Sign near the entrance to Islands of Adventure.
(*All photos in this post were taken by me/family.*)
(*All photos in this post were taken by me/family.*)
Happy New Year, everyone!
Just got back from my vacation this morning! Is it possible to feel exhausted and refreshed at the same time? Because that's kind of what it feels like right now. I enjoy flying, but all the taxi-hailing, luggage-checking, boarding pass-printing, security-navigating, and connecting flight-catching can get pret-ty tiresome.
BUT, I think all of that is worth it because I had a fantastic time at Disney World and Orlando Studios with my family. We have a lot of milestones to celebrate this year - graduations, new jobs, and big birthdays - and so we welcomed 2012 in style in the happiest place on Earth.
I got to go on my favorite rides and see my favorite shows in the Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. They never get old, no matter how many times I go.
I also spent a whole day at the Islands of Adventure, where I got to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter up close and personal.
View of Hogwarts Castle from Hogsmeade.
This place still gets extremely crowded, so just be prepared if you're planning a trip in the near future. Expect to wait in line for hours to get on one of the three rides, and expect to jostle and be jostled in order to see anything in the tiny, tiny shops.
My acceptance letter never came when I was 11. Oh well, might as well take a picture with the train.
I had fun, but frankly, I'm a bit disappointed by how Universal Studios built this place and I think there can be MANY improvements. Like, for instance, creating a walking tour of Hogwarts Castle that doesn't force people to stand in a three-hour line for a ride they may not even want to go on.
Zonko's Joke Shop. SUPER tiny.
Honeydukes Sweet Shop. My $10 chocolate frog does not move. I'm thinking of filing a complaint.
Also, I never thought I'd say this, but I froze my butt off in Florida. It was COLD. So cold that the shorts and flip-flops I packed never made it out of the suitcase (although the sunglasses and sunscreen did), and I had to wear six layers of clothing on the night that we stayed out late to see Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios. (By the way - best. Show. Ever. Please do not miss it if you plan on visiting Disney World.)
What with the freeze warnings and the windchill, it felt like being at home... except way more fun. I'll try my best to post more pictures on Facebook eventually!
Anyway, hope you're having a great start to 2012 so far. It's the Year of the Dragon according to the Chinese calendar. Chinese dragons figure heavily in my new story because I think the lore behind these creatures is every bit as amazing and deserving of being in an epic fantasy novel as European dragons. I'll be sharing more about this soon!
P.S. Sunday, January 8 is the last day to enter for a chance to win books and Harry Potter World goodies in my 400 Followers Giveaway. Click HERE for details!
20 comments:
Glad you had a great time, though Florida? Cold? What's with that?
I bet your family had a blast! The walk through the castle used to be just the entrance to the roller coaster I think.
Sounds amazing, even with the lines. And I would totally bring suit about that chocolate frog.
Welcome back, Julie! I LOVE Disney World! I went there for my first time when I was 20 just after new years. But it was in the high 50s, low 60s (except at night and in the early morning it was in the 30s) so it wasn't too bad. Jeans and hoodie weather!
I haven't been to Harry Potter World yet and I SO want to go!! That's awesome you got to see it. It's almost like you got your letter afterall. :)
Happy New Year!!
Sounds like so much fun! I'm excited to go hopefully this year! Love you! Glad you had a great time!
Shame about the crowds and jostling at HP World. Glad you still had a great time. :)
Happy New Year, Julie! Welcome back! Sounds like you had a fun, adventurous time on vacation. My sister told me it's the Year of the Dragon, too. Clearly 2012's gonna be fierce!
Happy New Year! Glad you had a good time welcoming 2012 in.
So pleased you had a lovely vacation and also pleased you are back in the blogging world.
Happy New Year,
PS loved the pictures they are aewsome.
Yvonne.
Oh no! lol You showed up during our cold snap. I'm about an hour and a half north of Disney. We had great weather and then boom, a few days of low temps. Now it's edging back up into the sixties again. When you're gone. lol
Glad you had fun and welcome back!
Welcome back!! I'm glad the vacation was invigorating and you enjoyed yourself. I also know what you mean about traveling, it can be a real pain sometimes.
It sounds like you had a great time! Being cold in Disney World still requires you be in Disney World and it seems like it didn't slow you down at all. Hooray! I can't wait to someday see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I'm mildly agoraphobic but I think I'll be able to suppress it just enough to make it through. :)
Ten dollars for a chocolate frog? Geez. Well, I'd still get one! Thanks for sharing your adventure. :)
I love that you are going to capitalize on the lore Chinese dragons. European dragons are indeed overdone!
Happy belated New Year!
There was a cold front last week. It's warm now. I'm sorry you never got to use your warm weather clothes.
I've been to Orlando a couple of times, but I need to see more of these sites.
What fun! Looks like you had an awesome time. Thanks for sharing your pictures.
Welcome back! May you feel transformed!
Woohoo! Welcome back and Happy New Year!
What you said about the $$$ and crowds and smallness is what makes me kind of NOT want to go to Wizarding World, but the HP fangirl in me is still like ZOMG I MUST GO!!! It looks cool though. I think it definitely could have done with more space. :P
It's still one of my dreams to go to Disneyworld, but I'm pretty spoiled since Disneyland is sorta in my metaphorical backyard and I go like all the time. Fantasmic is definitely the best show ever!
*simmering with jealousy* Though, I'll probably try to wait until the crowds die down a little. If they ever do ...
Angela: I know, RIGHT!? When our plane touched down, it was sunny with blue skies and palm trees - looked like it shoulda been 85 at least!
Alex: I think it still is, unfortunately. They should make a whole separate tour!
Julie: Haha, I know! I wonder how many kids cried because their frog didn't move.
Laura: I hope you get to go soon! It was TONS of fun even with the chill!
Thao: Thanks, I hope you get to this year! Love you too, miss you!
Colin: I'm afraid it will be crowded for a very long time to come! Despite that, I had a wonderful time!
Charmalot: Yes, I'm looking forward to 2012's fierceness! Happy New Year!
Sophia: Happy New Year to you, too! :)
Yvonne: Thank you so much! I hope you enjoyed welcoming 2012, too!
Jessica: I didn't know you lived so close to Orlando! Yes, it was quite the cold snap... but it went back up to 78 the day I left! Figures :)
Don: It was so relaxing and fun! I wish it had lasted a little longer, though, but I'm glad to be back in the blogosophere!
Emma: I hope you get to go to Harry Potter World! It was definitely worth it even with the crowds!
Christine: Hahaha that is what I thought exactly! Disney World prices are just that - Disney World prices - and then you go back to the real world!
Margo: I'm very excited about incorporating Chinese dragons! I think they're fascinating.
Medeia: Oh I'm sure Florida residents try to steer clear of these giant tourist lures :) But they are fun once in a while! You should check them out!
Kathi: I had a splendid time, thank you! :)
Robert: Thank you! I feel very rejuvenated!
Krispy: Happy New Year!! Aw, I'm sorry - I didn't mean to discourage you. I just wanted to give a realistic review. I hope you go to HP World anyway! It really is worth it to "be" in the world of the books. You're so lucky Disney Land is in your backyard - so jealous!!!
Tiana: Yes, definitely go! I'm thinking maybe the off-season won't be so bad... like April? Or May? We thought post-New Year would be a great time to go but it was PACKED. Lots and lots of international travelers who waited for the American holidays to end before coming!
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