The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Universal

On a swelteringly hot day, at 9 o’clock in the morning, we had to queue for at least half an hour, just to get up to Hogwarts.  The Harry Potter experience is actually at the very back end of Islands of Adventure, so it’s a long line of people wending its way through the whole of the park.

Once there, I have to admit, the structures are absolutely amazing.  From crooked chimney tops to icicles hanging from the snow covered roofs, this is a fantastic re-creation of JK Rowlings imaginative landscape. Photo opportunities abound, from the Hogwarts Express to the entrance to the Three Broomsticks.  But -  and it’s a big but, there was a 75 minute wait for any of the rides, and the queues for the Wand Shop and Owl Post shop were huge.  Because these two shops are so small inside, they restrict the numbers entering at any one time, and because they are linked, you can’t visit one without going through the other.

We did take the walking tour through  the school which is the alternative to the rides, and that was excellent.  From gloomy stone staircases to talking portraits on the walls, and a moving talking head of Dumbledore in his study, this was great.  We did enjoy this, and it was Cool inside!!!

Finally we went off and had a Butter Beer in the hostelry ($3.19 a glass)!

I’m hopeful that once the summer is over, the lines will get shorter and more guests can enjoy what is a stupendous theme.

We also visited the Disney Summer Nightastic show last week to watch the Electric Light Parade.  Again, it was very warm even at 7.00 p.m., and again very crowded.  Our car park row was 104, and for afficianados of the Disney car parks, you will realize that that’s at the end of the parking lot.

Walking up Main Street, I noticed that although many people were browsing the shops, the actual purchasing didn’t seem so busy.  I was very tempted by some of the Disney art  prints, but kept my purse firmly in my pocket.

The crowds were very thick around the main circle, so we walked quickly through the castle to see some of the wonderful art work on the interior walls, then back out to the Frontier Land, to spot a place where we could watch the Parade.

One of the odd things I noticed, and this is the first time I have actually stopped and people watched at Disney, is that when they want people to move faster , they use guides with wands to direct foot traffic , so that “going” moves along one half of the street and “coming” moves along the other half in the other direction.  They also play Marching music over the loudspeakers.  If you have ever listened to marching music, you will know that your instinct is to walk in cadence with the beat of the music.  It was very interesting psychology !

The parade itself was very good, and I did enjoy watching all the characters and their vehicles moving along.  I took some photos and even some video, so if anyone wants copies, just let me know.

Getting out was a nightmare though, I have to say.  The majority of the crowd was heading back towards Cinderella’s castle to watch the fireworks at 10.00 and getting through the various groups of pushchairs, toddlers, families and so on, got harder and harder as we neared the castle bridge.  Huge clumps of people were simply backing up as those in front of them were stopping to take photos or grab a place to watch the firework display .  We struggled onward to the main circle, as our intention was to get back to the exit. Luckily Kelly is a tall girl and we were able to keep her in sight as we swam through the throng.  Well before we reached Main street, we were stopped , along with many others who had the same idea as us, and directed by a Disney guide , sent off down one of the side streets,  Following the instructions we found ourselves backstage.  We had been sent out on a diverted path right round Main street, which apparently was totally blocked and at a standstill.  We re-entered the Main Street, just before the main exit, and from there were able to make our escape.