Saturday, August 14, 2010

Vacation Recap Part 2-Harry Potter!

Day 1 Vacation recap can be found here
On the second day of our trip we headed over to Islands of Adventure/The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I'm a big fan of rides and an even bigger fan of Harry Potter so I knew this was going to be a win-win situation! 
First up Islands of Adventure! 
We were able to hit up the big rides quickly because we opted for the single rider line. Granted sometimes we didn't get to sit side by side but frankly... who cares?!?! You still get to ride the ride and instead of standing in like for 2 hours, you can be in line, on the ride and done with in under 11 minutes. BAM! 
Once we were basically done with everything we wanted to see in Islands of Adventure we made our way over to the Harry Potter side of the park. At this point it was around 11:30am. The entire park opens at 9:00am and they open the WWHP part at 10:00am. Well as we're walking over to HP we notice this line of people standing over the ride side of the walk way. Oh...that was the line to get in. Apparently it's so packed during the day (which I can now agree with) that they can only allow so many people at a time into that section of the park. 

It's so crazy packed that they even give you a special ticket that you must hand to the people standing outside of the WWHP entrance to prove that you stood in the line before being allowed to enter. Also during the busy time, if you exit WWHP there is no re-entering unless you stand in the line again because they take that ticket upon entry. So after waiting for an hour we finally got into that area of the park. Trust me... it was worth it. 
(hogwarts Express)
(1 of the windows at honeydukes)
(the book which needs it's spin rubbed)
(Hogwarts Castle)
(hanging candles in the great hall)
(Dervish and Banges) 
(inside the WWHP)
Let me tell you some insider information incase you didn't know already.  The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (WWHP) is apart of Universal Studios and it's technically located inside Islands of Adventure. You have to have a ticket to Islands of Adventure to get inside so before you buy your park passes remember that. Thankfully, I have friends who went a few weeks ago and let me know so I wouldn't buy the wrong tickets. 

BIG TIP. Go in the evening, after 6:00pm, by that time you don't have to stand in a line to get inside the Harry Potter part. The lines for shops are also shorter and the ride lines are twice as small as they are in the day time. Since we had been there earlier that morning going back in the evening was heaven. There was no wait to get inside this part of the park. We were able to get inside the Hogwarts Castle and on the ride within 40 minutes compared to the earlier part of the day when the line alone was over 2 hours. The Butter beer line never dwindled all day so if you're really wanting to give it a try, you're going to just have to stand in line. For those of you who don't like butter beer... they do have pumpkin juice (just not in the same line).

So there you have it! If you want to see more pictures (I took a ton) of the Harry Potter park or have any questions just ask. Also I've got the pictures uploaded on my facebook. Part 3 featuring Sea World and Gatorland is next! 

35 comments:

star said...

I am so jealous! I want to go so bad! Thanks for sharing lady! Looks amazing there! And yes, I do want to see more pictures!

Epiphany said...

Wow, that place is crazy! Looks like so much fun.

Jules AF said...

I wish they'd made the park bigger or something!

Amanda @ It's Blogworthy said...

I love Harry Potter too and I'm dying to go there...of course, it wouldn't do much good now bc I can't ride anything and dont' do well in the heat..but one of these days we'll make it down and maybe then it won't be so crowded!

Anonymous said...

I'm having a huge geek moment looking at your pictures! I need to start planning my trip.

Unknown said...

Thank You for sharing the useful tips and info. Will follow the tips when visiting the place.

Amber @ A Little Pink in the Cornfields said...

Oh I want to go here so bad!!!!! I'm glad you had such a good time! I looked at your pictures on Facebook, it looked like so much fun!

Krysten @ Why Girls Are Weird said...

I am SO SO SO SO SO jealous! I so need to get there someday. Thanks so much for sharing!

Samantha said...

Me and the hubs.... kinda wanna plan a trip to Orlando now.... DAmn. if only there were time! :)

Meagan said...

Florida and all those theme parks are on our must see. But neither of us have read Harry Potter so we might avoid all that crazyness.

Rachel said...

I'm so jealous!! I wanna see more pics too!

Drew said...

Ahhh!! I'm dying to go to Harry Potter! I just don't know when I'm going to find my way down to FL... :-(

Looks like a ton of fun and thanks for the tips for when I do get to go!

Paint it Black said...

great pictures it looks amazing xoxo

Kelsey Claire said...

I want to go to Harry Potter. That looks like so much fun! Thanks for the tips fro when I finally get there!

Aimee said...

Thats soo awesome. OI am a big HP nerd so I def. want to check out the WWHP. I want to see more pics :)

Alee said...

so jealous! Awesome that you didn't have to wait forever in lines!

JMJE said...

Awesome. I'm going to Harry Potter Land/Universal in October. I'm really excited. I'm hoping it's a little less crowded in October. I might have to email you for more insider tips.

ABW said...

I loved the Harry Potter portion! The castle ride was really neat. Did you ride the Dueling Dragons? That scared the crap out of me, but I am not much of a ride person.

Kitty and June said...

cute pics! i had a friend who went there the other week!

The Girly Tomboy said...

That looks so much fun! I heart harry potter!

Stephanie said...

Ahh We missed the opening by about 3 weeks. Now I know we have to go back. It looks fabulous!

Karren said...

The WWHP looks really neat! I love reading about your trips! :)

tina said...

I've never read any of the Harry Potter books or seen any of the movies. But it does look like you had a great time!! Can't wait to see and hear about the rest of your vacation!!!

~Mrs. Guru~ said...

Looks like so much fun! I wish I was there with you!

Miranda said...

I LOOOOOVE this! I think it would be so COOL to see this.. especially after seeing the movies! I may be 26 but I get as excited as any child when it comes to neat stuff like this! :-)

Unknown said...

I am so jealous. I might even hate you right now. I will get over it, but don't talk to me until I do. Okay? ;)

Jennifer B said...

I'm an hour away from Harry Potter!!! (but still haven't been!!) Anyway, I'm obsessed with seeing it, but time just haven't allowed me too yet! Maybe I should wear the Halloween outfit where I dressed up like Harry Potter?! Just kidding.
My question is...do they have Express passes you can purchase for the Harry Potter world so you have a specific time to be there and you go right in?

Becca. said...

oh my gosh, i really want to go now!
lovely photos!

come check out my blog sometime :)
XOXO, BECCA
www.fashion-train.co.uk

Shoshanah said...

I'm so jealous you went! I can't wait to go someday! Thanks for sharing the pictures, although I'm still curious as to what the rides were life

Anonymous said...

I am SUPER jealous!! So much fun!

Mrs EyeCanSee said...

I keep seeing commercials for the Harry Potter park and want to go so bad! I hope they keep it around for awhile, it looks amazing!

Unknown said...

fabulous xxxx

ChinkyGirLMeL said...

Oh my gosh. I envy you right now. that looks like you had a lot lot lot of fuN!

Kerr said...

single rider line is the best!

Jenn @ West Sac Honey said...

Um hello this sounds like so much fun! I loveeeee Harry!