Welcome, Foolish Muggles! IoA/US/MK/SW *July 2013 Trip Report Link*

[ddluvsdisney]

For all trying the Butterbeer for the first time, make sure you try both the reg. and frozen versions. I did like the frozen much more... YUM!!!
As a kid cream soda was one of my favorites so when I tried butterbeer I immediately made the connection although I did think the regular was way too sweet. Frozen- not so much. ENJOY!

 

[eandesmom]

Fun pics of Jurassic park, brave to have the camera out although I guess if you know the ride, you'd know when to protect it. The box definitely does drop a bit.

.
Have you read Jurassic Park???

I am another avid reader who is disappointed that this love was not passed down to my son. I certainly know the desperation you feel trying to get Hunter to read! The only book Nate ever picked up without intense badgering is Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Which to me is more of a comic book than a novel.

Nate loves books and enjoyed when I read most of the Harry Potter Series to him when he was younger, but he won't read them on his own. Ben has finally developed an interest in reading and he really loves the Harry Potter and Percy Jackson series.

Let me know if you are seriously considering a visit to the "Dark Side". I can't remember if you (and/or the rest of the family) are Potterheads.

Taylor's not much of a reader but the other 3 are book vultures and thankfully they will share series books. However Kendall always seems to get them last, then loses them and so I don't get to read them.

Has Ben read the Peter and the Starcatcher series? A new one just came out, kind of an offshoot of the original series and there is a new Rick Riordan coming next month, sequel to the Lost Hero I think.

Hi Amanda!

You were posting here just as I was finding your new TR!

We enjoyed the Portofino pool. Ben and I are the swim fanatics in our family. It was nice when Mark joined us.

There were definitely some interesting rides at Universal/IoA. You'll find out!

The movie Jurassic Park is really really good, but I agree. The book is WAY better.

I may have to rethink my reluctance to get a Kindle- after the "incident" on during our travel Mexico. I was all ready to start the Stephen King novel I had for the plane ride and when I opened the book, it started in mid-paragraph on Page 9.

I was able to figure out what I needed to, but my DH "helpfully" pointed out that if I had a Kindle, I wouldn't have had that problem or I could just download a different book.

A kindle is GREAT for traveling. Not only do you not lose pages but you can buy a new one on the fly if you finish your book without lugging a bunch of weight. I was anti kindle for a LONG time, I love the feel of a book. But when I had to go to Germany I decided ot break down and am really glad I did. I also love the fact that I can pick up my book on my phone, or my kindle, or my laptop and it's always synched to wherever I stopped last, no matter what platform.

I still like real books too though!

You are all making very convincing aruguments for the purchase of a family e-reader of some sort. I can see the advantage of replacing my current habit of carrying a half-ton of books in my luggage on vacation in fear of running out of reading material. Especially if there is a backlight feature for use in bed or on dark balconies.

But I will still need a book or two for pool or beach side.

I have it on pretty good authority that my not-so-secret-Santa is a frequent visitor to this report, so perhaps a Kindle or a Nook will find its way under the tree this year.

Unfortunately we have both. Evan really wanted a Nook instead of a Kindle so he can "share" books with his friends that also have Nooks, which made sense. Pro's and cons to both I think.

 

[DrMomof3]

I am certain that butterbeer tastes better on a solo trip. And I have yet to try butterbeer or a solo trip!

Amanda

 

[Marlton Mom]

Dear God woman did ya ever get home?!?! I'm hanging by the edge of my seat waiting to hear!!!!!

Signed,
Waiting for the rest of the trip report in Marlton

 

[LovintheLodge]

We LOVE the Jurassic Park ride too. And the frozen butterbear could be in it's own food group for my family. We never bothered trying the regular, but had the frozen several times!!

Kerry

 

[LovintheLodge]

Dear God woman did ya ever get home?!?! I'm hanging by the edge of my seat waiting to hear!!!!!

Signed,
Waiting for the rest of the trip report in Marlton

Too funny MM!

I think I am all caught up. Yeah, this trip was 4 nights 5 days right?! There's no way I can do a detailed trip report for 8 nights. I'm still debating...but I don't think mine could 'measure up' to yours Dee!

 

[natebenma]

Fun pics of Jurassic park, brave to have the camera out although I guess if you know the ride, you'd know when to protect it. The box definitely does drop a bit.

Taylor's not much of a reader but the other 3 are book vultures and thankfully they will share series books. However Kendall always seems to get them last, then loses them and so I don't get to read them.

Has Ben read the Peter and the Starcatcher series? A new one just came out, kind of an offshoot of the original series and there is a new Rick Riordan coming next month, sequel to the Lost Hero I think.

