florida
harry potter
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universal studios
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My muggle days in Universal Studios
Wednesday, December 30, 2015During the 12 days days in Florida, Ed and I spent 2 of the days at Universal Studios. And if you haven't heard, the Universal Studios here comes with the Harry Potter extensions and that means...BUTTER BEER. And lots and lots of Harry Potter magic ahahaha.
We visited Island of Adventures first, and frankly, I think it offers better rides and attractions. Universal Studios doesn't do as well in its rides, but it has Diagon Alley, and Gringotts, which felt a little more exciting that Hogsmeade in IOA. So both parks has its own perks. I wouldn't miss any one.
IOA has a superhero area, which they decorated with lots of DC characters
But the only ride was the Amazing Adventures of Spiderman and it's a ride just like the Transformer's one, but this one featuring lots of villains in the story, and I actually found it frightening at certain scenes.
Ed is really not a fan of rides that involves drop. This was the only ride with a drop that we took. We even skipped the Dr Doom's tower of Terror and the roller coasters. Look at how excited he is.
He's only happy here, cos he got it over and done with it
Checking out if the next ride is scary ahahah. It wasn't. But it was very wet.
A special effects about good gods fighting bad gods. I have to give it to the host of the show. She's really good at staying in character.
The cat in the hat! There was a Seussland and it was kid perfect!
It definitely brought out ed's childish side, ahaha
We dined at Mythos for lunch, the #1 theme park restaurant. It wasn't too bad, but we had to wait for more than 45mins cos our order got lost in the process.
Unfortunately the Hulk ride is still under construction when we were there
There was a fountain that talked to people too. The camera picks up the people standing in front of it and some guy, probably sitting in an office somewhere, would speak with the passerbys through the speaker and its hilarious most of the time.
Singapore's version is better. Asians are indeed better at martial arts, ahaha
During this Christmas season, IOA had a special "Grinchmas" show put up too, and it was so fun with the songs and dance.
Hogsmeade! The place literally took my breath away when I first stepped in. The snow capped houses were just like the movie's and the fact that the weather happened to be cold and rainy that day added to the feel too
It was really rattling and snarling! Plushie versions of the book is on sale too
The wands are displayed and sold is almost everywhere in the park. The Ollivander's wand experience, where the scene of harry potter getting his wand was recreated, added to the appeal of getting one's own wand too
Wands of everyone's favourite characters. The wands of other side characters were on display too
A model of the Hogwarts express. A real train actually links IOA to the other Universal studios, to Diagon alley. But we didn't get a chance because we bought single park single day tickets
Entrance to Hogsmeade
Honestly we were quite disappointed in this segment ahaha, the characters were just there for photo taking. We thought they were going to dance or perform something
This has to be the coolest part of the Harry Potter worlds. Universal actually sells wands that comes with a sensor, and in different parts of the park, there are sensors that would pick up wand movements. Essentially, everyone can now "conjour" spells by doing a specific movement, once the sensor picks it up, something "magically" happens. Muggle no more!
Yes, it wails too, just like in the book and movies.
Chocolate frogs!
Owl post
Hogwarts! Inside Hogwarts is a ride called, Harry Potter and the forbidden journey. It's a 3D ride that brings one through all the key events in the series, and it's so so awesome <3 We went twice ahaha.
And of course, how can we miss out the butterbeer. This one here is the frozen version. The liquid taste like caramel slurpee, while the foam taste like really thick cream. It comes together pretty well! And starting from this month, I believe the price has increased to USD$7 ):
Hogsmeade at night is equally enchanting
The marauder's map! This is epic cool. The footsteps here are just light projections. I wished they would really make one that works <3
At Universal Studios Florida, we actually had a little too much time on hand because we didn't have to queue for the transformers and revenge of the mummy ride, which we have already done in Singapore. As a result, we went pretty chill and took our time, which we later regretted, cos the sun sets early and we didn't get to see some of the places in the day, like Knockdown Alley in the Harry Potter section.
Streets of the park. Pretty similar to Singapore ain't it?
The decorations are perfect in this simpsons land!
So were the characters, though it felt a little creepy ahaha
The decorations within the restaurant was on point too!
And as expected, never trust food that were once a cartoon. AHAHA. Actually they were that bad, just your typically theme park food I guess
The minions 3D experience was so cuteeeee
And so is scooby doo!
Finally, we arrived in Spongebob's lair
And got to meet the guy himself!
Ain't my guy cute, ahahah
Horror make up show. Best live show I've watched in the theme parks here. The hosts were so funny and so good, and they chose the best volunteer ever to take part, it was hilarious
And of course, there's a Christmas Parade! Can't beat Disney's though, hehe
And finally, Diagon Alley! Just like the story, it's through a brick wall, unseen from the muggle world.
Quidditch supplies!! Check out the firebolt on display
And here, you can buy all the gears you need to support your favourit quidditch team, or even start playing the sport yourself!
More wands, and they work the same way like in Hogsmeade
Butterbeer soft serve ice cream! The drink itself is still better
The waiter at Leaky Cauldron. It's amazing the level of details they get into
I just feel sad when I see the shop cos I'm reminded that one of the twins died ):
And they sell all the candies, exactly like those in the book. Not the same function, though ahaha
Anyone recognise him?
And of course, Gringotts!!
This was actually not the bank itself, but another shop where one can swop real cash for "Gringotts" money and actually talk to the Goblin, who would reply!
This, is then Gringotts. And here there's the ride where we travel with Harry and friends to stop Beatrix and Voldemort in the underground vaults of Gringotts
All of them move! But repeated actions only. Still the details are all so good.
Kreacher!
Just popping by to check up on Sirius (I know, he's dead ): Still, he's my favourite character )
Knight bus and the talking head!
Really feels like I'm in London
We stay here till dark and at night the whole atmosphere just changes
The Knockturn alley feels especially dangerous too
And we caught the dragon breathe fire! She does it every 10 mins.
Planning for Universal Studios didn't require too much effort unlike Disneyland cos there isn't as much attractions and parades, but I think 2 days is still required just to fully explore the whole Harry Potter area, especially since I'm a fan ahahaha. But some research is still needed to know which ride to avoid and which rides to definitely take. This Orlando Informer website and came in really useful and so did the undercover tourist app. In fact, the app has the waiting time for both Disney and Universal Studios and I personally found it alot more user friendly that the official Disney and Universal Studios app itself. (Plan for IOA, and Universal Studios)
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