Wonderful review and report! I really enjoyed it. Thank you!
Oh, thedisneymom it's my pleasure!
OCDiser
What a great way to start a sunny day in London reading your TR
I wish I were having a sunny day in London. But I guess I'm there kinda sorta? Thanks for reading Linda!
Oh, that is huge!! I have to make sure that first visit is a good one so the not-so-much Potter fans in my house enjoy it as much as the die-hard fans do.
I'm getting so nervous now with all of this praise I'm giving it! But I keep asking myself, was it truly worth it, am I hyperbolizing (new word)? No, I stand by my Dumbledore. I hope that your visit is fabulous.
Love it! If you don't mind, I'm going to adopt OCDiser. Not so much a fan of commando, either.
I'm glad you like it! It still seems a little awkward to me, like we're obsessive compulsive dissers. But I guess I do a lot of dissing during my reviews/reports, so it's all in the family.
Love Seuss. Takes me back to reading them to my kids (sniff, sniff, they grow up so fast . . .)
That store is definitely another reason to head on over to Islands of Contrition/Adventure. The Seuss store is a loving tribute to Mr. Geissel's work.
It's NEVER too hot to eat sticky cinnamon rolls!
You and the SO would get along swimmingly.
I can't tell you how often I do this! I really need to pay better attention. . . anyway, how dare she sniff at you!!
I'm so glad I'm not the only one. I'll be pulling toys off the shelves and showing them to strangers without ever turning around. They must think I'm extra-bonkers. You know what I did to the lady who sniffed at me? I sniffed right back!
Oh, Billy, please get some water. I'm heading to the fountain right now, this report is making me parched. Can't believe you had any energy left after Potter land!
All the reports are making me parched. This is like Laurence of Arabia. It just doesn't end! But I see some reports on here that started back in November of '09. So, there's hope for us after all... and speaking of which:
Oh .... here you are! You moved and apparently I can't read the BIG letters at the top of the dining thread! Thanks so much for the great photos! I can't wait to take my boys now. Don't you know my hubby is going to be thrilled
Hope for us/Lori, you just get your husband a pint of Hogs Head's brew, sit him down at the bar, and go about your merry way. Just remember to pick him up before you leave for the day.
It really was an incredible experience, guys. But I just CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH the need for everybody that plans to go to get there as early as humanly possible. Billy and I got there at 8 thinking the park opened at 9, but the queue to get into the Wizarding World was already almost through Jurassic Park.
But I'm telling you...as a mega major HP fan, nothing could have prepared me for how immersive and well done the whole thing is.
Well look what the puppers dragged in.
I see you're using a recent photo for your avatar, my compliments to the photographer.
Look at what I hath wrought people, the boy not only understands the Disney bug, but he's on a Disney forum!
The educamacation continues...
Really enjoying your TR, love the HP pictures and I totally agree with you on the branding. I am a huge Disney lover, but I miss the theming! I want resort specific merchandise. I want land specific merchandise and signage and I don't want to see princess crap in Animal Kingdom anymore than I want to see bugs in the castle.
You did make me want to try a Butterbeer though!
No more princess crap in the Animal Kingdom! No more bugs in the Castle! I'm with you, Lulu. Let's toast over a Butterbeer.
This will be me to DH on July 18th when our limo picks us up at Portofino Bay and whisks us over to the Polynesian.
Don't get me wrong, I am really looking forward to WWoHP, but it just isn't Disney. However, I will endure because Disney will be the sweet reward to the 10 year anniversary vacation!
I am loving your report.
I won't lie and say I didn't feel the same way. I felt a great sense of calm when we arrived back on property. I guess it's just what I'm used to.. I've often considered Walt Disney World to be the last borough of New York City. It's only two and a half hours away, which is shorter than a traffic-filled jaunt to Long Island!
The last time we went to Universal/IOA a year ago in April the only memorable part for me was the Spiderman ride! I am glad you enjoyed it! I am a huge Spiderman fan so I absolutely loved it! I also missed out on the themed queue due to the seperate Universal Fast Pass line. Just gives me something to go back for!
Spiderman is definitely a showstopper. I keep using the word definitely. And I want to make sure the SO sees the queue next time, too. We both have reasons to return! Thanks for reading Caitlin.
The last time I was at Universal, IOA hadn't even been built.
Enjoying your TR immensely. Love the GG references. I've giggled more than a few times.
