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Alright, this is your first and only warning. This post is going to be very image heavy. I'm going to post a link to the album all of the images are from after the cut.
Also, I suppose this could serve as spoilers for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at the Universal Studios Resort in Orlando, Florida. While I tried to take pictures of everything, they don't do the experience justice.
You wouldn't be able to miss it was here. Stuff like this is all over Orlando.
Here's the first glance of Hogwarts as you come out of the enterance of the Isles of Adventures. As we were running to join the line. At 8:30, technically a half hour before the park opened, the line to get in to Harry Potter was already over an hour.
As we got closer lined up in Jurassic Park.
The enterence to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Hogsmeade Village
Hogwarts Castle
Laura and I immediately went and got in line for the Hogwarts Ride, which ended up being over 90 minutes but had a lot to look at.
The exterior line was in the Greenhouse. Notice the fans which were a godsend.
Inside the Castle was full of artifacts from the books.
Dumbledore's Office, the blurry square on the wall is a video of Dumbledore
The Hall of Portraits, that yes do talk.
And the Defense Against The Dark Arts Classroom, where the Trio talked to the crowd.
As for the ride itself...I can't even begin to describe it. It was part roller coaster, part simulator, with physical elements and animatronics, with video screens inter spaced. It really has to be experienced because I can't describe it. Though word of warning, people who don't usually get motion sick were stumbling coming off this ride. I was fine but Laura was sick for a good part of the day.
Next was the mini coaster, Flight of the Hippogriff.
The line was around Hagrid's hut.
Then we went into Hogsmeade proper where all the stores were.
The enterence was guarded by this friendly snow man and snow owl
Geniuses that the designers were, they made the Owl Post just this large open but shaded seating area in the middle of Hogsmeade. With owls in the rafters of course, with the fans.
On the streets and in the Three Broomsticks, they were selling Butterbeer, regular and frozen. Laura says it tasted like butterscotch soda and I have to agree. The foam was like whipped cream!
The first thing we stood in line for (there were lines to get into all the shops) was for Ollivander's. You could just go in and buy a wand but there was also an experience where Ollivander himself fitted some lucky person in the crowd with their own wand.
Next, we had lunch in The Three Broomsticks. There were shadow images moving on the ceiling and the detail was incredible. I recommend the Cornish Pasties btw.
The Hogs Head Pub was in the same building. They even had their own brew of beer.
Next up was Honey Dukes.
In the same building was Zonko's.
Here are various other store fronts. There are pictures in the windows in the album but it was so sunny, it was hard to get good pictures. Though I did include one window for obvious reasons...
No detail was spared.
The other major ride was the already existing Dragon Challenge, which Hogsmeade was kinda built around.
On the other end of Hogsmeade from Hogwarts was the train station and the Hogwarts Express.
As we were leaving, after 7 hours just in Harry Potter, I caught the student chorus, with toads, taking pictures with guests.
Leading out on the other side of Hogsmeade was this sign.
Finally, for a little head trip, this is the last pic I took, of Hogwarts from Jurassic Park.
Now, for what I brought home. I took pictures of the wand I bought at Ollivander's, a Chocolate Frog, a bottle of Pumpkin Juice and a patch for Hufflepuff. I also got a souvenir Butterbeer glass but it was in the washing machine. Seriously, I mostly bought the wand for the box. It looks so freaking authentic.
This is what the wand looks like inside. They sell character wands, with everyone from Harry to Voldemort to Professor Lupin, who came in blank brown boxes. They also had 12 general wands that came in the Ollivander's boxes. To help you choose, they've assigned each type to a birth month. This is December's and I liked the little happy skull so I stuck with it but they have all types, from twisty ones with stripes to smooth black ones with neat handles. My cousin was expecting to pay over $50 dollars for Harry's wand but, both character and general, are $28.95 and they are surprising well made. As is all of the merchandise. Well made, detailed and worth the prices.
See? Look how happy he is.
Now to the chocolate frogs. These things are huge! And the cards at holographic. It was amazing luck (or magic?) that Laura got Godric Gryffindor in hers and I got Helga Hufflepuff in mine XD
Here is the entire album of pics. There are over 200 pictures from all angles, with details and my own arty shots. I give permission for the RPG So Much Owed to use any images they choose. All else must ask permission before using or reposting, though chances are I will gladly give it.
