Feeling Hot Hot Hot! The Rain Curse is Broken! Two Weeks of Fun in the Sun! COMPLETE

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Here are some of Dad's pictures from that first part of the hike.

We saw this unusual coloured marmot near Sentinel Pass. Marcus, being naughty, tried to charge after it several times. Luckily there was no steep drop around at that point.

See the tall sharp point rock formation. That is one of the "sentinels" that the pass is named for.

The marmot again

 

[pinkxray]

I'm sorry... did you say 10 hrs? Your pictures are beautiful but 10 hrs of hiking. No way!

I love the picture of you during your tantrum. You don't even look that bad. I was expecting worse. Your poor mother

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

I'm sorry... did you say 10 hrs? Your pictures are beautiful but 10 hrs of hiking. No way!

I love the picture of you during your tantrum. You don't even look that bad. I was expecting worse. Your poor mother

Yep, 10 hours! We arrived at Moraine Lake to start the hike around 8:30 in the morning, we finished the hike around 6pm.

 

[KatMark]

Lessa, the pictures are beautiful, as always -- such breathtaking views. 10 hours? I don't think I could survive 2 hours.

 

[englishrose47]

Lessa, the pictures are beautiful, as always -- such breathtaking views. 10 hours? I don't think I could survive 2 hours.

I know I couldn't !!!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Lessa, the pictures are beautiful, as always -- such breathtaking views. 10 hours? I don't think I could survive 2 hours.

Yep, ten hours, but that was with frequent breaks.

I know I couldn't !!!

 

[Marshay]

Finally, all caught up!

First -- thanks for posting the "click here to continue". that makes it so convenient to not miss a post!

Love your pics of Forbidden Journey. Yours is the first TR where I feel like I got to understand the queue and ride.

Oh and I laughed at the video Alex and Erich made exiting MK.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Finally, all caught up!

First -- thanks for posting the "click here to continue". that makes it so convenient to not miss a post!

No problem! That is exactly why they are there!

Love your pics of Forbidden Journey. Yours is the first TR where I feel like I got to understand the queue and ride.

Thanks! I am trying to be as descriptive as possible as most people haven't had a chance to experience the Wizarding World yet.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

May 17th continued

After our Forbidden Journey we met back up with Mom outside Hogwarts and started to head back into Hogsmeade. The wait for Flight of the Hippogriff was listed at 30 minutes so Alek and I decided to get in line. Erich didn't want to ride even though it was a "baby coaster". Mom and Erich went off to do some exploring and Alek and I joined the queue.

Well the wait was NOT 30 minutes. By the time we got off the ride and met back up with Mom and Erich nearly an hour had passed. What does one do while stuck in a really long line? Take pictures!

Naturally since the ride is themed around Hippogriffs the theming along the queue is Hagrid's hut! They did a great job on this as well, looked just like the movies!

Doesn't Alek look thrilled? I won't lie, I also was pretty bored standing in that enormously long line.

Buckbeak!

One of the things about Universal that really bothered me is their anti-camera policy. Pretty much every single ride had a rule about no camera on the ride. Not no flash photography like at WDW but no cameras at all. How annoying! Well, I disregarded that rule and pulled my camera out anyways so I could get a good picture of Buckbeak as we passed by and also of the surrounding area from a nice viewpoint.

There is that poorly disguised brilliant white ride arena again.

Was the ride worth an hour wait, nope! Our mistake. We won't go on it again unless there is a really short line. It was fun to see Hagrid's hut and Buckbeak but not really worth standing in line for an hour.

I snapped a few more shots of Hogwarts before we met back up with Mom and Erich.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

What did Mom and Erich do while they waited for us? They explored Hogsmeade and looked around the shops. Here are their pictures.

First Erich's pictures:

Salazar Slytherin

Godric Gryffindor

Helga Hufflepuff

Rowena Ravenclaw

If you buy a chocolate frog it comes with a trading card inside and these are what they would look like.

Mom and Erich ran into the Hogwarts Express conductor

Here are all the pictures that Mom took that morning while we were on Forbidden Journey and Flight of the Hippogriff

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Some neat tidbits about Hogsmeade:

If you go into the "Public Conveniences" aka the bathrooms you will hear Moaning Myrtle.