A kindle is GREAT for traveling. Not only do you not lose pages but you can buy a new one on the fly if you finish your book without lugging a bunch of weight. I was anti kindle for a LONG time, I love the feel of a book. But when I had to go to Germany I decided ot break down and am really glad I did. I also love the fact that I can pick up my book on my phone, or my kindle, or my laptop and it's always synched to wherever I stopped last, no matter what platform.

I still like real books too though!

Unfortunately we have both. Evan really wanted a Nook instead of a Kindle so he can "share" books with his friends that also have Nooks, which made sense. Pro's and cons to both I think.

Thanks for the compliments about the JP photos. Since my camera is waterproof, the only things I need to protect it from are the Team Members that try to discourage me from snapping an essential photo!!!

I remember the discussion about Peter and the Starcatchers from your trip report. I made a note that I should check into the series. Then forgot! So I appreciate the reminder.

Thanks for your input on the nook and kindle!

 

[natebenma]

I am certain that butterbeer tastes better on a solo trip. And I have yet to try butterbeer or a solo trip!

Amanda

Thought so!!! You'll have to let us know!

Dear God woman did ya ever get home?!?! I'm hanging by the edge of my seat waiting to hear!!!!!

Signed,
Waiting for the rest of the trip report in Marlton

Well, I still have lots more to go, so I won't get home in September, it may be October, but most likely November.

But I promise, I'll be home for Christmas!

 

[natebenma]

We LOVE the Jurassic Park ride too. And the frozen butterbear could be in it's own food group for my family. We never bothered trying the regular, but had the frozen several times!!

Kerry

Kerry- LOVED your mini-review on the BC thread. So glad to hear you had a great time on your last minute trip.

Too funny MM!

I think I am all caught up. Yeah, this trip was 4 nights 5 days right?! There's no way I can do a detailed trip report for 8 nights. I'm still debating...but I don't think mine could 'measure up' to yours Dee!

Right, 4 nights 5 days! I'm sure my last comment to MM probably scared you off from writing a TR for good. I have outlined the rest of my report in my Table of Contents. I still have at least 14 updates to go!

I love writing trip reports and I am so thankful to my readers! Writing about the trip and looking at the photos really helps me remember the details of the trip.

One of the biggest cons of writing the trip report is that I have not prepared photo albums yet of my Disney trip last year or this trip. Usually I have my photos organized and placed in an album, one of the ones where you slip the photos into clear pockets. It is not scrapbooking, but I do include some journalling. What I want to do with these last two trips is include the text from the TR, but I haven't had a chunk of time to do that yet.

Feel free to share anything you want to on this report, including pictures, if you don't want to do a full trippie.

 

[natebenma]

When we were done with dinos, we decided to crossover to the Wizarding World again.

Here are a couple of shots of the castle from this entryway:

As soon as the boys saw the butterbeer cart, they insisted on stopping. Ben asked if he could get a souvenir cup, so we ended up ordering one frozen butterbeer ($4.25), one bb in souvenir cup ($11.50) and one pumpkin juice in a bottle ($6.25). I believe the bottle is supposed to be a souvenir, too, but we ended up recycling that. We did keep the pumpkin top.

The total was $22, and since we made our purchase from a cart, they couldn’t apply the AAA discount.

Has anyone seen a Gringotts’ ATM around here?

Once again, the frozen butterbeer was amazing!!!

I thought the pumpkin juice we had on tap at the Three Broomsticks was better than the pumpkin juice in the bottle, though.


The Wizarding World was wicked

As we stood off to the side enjoying our drinks, “students” from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang came out for photo ops.

A few more assorted photos in Harry Potterland:

Snowman

Window Shopping:

Flight of the Hippogriff:

Hogwarts Castle

It was around 5 pm and we figured it was probably a good time to have dinner.

One of the restaurants I wanted to try during this trip was Mythos, which has been voted the Number 1 Theme Park restaurant a number of times. Since we didn’t know when we might eat there, I didn’t make a reservation. Coming from a “Disney” mentality, this worried me a lot despite assurances on the Universal forums that reservations to most restaurants would probably not be required.

Would this hold true at 5 PM on a busy Thursday afternoon in July?

Next up: A meal of Mythos-cal (pro) portions

 

[doccoc2002]

Butterbeer looks amazing. I want to go to Hogwarts!!!!! Looking at the castle is killing me! I wish my kids would grow up already! OK maybe not but man do I really want to spend a day at WWOHP.
Can't wait to hear about dinner...

 

[DrMomof3]

As an HP fanatic I can officially not wait to see Hogwarts!!!!

Amanda

 

[jenneth79]

They really did the Harry Potter theming right, didn't they? Still kicking myself a little we didn't plan in a day for IoA....but that will have to be next trip.