Also, I suppose this could serve as spoilers for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at the Universal Studios Resort in Orlando, Florida. While I tried to take pictures of everything, they don't do the experience justice.
You wouldn't be able to miss it was here. Stuff like this is all over Orlando.
Here's the first glance of Hogwarts as you come out of the enterance of the Isles of Adventures. As we were running to join the line. At 8:30, technically a half hour before the park opened, the line to get in to Harry Potter was already over an hour.
As we got closer lined up in Jurassic Park.
The enterence to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Hogsmeade Village
Hogwarts Castle
Laura and I immediately went and got in line for the Hogwarts Ride, which ended up being over 90 minutes but had a lot to look at.
The exterior line was in the Greenhouse. Notice the fans which were a godsend.
Inside the Castle was full of artifacts from the books.
Dumbledore's Office, the blurry square on the wall is a video of Dumbledore
The Hall of Portraits, that yes do talk.
And the Defense Against The Dark Arts Classroom, where the Trio talked to the crowd.
As for the ride itself...I can't even begin to describe it. It was part roller coaster, part simulator, with physical elements and animatronics, with video screens inter spaced. It really has to be experienced because I can't describe it. Though word of warning, people who don't usually get motion sick were stumbling coming off this ride. I was fine but Laura was sick for a good part of the day.
Next was the mini coaster, Flight of the Hippogriff.
The line was around Hagrid's hut.
Then we went into Hogsmeade proper where all the stores were.
The enterence was guarded by this friendly snow man and snow owl
Geniuses that the designers were, they made the Owl Post just this large open but shaded seating area in the middle of Hogsmeade. With owls in the rafters of course, with the fans.
On the streets and in the Three Broomsticks, they were selling Butterbeer, regular and frozen. Laura says it tasted like butterscotch soda and I have to agree. The foam was like whipped cream!
The first thing we stood in line for (there were lines to get into all the shops) was for Ollivander's. You could just go in and buy a wand but there was also an experience where Ollivander himself fitted some lucky person in the crowd with their own wand.
Next, we had lunch in The Three Broomsticks. There were shadow images moving on the ceiling and the detail was incredible. I recommend the Cornish Pasties btw.
The Hogs Head Pub was in the same building. They even had their own brew of beer.
Next up was Honey Dukes.
In the same building was Zonko's.
Here are various other store fronts. There are pictures in the windows in the album but it was so sunny, it was hard to get good pictures. Though I did include one window for obvious reasons...
No detail was spared.
The other major ride was the already existing Dragon Challenge, which Hogsmeade was kinda built around.
On the other end of Hogsmeade from Hogwarts was the train station and the Hogwarts Express.
As we were leaving, after 7 hours just in Harry Potter, I caught the student chorus, with toads, taking pictures with guests.
Leading out on the other side of Hogsmeade was this sign.
Finally, for a little head trip, this is the last pic I took, of Hogwarts from Jurassic Park.
Now, for what I brought home. I took pictures of the wand I bought at Ollivander's, a Chocolate Frog, a bottle of Pumpkin Juice and a patch for Hufflepuff. I also got a souvenir Butterbeer glass but it was in the washing machine. Seriously, I mostly bought the wand for the box. It looks so freaking authentic.
This is what the wand looks like inside. They sell character wands, with everyone from Harry to Voldemort to Professor Lupin, who came in blank brown boxes. They also had 12 general wands that came in the Ollivander's boxes. To help you choose, they've assigned each type to a birth month. This is December's and I liked the little happy skull so I stuck with it but they have all types, from twisty ones with stripes to smooth black ones with neat handles. My cousin was expecting to pay over $50 dollars for Harry's wand but, both character and general, are $28.95 and they are surprising well made. As is all of the merchandise. Well made, detailed and worth the prices.
See? Look how happy he is.
Now to the chocolate frogs. These things are huge! And the cards at holographic. It was amazing luck (or magic?) that Laura got Godric Gryffindor in hers and I got Helga Hufflepuff in mine XD
Here is the entire album of pics. There are over 200 pictures from all angles, with details and my own arty shots. I give permission for the RPG So Much Owed to use any images they choose. All else must ask permission before using or reposting, though chances are I will gladly give it.