I know I promised but I was hoping to show pictures too and hubby is not home yet. We haven't looked at them yet.
Going down was uneventful. No plane delays and it really didn't seem like we were at the airport 2 hours before. We just walked and checked out the stores.
On the map I saw of Universal and Islands of Adventure looked like a far walk from the Hard Rock Hotel but it really wasn't. The walk to our room was pretty long though. We did not get ice unless the kids went out to get it, slavery I tell you. Our town car let us make a grocery stop so we stopped at a Publix ? It was nice inside , it was in a mall with other empty stores. We stopped here before on our last trip
Since we stayed on site at the Hard Rock we had early entry. Harry Potter is at the far back of the park. They were shooting a commerical that day by the train so they pointed you the long way to get back there. I thought it would be a bigger area but it is quiet small. The castle is impressive, Hannah did not like the Forbidden Journey but I didn't want to miss it. It is almost like soaring you go up over the castle/school of Hogwarts. Then they spin you kind of and you are close to spiders which Hannah did not like. Nicholas loved it and went many times.
They are making a killing of the scrafes , Nicholas bought one but with out the crest on it 9that one was close to $60.), he got the red and gold one for half the price , they also had blue and green. Some kids and adults were buying the robes but they were $100. no thanks. He did get a wand though. I call it a stick for $29.99.
The theme in that area is pretty cool. We did have Butter Beer. They sell it cold or frozen. Nicholas liked the cold one with foam on top....I thought it felt like gelitin was in it and thick. I like the frozen drink better. Definitely creme soda in it.
We were there two days. I spend most of my days with Hannah riding Cat in the Hat and the little train they have there. This was Island of Adventures. Over at Universal we did the Simpson ride over and over. Hubby and I both said we could have done it all in one day, the second day was just repeating the rides again. We did have the fast pass or front of the line thing from the hotel which really helped with the early mornings.
Spent the nights on the City Walk. It was cold out....the first night I froze and should have had a sweater. They too have a boat from the hotels to the City Walk. The City Walk is in between the too park. The captain asked Hannah if she wanted to honk the horn but she was to shy.
We thought the parks closed to early, 6:00. So we spent the evening going though the shops.
I think your ship sailed off your ticker the day you left! Looking forward to hearing about your vacation 
