Here you will find pictures from our recent trip to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. If you'd like to see pictures of our entire trip to Florida, you can go to the "Florida 2010" gallery featured on the home page of Stueve Shots.
Please feel free to leave a note or comment if you want...I'm happy to share anything we know about the Wizarding World or the other places we visited. You'll see a place for comments and questions at the bottom of each page of this journal.
Thanks for visiting! (By the way, you can click on any picture to view a larger version.)
Please feel free to leave a note or comment if you want...I'm happy to share anything we know about the Wizarding World or the other places we visited. You'll see a place for comments and questions at the bottom of each page of this journal.
Thanks for visiting! (By the way, you can click on any picture to view a larger version.)
This was our first glimpse of Hogsmeade as we entered the park early on our first day. So exciting!
As you walk into Hogsmeade, music from Goblet of Fire fills the air and all sense you have of the rest of Islands of Adventure fades away. It is pretty amazing.
Zonko's Joke Shop and Honeydukes to our left and Butterbeer (!) is straight ahead.
Hogsmeade rooflines
The Hogwarts Express train platform.
The attention to detail was amazing. Surfaces appeared dirty and worn, paint was weathered and stone was pitted, student and wizard items sat in windows and on platforms. Moaning Myrtle even moans in the bathrooms! (Although you can hardly hear her because Universal used those Dyson blowers to dry wet hands. Noisy!)
The attention to detail was amazing. Surfaces appeared dirty and worn, paint was weathered and stone was pitted, student and wizard items sat in windows and on platforms. Moaning Myrtle even moans in the bathrooms! (Although you can hardly hear her because Universal used those Dyson blowers to dry wet hands. Noisy!)
We had just a brief moment in time when no one was around and we could grab a picture of the boys in front of the Express.
While we didn't have a chance to speak to the conductor at this time, he did walk by us as we were leaving the Dragon Challenge. I must have looked a little worse for the wear, because he stopped to see if I was okay and chatted a bit about my experience riding the dragons. Impeccable character development--he didn't break form once! Charming!
Because I don't have a picture of the Dragon's Challenge (I was too focused on not being scared), let me just say briefly: That ride rocks! It is a blast! I enjoyed it almost as much as the Forbidden Journey.
Almost.
While we didn't have a chance to speak to the conductor at this time, he did walk by us as we were leaving the Dragon Challenge. I must have looked a little worse for the wear, because he stopped to see if I was okay and chatted a bit about my experience riding the dragons. Impeccable character development--he didn't break form once! Charming!
Because I don't have a picture of the Dragon's Challenge (I was too focused on not being scared), let me just say briefly: That ride rocks! It is a blast! I enjoyed it almost as much as the Forbidden Journey.
Almost.
"This is darn good!"
It really was, too, although the rest of us strongly favored the butterbeer. More on that later...
Oh, and just a quick note: My husband is not a Cowboys fan. He just happens to have a very comfortable Cowboys shirt.
Just wanted to make that clear. Because I wouldn't want anyone to be confused.
20 house points if you can figure out which team we do support!
It really was, too, although the rest of us strongly favored the butterbeer. More on that later...
Oh, and just a quick note: My husband is not a Cowboys fan. He just happens to have a very comfortable Cowboys shirt.
Just wanted to make that clear. Because I wouldn't want anyone to be confused.
20 house points if you can figure out which team we do support!
Hogwarts Castle!
The boys are about to enter Hogwarts Castle for the first time. Whoo Hoo!
The Slytherin student who was patrolling the outer hallways of Hogwarts was greatly disturbed by my camera.
I must say, part of the wonderful charm of the park was the care and attention the cast members (to use the Disney term) gave to acting out their roles. Everyone who worked there seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely and, I suspect, all harbored a great love for HP.
We ran into this young man out of costume at the end of our final day. He was standing in line behind us to purchase a butterbeer from the Hogshead pub. He chatted with us a bit (out of character at that point and obviously thrilled that we recognized him) and expressed great joy in his work. He honestly seemed to be having a blast...and who wouldn't if they worked at a place where they could end their day with a butterbeer?
I must say, part of the wonderful charm of the park was the care and attention the cast members (to use the Disney term) gave to acting out their roles. Everyone who worked there seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely and, I suspect, all harbored a great love for HP.
We ran into this young man out of costume at the end of our final day. He was standing in line behind us to purchase a butterbeer from the Hogshead pub. He chatted with us a bit (out of character at that point and obviously thrilled that we recognized him) and expressed great joy in his work. He honestly seemed to be having a blast...and who wouldn't if they worked at a place where they could end their day with a butterbeer?
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