"Where did you get those shirts?" An August TR, with lots of pics! Updated 10/28!

[Tink-erin-belle]

I’m subbing too! I was doing a search for “birthday” and your PTR popped up. It was so funny because a few days ago, I saw the cake you got David for his birthday on the Cake Chatter thread and it gave me the idea to get a Rock n Roller Coaster cake for DS bday (his favorite ride). I hope I can pull it off! Then I read more of your PTR and the graduation letter you wrote for him. It was very touching and brought tears to my eyes. So sweet! Now, reading your TR, I really want to include a couple of days at Universal on our next trip! I’m a HUGE Harry Potter nerd! So, I’m in and I can’t wait to read more

 

[__disneygirl]

What a great job you're doing on this TR! I love how it just got started right away, unlike mine which took like 5 chapters to even get to Disney World..ahem. LOL.

I haven't been to Universal in 8 years but the more I read these TRs where people are taking time away from Disney to go it makes me want to go... maybe someday soon!

I love that they have *NSYNC stuff at the Hard Rock Hotel. The Hard Rock Cafe I always go to in Manhattan is so great, it's mainly classic rock themed, with a huge emphasis on The Beatles which is just amazing, but then they'll through in some pop stars like Britney and *NSYNC here and I love it!

Can't wait for more

 

[Nicole786]

So excited to get to "see" WWoHP! Great report, BTW! Can't wait to read more!!

There's lots more to "see" coming up! We loved it there, thanks for coming on board!

I'm here!!!

Love the pics of Universal Harry Potter's world... Or whatever it's called... My kids are into Harry, I'm not, but they're begging me to take them... Looks like we're headed to Universal next year!!!

Love the TR so far!!! Can't wait to read the rest!!!

You will definitely appreciate the details of Wizarding world even if you aren't as crazy about the books/movies as your kids! Just don't over estimate the size, its about the size of maybe 2 epcot pavilions--very small and can easily be toured in just a few hours!

Joining in on your fun. You and your brother have been able to accomplish a lot so far.

Thanks for joining! We did get a lot done on our first day but mostly because we had no room to return to

Joining in!

Yay! So glad you made it over!

Your pics are great; what kind of camera do you use?

Thanks!! Normally I use an SLR, but I brought along my pocket Canon S90 its such a great little camera!! I actually had 2 photopass photographers tell me thats the camera they own themselves!

 

[Nicole786]

I loved your past trip reports and I can't wait to hear more about this one.

Thanks for signing on!

I've had Bertie Botts too! Ear wax is

Oh, I'm so excited to go! Staying in a hotel sounds really nice. Did you get a discount on the food too? I know buying the express pass also gives you that.

I'm a Hufflepuff!

I didn't know that Express pass had food discounts! David has an annual pass so when we remembered we got discounts!

Hey, Nicole! I've never been to Universal, but you have quickly made me soooooo jealous. I mean, you got your picture taken with DOC FREAKING BROWN. NEXT TO THE DELOREAN. That? IS PURE AWESOMENESS. I MUST DO THIS!!!!

Oh, and the Harry Potter stuff seemed cool too.

Just kidding. I'm a huge Potter fan, and I'm dying to see WWoHP for myself. DYING. Your pictures are helping though. Living through you is fun!

Hard Rock Hotel looks really nice. I think when we finally do Universal that we should stay there. We would definitely want the on-site express pass.

Can't wait to hear more. You had an amazing first day!

Its so stupid they no longer have the whole Back to the future area of Universal!! They moved some of the props over to a remote area, so we were fortunate to run into doc!! 3 years ago I went with my cousins and we ran into Doc AND Marty!! That was so awesome!! They were totally in character!! I wish Universal would have more consistency with their characters, I know Lucy used to wander also.

You will love WWOHP as a potter fan!! I can't wait for the movie in November btw and we loooooove the Hard Rock Hotel! I've stayed at the Royal Pacific Hotel which is really really pretty also, I want to stay at the flagship Portofino Bay next!

