Word -less- Wednesday Blog Hop!

Back again for another Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop hosted by the devoted Deb!

Going up?  Here are some shots of the Magic's lobby from the elevator as it departs from the first floor!

Solo Trip Recap Part Whatever: Harry Potter World Food!

Ugh okay I have been SO BAD about finishing this trip recap.  Basically, I rode the rides at Harry Potter except for the 2 Dragons one because it was too scary for me and the lockers were an unappealing extra cost.  I strolled through all of the shops and even did another round in Ollivanders.

Truly, if you get there early and don't have kids, you can do the whole land (as it stands in 2012, sans expansion) in 2 hours or less.  Especially in the off season.  I wouldn't do it again any time soon though.  The rest of the park does not appeal to me AT ALL and I don't think $90 is worth a ticket to one land.  Would you pay that much JUST to check out Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom?  Maybe once or twice but not on the reg right?

ANYWAY,  I grabbed lunch at the Three Broomsticks.  It was only okay.  I appreciate that they're not serving boring old burgers and fries.  But the quality of the food they did serve was meh.  I got the cornish pasties and a chocolate trifle for dessert.

And I even grabbed a chocolate frog from Honeydukes - that was VERY yum.  Good chocolate.  LOTS of chocolate.  About the size of my palm and solid.

I realllly want to go back for a cauldron (I should have gotten more while I was there but I was so full from all the yummy food I had eaten on the trip and didn't think it would last the plane ride home).

Hardly Wordless Wednesday

Aaaand we're back for another Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop hosted by the dependable Deb!

My sister and I watched The Muppets movie in the ship's theater on the second night.  I also caught Cars 3 - both times were the first times I had seen the movies. 

I am glad I got to watch them in this beautiful (and clean) theater!   The only thing better would have been a popcorn machine out front!

Barely Wordless Wednesday

Welcome back for another Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop

hosted by the distinctive Deb!  (Deb: I posted the button but it's somehow not coming up. Sorry!!)

After the ship sailed down the Hudson, we decided to continue our exploration of the ship and throw in a little shopping. 

Here's a hidden Mickey we found in one of the Magic's stores!

Solo Trip Recap Part Whatever: Zonko's (Article D)

While sipping on my butterbeer, I weaved my way in and out of the shops.  They were authentically small and a bit crowded but I wasn't in a rush or with anyone (not sure I'd bring a stroller in there though).

First I checked out the toy store, Zonko's.  How great is this themeing?  If only I had seen a Weasley twin (the alleged proprietors), my trip would have been 100% perfect!

Careful what you say around these things!

Semi-Wordless Wednesday

Welcome to another "Wordless" Wednesday hosted by the dutiful Deb!  Continuing with my DCL Magic pics from the weekend NYC cruise in June, here we have some shots as the ship sailed away from the port and down the Hudson.

Solo Trip Recap Part Whatever: Harry Potter Land Continued

So after my AMAZING experience at the main ride, I decided it was time to grab a Butterbeer:

I really liked it!  Especially the foam which was very sweet (I have a sweet tooth).  It could have used more foam but it was DELISH.  Overpriced, but for a one-time try, absolutely necessary.

Then I explored the shops a little.  I always really loved this dress Hermione wore and was thrilled to get to check it out up close!

Solo Trip Recap Part Whatever: Harry Potter Land (Clause C)

Continuing my adventures at WWoHP . . . check out my previous post here.  And my other posts too!

So I hop on the queue for THE RIDE.  The one EVERYONE comes for.  The wait is not too bad - maybe 20-30 minutes? - it was pretty early in the morning and to be honest I didn't want to be the first in line because I wanted to be able to savor all the details of this legendary queue!  I'll let my pictures (which captured a small fraction of the details) speak for themselves:

 After you've stored your belongings in your locker, you stroll through dank, winding tunnels.  Passing the Mirror of Erised . . . . some Hogwarts classrooms . . .

At last you get a glimpse of the sky and a close up of the castle.  But only for a moment before you are whisked through the Hogwarts greenhouses

Apparently classes are still going on as you can spot some "homework" safely locked behind the cages:

As promised, the detailing is elaborate.  Incredible.  I suspect it surpasses the actual sets used in the movies:

Finally, you enter into the castle proper.  Passing the entrance to Dumbledore's office.  Now if only I could remember that day's password . . .

These golden statues each represent one of the four Hogwarts founders.

Seems like a great way to track each House's points no?  Gryffindor is in the lead, with Slytherin close behind, of course:

You can almost see the Cornish pixies that were released in this classroom in one of the movies climbing on that flying skeleton hanging from the ceiling! 

Ah, we've made it to Dumbledore's office!  He appears briefly to give us a vague preview of what's ahead . . .

and then so do Harry, Ron, and Hermione!  The technology here is bar none.

And then you come to a Hogwarts stairwell complete with talking paintings.  They sure are chatty!  (PS sorry the photos are so dark - the queue is dimly lit and sometimes the flash didn't work.  I'm not really a photographer lol)

 And just after that you catch a view of the Sorting Hat with a final warning.

Because as you turn the corner you arrive at the loading dock, complete with BEAUTIFUL floating candles.  Seriously you guys, how do I install this in my apartment?

I won't tell you about the ride other than it is INCREDIBLE.  It's like a combination of a 4D movie, Star Tours, a dark ride, AND a mild roller coaster.  AH-MAZING. 

Okay I'll tell you one more thing: GO EARLY.  By the time I left the land, about 2 hours from opening, the line was Toy-Story-Mania level long.