Solo and Unleashed!

[dolphingirl47]

This looks exactly like King's Cross Station in London. I am glad that the wait for the train was not too bad.

Corinna

 

[Timon]

We stayed at RPR three times now in a King suite and LOVED it!!! Up until the Grand Californian, it has been my favourite hotel

Hmmm...craving nachos for some reason now....

Have a great trip, Jen

 

[petals]

Yes you do, but concentrate on Cali for now!

I'm 30 next year I have an excuse to go back! To bad I never go in my birthday month anymore but I can be 30 twice if I want, like once in April and once in September or November!

Ach the pictures of the new Harry Potter area look AMAZING. The train station and Hedwig Love it!

 

[KatMark]

Caught up (took a little down time to try to catch up on a few TR's).

Great pictures at Universal. I can't handle the rides there anymore (and have no interest in Harry Potter), but I enjoy seeing everyone's pictures.

 

[Beth D]

Great updates! I would hesitate a lot longer over the mine train/Gringotts choice. DS is pressuring to go to Universal on our trip next year so we can go to Diagon Alley and all that…

Buy Claire the HP book set! We got it for DS this past Christmas, and he is on his 2nd time through the set. They are fantastic books, and even better than the movies!

Can't wait to hear where you ended up going!

 

[MEK]

Oh WOW! I am all caught up and I am loving every minute of your US adventure. That first ride sounds amazing and I can't wait to check it out for myself. I am glad you wait was only an hour. Definite score on that!

Boo to the missing batteries (totally something I would do) and the dying cell phone. I love the pictures you posted (the stand in pics). I have never been a big Harry Potter fan, but everything just looks incredible.

I wish I would have the express pass when we go. Oh well *sigh* We'll just do our best.

thanks for the outstanding updates!

 

[dekkerdisneydreamer]

Hi Jen!

I've been a bit absent from the boards, but I recently came back. Found your TR for this one, and of course I think I've missed about 5 since I last checked!

I'm heading back to read all of it and will comment again soon!

 

[jenseib]

I am back to reality! Boy I don't like reality at all!
Good news is that my daughter Paige is being induced tomorrow and we will soon be holding Princess Gracie in our arms.

So for those who do not follow me on facebook...I was on a cruise last week.....but I strayed and didn't go on a Disney cruise. I know....the horror!
I went on a Princess cruise and I had a great time. We did much more relaxing this trip and I really enjoyed myself. I do plan to do a report on that, but it will be a little bit before I can get that started.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Yay! Tomorrow you'll be a grandmother! I'm so excited for you. You have got to post pictures on Facebook when the sweet Princess arrives.

Oh and welcome home. Almost forgot to say that and I look forward to hearing all about the non-Disney cruise trip.

 

[DWGal210]

First of all - yay for the baby tomorrow!! So excited for you all.

The conference doesn't seem like it was handled all that well, does it? I mean, from a time perspective. The conferences I've been to, they are almost militant about the ending times, no matter is the person is in the middle of their presentation or not.

Yes, it was HOT!!! I was there the next week and it was brutal. Just miserable. I like late August/September because of the low crowds but that heat makes it almost not fun to be walking around.

That was nice you were able to get over to Captain's Grille for lunch! That looked SO good!!

Sorry you wiped out in the wet pavement - SO not fun.

I'm glad you and Jeanne were able to meet up for the party. I heard they ran out of maps, and that some people were unhappy. Hopefully they'll learn from the mistakes and make it even better next time. You had some great character interactions, though, those villains looked great!!

 

[jenseib]

Great photos again, Jen!
Your report really made me think of adding a few UO days up front to our trip next summer.
Even though I have not even read one of the HP books, it looks interesting enough for us to explore.

It really is a fun area. I loved the books and if you ever get a chance, do read them.

Thanks for sharing and safe travels, wherever your plane takes you today.

We had great fun. It was my Mom and I. I wish I was still there...even though it was really hot!!!

This looks exactly like King's Cross Station in London. I am glad that the wait for the train was not too bad.

Corinna

Someone else told me that too. I really hit it on a good day.

We stayed at RPR three times now in a King suite and LOVED it!!! Up until the Grand Californian, it has been my favourite hotel

It was a nice hotel. I am glad I had a chance to give it a try and of course now I want to go back!!!

Hmmm...craving nachos for some reason now....

I don't know why....

Have a great trip, Jen

Thanks. A very different experience, but we had a really nice time.

I'm 30 next year I have an excuse to go back! To bad I never go in my birthday month anymore but I can be 30 twice if I want, like once in April and once in September or November!

There is always an excuse!

Ach the pictures of the new Harry Potter area look AMAZING. The train station and Hedwig Love it!

The area is just amazing.