I know nothing about all the Harry Potter stuff, but I know it must be very exciting for fans.

Views and food - I do know something about those. The coconut shrimp looks good, but I would have had David's choice, I think. And sitting out on the balcony overlooking the palm trees would be nice. You get to see palm trees every day, but that's a treat for a Tennessee girl.

Ya know, the one thing that stinks about the Hard Rock is that the rooms don't have balconies!! How could they expect people to pay extra for a pool view when you can't go sit outside and enjoy it? Palm trees still signify vacation for me I just ignore them at home

I'm here, Nicole!! Your report is AWESOME so far. I'm loving all of the pictures.

LOVE the NSYNC pic. Is it bad that I totally recognized those outfits? God, I was (and still am) such an NSYNC fangirl.

I'm not really into Harry Potter, but the Wizarding World has to be so cool for all you Potter fans. And yeah, I rode the Hippogriff thing back before it was Potter-themed, and I remember it being quite lame. And I'm saying this as a ride whimp. If I think something's lame, it is REALLY lame.

Can't wait for more!

AAH I totally knew the outfits too!!! I have about 5 photos of me in front of that shadow box I was so excited when I found it! I had a whole weekend of my brother pointing out 70s rock guitars and bands and me going and finally I saw this and I went

Hippogriff was super lame, Wizarding World has such disney-like details even if you're not a potter fan, I think you could have a great time!

I’m subbing too! I was doing a search for “birthday” and your PTR popped up. It was so funny because a few days ago, I saw the cake you got David for his birthday on the Cake Chatter thread and it gave me the idea to get a Rock n Roller Coaster cake for DS bday (his favorite ride). I hope I can pull it off! Then I read more of your PTR and the graduation letter you wrote for him. It was very touching and brought tears to my eyes. So sweet! Now, reading your TR, I really want to include a couple of days at Universal on our next trip! I’m a HUGE Harry Potter nerd! So, I’m in and I can’t wait to read more

Aw its so touching when I hear things like this, I'm glad you enjoyed the letter and the cake Where are you getting the cake from? If you are staying/eating at the WL or the Contemporary I would definitely recommend working with Brian!

Universal is definitely worth a few days, not sure about a few Disney days though! Thats why we always go before, I couldn't imagine giving up my even though Universal is really fun and awesome!! Maybe half a day, especially if all you want is Harry Potter, or some ButterBeer

What a great job you're doing on this TR! I love how it just got started right away, unlike mine which took like 5 chapters to even get to Disney World..ahem. LOL.

I haven't been to Universal in 8 years but the more I read these TRs where people are taking time away from Disney to go it makes me want to go... maybe someday soon!

I love that they have *NSYNC stuff at the Hard Rock Hotel. The Hard Rock Cafe I always go to in Manhattan is so great, it's mainly classic rock themed, with a huge emphasis on The Beatles which is just amazing, but then they'll through in some pop stars like Britney and *NSYNC here and I love it!

Can't wait for more

Hard Rock Cafe NY is WIN! I have such memories there I think Universal is no Disney but Islands of Adventure might be worth half a day or so of Disney time...but thats why we always go before Disney because I can't stand the idea of it stealing my Disney time!

 

[YukiPhnx]

Oh ya, Lia reminded me. I LOVE THE NSYNC at the hotel too!!!! I was all about NSYNC when I was a pre-teen. No BSB or 98 Degrees for me.

BTW, why were they called 98 degrees?

 

[__disneygirl]

Oh ya, Lia reminded me. I LOVE THE NSYNC at the hotel too!!!! I was all about NSYNC when I was a pre-teen. No BSB or 98 Degrees for me.

BTW, why were they called 98 degrees?

Because they were (supposed to be) HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[YukiPhnx]

Because they were (supposed to be) HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh dear, sure are full of themselves eh? I DID think Drew was really cute though.

