![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQjKcPda_5Wv7cWPAQ5PIVnt0N8PC82Y3ZgGQgcutfTdOpSdsXgHyYV7V41WvhdISNI7vftP4QIG-lzyGy33cmXFccxgNwrRj_DNYPZE6y7HKnSYLQHaRzCgQ5C2LUM9IVY82qjtW85M/s400/2011_07_13_HP_Hogwarts_002.JPG)
Last week we took a trip to Orlando and got to experience the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmHnRYJUpXDr6JBZUQB9zUp1CBKSM_opbKSfqEexYwGI8SD4Q1VHnS8esAutwzKlvKTex3n4xk-UtnOOsbrDsjwBogiJk2fDTVMx55_muAfEfYQXENleeHV-8fMbujdSjBNs50-_XGlE/s400/2011_07_13_HP_Hogsmeade_Hogwarts_Sign_001.JPG)
It's no wonder it was always so packed; it's definitely a must-see at Universal
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhicOKbaoKYGujcOZ6AY7WEM6KQSL79m1lf1K9gUxHtcdAKth71mQTB7Db7P0vBs25-42X32_sxmYOjCVs8PViKhd3HWeBQU2TLIy5SpgJBfeVvDNbv8AQVb9CLzg_YdWacbI-rFbGygfY/s400/2011_07_13_HP_Hogsmeade_Hogwarts_Sign_003.JPG)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_vx0MYlqmAWymnJFcWp5yjm_HFukS8irCzhWDqWzOweFnxSTra9ZBaiMCGMMDGOnbeFxdQZA5Hys7uvWKhoffw-ztgqib-nEp43EcnPAc4FHW4OmjYdUBG5Gwcd8hiYkzOeI1-sQ2p4/s400/2011_07_13_HP_Hogwarts_005.JPG)
We highly recommend Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey inside Hogwarts Castle. The line was usually around 90 minutes but that didn't keep us away.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7Re-LDH0UjtJmB-0gJM0Dm8ikZ8AgrfTB1Eq1YmMKO6sYAhrfuiK41EtKrsPHEiQ0Z4yaVjixX2SBzHB6Q04c0ApNvSkvApYdt31oDuomptZn2u2hRiD3XPmiz3qvcPkjXHwFpOtIXg/s400/2011_07_13_HP_Hogwarts_010.JPG)
To the Headmaster's office
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4N7GMHPupZ-cJv5VEdV0PgbNcZ2CxQv2TJjvtF3QRgM2P5Mg6lAlf5guZgZgMqSJF4WpWJPnlG0HdUqebusHZ160olKouGpEaIvQ_cEu-uKa6snmgFJYjbTyGPrpgcuD_FrIZ_SEva8/s400/2011_07_13_HP_Hogwarts_011.JPG)
And of course the portraits move and talk. So cool!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnCbXqm1q-gXaNJFsGcUxYY_FQSeVqTKCI-lriU7LxoC3mUtqDTJCke15X3dbR2GjLhrNe2pM8LaAkSMzqgWpDRkeBcsGm-fBa6BFB_S9CM7xUs-2opPkr5Usv8oF8wFjcjWpC6tuAC4/s400/2011_07_13_HP_Hogwarts_004.JPG)
It's really a beautiful, scenic place
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzy-XJiq9pz6fgLooIAIjz0DFZ8UWLHC5ihh6l9ig-gvrA2ivkl0eBlwQeZQDebl1TjcnhONrsnHFeRXWMp7Sr-voE7loq3ZoiD67eWZMYdghHzybc1jfGy02wLHCAKeeGv78nZac59Q/s400/2011_07_13_HP_Hogwarts_Express_004.JPG)
Ah, the Hogwarts Express, right at the entrance of Hogsmeade
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQ1LdPjoyP8aOESv674zngyhjjcKi6yKEgSfOl5vUDzkPM90nUUosl_FMrW0vOyRqmLMTPL2YGSqIjKwkp5NFmq6hhk__D6xAcwJl2thzdPSuC4hWGvMRSaslTKpovNfFl1l50y4U9sM/s400/2011_07_13_HP_Butterbeer_001.JPG)
