The Three of We: Universal Studios

Today we went to a large amusement park: Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure! It's a theme park with rides and various lands such as Jurassic Park Land, and Super Heroes Land, and so forth. But our goal for this day was simply--and only--Harry Potter Land, or as they called it The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Really, this whole trip was based on taking Mom Edna to see Harry land. Little Richard is a Harry fan as well, but we kept our destination secret from him for as long as we could. Due to the fact that he can't concentrate on any one thing for more than 20 seconds, this was an easy thing to do. We drove by billboards--which he didn't notice. We drove into the park and under a Harry Potter archway--which he didn't notice. We got on a moving sidewalk and was carried directly beneath a Harry Potter land illuminated display--which he completely missed because he was busy showing Gramma how he could walk backward.

(Yup...Still Without a Clue)

We actually got into the park and was about 3 minutes from the moment they "drop the rope" to let us in when he overheard someone say, "We only have 10 minutes to get to Harry Potter park before it fills up." And he asked us what that meant...

Along the way, Granison spotted another Photo Spot.

(Also Without a Clue.)

We got to Hogsmeade and it was amazing. The size, scale, and attention to detail really did make it seem as if you'd walked onto either the set or perhaps the real thing.

Because we knew the Forbidden Journey ride would fill up quickly, we dashed there first. The "rat maze" queue to the ride went through the base of castle and wound its way through a hallway, through the greenhouse (complete with pitcher plants and mandrake roots), into the castle, past the griffon to Dumbledore's office, into the office, through a hallway with moving and talking paintings, into the schoolroom, through a room with floating candles...really...it was stunning.

(The Animated Sorting Hat Delivered a Warning)

Sadly (for you) the interior of the castle was dark, dark, dark and a lot of the images of the talking paintings, the fat lady door guard, etc., could not be photographed.

The ride itself is not to be believed. Nor can it be adequately described. The fellows who dreamed it up are deserving of any awards they get and many they may not get. It was amazing, thrilling, and utterly believable that you were flying, getting attacked by a dragon, the whomping willow, giant spiders, flying through a Quidditch match...and so forth.

Later in the day we went back and even though we were in line for easily 90 minutes...it was worth the wait, even for the second go.

After the Castle, we rode a small coaster called Flight of the Hippogriff which wound its way by Hagrid's door.

Back on the street, we proceeded to Olivander's Wand Shoppe (and show). Another long line and we were shown into the shoppe. The shopkeeper there picks a youngster and proceeds to do a little show in which a wand chooses the young customer. In our show, he chose a set of identical twins. It was a charming show.

After the show we were let into the main shop where we could browse through their selection of wands and other paraphernalia. Here is really the only place the entire idea broke down (sorta). It was packed with people. Really. Breath deeply and you'll bump into seven folks.

But it was fun and we bought far too many wands. (A picture of that later on.)

Then we visited some other shops.