Wizarding World of Harry Potter!... and Universal

So the real highlight of my mom and my trip to Florida was the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  The rest of the park was fine but all I really cared about visiting was Harry Potter.  We went on a very overcast day.  It felt like a day in London, not that I would know, but some sprinkles in the air all day.

We got to the park super early.  Shuttles from our hotel ran every hour so we went on the bus an hour and a half before park opening.  Again we got to our location about an hour early.  We sat around the front of the park for a good while but they did let everyone in about 15 minutes before their scheduled opening.

We made a B-line for Harry Potter, bypassing everything along our way.  It was empty, score!

Nobody by the Hogwarts Express!

It seemed pretty slow that day.  The longest line was only 20 minutes.

As you step into all the shops you are really transported into the magic.

Zonko's joke shop was at the entrance of Hogsmeade.

Loved the window display of Puking pestules

Inside Zonko's you never know what you will find to buy or see.

Next to Zonko was Honeydukes. 

 It was full of Candy and beautiful displays.  I could not get over all the hidden details in the whole area.  They really out Disneyed Disney.  Amazing!

Flying brooms on the wall inside Dervish and Bangs.

Check the wizardware shop for Hermione's Yule Ball dress.  Too bad you can't go inside.

What size cauldron do you need?  Also a facade.  Oh well

In Hogshead bar watch the hog.  He is a little talkative.

One of the little gems inside of the Wizarding World was Olivander's wand shop.  That was the longest wait on the day at about 25 minutes

The shop felt like it was taken straight out the movies.  If only I were about 11 and could be chosen for the wand selection.  The show we saw had two different children choose their wands.  

I didn't get a wand.  Someone told me, just remember it's a stick and I could never get that out of my mind!

Now to a very important thing.  Butterbeer.

You can get butterbeer at the carts in the area or inside the 3 Broomsticks bar.  

There are two kinds, frozen and regular.  The frozen is like a frozen margarita in texture and the regular is lightly carbonated.

I had to get the souvenir cup.  It was important.  Between the two both my mom and I liked the regular better.  Now if they would just sell it at Target I would get it all the time!

I also tried the pumpkin fizz.  I love anything pumpkin.  It was basically a pumpkin soda, very good.

From the food and shops to the main attraction.  Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey amazing.  I have never been on any ride like it.  And that is coming from a theme park employee.

We booked it the the main attraction and there was no one there!

A little bit of magic outside.

My poor mom could not ride most everything in Universal.  But she still enjoyed herself inside the Wizarding World.

I tried saying Lemon Drop but nothing happened.

Inside Dumbordor's office, lots to tinker with including his pensive.

Up on the balcony Harry, Ron, and Hermione are there to entertain you as you wait.

Many of the portraits talk including all the founders of the school.

That ride was just amazing.  I went on it 7 times, lucky 7 I suppose.  I could have easily gone 20!  After a couple rides I figured out how it worked and it still blew my mind!  Looking forward to visiting when the next one opens in Hollywood.

There were other attractions in the area.  Dragon Challenge was a re-themed roller coaster from what was in the Harry Potter area before.  They did a great job making it Harry Potter.

As you walk along the que you will find the car driven in the Chamber of Secrets.  I guess the Forbidden Forest must be near by.  Hagrid's hut was just off to the left.

As you got to the front of the line you could choose which dragon you wanted to face.

We did walk the entire park going on a couple rides but nothing compared to what was in the Wizarding World.  We spent about 6 hours inside that part of the park.  Would I go again?  Yes but it was very spendy!  It was totally worth the cost of admission.