 

[scottny]

Hi,
The hotel looks so nice. I could never do that rollercoaster. I might try the Mummy when we go, not sure yet. I cannot wait to go to Harry Potter though after speaking to you on Facebook I do not think I will go on the ride as I get vertigo.
I liked the video of David drinking Butterbeer, can't wait to try it. I have had those jelly beans and the grass and ear wax are disgusting. They sell them at Dylans Candy Shop in the city.
Looking forward to more.

 

[Grybo]

I have had those jelly beans and the grass and ear wax are disgusting. They sell them at Dylans Candy Shop in the city.
Looking forward to more.

The jelly beans they sell in WWOHP are a little different, and I know because I've had the ones they sell in stores in the past too. The jellybeans sold in WWOHP aren't owned by Jellybelly, so the flavors are a little different. In fact there are some flavors in this one that the Jellybelly ones don't have.

 

[__disneygirl]

Oh dear, sure are full of themselves eh? I DID think Drew was really cute though.

Drew is still cute! Didn't he win Dancing With the Stars or something? I remember him being in the news for awhile. and I was obsessed with Newlyweds, so I remember him and Nick hanging out like all the time when Jessica was away being fabulous with Ken Paves somewhere. *is too pop culture obsessed*

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

Aw its so touching when I hear things like this, I'm glad you enjoyed the letter and the cake Where are you getting the cake from? If you are staying/eating at the WL or the Contemporary I would definitely recommend working with Brian!

Universal is definitely worth a few days, not sure about a few Disney days though! Thats why we always go before, I couldn't imagine giving up my even though Universal is really fun and awesome!! Maybe half a day, especially if all you want is Harry Potter, or some ButterBeer

We’re having birthday dinner for DD at CRT and we’re having birthday dinner for DS at Brown Derby. I have a few ideas for DD’s birthday cake too, so I would love it if I could work with Brian. I saw so many great reviews of his cakes – but I guess it is a matter of whether or not the cakes can be delivered to those locations. And yes, I definitely want to try “pure happiness”, I mean Butterbeer!

 

[Nicole786]

Because they were (supposed to be) HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh dear, sure are full of themselves eh? I DID think Drew was really cute though.

I also loved 98*! I was so sure "I do" was going to be my wedding song!

Hi,
The hotel looks so nice. I could never do that rollercoaster. I might try the Mummy when we go, not sure yet. I cannot wait to go to Harry Potter though after speaking to you on Facebook I do not think I will go on the ride as I get vertigo.
I liked the video of David drinking Butterbeer, can't wait to try it. I have had those jelly beans and the grass and ear wax are disgusting. They sell them at Dylans Candy Shop in the city.
Looking forward to more.

I'm already not a jellybean fan so those did me in! The ride can be rough I would skip it, but definitely walk through the queue

The jelly beans they sell in WWOHP are a little different, and I know because I've had the ones they sell in stores in the past too. The jellybeans sold in WWOHP aren't owned by Jellybelly, so the flavors are a little different. In fact there are some flavors in this one that the Jellybelly ones don't have.

Word.

Drew is still cute! Didn't he win Dancing With the Stars or something? I remember him being in the news for awhile. and I was obsessed with Newlyweds, so I remember him and Nick hanging out like all the time when Jessica was away being fabulous with Ken Paves somewhere. *is too pop culture obsessed*

Newlyweds was amazing!! Ah, the first reality show!

We’re having birthday dinner for DD at CRT and we’re having birthday dinner for DS at Brown Derby. I have a few ideas for DD’s birthday cake too, so I would love it if I could work with Brian. I saw so many great reviews of his cakes – but I guess it is a matter of whether or not the cakes can be delivered to those locations. And yes, I definitely want to try “pure happiness”, I mean Butterbeer!

Oh awesome, I've heard Pat over at GF does really well with cakes too!! Either way, i'm sure it will turn out great!

 

[Nicole786]

So when last we left, we had a very successful Universal day where we accomplished a whole lot more than I ever thought we would!! The original plan was to get up at 6ish, line up around 6:45am for the early opening of Wizarding World and possibly return later that night. Well that was out the window! We had already accomplished so much, and we both agreed that sleeping in and touring Islands of Adventure in the late morning would be the best thing.