Apparently if you use the Gringotts Bank Machine, when you get home your bank statement will actually show your withdrawal as being from Gringott's Bank.

Don't get your butterbeer at the butterbeer cart. Instead go into the Hog's Head. The line will be much shorter!

[post=42950126]Click here to continue[/post]

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Here's a video I forgot to post in the above update.

Mom saw the Hogwarts School Frog Choir come out and perform and she took a short video clip.

Video:Frog Choir

 

[PlutosRHM55]

Ohhhhhhh... I REEEEEAAAAALLLLLLLYYYYYY WANT TO GOOOOOO!!! Everything sounds so cool! I heard Flight of the Hippogriff was really not worth the wait. Though, the theming is so cool, and is Buckbeak an animatronic?

Love all the pictures! It is just such a cool place That's so cool you hear Moaning Myrtle in the restrooms, though a bit creepy (GHOSTSSSS!!!) I also gotta make sure to note the butterbeer situation. And the frog choir is really cool, especially having the jumbo frogs "singing along"!

Can't wait to read more!

 

[IheartDDuck]

You guys got a lot of great pictures. It makes me want to go back so badly.....

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Ohhhhhhh... I REEEEEAAAAALLLLLLLYYYYYY WANT TO GOOOOOO!!! Everything sounds so cool! I heard Flight of the Hippogriff was really not worth the wait. Though, the theming is so cool, and is Buckbeak an animatronic?

Yeah the ride itself is rather lame, it is a kiddy coaster so you really can't expect much! It is cool to go through the line to see Hagrid's and Buckbeak. I don't remember seeing Buckbeak move at all.

Love all the pictures! It is just such a cool place That's so cool you hear Moaning Myrtle in the restrooms, though a bit creepy (GHOSTSSSS!!!) I also gotta make sure to note the butterbeer situation. And the frog choir is really cool, especially having the jumbo frogs "singing along"!

Can't wait to read more!

Yeah, you got to try a butterbeer but don't waste your time in line outside. It is more authentic to get it from The Three Broomsticks or the Hog's Head anyways!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

You guys got a lot of great pictures. It makes me want to go back so badly.....

I want to go back to Universal as well! I'm sure you will make it over there again on one of your future trips.

 

[kittylady1972]

Love the photos as always! Can't agree more about that wait for Flight of Hippogriff. I think we waited 20 to 25 minutes during our trip and that was enough for me. Of course, on the flip side we spent WAY too much time in line for Olivanders and I don't think I'll ever live that one down!

I have to say, I'm just not that anxious to return to Hogwarts. It was a cool experience for us, but give me Disney any day of the week!

 

[CandleontheWater]

Your hike photos are amazing! Although 10 hours with sore feet does not sound all that fun! I hope you were feeling better by then!

I can't believe that Universal left a brilliant white building out in clear view of the guests! You would think they would at least paint it brown or something to blend in a little. I can't help but think that Disney would have done better!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Love the photos as always! Can't agree more about that wait for Flight of Hippogriff. I think we waited 20 to 25 minutes during our trip and that was enough for me. Of course, on the flip side we spent WAY too much time in line for Olivanders and I don't think I'll ever live that one down!

I have to say, I'm just not that anxious to return to Hogwarts. It was a cool experience for us, but give me Disney any day of the week!

Well we never would have gotten in line for Flight of the Hippogriff if the wait time on the sign had been accurate and actually reported the one hour wait, we aren't that crazy.

It is not just the Harry Potter section specifically that is drawing me back to Universal but the whole park. We loved Islands of Adventure! Disney is still number one in my heart though.

Your hike photos are amazing! Although 10 hours with sore feet does not sound all that fun! I hope you were feeling better by then!

Yeah, my feet weren't so bad at the start of the hike, can't say the same for the end of the hike.

I can't believe that Universal left a brilliant white building out in clear view of the guests! You would think they would at least paint it brown or something to blend in a little. I can't help but think that Disney would have done better!

I know! Showed real laziness on the part of the park designers. I liked most things about Universal but there were just a few things that irked me. Mainly their stupid no camera rules and that big white ride arena!

 

[NancyLuvsMickey]

Your hiking pictures are amazing!!!

But tent camping is not for me!!!

And your pictures of Universal really makes me want to take the kids... Even my 3 year old likes Harry Potter...