We'd bought our tickets on-line the night before and I paid for "priority" parking once we arrived around 11am. Chuck was skeptical of paying for priority parking, but I told him that we'd likely really appreciate parking so close to the entrance by the time we left. We took a few pictures by the entrance, which was super cool and then rented a stroller for Olivia. Once Olivia is done, she's done so I knew a stroller would be well used. Plus, it was a great way to care our things. We planned on meeting one of our college friends - Sally and her two boys at the park, so we texted her once we were inside and ended up meeting them in Hogsmeade! Her boys are so grown up and I couldn't believe I hadn't seen Sally since I was pregnant with Sofia nearly nine years ago! Of course, Sally looks fabulous and hasn't aged a day and it felt like we all had just hung out together in Boston last weekend. We used to meet up in Boston and spend the weekend together, which are some of my favorite memories.
Sofia was completely overwhelmed by being in Hogsmeade and Harry Potter world and I must confess that I was a bit overwhelmed as well! It was so well done and felt very real (aside from the mass of humanity we had to weave our way through as we explored). We walked around Hogsmeade and the girls wanted to go into Honeyduke's and buy sweets. We convinced them that we needed to visit Hogwart's castle first and explore Hogsmeade further before buying sweets. Sally and her boys visited Hogwart's castle earlier that morning and told us that it was a 3D ride and offered to hold our backpack and camera while we got into line for the ride. The castle is really majestic from the outside and I loved taking pictures of Sofia in front of it. Once we made our way inside the castle, after having waited in line for maybe 15 minutes, we were told that Olivia is too little to go on the ride, so we were moved into the "family" line which included passing up everyone and moving to the front of the line! While walking in that empty line, we headed up the stairs of the portrait gallery and walked by Dumbledore's office. I was able to capture a few photos with my phone before we were moved into a small room where Olivia and I waited while Chuck and Sofia rode the ride and then I would be able to ride with Sofia while Chuck waited with Olivia. However, once Chuck and Sofia returned from their ride they both said they would never ever do it again! Chuck said the 3D ride made him feel motion sick and Sofia said it was completely overwhelming and a little scary. So, we headed out of the castle, which included a gift shop, of course. Both girls really wanted a stuffed animal souvenir, so I told them before we left for the day they could pick something out but they would have to wait so they were sure of their decision. After we left the gift shop, we decided to buy a Butter Beer, but they were $12 each so we decided to buy one and split it. It ended up being an excellent decision because Butter Beer is so incredibly sweet that even between 4 of us we couldn't finish it!
After Hogwart's castle, we looked at magic wands that were for sale in the Hogsmeade wagon. We ended up buying a wand for Olivia, since Sofia got one for her birthday. Olivia agonized about which one to chose, even though she doesn't really know the Harry Potter characters very well. From there, we walked down and visited Honeyduke's to check out all their goodies. Honeyduke's was so cool and completely stuffed full of candy and goodies - it was awesome! Both girls decided to get a sugar quill lollipops and chocolate frogs. They both broke into their chocolate frogs, which were huge and solid chocolate. While they ate their frogs we walked around the park and visited the Simpson's area, which looked really fun, although neither of our girls even know what The Simpson's are since it isn't really a kid's show. After walking around there, we headed down to the lower level of Universal Studios where the Jurassic Park ride and Transformers area were located. The moving walkways down to the lower levels provided a fantastic view of the area and the studio itself. Along the way, we did stop and take a picture of the space capsule used during the filming of Apollo 13.
Once on the lower level of Universal Studios, we watched as two handlers tried to control one of the dinosaurs that had escaped from the ride. Sofia squeezed her way up to the front of the line and was completely mesmerized. It was fantastic! Once the dinosaur was under control, Sofia really wanted to go on the Jurassic Park ride, so Sally and Chuck took my backpack and camera and agreed to meet up with us after we were done with the ride. We waited in line for about 30 minutes with Olivia taking a mini-nap on my back while we slowly walked in the line. We finally got on the ride and it ended up being really fun and well-made. The ride ended with a huge climb and then drop into the water which meant we got SOAKED! I assumed we would get a little wet, but was shocked at how wet we got. It was actually a very hot day, so it really ended up feeling fantastic. We met up with Sally and Chuck at a little restaurant down from the Jurassic Park ride, after a little cell phone snafu in which my phone wouldn't make any outgoing calls. At first I was worried that it had gotten wet and was ruined, but it was fine. We ended up eating lunch quickly and decided to head back to Harry Potter world, which is the only place Sofia really wanted to visit. As we headed out from lunch one of the Transformers character was out front so the girls stood in line to get a picture with them. Olivia was pretty uncertain about standing next to the huge "thing" but they were first in line for when he came out again. Once he did, Sofia raced over to talk to him and get her picture taken with him. Olivia took off and headed over to where we were standing. She just couldn't handle turning her back on that huge thing.