Of course my definition of "sleeping in" and David's are very very different. I'm used to getting up around 6:30am to run in the morning, so when my internal clock struck 6:20am, I was too excited to go to sleep, so I decided to run! The Hard Rock has a beautiful jogging path! Here are some really early morning pics outside the window before I left

I met this awesome guy who worked in the Quick eatery when I went to get a bottle of water. I asked if they had any warm bottles in the back (I can't drink cold water, nor hold it while I run) and than I asked him for the best jogging path. He was excited to tell me that if I ran towards Universal studios, and just kept going I could actually run CityWalk and its a lot of fun! Great! Well I reached the end of the path to Universal where the security guards are that do bag check an there was a huge sign that said "No Jogging beyond this point." Darn! Well I didn't want to tempt fate, so I ran the ways back towards the gorgeous Portofino Bay Hotel and than back to the sign again (apparently they are closer than I thought) and took this photo.

Also, as I ran this path with about 1 or 2 others, there were so many kids dressed as Wizards and wearing wizard clothing, I was happy we made this choice, it seems that early entry was going to be crowded. Just to give you an idea of my run, here is a map of the Universal resort area, and also my path as recorded from my phone

Click here for my path! http://runkeeper.com/user/nal/activity/14992276

I was back in the room at around 8am, and to my surprise David was starting to get up (so much for sleeping in for him too, but I was glad, I was going to be bored for a while) so at around 8:30am we headed down for breakfast at the Kitchen! The Hard Rocks on-site restaurant, they have an awesome breakfast buffet in the mornings. The theming of the Hard Rock is that you are staying in a rock stars mansion, so its funny how they make the restaurant look like an actual kitchen.

After we were full enough we headed out to the boat dock and made our way over to IOA!

We noticed this sign right away.

Normally, unless you do early entry you have to line up the long way around the park for Harry Potter, so we were sure this was a sign that Potter would have to wait until tonight.

We decided to maximize the short crowds around the other parts of IOA starting with Seuss! So cute!

We walked through towards Potter just so we could check things out, and than move on to Jurassic Park which was right next to HP.

Wow, what luck! It was around 9:30 and we just walked right in!!

We started with the shops again

I love Honeydukes!

Three Broomsticks (the counter service restaurant) serves breakfast but right now its only for special ticketed customers that bought a package. We were going to go in there to get ButterBeer because the line outside was madness, but we just walked next door to the Hogs Head pub and bought ButterBeer without a wait!!

Than we proceeded around very slowly, taking in all the window shops and seeing things in bright light we couldn't see the night before.

Gringotts bank, awesome!!

We stopped right before the castle, there's this little hub where they do performances and we asked some people who were hanging around who said the Hogwarts Choir was coming out in 3 minutes, awesome! Luck strikes again!!

Universal does not publish a times guide, but David and I figured that the Choir performs on the hour, and the Durmstrang/Beauxbaton school performs on the half hour. This was so awesome!!! We managed to record short clips with my phone but I'm having trouble uploading them, so I'll link to some fantastic footage on YouTube! It was so entertaining to watch the frogs and pick up on their unique baritone!

Pictures:

Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czPPz_Sj3kM&feature=related

We decided not to wait for the other performance because by now it was really hot, so we took the side exit out of WWOHP and entered to Jurassic Park!

 

[Nicole786]

I asked David to sit down at a nearby table with an umbrella because I wanted to gather everything together. As soon as we sat down, BOOM!!! A huge thunderstorm hit us and it started pouring!! Weren't we LUCKY that we were covered? Luck strikes again!! We ducked into the Jurassic Park Discovery Center where we watched a dinosaur egg hatch and played some games while we let the rain pass. It wasn't long and we went on Jurassic Park!! Love this ride!

Here are some photos from our tour around IOA. We managed to get on Hulk and Spiderman in the Marvel island, but Toon Lagoon was having problems.

With that underneath our belts, and our stomachs rumbling where did we decide to go for lunch? You guessed it! Back to Potter!

