teacher. I've been at it for 11 years now and it's a great profession but man am I getting tired. I have two beautiful fluffy cats...Lexi and Baby that are spoiled rotten. I'm a huge Harry Potter fan. It's by far my favorite thing. I have read all the books, seen the movies, gone to 2 fan conferences, have tons of merchandise and have visited the wizarding world in Orlando. I'm looking forward to 2016 when it opens in Hollywood.

My dear fiancee is Jeff. He works at the family speakers bureau. He likes his job but alas working with family is tough. The business is still in a growth phase so money is tight. He has a awesome little Schnauzer mix named Mickey (after the ball player not the mouse). He's a big fan of Disney and Belgian beers. He even has a room in his dedicated to the interest.


And some trip information...

We are scheduled to fly out of Phoenix on Thursday July 24th. We have to change planes in Las Vegas before heading to Orlando. We land at 1:00 am (July 25th) if on time. We are scheduled to check in to the Portofino on July 25th. With early entry at 7:00 am that day, we aren't sure what to do. I assume we need to check in around 6 so we can get our express passes, luggage dropped off and head to the park. So we would need to take a shuttle/cab at 5ish from the airport to make that timeline work. So that leaves 4 hours of time that we need to kill or find somewhere to stay. I don't wanna pay for a hotel night just for 4 hours but I also don't wanna linger in the airport....what to do???


We are headed to Disneyland tomorrow for fireworks and a break from the heat. I'll keep posting updates as they come in.

 

[hpfan100]

I'm just under a week away from leaving. I've started packing and thinking about some general game plans.


We leave Thursday afternoon around 3. We go to Vegas for a 2 hour wait before heading to Orlando. We are scheduled to land around 1 am on Friday morning. We are planning to grab a snack at the Starbucks in the airport before grabbing a shuttle to the hotel. We think we can check in around 5 to get our early entry/ express passes. Then we can grab some breakfast and to early entry.


Can't wait!!!!!

 

[Threeboysandachickie]

Sounds like your trip will be great fun! We always stay club, could never do without it!!

We have a severly impaired ds, we definitely appreciate special ed teachers. We understand why you get tired and need breaks to refresh and regroup.

Have a wonderful vacation and be sure to soak up the Harry potter themeing! We will be there in early November...can't wait!

 

[hpfan100]

Sounds like your trip will be great fun! We always stay club, could never do without it!! We have a severly impaired ds, we definitely appreciate special ed teachers. We understand why you get tired and need breaks to refresh and regroup. Have a wonderful vacation and be sure to soak up the Harry potter themeing! We will be there in early November...can't wait!

Glad to hear good things about club level... I'm pretty fired up. He will be too.

Thanks for the work kudos too.... Teaching can be very challenging and it is nice to relax. I work quite a bit during the year so it's nice to have some fun over the summer.

I'll report back on the awesomeness when we return.

 

[hpfan100]

I was just checking prices and reservations for the trip and it looks like RPR has pass holder discounts for our dates. I could save about 150 for our 4 night stay by switching to it.

Now to decide what to do....

 

[hpfan100]

I've decided to stay at portofino. I think the extra cost will be worth a larger room and a view. Plus we've gotten pumped up about all the resort features. Less than 2 days now and we are pumped.....

 

[macraven]

I've decided to stay at portofino. I think the extra cost will be worth a larger room and a view. Plus we've gotten pumped up about all the resort features. Less than 2 days now and we are pumped.....

one more sleep...............!!

btw, no one sleeps the night before a planned vacation.....just saying

 

[schumigirl]

one more sleep...............!!

btw, no one sleeps the night before a planned vacation.....just saying

Lol.......so true.......

hpfan.......hope you have a fantastic trip......looking forward to hearing about it

 

[hpfan100]

Lol.......so true....... hpfan.......hope you have a fantastic trip......looking forward to hearing about it

Ha ha... Normally that would be the case but since I had to get early today to sit around for the century link guy to show up... I might manage a few winks.

I'm all packed except for my purse items and managed to get everything into one tote bag. Sweet! I love to travel light. All I need to do today is laundry, yard work, finish tidying the kitchen and cat service. Then tomorrow I can transfer stuff from my purse... Don't wanna forget those southwest drink coupons.

 

[jenninaustin]

... Don't wanna forget those southwest drink coupons.

No. You definitely don't want to forget those!

Plus...maybe you should mail me some.

Have a great trip - I'm following along! Never been to Universal and I'm determined to take my family in 2 years!

 

[Princess Angi]

Can't wait to hear about club level. I think I may splurge for that next year. We will be there at the same time too! We arrive Saturday staying at Cabana Bay!

 

[macraven]

you leave tomorrow !!!!!!

have a great flight and a great trip !!!

 

[hpfan100]

We are in Vegas now waiting for our flight to Orlando. With the delay we land around 2 Orlanfo time. Stuffs about to get real. I'll post what I can while we are there but when I get home I'll include more details

 

[macraven]

We are in Vegas now waiting for our flight to Orlando. With the delay we land around 2 Orlanfo time. Stuffs about to get real. I'll post what I can while we are there but when I get home I'll include more details

sorry about you dealing with a delay.

it will all be forgotten after you land and get settled in your hotel room.

looking forward to your on the spot postings here to tell us about the fun you will be having each day.

 

[hpfan100]

We made it universal!!!!! Yesterday we got the hotel at 3:30 am. The checked us in early and even had a room for us ready to go! We are right next to ice machine and elevator which has been nice. I love the room and find the hotel grounds beautiful. We hopped around the parks yesterday and rode quite a bit... Express pass has been a life saver.


Today we are off to city walk for some shopping.