We decided to take the Studio Tour, which I can remember taking when I last visited when I was 13 years old with my parents. It remains one of my favorite memories of Universal Studios, so I was super excited to go on it. The line was very long, but we all managed to wait patiently and finally made it onto the tour bus. The tour was great and it was so fun to see the Bates motel and house and also to see some of the newer studios. One of the coolest to see was the set for American Ninja Warrior! Plus, there were a few 3D experiences that were inside the studio buildings and was super cool! The tour was great and the Jaws exhibit brought back a lot of memories, although both girls were a bit puzzled by what it was since they haven't seen the movies. The tour was so fun!
After, we headed back up to the top level and walked around Hogsmeade again. We decided to ride the Flight of the Hippogriff roller coaster, which was only about a 15 minute wait in line. It ended up being so much fun and Sofia and Olivia absolutely loved seeing the "real" baby hippogriff in his nest as the ride started. While waiting in line we also were able to walk next to Hagrid's hut. It was so cool! We ended up riding the ride several times, with the girls loving it more and more each time. After, we visited the Owl Post, which was super cool and stuffed with old letters and boxes and owls everywhere. There was also the Book of Monsters in a cage and would wake up and growl around for a few minutes. It was fantastic! Sally said we really had to visit Ollivander's Wand Shop, so we stood in line, not knowing exactly what to expect. They finally let about 20 of us into the Wand Shop where we were moved into a small room packed full of wand boxes and a wizard who chose two people who were then "matched" with their perfect wand. It was fantastic! After the visit to Ollivander's Wand Shop, we'd seen everything (several times) and I told the girls that they could each pick one souvenir out before we headed to dinner. They both knew exactly what they wanted! Sofia picked out a stuffed phoenix while Olivia picked out the stuffed hippogriff. They were so excited and happy!
The girls wanted to go on the Shrek ride, which is an "interactive" 4D ride. It ended up being really fun and we all loved it. We hadn't seen Shrek the movie in ages, but they really enjoyed it. As we left, we came up to a cart with Donkey inside and the girls were able to talk with Donkey, which they both loved! It was really cute!
By then the park was close to closing, so we headed out and ended up eating at Karl Strauss Brewing Company which had very good American food. Both girls ordered mac and cheese and root beers. Just as we were finished and paying, Olivia dropped her root beer which spilled all over the floor. Since she'd already had one root beer and we were ready to leave, I told her that we wouldn't be getting a new one. She completely lost it! She became very upset and cried, so I picked her up and headed out as Chuck, Sally and her boys headed out in front of us. We said a quick goodbye and Chuck, Sofia, a very upset Olivia and I headed toward the car. Chuck looked at me and said "Now, I know why you wanted that priority parking!" How true that was! We were in the car within a minute and I calmed Olivia down by telling her to relax and cuddle into her carseat. She actually ended up staying awake for the whole ride back to Chuck's house. We got home around 1030 and the girls were in bed by 11pm! I couldn't believe how late it was but what a fantastic day!
Chuck and the girls in their Harry Potter outfits. Olivia had her gown on and off throughout the day
We made it! The Universal Studios entrance
Excited girls!
This statue was a real man! It was so cool!
The entrance to Hogsmeade
Sofia at the entrance
Sofia is SO excited to finally be here!
Sofia and the Hogswart's Castle
Chuck and the girls
Ready to go inside Hogwart's Castle and go on the ride
The Portrait Gallery inside the castle
Looking at wands
Olivia and her new wand
One of the shops in Hogsmeade
Sofia in front of the Three Broomsticks
Honeyduke's
It was super fun inside!
Girls breaking into their chocolate frogs
The view of the studio
The capsule used for Apollo 13
Watching a wild dinosaur get captured again
Waiting in line for the Jurassic Park ride
Olivia taking a mini nap while we wait
Finally on the ride!! Here we go!
A real dinosaur
Just a tad wet!
Sofia and one of the Transformers
Back in Hogsmeade!
Visiting the Owl Post
The Book of Monsters
The Studio Tour selfie!
Hagrid's Hut
The train conductor in Hogsmeade
The girls talking to Donkey
Goodbye Universal Studios! Thanks for a fantastic day!
