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.