Making Memories - Universal Resort Orlando Part 1 - Welcome to Hogwarts

 Meet our oldest grandson, Joshua. He turns 8 on the 7th of May. 

As you can see form the pictures, you can see that "J-man" loves Harry Potter.

 Before his 8th birthday he has read all of the Harry Potter books.  He has also seen all of the movies (including Dangerous Creatures and Where to Find Them) several times.

So as part of his birthday celebration this year we (his parents and us) planned a special trip.  We did not tell him anything but that they were going on trip to Florida, and he would need his swimming suit.













On Sunday, 29 April, Matt, Vanessa, Joshua, and Nathan left Biloxi for the trip to someplace Florida.  About the same time, JoAnne and I, along with Vanessa's sister, Lizzie left Rock Hill.  That afternoon, we would all meet together in Orlando. We spent Sunday night at the same hotel.

Nani, Aunt Lizzie, and Poppop on the way to Florida

His first surprise, this vacation would include Nani, Poppop and Aunt Lizzie.  That evening we went over to Disney Springs. (There is like a rule that if you go to Orlando you have to do something Disney while you are there.) The boys loved the Lego store.

Joshua

Nathan

Joshua and Nathan

Lego dragon in the lagoon

We ate supper than returned to the hotel.

Monday morning, we were up bright and early, ate breakfast and headed over to the Cabana Bay Resort on the Universal property. Our rooms were available, so we checked in, picked up our 4-day pass to the three theme parks, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventures, and Volcano Bay water park (so they would need their swimming suites, but not yet!)

Because we were staying at one of the Universal hotels, we got access to the parks and rides at 8 am, an hour before the normal opening time. We caught the shuttle over to the park area. We walked through Universal Citywalk, then all the way through Universal Studios - past the "sound stages," the New York City section, then San Francisco to Kings Cross Station in London.

Then through a nondescript opening between Leicester Square station and Grimwald Place. A simple brick wall with the sound of bricks sliding on bricks. The look of total surprise on Joshua's face as he finally realized where we were made the whole trip worthwhile.

Suddenly out of a backpack came the robes for two Gryffindor students. Young wizards must have a wand, so off to Olivander's Wand Shop. 

Olivander takes groups of people into his shop and selects one or two people to chose a wand for. In our case there were two young boys in robes, Joshua and Nathan, right in front. He selected two wands, and gave one to each and had them try them. Of course they did not work properly. Then he had them swap wands. And just like in the movie, they lit up. The wand chooses the wizard!

Olivander chooses wands for two young Gryffindors

And so the fun begins. The shoppes in Diagon Ally, first taste of butter beer (the frozen version is pretty good) and riding the Escape from  Gringott's 4D ride.

Joshua and Nathan in front of Gringotts Bank

Wingardium Leviosa

Joshua's turn

Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes

Nathan, Poppop and frozen Butter Beer

Nathan, Aunt Lizzie, Joshua at the Quidditch Shoppe

As we left Diagon Alley we passed the Knight bus on the way to Kings Cross, platform 9 3/4 to catch the Hogwarts Express to Hogsmeade and Hogwarts castle. 

Knight Bus outside Diagon Alley

Hogwarts Express ready to go

In our coach waiting to go to Hogwarts

We were attacked by dementors on the train ride to Hogsmeade (which also takes you from Universal Studio to Islands of Adventure park). At Hogsmeade we took some pictures then up to Hogwarts castle to ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Nathan, who was just barely tall enough to ride these rides at the age of 4 had enough. Other than the train ride back to Kings Cross we would not get Nathan on any more "dark" rides. 

Selfie in Hogsmeade

Matt, Nathan, conductor, Joshua, Vanessa
Hogswort Express

Conductor and Lizzie

Hogsmeade
Snow with 80 degree temp was kind of a disconnect

Crew in front of Hogswart Castle

Hagrid's cottage

Lunch at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade

We finished off the morning with lunch at the Three Broomsticks. BTW, all of the food and drink in the Harry Potter section of the park was British. You could not by a soft drink or hot dog without leaving Potter World.  The restaurant had fish and chips, pasties, shepards pie. You could drink water, butter beer, or pumpkin juice.