I first read Harry Potter nearly 20 years ago
as I commuted on the MetroNorth -
and fell in love with the series.
Lexi spent most of third grade
devouring the books,
and Ryleigh has just begun reading them.
We have watched and rewatched every
one of the movies...
and so it was time...
to pay Hogwarts a visit.
As a Christmas gift,
we surprised the girls with a trip
to Universal Studios which they would share
with my Godson, Graham.
The girls and I checked into the Hard Rock Hotel
On January 3rd, and their excitement was palpable.
The weather was beautiful,
and we were ready to experience all that the
theme park had to offer.
Universal Studios is so easy to navigate.
You simply walk or take a quick water taxi right from the hotel,
then enter either Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure.
You are surrounded by shops and restaurants,
and the Express Pass ensures that you never have to wait on a long line.
Our very first stop was Diagon Alley, where you are instantly transported
into the charming world of wizardry and witchcraft.
We stopped to take a look at the Knight Bus,
we passed by the Weasley's Magic Shop
and visited Ollivander's Wand Shop to select our very own wands
(well, actually, the wands selected the wizards!)
Lexi choose a willow wand, and Ryleigh opted for ash.
We tried (and loved) the popular Butterbeer from the Leaky Cauldron
- basically a cream soda with butterscotch and marshmallow topping.
And, we all agreed that Escape from Gringotts was a wonderful ride.
We witnessed the dragon breathe out fire from the top of the bank,
and just strolled around and took in the magic.
It was such a thrill to jump through the platform at 9 3/4,
just like we've watched the characters do in the movies so many times.
We sat in train cars that looked exactly like those from the movies,
down to the very same fabric,
and watched as the characters came to life outside the windows.
We exited the train and entered the most charming village,
all lit up with white lights and the Hogwarts castle glowing in the distance.
After dinner at the Three Broomsticks,
we were treated to the nightly light show at the castle and even some fireworks.
Back at the hotel, the kids enjoyed a nighttime swim,
while Elizabeth and I enjoyed putting out feet up.
Rain was expected on our second day,
so we woke up early and got off to a quick start.
We began the day back in Islands of Adventure.
Lexi convinced me to ride the Hulk roller coaster with her.
It was both terrifying and amazing
and quickly became our favorite ride of the trip.
Ryleigh enjoyed the magical Dr. Seuss village -
where she encountered Whoville villagers, the Lorax,
the cat in the hat and a fun carousel and tram ride.
From there, we all rode Flight of the Hippogriff
(Ryleigh's favorite ride) and the Forbidden Journey
which actually took us inside Hogwarts Castle.
We exited the ride to pouring rain,
so we paid a visit to Honeydukes,
the famous candy shop mentioned in the books and movies,
where the kids loaded up on chocolate frogs,
fizzy whizzes and other exotic candy,
before heading back to the hotel for some lunch,
the video arcade and to wait out the storm.
Our afternoon was spent much of the same way -
riding more rides, tasting more butterbeer,
visiting more attractions, enjoying the Hogwarts Express
and then stopping for dinner at Margaritaville.
Sunday was our last day at Universal.
We started the day by running into Lexi's friend
in the hotel lobby - such a small world.
After being asked many, many times, Graham conceded
and joined Lexi and I on the Hulk coaster.
He loved it just as much as we did,
so we rode it a second time.
We had a great lunch at Mythos
then spent the rest of the day tackling
new rides in both parks.
Before we closed out our visit,
Lexi and I rode the Rip Ride Rockit -
thrilling to say the least.
We left that evening with so many memories
and so much love for both the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
and Universal Studios.
The attention to detail, the way these theme parks truly brought
the magic to life for both children and adults,
the amazingly fun rides,
the shops which stayed remarkably true to the storybooks...
every bit of it made for a great visit.
The ability to bypass every line (except for the new Hagrid ride),
the hotel and all of its features,
and, most important, the amazing memories made with great friends
all led to an unforgettable trip.
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