It was 102* the day we were at Universal. We were soaked by our own sweat long before we got on a water ride! It was also a Friday and the place was jam packed. The little guys were done very quickly. After lunch at 3 Broomsticks, (that had over an hour wait) Aaron was feeling pretty done with universal, too. He took the triple threat back to the hotel to nap and swim, and I had park hopper passes for the big kids and I, so we grabbed some frozen butterbeers and boarded the Hogworts Express for Diagon Alley.
Our faves at Islands of Adventure were the Jurassic Park water ride (SO INTENSE!), the Harry Potter ride inside the castle (we did this one multiple times!) and Hagrid’s motorcycle ride totally blew everyone’s minds. Aaron and I both think Hagrid was the coolest roller coaster experience either of us has ever had. Phenomenal stuff.
Diagon Alley was straight up magical. The wand chose Soren at Olivanders wand shop, we were jump scared and spooked in Knockturn Alley, the FIRE BREATHING DRAGON atop Gringotts Bank is just something everyone must see. It was blazing hot. Then it poured. We loved it all and carried on because that’s what Willardsons do! We did spider man and I got nauseated on jimmy fallons 3D race through NYC, we disappeared through platform 9 3/4 and rode the express back to the castle. Universal was hot, crowded, expensive, and freaking amazing. Everything is so over the top that you just can’t fathom being able to catch every little detail. The shop windows are activated by the wands, so Soren shared his wand and the kids took turns making it rain outside of Borgin and Burkes, watching the cakes come to life and dance in the honey dukes window, and making mirrors talk and fountains spill and lights and stars glow. I can’t WAIT to go back when it’s not a hot crowded Friday in summertime. It’s obscene how much these theme parks cost, but it really was worth it, and we didn’t even see a portion of it. I loved being here with my Harry Potter loving children. All the books that I’ve read to them over the years and the late nights staying up for just one more chapter or to finish a movie, costumes and birthday parties…all of it came to life in this magical place. It’s as close as one can possibly get to actually jumping into a book and we all loved it!
No comments:
Post a Comment