"Now we raise our wands, and flick to the left!"
Just realized I never posted a trip report from my trip to the Universal Resort in Orlando!
We flew down on a Sunday and returned Thursday, which was really just long enough. We had time to do everything we wanted to do, twice, with ample time spent lounging around at the Hog’s Head drinking pumpkin juice and eating chocolate cauldrons. Our hotel was off-site, but we got a very good deal, the hotel was lovely, and neither of us found the walk to or from the parks particularly difficult.
Well, on the first couple days the walk wasn’t much fun, because it was COLD. Seriously, our first night there, it was colder than it was in Portland. The first day we spent in the park, it was still really chilly, which had the advantage of keeping the crowds away but also discouraged us from going on any of the water rides. Thankfully, it warmed up, and it wasn’t until our last morning there that we ever found ourselves uncomfortably hot.
Our days all started at Wizarding World of Harry Potter, though we never stayed for very long. It’s always busiest first thing in the morning, so as soon as the crowds started to build, we’d head to other parks of the park. The HLP turned out to be game for just about anything, including all the big coasters my other theme park travelling companion skips. We also went to all the shows I missed the last time. (I didn’t miss much, in some cases!)
We didn’t eat in the parks as much as I had planned. Our first night, I took the HLP to the Hard Rock Café, and she loved it. Turns out they have Buddy Holly’s glasses, which was probably a high point of the trip for her. We also ate at Mythos, which is their award-winning restaurant, and it was delicious. Aside from that, we mostly just snacked here and there. We stopped at the Hog’s Head often when we needed a break. Turns out the HLP wasn’t a fan of butterbeer, and agrees with me that the pumpkin juice is far superior.
We intended to buy three day tickets, but got a fourth day free, so the morning before our flight, we went back into the park for a couple of hours. After the last trip, I had several dreams that involved trying to get back to WWoHP one more time before my flight left, which a variety of dream-quality absurdities stopping me. In reality, it worked very well. We went on Forbidden Journey one last time, had one last drink in the Hog’s Head, then went to Seuss Landing for one last spin on Cat in the Hat (HLP’s favorite).
Leaving was a little sad, but not as bad as the last time. I think it might have been because I know they’re building a version of WWoHP at Universal Hollywood, and maybe a little because I already know that I’ll be headed back to Orlando once they open the Diagon Alley section of Universal Studios. Either way, I was happy to head home.
I know I expressed some annoyance with the HLP pre-trip, but we got along very well while we were there. I made an effort not to tease her the way I tease my other friends, and I could see her making an effort to express herself when I asked her opinion. It was really very nice.
She still thinks I’m a nerd, though. I told her at the end of the trip that I took her to WWoHP just so she could see that I’m cool because it’s OBVIOUSLY COOL to like Harry Potter. Instead, she said that she’s just convinced that there are a lot more nerds around than she realized.
Of course, she thinks Superman is cooler than Batman, so who’s really the nerd?