I don't know how to blog about this trip without giving everything away. So be warned... there may be some Wizarding World of Harry Potter spoilers. I realize now I should probably have put that disclaimer in yesterday's post too!
Today started off much like yesterday. Up at 07:00 for breakfast and then catching the shuttle to Universal!
We were there by 08:20, but the park doesn't open until 09:00. I'm not sure how we got in so early yesterday! By yesterday at 09:00 we were already on the Escape from Gringotts ride! Needless to say, we had some time to kill before we were able to get into the area with all the rides.
We headed for Hogsmeade to catch the Hogwarts Express to Diagon Alley, since we'd already gone the other way on it. It was different this time around. I wonder how many different "shows" they have on the train!
Shot taken from Hogsmeade station that shows some of the Duelling Dragons roller coasters with the Hogwarts castle in the background.
We were in a car with 6 other people today. There was an older couple and the man was absolutely loving every second of Harry Potter land. He narrated the whole journey for us.
We exited from Kings Cross station into Universal Studios outside Diagon Alley. While we were out there, we checked out some of the Harry Potter related sights.
We read online that you could dial the Ministry of Magic from this phone booth. We both got different messages about why the Ministry was closed that day. David's message said that there was a levitation hex put on the phone booth so we couldn't use it as an entrance to the Ministry. So cool!
Number 12 - Grimmauld Place
We also read that if you watch closely at Grimmauld Place you can see Kreacher spying out the window!
The Knight Bus! You can take a picture with Stan Shunpike and the talking head if you wait in line!
You enter Diagon Alley through the brick wall like how Hagrid and Harry enter in the first movie. Right when you walk in the magical music is blaring over the speakers and you're transported to another world!
The entrance to Diagon Alley
View from near the entrance. That's Gringotts. The Escape from Gringotts ride is located inside that building!
We did this ride yesterday and then again today. Without giving too much away, you have to escape the many Harry Potter villains while travelling through the vaults at Gringotts. Half the magnificence of this ride is the lineup. You enter through the main Gringotts bank area and there are goblins all around the side. It looks identical to the movies. The detail is INCREDIBLE. I couldn't believe it. The goblin robots blink, and some also speak!
As I mentioned yesterday, many of the larger rides require you to lock up your belongings. The lockers are free for the duration of the ride, which is very handy. You then use your fingerprint to open up your locker when you're done!
Hard to get good pictures inside the building, but sneak peek at the inside of Gringotts
David enjoying the architecture of Gringotts
In case you were wondering, the images on the Daily Prophet do move
If you're paying attention while in the line-up area, you can see Sirius and Harry having a secret meeting through the window to a side room.
Hologram of a goblin and Bill Weasley in the line-up! The line-up is half the ride. Similar to some rides in Disneyland.
3D Goggles
Yesterday we went to Ollivander's Wand Shop and partook in the back room experience. This is where two lucky young wizards are selected from the crowd. The man running the show gave the whole Ollivander's experience where the wand chooses the wizard. If the wrong wand was selected, something went awry (things falling off shelves, etc.).
You can purchase wands at Ollivander's that are "interactive". There are special spots in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade where you can cast a a spell and something will happen (water will spray, things will move in the widow, etc).
Some of the wand selection in Ollivander's
Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes.
Another from Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes
Another section of Diagon Alley. David and I spent a good deal of time sitting on these steps enjoying some Butterbeer and people-watching. We tried to play I-Spy today, but got so distracted by all the fun details we ended up just pointing out all the cool things we were seeing.
Our first frozen butterbeer!
It wouldn't be Diagon Alley without Gregorovitch's wand shop!
Handsome husband sitting on the steps
The view from inside one of the many shops.
Oh! Don't forget about Knockturn Alley!
Borgin and Burkes was certainly a "creepy shop" filled with "creepy blokes!"
If you are standing in the wrong spot near this sculpture/fountain and someone with an interactive wand comes around you may get a wet surprise!
We got ice cream today from Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour.
We got two scoops. One of salted caramel blondie, and one of chocolate chili. The chocolate chili ice cream tasted like regular chocolate ice cream, but had a spicy after-taste. Magical!
Watch your fingers! It's the Monster Book of Monsters!
Too many details to handle.
The steps where David and I were sitting are also used as a stage for a few shows throughout the day. This morning we caught a show called "The Tales of Beedle the Bard - The Fountain of Fair Fortune".
I don't know if this video works because it's long, but hopefully!
We also caught a show called Celestina and the Banshees. It was a musical show and the ladies all had amazing voices.
They pulled a man from the audience and the poor soul was sang to and had to dance along on stage. What a good sport he was!
We enjoyed lunch today at the Leaky Cauldron.
Bangers & Mash for lunch
Enjoying my "Witch's Brew"
Some things that have stuck out to us throughout our time in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter are:
- every cast member we've seen has been in character. For example, we saw the Ollivander's Wand Shop character from the wand experience in Diagon Alley later on in Hogsmeade. He greeted us with the exact same mannerisms as he had in the shop.
- They have Harry Potter music playing everywhere! We spend a lot of time listening and trying to pinpoint what scenes the tunes correspond to.
- There are a lot of full-grown adults totally "geeking out". We saw some folks today dressed in full Hogwarts robes (in the 30+ degree humid weather), and some other folks wearing round glasses and with lightning scars drawn on their foreheads.
On our way out of the park, I saw a squirrel on the side-walk. I pointed it out to David, and we saw it creeping towards the door to a souvenir shop. We watched as it entered the store. At this point we obviously decided we had to investigate. We went to the door of the store and saw the squirrel casually sauntering through the store. He made his way to the front of the shop, much to the delight of the human shoppers. The sly creature ventured to the area by the cash registers. He seemed to be on somewhat of a mission. Eventually, he honed in on his target. A nutty chocolate bar. He stepped up to take a sniff, and opened the wrapper just enough to confirm the contents. At this point, he grabbed the whole chocolate bar and TOOK OFF back through the store with it. All the people who saw this happen were laughing, and trying to inform the cashiers. One of the cashiers just rolled her eyes and said, "Ugh... is it that damn squirrel again?"
How often does this happen?!
The little shop-lifter in action
After all that excitement, we decided it was time to head back to the hotel. We were exiting Universal Studios, and saw the mini-golf. As exhausted and hot as we were, we decided we would still make time for a quick round of 18 holes! We chose to do the haunted side. I'll have you know I beat David by 2 strokes!
The much-appreciated misting station
This evening we spent some more time by the pool at the hotel and then went for dinner at the pub. We were going to go for a fancier dinner, but we decided we were too exhausted to appreciate it as much as we could. As a bonus, they were showing the Canucks game at the pub!
Played some Crazy Dice Game by the pool
Little taste of home
Tomorrow....SEA WORLD!
It's so realistic! I love it. Cute runners :)
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