Universal Studios Meet, Tuesday 10th

I checked out the Universal web site and I'll be doing Island of Adventure (and Harry Potter World) on Wednesday. If you see anyone in a Qui-Gon poncho, that will be me. Unless everyone else is wearing one, too.

 

I'll be doing the same with my family on Tuesday

 

LOL!! I'll be on the lookout!

 

A trip to Hogwart's, anyone?

Just wondering if anyone's planning on going to Universal Orlando's new Wizarding World of Harry Potter, either before or after CV.

Both Entertainment Weekly (May 21) and Parade (May 30) magazines have had "sneak peek" articles, and tonight, NBC will be showing a half-hour special on the park:

http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/05/21/the-new-harry-potter-theme-park-we-were-there/

http://www.parade.com/celebrity/2010/05/bringing-the-world-of-harry-potter-to-life.html


(from EW):


SHOPPING:

Prepare to drop more than a few Galleons in the commercial area of Hogsmeade. There are Sneakoscopes ($15) at Zonko's joke shop; Peppermint Toads ($7) at Honeyduke's sweet shop; Quaffles ($20), Bludger's ($22), and Golden Snitches ($15) at Dervish and Banges' magic shop. (You can even buy a Firebolt broomstick - for $300.) Thanks to close supervision by the Potter films' design team, everything looks and feels precisely right, down the the absurdly high shelves and cramped, English-style layouts. In other words, expect some tight crowds. Purists may scoff that Ollivander's wand shop has been apparated here from Diagon Alley, but who cares when you can buy Sirius Black's wand ($25)?

FOOD:

Sheperd's pie and chocolate trifle are on the menu at the Three Broomsticks, and with their floppy, pointed hats, the employees do sort of look like house elves. Elbow up to the Hog's Head pub next door for a special, park-only alcoholic brew, but don't be shocked if the namesake mounted on the wall starts snarling at you.

RIDES:

There are three. Flight of The Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge are well-executed, if conventional roller coasters. The park's signature cutting-edge ride, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, wasn't running yet during our visi. But that hardly mattered, since the queue for it takes guests on a bewitching journey through Hogwart's castle itself. Somehow, the living portraits do look like talking oil paintings instead of just framed TV screens. Enter Dumbledore's office, and the headmaster (i.e. Michael Gambon) happily welcomes the first Muggles ever to set foot inside the school. And after arriving at the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, Harry, Hermione, and Ron (i.e. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint) conspire to save everyone from one of Professor Binn's dull history lessons - and then Ron accidentally makes it snow.

OTHER STUFF:

The greenhouse doesn't feature any moving plants (a missed opportunity, we think), but clever touches abound at the park. Quills write on their own, a book of monsters snaps at bystanders, and a tape measure plays with the hem of Hermione's Yule Ball dress. Just try not to spill your pumpkin juice - nothing breaks the spell like a Muggle trying to hide a stain on his shirt.

HEAR THAT?

A four-person Hogwart's choir periodically gathers to sing songs like "Double Trouble" (from "Prisoner of Azkaban") and "Do The Hippogriff" (with bullfrog puppets). Also, you can hear Moaning Myrtle giggling at you while you're in the bathroom.

 

I dunno, but I'd love to do another amusement park with you, Johanna!

 

Yes, we need to organise something and this time I'll drag myself along.

 

We're only going to Islands of Adventure, since it's cheaper to go to one park.

And Johanna, I think this time you should invest in a pre-paid phone so I don't have to keep forgetting where I put mine.

 

I'd love to coordinate with the group once people have settled on a time and meeting place.

Also, I think Islands of Adventure is probably enough for one day. If we try to rush to more than one park, it'll be harder to enjoy everything.

 

There is enough time in one day to do everything at both parks, if you stay from open to close (and there's no rain). But if you only do one park, Islands of Adventure is the right choice. Especially with Harry Potter world.

Hanging around City Walk can also be fun. Makes a good place to eat lunch (cheaper than in the actual parks).

 

I only want to do Island of Adventure. But I'll do both if that's what everyone else wants to do.

Anytime is good. I'll already of been in Florida for 2 days by this point.

Why not meet at the park gates?

 

Too bad there aren't any giant letters at the gate! Meet at the "L"....just kidding! Anyone familiar with the entry at Universal? I've never been there, only to Disney. If someone is familiar with IOA maybe they could come up with a good meeting place.

 

Actually, for Universal Studios in general, the best meeting place (in my opinion) is before the park its self. Parking and walking to and through City Walk to get to the parks is part of the Universal experience. And it's wonderful to do it with a group. That said, my suggested meeting place is the dome-like structure connected to the two parking garages. That way, no matter which garage anyone parks in, everyone ends up in the same place. And would get to experience the journey through all of City Walk's awesomeness, and the excitement and anticipation of approaching Islands of Adventure, together.

 

I just discovered that parts of Universal Studios are viewable in STREET VIEW. This is frikkin amazing!

 

Discounts for CV goers


Be interesting to find out exactly what the discounts will entail for us. Because I was planning on buying some of my tickets in advanced but if there are deals better at the gate. That would be good to know.

 

I purchased my "2 day, both parks" back in March on-line. It appears cheaper doing it that way. I also checked with AAA Michigan and the on-line price was still cheaper. But be aware that there are different brokers in the Orlando area that sells tickets also. There may be a savings of $1.00 to $3.00 per ticket. Of course, go on-line and compare prices. At the time I bought mine, I went directly to the www.UniversalOrlando.com site.
I hope this helps.

 

Since you know the area, can you tell us whether everyone would need to bring/rent cars? Or is there a bus that can get us there from the vicinity of the convention center?

 

Well both times I've been (2000 and 2009) it was my family going in a van, so I don't know anything from experience about taking a bus. Although I know they have a shuttle service since you can see busses dropping people off. I don't know what areas and hotels have the service available, but seeing as how the convention center isn't far from US, I'd imagine the busses do go there.

Also, the people being shuttled get dropped off in that parking lot between the garages and City Walk, and go up an escalator into the circular commons dome area thing (my term, I don't know what it's called). So everyone ends up in the that place before entering City Walk and the park(s), no matter which means of transportation they choose.

 

Too bad there's no actual Hogwart's Express that'll take you there.

 

Of course I do.





(I'm sorry, I've been living in NYC for too many years now... I'm terribly spoiled about mass transit!)