And butterbeer is a must when visiting Hogsmeade. It's like a butterscotch soda with cream on top.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_RAd3AYw-_5SCtsvd_qixJ9f2YHo8tcS_dhyAsRK-IwilgnKUrXvHRTYFmjabU6r6DW5sFoRoJrd5Dy7bsJ7UyYx6Af3mp7xpbPv4NibmVy7aLOliU2MFbEhQKLd1JCBLPo0uyRUdG0/s400/2011_07_13_HP_Butterbeer_002.JPG)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB095atfAbsvWgC5RZVX9-yASf7A1p1_wT7KFWV-MDFucj1XE598SbOwiHbDC-bBIEMeSq2DrqyyBIxCmLwNTwUQKIMxW-5Z3BUcRNDUZaENBafFNErd5vM9lMvgaXWN7MFZE5YcTz0TM/s400/2011_07_13_HP_Harry_Potter_Fun_003.JPG)
If you think Steven was excited you should have seen all the people dressed up in wizard robes in 90 degree heat and oppressive humidity.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKq7hb1OdXWm_L1D-TdRCPHro0WbrUpM4PJhFghZEOXuYUVY4a8YMwLdTq0bU59EpeMONg5lwPy1q33K7g9AI-cisxz5ConjozZVwwmTSyQ3IogxJmlPaQffMuUKHoGkCMtpBN3LSAx4/s400/2011_07_13_HP_Harry_Potter_Fun_010.JPG)
Yeah, Steven was a little jealous of them all the same. He wanted to try on a set of Gryffindor robes.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzd0ueZJCeU_TiGI6DNxVuyZWyO6MlwOxHbx6Y34qik7EQl-ItzHFptOCnO0fklYl525dP_jcmPmNlX7gj4C_UAVqXF_o1cA4zFtjsy73WUuD6Xwp1XmbkfQem928EZrA_MJzoc_0914/s400/2011_07_13_HP_Harry_Potter_Fun_012.JPG)
Need a wand? No problem. You can get one in Ollivander's or in the shops or even at a wand cart like this just outside Hogwarts.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBJ3kH8DVwvcK4Qarb2Rcsqv3LRNULMrPaHJGPQLgckc1bjekpnGYOz8zdl556QT7t5ft6Wir2nmOhwdJpIDgXVYCyWDuKDCDjfaKs2jHe7ZBAFWZlqqWysodWrb6go2w5wFmuyJ2z-Y/s400/2011_07_13_HP_Hogsmeade_020.JPG)
Here's Ollivander's wand shop. After a 45 minute to an hour wait you can go inside where the clerk will select a few from your group and match the person with the right wand, much like when Harry first received his wand.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEips32kU1ZzGrCQEl0urCwp5ETLcsM6zxnHxc9AWuhkcvAU1DIgmDten1X2hI8kRx8FjaFC8tqid15cjs3uHWzq0E9eK89lMfmX301lOnHqo8sc5HGjI5n7AqcHavCgJChDQCzw-KyHTAw/s400/2011_07_13_HP_Harry_Potter_Fun_002.JPG)
Thanks to Jennifer and James, Steven had his very own wand to carry around
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Night falls on Hogsmeade
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Yep, always crowded
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELUEC9TUqflgz3TssZ2N34nKzG76YWe4IZxtBZI7ob3v3l-BYADg7F1wFyJ4veOqA1GwOkJVtyJlSR-tCcGwR2r0rmfxlnrwKYxXltCa7zdNb0nGMdctmOBC1GK9MxKNsRuhZVdT1agU/s400/2011_07_13_HP_Hogsmeade_016.JPG)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic-a-KDmAaruKs2LSfLrfRV-Yl6j8XWQWJLDLQ7Nos8-l5fxstYUK7I74hoXoUJ2hlzIDZantiwlqG8y_z4ryLVWxEs9z0MBGzxMKE7SJbI0cAEPF-8Y5nr1epSCfzkdmVCDQt-xZ83pg/s400/2011_07_13_HP_Hogsmeade_017.JPG)