Wait, a restaurant in a theme park that doesn't require reservations? Say it isn't so! Wait, no. Say it is so... drat, Mickey has me drinking the koolaid again.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

I love writing trip reports and I am so thankful to my readers! Writing about the trip and looking at the photos really helps me remember the details of the trip.

One of the biggest cons of writing the trip report is that I have not prepared photo albums yet of my Disney trip last year or this trip. Usually I have my photos organized and placed in an album, one of the ones where you slip the photos into clear pockets. It is not scrapbooking, but I do include some journalling. What I want to do with these last two trips is include the text from the TR, but I haven't had a chunk of time to do that yet.

Feel free to share anything you want to on this report, including pictures, if you don't want to do a full trippie.[/QUOTE]

When I first started reading trip reports on the Dis, scrapbooking was the first thing that came to my mind. I've scrapbooked every one of our Disney trips. It is a long and laboring process b/c I don't always have the time or energy to do it even though I enjoy it. That probably doesn't make any sense but it's true. My goal every year is to finish the year before trip before the current trip. That didn't happen this year I'm still working on 2010. That is mainly why I will probably never do a trip report b/c I def. can't do both. But that being said- you should def. include your reports in your album it's more journaling than I've ever done lol . I will try to post some pics. soon.

 

[natebenma]

Butterbeer looks amazing. I want to go to Hogwarts!!!!! Looking at the castle is killing me! I wish my kids would grow up already! OK maybe not but man do I really want to spend a day at WWOHP.
Can't wait to hear about dinner...

You'll get to Hogwarts! It will be so much fun when the girls are a little older.

What is your family's level of involvement with HP? Movies only? Movies and most books. All 7 books? Went to the bookstore at midnight when Deathly Hallows was released?

As an HP fanatic I can officially not wait to see Hogwarts!!!!

Amanda

What does the ticker say???

They really did the Harry Potter theming right, didn't they? Still kicking myself a little we didn't plan in a day for IoA....but that will have to be next trip.

Wait, a restaurant in a theme park that doesn't require reservations? Say it isn't so! Wait, no. Say it is so... drat, Mickey has me drinking the koolaid again.

Yes, the theming is incredible. I wish they would have added a little magic in the stores like Honeydukes to make them BIGGER. It would also be wonderful if there was a charm that would shield you from the crowds or make the tourons disappear

OK, not making advanced reservations for restaurants is really FREAKY!!!

When I first started reading trip reports on the Dis, scrapbooking was the first thing that came to my mind. I've scrapbooked every one of our Disney trips. It is a long and laboring process b/c I don't always have the time or energy to do it even though I enjoy it. That probably doesn't make any sense but it's true. My goal every year is to finish the year before trip before the current trip. That didn't happen this year I'm still working on 2010. That is mainly why I will probably never do a trip report b/c I def. can't do both. But that being said- you should def. include your reports in your album it's more journaling than I've ever done lol . I will try to post some pics. soon.

I am in awe of people who scrapbook. I have seen some incredibly creative photo albums. I have started to add journaling and stickers to my photo albums, but it is not quite the same. It is also really really hard for me to cut photos, but I am starting to do that too. Baby steps!

 

[bubba's mom]

So...your family likes pumpkinjuice, huh?

Not suprised WWoHP is as crowded as it is. It was like that last year (inaugural year) and a lot of people said they were going to wait a year to go...till the crowds died down. umm...yeah Methinks it'll be crowded for many a year to come. Then, just when the crowds start to thin out/die down, they'll expand and the crowds will start all over again

 

[natebenma]

So...your family likes pumpkinjuice, huh?

Not suprised WWoHP is as crowded as it is. It was like that last year (inaugural year) and a lot of people said they were going to wait a year to go...till the crowds died down. umm...yeah Methinks it'll be crowded for many a year to come. Then, just when the crowds start to thin out/die down, they'll expand and the crowds will start all over again

It's no butterbeer, but we thought the pj was ok. Although as I mentioned, better (and cheaper) on draft than in the bottle.

As you know, the early entry for onsite guests is really a good way to deal with the crowds. Since we are all early risers, this is not a problem for us. I wonder how the shops are in that first hour. We were busy doing other things on our two early visits.

 

[bubba's mom]

We were NOT fans of pumpkinjuice We stuck to the frozen. But...had to try....

The shops during the early entry are just the same...less crowded & more manageable. The only exception would be Owl Post...the store Ollivander's show empties into. I don't think that's EVER NOT crowded

 

[bookgirl]

Ok I don't like pumpkin or cream soda.....I hope the muggles can sneak in some Coke.

 

[natebenma]

Ok I don't like pumpkin or cream soda.....I hope the muggles can sneak in some Coke.

You can s"muggle" it in, but I don't think soda is sold in the Wizarding World.