Before heading into Hogsmeade, we backtracked a little and went to ride Velocicoaster, it did look very busy down here but we weren`t too bothered with knowing the EP line is usually very quick, I forget what the regular line was but for us, it took us less than 10 minutes to get on which is fabulous, we hate lines.
The line moved constantly and we never even got held up at the lockers nor metal detectors today so it felt even faster and when we got to the front we asked for the back row and got it, these are definitely our favourite seats, or maybe it`s the front, I`m not sure. I think we prefer the front at night when you can see all the lights around the parks.
This is an amazing ride and I don`t know anyone that doesn`t love it, well if they like coasters of course. It covers everything you want in a coaster and it has a decent length, so you don`t feel short changed. I think our favourite part, apart from the barrel roll at the end is when you hear the power ramp up before you go over the top hat, that really does excite you of the impending thrill of that quick climb and even faster drop, it is amazing.
We only did it once today, I`m always aware of not annoying my head for too long and don`t like to get that nauseated feeling, so once was enough today. I think Tom would have gone again, but it`s not the same on your own according to him when he knows I`m not riding.
So, headed back to Hogsmeade where I can see the humidity affected the camera slightly today with a misty look in some of them.
We managed to catch the owl coming out of the top of the owlery, sometimes we catch it sometimes we miss it,some folks don`t know it does that either, it is easy to miss I guess.
We looked to ride Hagrid`s again, but it was on a delay, of course you never know how long it`s going to be down for, we didn`t wait and headed to the Hog`s Head and bought a Pumpkin Fizz to share, neither of us like Butterbeer but this is nice, very sweet so sharing it works for us and then headed round the back of the Three B`s to enjoy some shade from the perpetual heat and enjoy listening to the screams from the Velocicoaster, they are so close to here so it`s a perfect place to watch and listen to folks reactions on the ride.
It`s also quite quiet round here today, I think we sat here for around 15 minutes or so, then quite a lot of folks appeared with food, so we didn`t want to take up a table with only having a drink.
Neither of us felt like riding FJ today so we just wandered kind of aimlessly and took about a thousand pictures, we mistimed it to see the Frog Choir and the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students performing, all worth seeing of course and I think times and such are all on the App.
I`m old fashioned and still miss the paper info that used to be available at the entrances to the parks.
Someone standing beside us was talking to his family as we wandered on to the bridge in front of the castle, they were talking of a couple that got engaged a few minutes ago, always lovely to see something like that. Last year we saw a wedding here, we think it was an informal one rather than an official one, but they looked very happy regardless.
There were a lot of folks on here today as is normal, everyone wants that shot in front of Hogwarts!!
Trying to get a picture of the entrance to Jurassic Park area nowadays with no one else in it is nigh on impossible most of the time, but we managed it today, admittedly a few moments later the flood gates opened and a slew of guest appeared from both behind and in front of us, so we got lucky.
Once upon a time that whole area through the arch to the right hosted the lockers for what was Duelling Dragons a long time ago, well not that long I suppose, we do miss that ride however good Hagrid`s is, not much will beat DD.
Kong, we bypassed today, it`s not a favourite, we tend to do it once a trip, it`s not the same since they omitted the outside part with the ride vehicle, mainly down to issues with the huge doors that open and close for the vehicle to enter the cavernous area, it is missed by many.
Wimpy`s is one of the best quick service options in IOA, it is a real little gem and is very underrated as the burgers are really rather lovely, fries are good too and although we tend not to eat outside generally, we do make an exception for this place.
But, not today.
Another area that is highly coloured and vibrant and of course you get completely drenched on those barges, no escaping it. We`re not the biggest water ride fans, but usually once a trip we head into the park in the afternoon and binge on the water rides especially this one.
Ripsaw Falls is fun, but the log you sit in is rather awkward to get in and out of, that aside it is a good ride too.
Me Ship the Olive is very well themed and although some kids don`t know who Popeye is anymore, they still seem to enjoy it. You can also soak the already drenched riders in the barge below you from the top deck.
You also get a really good view from the bridge through to the statue of J Jonah Jameson that resides to the rear of the Spider-Man ride. It apparently mysteriously went missing years ago then appeared without any explanation as to where it was or why it was gone, I like a good tale like that!
This yappy dog has to be the most annoying dog ever, it was silent one day we were here and it was so much nicer than listening to the incessant yipping around you when you`re getting a picture. It is a nice little display though and the sprinkling of water you get if you stand close enough is rather nice.
Tom has always wanted to go back to Croissant Moon bakery for lunch, we did check last week but it was full, today however it wasn`t busy so we`d give it a try.
It is a lovely exterior, the interior is a little duller than it should be, Confisco Grill is as vibrant inside as it is outside, and it`s not a large place at all with a few seats inside, however it does have exterior seating, but directly in the blazing sunshine for a lot of the day.
We weren`t overly hungry so we were going to share but couldn`t decide what to get, I quite liked the look of the lemon-blueberry brioche, but Tom wasn`t keen so a sandwich it was going to be.
We decided on the Ultimate Sandwich which had turkey, ham, roast beef, Swiss cheese on a croissant and adorned with arugula, picked onions and spicy mustard, it came with potato and fruit salad.
However, what we got was the Italian Sandwich, not sure how the mix up happened, I had gone to the bathroom and it was there when I came back and Tom had pictured it and started eating his half.
They had given us the Italian Sandwich which came with salami, spicy capicola, ham, provolone, arugula, pickled onions, sun-dried tomato pesto and basil aioli served on a crusty baguette, only problem with this one was, I don`t eat crusty baguettes but as he had started eating it, we didn`t want to swap it. So I ate it carefully, but it was very crusty, too crusty for me.
Tom enjoyed it, but said he wouldn`t rush back, the crusty bread was just too crusty for him too, but the potato salad is very nice as was the sandwich filling.
We never did make it on the Hulk today, it was one of those days we just didn`t feel like it, so we passed on it too, we were just feeling like heading out of the park now so a quick visit in to the Christmas Store which has changed so much since our last visit, and not as good as it once was, so much of the cute merchandise has gone, it`s still a nice store, but different.
All the detail up the side alleys are incredible and I do love this wanted poster and quite like the sound of a guy who indulges in wanton mopery and gross pillockery!!!!
Calling someone a Pillock is a very Scottish/British way of insulting anyone and a word I use often apparently......some folks just fit that description at times 
Short walk to the boats and we waited a few moments for one today and it was nice to get back home where we knew it was cool!! Yes, for someone who loves heat, I complained an awful lot about it being too hot today. It won`t happen again 
I love coming home to Sapphire Falls on the boats, day or night it looks so pretty, especially at night when it`s all lit up.
Back in our suite I picked up my ipad and the first thing I saw was Maggie Smith had sadly passed away. Known by many of course as Professor McGonagall.
There was going to be a wand raising tribute for her tonight at 7pm at Hogwarts, we did think we might wander in for it.
Right now, we both wanted a snooze!!!