DH is super excited about "Harry Potter Land". I'm having a hard time pulling myself away from WDW.
But since this started as a dining report... have you ever visited Shula's steak house?
I really should throw more GG references into the mix, and maybe some Designing Women. Brilliant shows the both of them.
I have not visited Shula's, but I've been meaning to go to the one here at home. I'm not much of a steakhouse fan, but I know if I'm going to spend the money I may as well aim for the best. Thanks for reading!
HOLLAAA!!!!! I'm here too!!! Enjoying every bit!!!
YAY!
I love all three pages I've read of your dining report and am tickled pink to have you read my run on sentences!
Another great update. You've made me want to visit Universal very much which is a feat.
If you all hate Harry Potter, will I have to give you a refund?
THANK YOU. I can't say that either. To me, commando refers to when I don't wear any underwear. Right? How did this become a Disney term?
I really don't know, but we've all seen it on discussion boards forever, right? I know the Unofficial Guide uses them, maybe it originated there?
This made me literally laugh out loud. Adorable. Does he have a brother? I need to find someone like this.
He has a half-brother, so I guess there's a 50/50 chance?
I was told by the wonderful Lia (__disneygirl) that I absolutely HAD to check out your TR. And after reading through the whole thing, I've gotta say, it doesn't disappoint.
Your writing is amazing, and hilarious, and I just want it to go on forever and ever.
Thank you for checking it out (and thank you Lia for spreading the word).
I think you may have even convinced me, a girl who is the opposite of a Potter fan and who spent majority of her only trip to Universal rolling her eyes at the awfulness, that I NEED to go and check out Harry Potter World (or whatever it's actually called). I mean, I only read the first Potter book and haven't seen any of the movies in their entirity (though I do like the Potter Puppet Pals- They make me laugh), but I was still captivated by your writing. And I think the bottle of squished pumpkin juice, or whatever it's called, is pretty much the coolest thing ever.
And although I will never admit this to anyone else, getting my own wand would be pretty rad.
Ok. Now let's just forget that I said all of that, so that I can go back to being my anti-Potter self. Harry Potter? Totally lame. Why in the world would I ever want to go there?
I LOVE the Potter Pals. "Angst...angst...angst..." I reiterate, I still roll my eyes at the awfulness of Universal, but I adored the Wizarding World. So, I really can't guarantee that you'll love the place. But think about it, even if you don't like it one bit, you can come on the boards and rant your heart out!
Anyway, onto other things, like the fact that you got to spend time in the one place I actually enjoyed in Universal, the Dr. Seuss bookstore!!! I love me some Seuss. He's one of my heroes. And I think I spent over an hour in there reading all of my favorites.
If I Ran the Zoo was one of my favorite books as a kid. And who doesn't love
Oh, the Places You'll Go? It's one of the greatest books ever. So yeah, that bookstore was pretty much a dream come true.
I'm going to stop now before my comment gets any longer, but I LOVE YOUR TR. A lot. And I can't wait to read more.
Yes, I can't stress enough how perfect that bookstore is, there isn't one thing out of place. Oh the places you'll go, indeed... and any Seuss fan should take time out of their commando days to stop in. Underwear optional.
Thanks so much for the pictures and descriptions of WWoHP. My daughter is a huge Potterhead (as am I). She read all of the books before she was 11! (In 2 months time, mind you)
We are planning on going, but perhaps next summer--I am worried about the first year being wild. Then again, there will be a lot of people there next summer after the release of the last movie, as well.
Thanks Amanda! I don't know how to gauge what the crowds will be like, but at least for the next year or so, I'd stay away. Just remember that if you do go next summer, get to IOA at least two hours before park opening. Off-site or on. The earlier you go, the lower the sun will be in the sky... and despite the humidity, the waits will be much more tolerable. Because even by 11 am, it's beyond brutal.
Ain't that the truth! The Universal people love water. By the end of my first trip to IOA, I learned to be on the lookout for water even when I least expected it! Just thinking about makes me giggle. My sister and I were screaming "Come on! More water?!?!"
BTW, my sister lives in Brooklyn and I told her your F train joke, and she laughed. She braves the F train every day to get to work. Poor thing.
Great report, and I hope it's not over yet!
Thanks Valree! I know, those Universal people even throw water at you when it's raining. It must be a tic of some kind. And thanks for showing the TR to your sister. F-train love, y'all.
Lia linked your TR in hers and I am so glad she did. I love your report! You have a great writing style. 