Caught up (took a little down time to try to catch up on a few TR's).

I totally understand. I am so behind on everyones now and will have to make some time to get caught up. I plan to bring my laptop to the hospital tomorrow and hopefully I can get wifi and do a little reading while Paige is screaming in the background.

Great pictures at Universal. I can't handle the rides there anymore (and have no interest in Harry Potter), but I enjoy seeing everyone's pictures.

I have issues with some rides too. I just have grown old I guess.

Great updates! I would hesitate a lot longer over the mine train/Gringotts choice. DS is pressuring to go to Universal on our trip next year so we can go to Diagon Alley and all that…

It is a fun. I am so glad I made the time to go to Universal but also happy I went on the mine train too!

Buy Claire the HP book set! We got it for DS this past Christmas, and he is on his 2nd time through the set. They are fantastic books, and even better than the movies!

Can't wait to hear where you ended up going!

Claire isn't a strong reader, so she wouldn't be able to tackle those books yet, but she has heard most of them on Cd over the years when I listen to them. But she could probably use a refresher. And yes the books are so much better than the movies and I thought they did a decent job with the movies too.

 

[jenseib]

Oh WOW! I am all caught up and I am loving every minute of your US adventure. That first ride sounds amazing and I can't wait to check it out for myself. I am glad you wait was only an hour. Definite score on that!

I was so happy that the wait was doable!

Boo to the missing batteries (totally something I would do) and the dying cell phone. I love the pictures you posted (the stand in pics). I have never been a big Harry Potter fan, but everything just looks incredible.

I can't beleive I never even thought about putting the batteries back in. And recently I went to something a left my batteries for my big camera at home and the memory card, but luckily someome was still on their way and able to pick it up for me.

I wish I would have the express pass when we go. Oh well *sigh* We'll just do our best.

thanks for the outstanding updates!

Express pass really is great, but things are doable without it.

Hi Jen!

I've been a bit absent from the boards, but I recently came back. Found your TR for this one, and of course I think I've missed about 5 since I last checked!

I'm heading back to read all of it and will comment again soon!

She's back!!!!!!

Yay! Tomorrow you'll be a grandmother! I'm so excited for you. You have got to post pictures on Facebook when the sweet Princess arrives.

I sure will, but Paige told me she had to be the first to post any...but of course after it's all done with she might just have me do it for her.

Oh and welcome home. Almost forgot to say that and I look forward to hearing all about the non-Disney cruise trip.

We had a lot of fun. Very different from other trips, but still fun.

First of all - yay for the baby tomorrow!! So excited for you all.

Thanks!

The conference doesn't seem like it was handled all that well, does it? I mean, from a time perspective. The conferences I've been to, they are almost militant about the ending times, no matter is the person is in the middle of their presentation or not.

I swear, I just attract that kind of stuff. Everything runs late when I am involved.

Yes, it was HOT!!! I was there the next week and it was brutal. Just miserable. I like late August/September because of the low crowds but that heat makes it almost not fun to be walking around.

It was pretty hot this past week too, not quite as hot, but I was hoping it would've cooled down to bearable at least.

That was nice you were able to get over to Captain's Grille for lunch! That looked SO good!!

It really was good and I am so glad I finally tried it. I see Jeanne has been going there quite a bit lately.

Sorry you wiped out in the wet pavement - SO not fun.

And so typically me.

I'm glad you and Jeanne were able to meet up for the party. I heard they ran out of maps, and that some people were unhappy. Hopefully they'll learn from the mistakes and make it even better next time. You had some great character interactions, though, those villains looked great!!

I heard about a lot of unhappy people. We had fun....but yes it was not ran perfectly. I am really glad I was able to go down there and experience the party.

 

[jenseib]

We were told which compartment to go to and headed in. It’s really a neat little compartment and they shut the door to each one after we are all inside.

We have a window, which is really a video screen.



We only see a brick wall at first as we are still in the station.







I did not get a window seat, but was in the 2nd spot next to it. 3 guys got on before me and they were all near the window and they kept talking and moving towards the middle which blocked my view at times. I think they got the picture a few times when I would move right into their huddle to get my pictures. LOL.





The ride is such a cool experience and it feels like you are really traveling a long distance.





In the hallway you can see shadows and hear students talking.





The scenery changes constantly as you go along.







And then we arrived at Hogsmeade and we were let out of our compartments to the exit.

 

[jenseib]

I had wondered if they would still keep this stationary Hogwarts Express since they now had a real moving one….and yes they did.













I had a mission….I wanted to ride the Forbidden Journey. I had heard since the new part opened that this ride was now experiencing longer waits too because more people were coming for the whole Harry Potter experience.



Well the line was only posted at about 20 minutes so I got right in line for it.









