A Wizard's World.

Harry Potter World. 

There just aren't enough words to describe. 

It was everything I could ever have expected it to be.

This was trip number three and I still got just as excited to go. 

It's so magical [obviously], but really - just being there gives Harry Potter a sense of reality. 

We woke up at a brutally early hour [6:00] and even for non-college kids, that is super early. I'm really lucky Mitchell was sleeping over because I had left my phone in Kate's dorm [my phone is my usual alarm] and I slept right through the radio alarm - but Mitchell heard it and woke me up. I seriously would never have heard it. Anyways, Kate, Chris and I planned on meeting at my car at 6:30 - so I got ready and left, but when I got to the car they weren't there. 

I didn't have my phone -- so i couldn't call them -- Chris doesn't have a phone -- so Kate couldn't call either of us = a DISASTER.

So I drove my car towards their buildings and i was shocked when i saw them walking towards me. I honestly thought one of them had slept in.

And then we drove the one and a half hours to Orlando while listening to glee [of course].

We picked up Kelly at the rest area right before our exit [her parents were coming up for the football game, and we made the exchange] 

At nine o'clock on the dot - we arrived at the most magical place on earth.

It was Kate and Kelly's first time and i'm sure they thought it was just as perfect as Chris and I had explained. Everything was great, it wasn't so-so hot, the lines weren't super long [except Ollivander's], and the butterbeer was still amazing. 

Chris discovered one of the secret passageways through the castle, so we were able to get a better spot in line for the main ride in Hogwarts - and he didn't even have to use a Marauder's Map.

We wanted to go through the Harry Potter part of the park before we moved on to the different islands of the park - so we decided to hit the shops: Honeydukes and Zonko's [which there is usually a line to get into, but this time there wasn't - you could just walk right in]

Kate and Kelly bought their first chocolate frog, which is significant because it decides which house you are in. And they are now the two newest members of the Hufflepuff House. [Congratulations --- not] Hufflepuffs are known for being "push overs," "friendly," and "not extraordinary." In other words, they are the left overs. But I can't really say much because I too am a Hufflepuff - as much as I would like to deny it...

So proud to be a Hufflepuff? 

No.

So happy to be at Hogwarts?

Yes.

Christopher, the only Gryffindor, stands alone - but it's ok, he's really brave, so he didn't mind.

Let's hear it for strength in numbers: Hufflepuffs!

Gryffindors = Aleksi, Mitchell, Chris, Alexa

Hufflepuffs = Max, Hallie, Kate, Kelly

Slytherins = 0

Ravenclaws = 0

Squibs = Cassie

Chris was so nervous to ride the Hippogriff half roller coaster [i call it a "half" roller coaster because it's half of 20 seconds - meaning it's a 10 second ride. in a wicker basket. with a bar for safety. and no sharp turns. or upside downs] and Chris was still scared...

He ended up loving it and wanted to ride it again. 

All in all, Harry Potter World was a success for the third time!

[and we moved on to the rest of the park]

"If the dinosaurs were real, this would actually be scary" - Kelly

[duh]

Dinosaur chicken for lunch [for us and the ducks]

Our before photo [below] for Pop Eye's 

Our after photo, if you can't tell - we're soaked. [it was as if i jumped in the pool with all my clothes on]

After Islands of Adventure, we went to Universal Studios [we all had two park tickets] and rode the roller coaster and mummy ride. By that time, we were BEAT. Still a little wet and extremely tired we decided to leave. But the day was a complete success, we had so much fun and I cannot wait to go back to HPW.

Hogwarts is my home.