Ketchup

So sorry for the delay with these blogs…I wasn’t going to pay $10 a day for internet access while in Orlando.  I wrote every day anyways, but am just posting them now.

Thursday March 17, 2011

We drove back this am.  I am sure going to miss all the little kids in cloaks practicing their swish and flicks though.  Banana looked all week for The Elder Wand…we found Ginny Weasley’s, Dumbledore’s, Ron’s, Harry’s, Voldemort’s (sorry, He Who Must Not Be Named’s) Professor McGonagall’s, etc. etc. but did not see The Elder Wand.  She finally went up and asked at the desk in one of the shops and a little 10-year old standing there all decked out in Harry potter garb looked at Banana and said “Dumbledore’s wand is the Elder Wand!” like Banana was some sort of idiot.  “Oh yeah” Banana replied sheepishly.  I loved being around people even more expert on Harry Potter than we are already.  After naps and showers Banana wants to go out for St. Patrick’s day.  I am going to need a vacation from this vacation.

Wednesday March 16, 2011

We made it to Olivander’s Wand Shop today.  And rode the ride at Hogwarts again…twice.  We figured out that only two questions are needed where we are staying/at Universal Studios…if you were foreign they would be all you needed to learn before venturing there.  They are: How much does it cost? And How long is the line?  The amount of people here is unbelievable.  As phenomenal as Harry Potter World is, we will not miss the crowds.  Tonight we saw The Adjustment Bureau…very good.

7:45 before Hogsmeade Opened

Tuesday March 15, 2011

The ride in Hogwarts blew my mind.  I can’t even describe it.  We learned that a breakfast of Butterbeer and lemon drops followed by roller-coasters is probably not the best idea in the world.  We have been getting up early and going into the park in a big rush when it opens and riding the rides and then getting out of there by noon and napping.  Today we went back in the afternoon to ride the water rides…Jurassic Park and Ripsaw Falls.  So fun.  We had a delicious dinner of coconut shrimp, margaritas, and Cuban sandwiches, then went to see Red Riding Hood (not very good) and enjoyed a leisurely walk back to the hotel.

Monday March 14, 2011

Today was epic.  Hogsmead/Diagon Alley were so cool…the Butterbeer was cold and frothy, the Three Broomsticks was old-looking and drafty, the Flight of the Hippogriff was the favorite roller coaster of the day.  This morning at the Three Broomsticks a waitress asked if we would like our pictures taken.  “Say ‘Butter beer’ on the count of three!” she said, but my hearing isn’t the greatest and I could have sworn she said “Say ‘Predator’”.  Needless to say my face was a little confused and my response a little delayed.  Zonko’s, Honeyduke’s and Dervish and Bang’s were phenomenal.  The pumpkin juice was also very good, like a cinnamon-y cider.  After that we did the Dragon Challenge…Banana chose to ride the Chinese Fireball, and it was epic.  Afterwards, you get off and go through a long cavernous dark passage and there is creepy carnival music playing.  Your center of gravity isn’t quite back to normal yet and it is quite a strange feeling…king of like you are in a parallel universe.  After that we traversed to Jurassic Park Land, Cartoon Land, Superhero Land, and Dr. Seuss landing.  “How could you not have a good time here?” Banana said at one point.  We got caricature drawings of ourselves…not flattering at all, but hilarious, and a photograph with me as Shrek and Banana as Princess  Fiona.  Again, not flattering but I have not laughed that hard in a very long time.  Tomorrow we are getting up early again and going to head straight to Hogwarts…by 9am there was a 4-hour estimated wait-time to get in…so we are heading there first.  Yesssssssssss.

 

Sunday March 13, 2011

The drive down here was uneventful and I am very glad.  Right now we are waiting for room service dinner and are going to go to bed early…Diagon Alley opens up at 8am sharp…and we have breakfast reservations at The Three Broomsticks at 8:30.  I can almost taste the Butter beer.  We listened to The Sorcerer’s Stone in preparation on the drive down.