I debated at doing the single rider line, but since it was only 20 minutes I skipped it so I could see more of the queue area. Once you get inside they direct you to the lockers and then you get back in line. This is where you would get in the single rider line as well if you chose that option.





The greenhouse area was empty….that is a GOOD sign. I think typically the wait is about 20 minutes from this room, so if you are walking right through there, you have less than that to wait.





Red shirt guy there is in a lot of my pictures.

 

[KatMark]

More great pictures at Universal, Jen.

Congratulations on that grandbaby of yours.

I did start my TR (and Tim started one too).

 

[dizneeat]

Great news on becoming a grandmother tomorrow, Jen. Keeping my fingers crossed for Paige, so everything goes well and easy.

Awesome new update! I just love seeing your pics and I blame you that we are now seriously thinking about a short UO stay during the first part of our summer vacation (just not sure yet, if I can pull it off financially, as I just paid for the most expensive plane tickets ever - and that is going economy!!!! On the other hand, since I bought it has already gone up twice. )

 

[littlenellbell]

Glad you had a great cruise! I enjoyed your pictures on FB and can't wait to hear more about it. I agree that a non-Disney cruise may be a little more relaxing. Not that you can't relax on a Disney cruise, but there is just so much to do and you don't want to miss out.

Good luck to your daughter today with the baby I bet you are so excited!

 

[jenseib]

More great pictures at Universal, Jen.

Congratulations on that grandbaby of yours.

I did start my TR (and Tim started one too).

Thanks. I will go look for both of your reports later. I am hoping to have wifi at the hospital and be able to catch up on things. I need to get my rear going and head out.

Great news on becoming a grandmother tomorrow, Jen. Keeping my fingers crossed for Paige, so everything goes well and easy.

Awesome new update! I just love seeing your pics and I blame you that we are now seriously thinking about a short UO stay during the first part of our summer vacation (just not sure yet, if I can pull it off financially, as I just paid for the most expensive plane tickets ever - and that is going economy!!!! On the other hand, since I bought it has already gone up twice. )

I am such a bad influence! That sucks about the flights. They just seem to be crazy high lately.

Glad you had a great cruise! I enjoyed your pictures on FB and can't wait to hear more about it. I agree that a non-Disney cruise may be a little more relaxing. Not that you can't relax on a Disney cruise, but there is just so much to do and you don't want to miss out.

I did a lot of people watching and chatting with people this cruise. We had a great time, but it was so different than the go go go I usually do.

Good luck to your daughter today with the baby I bet you are so excited!

Thanks. I need to get my make up on and head out. I saw you emailed me and I will look it over once I get to the hospital!

 

[jenseib]

You can’t really tell in this picture, but Harry, Ron and Hermione are in the balcony there.













I came to a spot where the line then divides. They make you stop and let you go one way if you have a family switch pass or another way for single riders and then the main line. When I told them I had just 1, they sent me over to the single rider queue. At this point that was fine because I had gone through all the main areas already. Now had I done just the single rider line from the start, I would have whizzed on all the way through, but miss a lot of the queue.
I was immediately taken on and had a fabulous ride. I swear this time the dementors looked a little different than the last time I was here, but I could just be remembering wrong.
I went to go get my bag out of the locker and of course it wouldn’t read my finger print. I wondered if I put the wrong number in so I tried again and it still wouldn’t work. The girl behind me was getting impatient and said I needed to go find someone. I tried a 3rd time and still it wouldn’t work. The girl asked me if I knew my locker number and I said I thought I did but it didn’t work, and she told me a TM was around helping people. Ok…so I go and grab the guy and of course smart-aleck behind me couldn’t get her locker to open either. So she quickly tells the guy…..but he is helping me first.
I must say he was pretty thorough as he asked what was inside and then asked to see my drivers license once I pulled the bag out.
The whole set of lockers for that section was having issues and no one could open their lockers….but I took off and didn’t wait around to see what others did.

After I got off I walked around a bit and tried to decide if I wanted to tackle the dueling dragons this time or not. I have yet to ride them.





I decided that first I needed to eat something so I headed towards the Three Broomsticks.



There was next to no one in there.









I got a combo of ribs and chicken.









The food was good, but it was just warm. It would’ve been better if it was a bit hotter.



The corn wasn’t too good though. I have yet to have corn somewhere other than at home and freshly cooked that is worth eating.



I also had another regular butter beer…and this time I did remember to use my AAA discount for my meal.

 

[dekkerdisneydreamer]

Congratulations on becoming a Grandmother Jen!! Sending out positive vibes that everything goes well for Paige!

Alright, that settles it! I have to get to Universal, if only for the HP experience. It looks so well done! I know that my DH would want to go just for the sake of getting in all of the other rides.