We waited in a 10 minute line inside Three Broomsticks, but so far for a saturday, this was a great day! And so glad the TMs here have this under control! They even sit you when you have your food. I'm surprised I didn't take a photo of the food, but I got Cornish Pasties and David got kids Macaroni and Cheese. You can't have soda in Wizarding World so we chose ButterBeer (of course!) and Apple Cider.

Davids sad theres no more ButterBeer:

We refilled our ButterBeer mug after lunch again!

Well, we're already here lets do some more exploring!! We had no desire to ride Dragons Challenge after just eating but we did want to walk the queue. Wow is it long!!

That was the last thing we did (for now!) as we exited IOA around 1PM to go relax by the pool! We also relaxed in the room for a while

 

[Nicole786]

Adorned in the "Muggle" shirts my mom found for us at Wal-Mart months ago we left the room to go walk over to the Portofino around 4:45. We had a 5:00 reservation but we wanted to walk around the Portofino. Although I've eaten here many times i've never really explored it, and all I can say is that next time I want to stay here!!! The pool seemed much less crowded, and what a beautiful resort!! My camera lens was fogged from the humidity so these were taken with my phone

After 2 comments on our shirts, (I told you this trip was all about our wardrobe!) it was time for dinner!! Mama Dellas has got to be the best Italian food in all of Orlando. I can't stress enough that you if you come to Universal you need to eat here. The food and the ambience are just incredible!

I can't figure out if its Universal owned and its part of the theming, but "Mama" who has been the same "Mama" since I came here in 2007 walks around making sure everyone is happy and she sings along when the singers (Who have also been there since 2007) who sing to the tables. I lean towards a family owned restaurant every time I'm there, but if its not, than Loews (the hotel company) does a spectacular theming job. David got Fettucine Alfredo and I ordered the staple Chicken Parm. DELICIOSO!

The strolling singers made it over to our table, and they had already sung Con Te Partito (which we would have requested) so they started playing "It's Wonderful ‪(Paolo Conte)‬" which is from the Meg Ryan movie "French Kiss" this was an amazing performance! He did a trumpet solo with his lips and a passing waiter added in drums. I don't have that on film, but here's a bit of the performance, what a beautiful song! (It's also in the movie No Reservations, which is why it sounded familiar to me)



What's funny is that our server, Mohammed, was the same server I had back in 2007 (or at least I think it was!) I asked him how long he had worked there and he was flattered that I remembered him! When we made the reservation at Concierge, she asked if we were celebrating anything and we told her David's gradation. (I found that strange because thats exactly how disney words it) so I'm not sure if Mohammed was so flattered he brought over complimentary dessert, or if it was for David's graduation, but we ordered Cappucino and were excited when he surprised us with delicious dessert!

Time to walk off our food…..where to?? Harry Potter of course!! It was about 7pm when we reached Wizarding world.

We saw that Forbidden Journey only had a 30 minute wait, we made a beeline for the lockers, but decided to take on the camera!! I took dramamine before we got in line, WONDER DRUG!!

Here are some queue photos!!

It was entertaining outside as everybody in line watched a squirrel hop from one hanging flower basket to the other searching for food even though they were fake. I thought the humorous part of it was that everybody just watched this squirrel!

I took video of a lot of the areas most of which didn't come out, but I will show a video of the talking portraits, which are the founding wizards of Hogwarts arguing with Salazar Slytherin about how Muggles shouldn't be allowed in the castle!



When we were outside of the castle it was starting to get dark and the crowd levels were starting to diminish. We started with butterbeer of course! We passed Ollivanders and even though we had kind of written it off before we got here (it normally has about a 2 hour wait for a 5 minute show) it looked like a really short line so we hopped in just to check it out.

For those who are unfamiliar with it. Ollivanders is in the first movie/book, its a store Harry goes to, to get his wand. But he can't just pick one off the shelves because the wand chooses him! And as the Wandkeeper keeps "trying" different wands with Harry, if he uses the wrong one, he causes mayhem in the shop until the right wand chooses him. So from what I had read and saw on youtube, they choose the youngest in the group let them go through the mishaps and have the wand choose them in a 5 minute show.