There's even a snowman as you head out of Hogsmeade toward the castle
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZTrdjin5YJfj6ywlDdEytG-gka5vff7tWHrMrGB6B4VUfVEyER5V3dbqt6WHxoEOB9LQEq6MPalFrCem5cG836u4M5OWkIPaSJ64E35s1JTUoYpntr-xp-9nX98uX8n5VKv60YQV5vE/s400/2011_07_13_HP_Hogsmeade_018.JPG)
All of Gilderoy Lockhart's books on display
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8NtaB2JaQoe8mRAnsgKnWLrwXLBdCjTysfjua9Ac1c9_ec1tClSdsoSydNMnOmeG6-s78Ld7u32jS8PxUlZjJoR68Q_6l-wo04DWoGZ3DP8C1T_xhfcXJJK2IHdQK8xCi7JfbeyoU54/s400/2011_07_13_HP_Hogsmeade_019.JPG)
For all your Quidditch needs
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjethMGUx-doo-Nb23ydbHMmoIP3l0iRPhCHzi_Jwt6q7ITulMmj5fPLJRAY8HgGGoAYSa2zoT-ECy1Mc5FXHn8BE08XR2mXcr-dMe7unelH6WsxugEn3zNCI0h3UIRQb80CvYiKEL3VaU/s400/2011_07_13_HP_Honeydukes_001.JPG)
And Honeydukes is always a sweet spot
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfinH4J250wrqeDNbEG5R9n6Zx2USTn6wWtiRyBWDkJhpg0gl0LBZuZP2xFZ2T2C-H6ueOWu3I79T6GUbr-8BWTM8IB0tE1oTSQKx1f0IpCc2Xu5EX9puLpW-xmIwZMb7VpDjWSsjAUc/s400/2011_07_13_HP_Honeydukes_006.JPG)
Check out the wall to wall jars of candy
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It's like rays of sweet, sugary sunshine in there
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULalMLif7OcPU_PYwdmit4T_zSZDyQOSXd8Bn35C0rCdgLkB4ofssd1OuAFo6ETpMhOElsR6WDyrLoqbY1wYWGx1tjx_zQYRoj41c8YXPuM_xng_JVqQhP7wt33ogS0E3Fcv6TwXJULg/s400/2011_07_13_HP_Three_Broomsticks.JPG)
Time to sit down and relax inside the Three Broomsticks
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Anything with pumpkin in it is delicious!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfPw_NbiXMkRNvPw15J_Y6nY8G5p-9vHBDwfN58h3lUsyYElgvXL3EZcMytbXHMliZ9RqxQ-JX8NXNrQKy5Ca_lXbsJk4N4akdHpGBUjNjZWHiMj4P98qJukV-qhif2RwbzNVnlAQks4/s400/2011_07_13_HP_Three_Broomsticks_005.JPG)
We drank lots and lots of creamy butterbeer. yum!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1ZYUQIrd4EclG1_5MzcqGyuI783Q1wra0VdN9a7KtUwKsJi5lOlF4GGWwlUxfjIJ7oVAjZwID5rdtmdSkB9C0jndaufPA-G_Maahw4TR0izI4GIwvgSjjFPrO65a2P34P-_rPKlwkBA/s400/2011_07_13_HP_Three_Broomsticks_007.JPG)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCYfUkKZbdlS5MVDZHuEO5OmDSoyNkeZ5zmEXLJmk-knpi4z3n4PyRiWnACKvFdfsVxZGS5ywjDM8ci1Hgk67h75lP5Nb_NfGVq0J9pvJTFBfJDb_jZw6XwWyVccc9s2Z3XeJ2zmWZ7A/s400/2011_07_13_HP_Hogsmeade_014.JPG)
The Hog's Head is right next door and connected to the Three Broomsticks
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit4Tsme33vLPZeKimp9fFalu5rapLPeD4QWzYUEGrDDr-vgrxJOkHJLhn5s1HrqphmfOxLaO5ZQTwlMHWJaeK_gdQtUZfDAnJjToxshI3aeyB_cBSf96kqf5vt7fYioZin4pMOaAoum44/s400/2011_07_13_HP_Zonko%2527s_002.JPG)
