Trip Report Revisiting 2016's War and peace I took one for the team

Hello it's me again and if you want to know what the title means you'll have to stick around for a while. Sorry but no spoiler This trip was 3 years in the making and the official countdown started at 439 days. Surprisingly the time seemed to fly by. Our little adventure was taken by me (for those who don't know I'm Figmentfan423 Figgy to my friends here), my dh and our 2 boys James 14 and fellow Disney planner and M who's a bit older autistic and doesn't like getting his picture taken or me talking about him. Our trip began at

am on July 30th. We sang happy birthday to my little guy while driving down the street on our way to Disney. I'm a very mean mommy who made my baby spend his birthday in the car. Any way it was smooth sailing until half way through Virginia where we hit rain and traffic all the way to the North Carolina border. It was bad enough we worried a bit about making it to our hotel for the first night but once we hit NC the skies cleared and so did the traffic and we made it to Florida

to take the obligitory first Florida picture of the boys. With a bit of luck and excitement we made it to Ormond Beach to get a good night's sleep.

 

[epcotisbest]

Never seen a Harry Potter movie or read a Harry Potter book, so I can't really relate to the theme. Some of it seems a bit unappealing, but I guess that comes from being unfamiliar with the movies. We have not been to Universal since the Potter stuff went in. We did enjoy Deuling Dragons and Jaws.

 

[Figgy1]

Never seen a Harry Potter movie or read a Harry Potter book, so I can't really relate to the theme. Some of it seems a bit unappealing, but I guess that comes from being unfamiliar with the movies. We have not been to Universal since the Potter stuff went in. We did enjoy Deuling Dragons and Jaws.

Jaws is gone but they have a shark hanging in it's memory

 

[Figgy1]

I'm not going to give any spoilers about Hogwart's express but ride it each way twice and watch the window each way and the door each way. We got off in Hogsmeade and it was a bit of a let down compared to Diagon Alley. let me put that statement in perspective. Let's say you won the lottery for a million dollars in the morning and only won for 8 hundred thousand in the afternoon. In some ways it may have been better to start there but we wanted to follow the story line if that makes any sense. That's why we hadn't hit Gringott's yet. We spent the rest of the afternoon mostly just looking around but we did get on Forbidden Journey and Dragon challenge and of course the boys had to go on each coaster. They did say there was a bit of a difference one faster feeling and one felt more intense

 

[Figgy1]

The boys really wanted to go eat at the Leaky cauldron so back on the train and they got chicken sandwiches and I just got the side of mixed veggies. Jim and my older ds got butterbeer and James and I got pumpkin juice which was like pumpkin pie soda

 

[Figgy1]

It was then time for

Which was amazing as everything else Potter

 

[Figgy1]

I for got to mention LC works similar to BOG lunch it is quick service but you're taken to a table and the food is brought out to you. I liked not having to carry trays

Instead of a rose

 

[Figgy1]

We spent the rest of the night just taking everything in

We did the show at Olivander's at about 8:30 or so and it was only us and a couple of other adults and James was chosen and a wand chose him. Holly with a phoenix tail feather core. What a wonderful happy almost end of the night.

 

[Figgy1]

Wednesday August 17th we started in Hogsmeade first thing we did was Forbidden Journey. I made sure to have the camera with me this time

 

[Figgy1]

We then went on DC again but spent the rest of the morning walking around and of course James was practicing magic with his wand.

 

[Figgy1]

One of the few other dining reservations we made was at Mythos and I'd say make one it does get busy compared to the other places in the parks

James and I got the pad thai and Jim and my older ds got burgers. Jim and I got sangria and we got to keep the glasses, the food was great and not even close to expensive. Just a few dollars more than Disney qs and the drinks were cheaper way cheaper

 

[Figgy1]

After lunch we went back to Hogsmeade to catch the Tri Wizard Rally and the Frog Choir which were both very good

We met this fellow

Sorry no Frog pics yet my dh took video which won't post I'll get some up later

 

[Figgy1]

The boys wanted to ride the train again so off we went back to Diagon Alley. The boys were now wanting now wanting to ride coasters so we hit Rip rocket and the Mummy before returning to Diagon Alley. We went through Olivander's again and this time my dh was chosen. He went around doing some magic while the boys and I went on Gringott's

 

[Figgy1]

Wouldn't you know it the boys wanted to eat at 3 Broomsticks for dinner so back on the train. Gee could they have just been looking for an excuse to ride it The boys got chicken sandwiches and Jim got a chicken salad, I got salad sans chicken(I brought some beans to toss in it)

 

[Figgy1]

Hogsmeade at night is really dark

 

[betty rose]

We spent the entire morning just walking around there and checking out the details. My boys didn't even ask to go on Gringott'sView attachment 161899 View attachment 161900 View attachment 161901 View attachment 161902 View attachment 161903 View attachment 161904

This looks fantastic!

 

[betty rose]

Good is an understatement and that's only one of the sections

It really looks great. Now, I have to see it in person!

 

[Figgy1]

Thursday August 18th. We got to Islands of Adventure right before 8 so I could do a bit of shopping before rope drop. Ha! Of course with my luck the team members were directing both resort guest and AP holders into the park itself Seeing Kong wasn't open for early admission the boys hit DC twice. I still can't find a pic of that

At least I finally found one of the entrance to 3 Broomsticks LOL
Any way after DC a doing some more magic with the wands we headed to Jurassic Park. The ride itself was Dinosauar meets Splash only cooler if that makes any sense. I have to say the whole land was well done and worth exploring

 

[Mr Ferret 75]

Did you use the restrooms in hogsmeade ??

Spoiler

Mrs Ferret told me Moaning Myrtle can be heard in the ladies

 

[Figgy1]

Then it was time to see Kong. Again no spoilers but think safari vehicle with 3D and a huge moving Kong. BTW the que was great, scary but fun

After that we rode Spiderman, Hulk and Storm force best described as the Tea Cups on steroids.

 

[Figgy1]

It finally happened the guys hit a meat wall and all wanted something healthyish for lunch. The nice thing about driving is we had a cooler and ice packs so I made a quinoa salad, my version of the SS power salad.