We hopped in, took some night photos and enjoyed our ButterBeer!

 

[Nicole786]

The Hogwarts Express Conductor passed us in line and couldn't figure out why we would want to advertise that we were Muggles of all things! Clearly they could tell we were Muggles we didn't need shirts! So funny! Here is the Ollivanders show on youtube for those interested:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPJKPE0yKGM

We waited for about 3 of the shows before being cut off for the next round, I was happy we would be in the front!

We walked in and we immediately started taking photos, I kept excitedly pointing things out to David and asking him to film but he said it was too dark.

Just then I hear the wandkeeper go "You must be here for wands" and he's up on the stairs and he's looking at Me and David!! Up to this moment I didn't even realize I didn't see the Wandkeeper, So I took his photo after he said this because I didn't think he was talking to us! And he couldn't possibly be talking to us, could he?

And thats where I'll leave you--








Just kidding! Yes, we were actually chosen for wands!! I couldn't believe it, I really couldn't. I didn't really appreciate the whole thing because I kept saying in my head that I couldn't believe this was happening! the Wandkeeper asked us for our names, and always addressed us by name when speaking with us. He asked me to take this wand in my hand, Nicole, and Nicole, point it at that light behind you, and say "lumos!"

"Lumos!" I said. And there was lightning and flickering of lights all around the shop! The Wandkeeper yelled out a spell to stop the lights and shook his head. He moved over to David and asked him to take his wand, swish and flick it towards the bell above his head and ring it just once. David tried to do just that, but the bell wouldn't stop ringing! The Wandkeeper shook his head again and said "I'll take that."

But then he had an epiphany! "Curious…" he said, as he switched our wands explaining that "it couldn't be, could it?" but was right! As soon as the wands hit our fingertips, a light shone above our head, the music played and the wind came beneath our feet! These were our wands! Now you may take them to the nearest registers and pay for them plus tax and shipping if you want it shipped.

Erm….well they didn't quite say it like that, but seriously, as we were escorted out of the room into the next (The small cramped area of Dervish and Banges that sells wands) we both looked at eachother, went "What just happened?" and agreed that at this point, we couldn't NOT buy the wand, that just wasn't an option. That's how they get you I tell you! With the Annual Pass discount for both wands it came to a rough, hurt our wallets $57 which isn't too bad considering it gave us such excitement and a feeling of "Suck it nerds!" (sorry 30 rock reference) for the week to come! We were on cloud 9. For hours later, into the next day, into the week, we kept saying "What just happened?" and we meant it!! We literally floated through Wizarding World, and opened our dusty wand boxes to snap photos. And yes! Our wand boxes had dust on them, they were actually from the shelves of Ollivanders!

We paid a visit to Moaning myrtle in the public conveniences.

Paid one last visit to Honeydukes and Zonkos and left WWoHP for the final time!

We floated to the boat dock around 9:23, packed up and had our last Universal sleep.

But who could sleep when we would be checking into Disney tomorrow??

 

[wdwgirl03]

The part about Ollivander's is what I saw on your twitter or facebook. That is so cool! Sounds like you guys had a lot of luck at Universal with everything. Maybe we should've done what you guys did and do the HP stuff later in the day. Oh well.

 

[always]

Joining in! I'm hoping I can convince my brother and sister to take a trip to US and Disney next summer. Looking forward to more.

 

[YukiPhnx]

WOOOOW! If I got picked to choose a wand, I would probably buy it too. Maybe I should budget for that....just in case. Good thing you had an AP discount to use!

You got a lot of butterbeer. Do you get free refills if you buy the mug? Or are the refills just cheaper if you get a mug?

I love those "muggle" shirts. I can't believe your mom found them in walmart!

 

[ChiCat]

Oh.My.Gawd. That is so cool about Ollivanders, and I agree you *had* to buy those wands. What a neat experience!