Just outside Zonko's joke shop, right next to Honeydukes
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyioBMGymPc7ojG1xV7sEfPc8GEr8K78x3BTQJ476dc-tenmOTziBaf6XmAnA4XgBgAIGaYhJ9nYMqVf_t-XJQkwtt5KTa8cK64obaHAnGFlTUHQ0-bA6-2VsL16mUv7UzEk0YOxqr8I/s400/2011_07_13_Universal_Trip_008.JPG)
Of course there was time to goof around the rest of the theme park
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnyCdIxHkd7soaZMN_h-3dnDfL1TfD_UMly4ky0HSYqXHWjiftgZUa4mUa7UFezpIeJ1YdF52QHHPYg8eywi7d-2IttvKucuxbJiSVFkZunA5ExDBUxrmppoW9nHiYhmOTMkl5CqTJuMo/s400/2011_07_13_Universal_Trip_009.JPG)
Well? Whaddya think?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJ-QfrYjwtu-suVqsdGT7AmDhJhDBgwIsvHTUk16CwfnBXfTqq849jAREM8UstHj0Qe5nyWJaG5k6X0cAa2LAD50Oe2d3Fv9OayuTmaN9Pr5VRqjn5ld5Kr9b2TqG2ayQy86PBFnkAFg/s400/2011_07_13_Universal_Trip_012.JPG)
Woah! slow down there, killer!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ve-MIjIiG8PTiRqHLjApvocWrFVYYVuPaMH_dbX63zEfcKqfpSn9AV0WB7LzlemZwyqAYb9_nysBRhgvYU3FnWFEOancsRkf7DeZOh7Zcry-0FWZMOjCvdocc2qKBoisQCi8-yL1VX8/s400/2011_07_13_Universal_Trip_015.JPG)
Ah, so fun to spend time together
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuCnBOQR6Yn26Qksjs0tNrYWfbWrOF9V8erii-sD-NHJWHs5vmg9-LkkeGfSGWOq3eOEhkEpEAOuDjBLNZ385dMG8lXKIiEFhHi96KIsTiO5rM1uM_EzLgJgDOyrG41rj_m3rcD4QSqA/s400/2011_07_13_Universal_Trip_020.JPG)
And since Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 came out Friday we had to escape the heat and check it out
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-doyTJqDccmUEBxFDP2URBGMIyEIjg14YfgIQUXjstkLaFbJI19orBlH29PQCAeUwz8saalzsB0UF6TyXmsmuVni_pCFx5QSyrk5MMkYeOtAQqjdsIA0PJldNzVyVUwBBZAzNeKEG-A/s400/2011_07_13_Universal_Trip_026.JPG)
With our park hopper tickets we also visited the other Universal theme park. Feels a lot like Hollywood.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIj7Df13Okes01u8RZ-7I0fowtLSSk0CmY3GzUPINSJXaaMaQKoA6CYjxmuMFprwLZvUIGeGSN40UA6NMNeqbbyGdC1D3U7XjJ8OQEVAe8vTjnCmu16TJEv6DOOuXzaxanCAUK7w6SFiE/s400/2011_07_13_Universal_Trip_029.JPG)
Classic Jaws
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZNpsFuhd0U9GIuvt7SIpCPoF94kkwsDiCZzf6lEhh80S9AUeBMFCeT0cJXYqjfZBR_YR_PUUYJ_LX2x0rKtqz45j5UWB6_rmbK0gwV76HIH6DfNc0dGvr5rAEv1cWTKw1Q_t0O3x5DY/s400/2011_07_13_Universal_Trip_032.JPG)
Even an Irish shop over there
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6aa9YJhrSfvIC000Gz7nBsQ1kivKihx35I8U6NPU7xCVFy2sbiCwHNnqPdOgK_cVmYanlyopkHMnJBOcEGjT1-HqxLYreF1PWoZiKHUB08BhKaVec9MyAt_qGOMnaWVI49HW2d8gulA/s400/2011_07_13_Universal_Trip_033.JPG)
That's about the extent of our surfing experience