TBT: Walt Disney World November 2011, Part 5

By Nick

Back before I blogged, I participated regularly in the DVC News Forums where I would post trip reports, such as this one from November of 2011. 

Obviously part of today's post contains our side trip to Universal. Please hang in there, we get back to Disney at the end!

Any current commentary will be in italics.

PART 5 : 11/15 & 16/11
Part 4 can be found here


Tuesday, November 15th

We got a cab over to Universal Studio's Islands of Adventure, and were there at opening. It was not very crowded, and we walked right into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. We knew we should head right for the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride, but, wow. Just, I'm still really, really impressed, just looking at our pictures.









Absolutely fantastic.
We took some pics, and then headed for Forbidden Journey, which we walked right on. It was amazing. It also almost made me sick. I really need to find a motion sickness solution.
Barbie and Josh had no issues, and went right back on.

After that, we got Butterbeer. I am now an addict. Throughout the day, I had 4.





We walked around the shops, which look amazing, are beautifully themed, but are very tiny and cramped. In fact, that is a good way to describe most of this area. I'm hearing they are going to be expanding, and that will absolutely get me back in. (Diagon Alley is now open and as wonderfully themed!)

We had an early lunch at the Three Broomsticks. The food was just so-so. I've been told that one central kitchen makes all the food for the restaurants in the park, and it sort of came over. The chicken and ribs were dry. The surroundings were gorgeous, the food looked delicious, but it unfortunately did not live up to the look. (Back to Diagon Alley, the food at The Leaky Cauldron is terrific.)

After lunch, Josh and Barbie went off to ride both sides of the Dragon Challenge, while I had a real beer in the Hog's Head. I was told the beer was made just for there. It wasn't bad, very Killian's Red.



Jill and I walked through the queue of Dragons, which was very nicely themed. But the coolest queue is in Forbidden Journey, and we all walked through Hogwarts. You can walk through the castle to see the very well done effects. We easily spent 40 minutes in there.
I actually watched a teenage girl walk into the room where Harry, Ron, and Hermione are projected, telling you about how to go on your journey, and burst into tears. It is THE Mecca for Harry Potter fans.
It may seem like I'm gushing. Because I am.

By now, it was 1pm, and we headed to other park locales. We eventually made our way around to Spider-Man. Barbie, Josh and I rode, and for some reason, I was fine, so we rode again.
Barbie and Josh rode Hulk twice, and we walked back around for more Butterbeer, before leaving for the day.

That night we had dinner at Trail's End, and Barbie and I had an early evening, as we had to pack.
Josh and Jill went to the pool and hot tub.

Wednesday, November 16th

We were at rope drop for Disney Hollywood Studios, and went right on Toy Story Midway Mania.



Josh and I headed over to Rockin Roller Coaster, while the girls went pin trading, and we got the front row.
We then rode Tower of Terror, and met the ladies afterwards, and had cupcakes for breakfast at Starring Rolls.
Peanut Butter and Red Velvet.



Barbie, Josh and I rode Star Tours next.



By now, it was around 11, so Barbie and I decided to head back. Josh and Jill stayed 2 more nights.
Barbie and I got off at the Wilderness Lodge and I grabbed a burger at Roaring Forks. We had a 120PM Magical Express pick up.

It was a great trip. Thank you for reading!

Thank you for following along on another trip, and Happy Thanksgiving to our readers in the United States.

December '14 Walt Disney World Trip Report: Part 1

by Nick

Barbie and I went on vacation with our friends Jill and Josh to Orlando from December 4th through the 12th.

 Me, Barbie, Pluto, Jill, and Josh at Epcot

We'll start the report on Saturday, December 6th.

What happened to the first 2 days of the trip? Were they so bad we don't want to discuss them? No.
In fact they were totally awesome. We had a blast. But it wasn't at Disney. It was at the park that shall not be named, AKA, The Dark Side.

Yes, that's right, Universal Studios. -gasp-
Let's address this dragon elephant in the room.

We stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel, which is terrific, experienced extreme generosity from friends (You know who you are, and thank you again!), and the Harry Potter areas, heck, all of Universal and Islands of Adventure are extremely well themed. Absolutely spectacular.

Okay, moving on.

We arrived at the Wilderness Lodge about 830am and checked in for our stay at the Villas side. Since our room wasn't ready yet, we checked our bags and walked around the main lobby area, taking photos of the amazing decorations.

We split the cost of Memory Maker, part of the PhotoPass system, and we started getting photos the minute we saw a photographer. More on our Memory Maker experience in a future post.

Then it was off to Epcot, to partake in some of the Holidays Around the World food and entertainment. But first, the ladies wanted to get a Croissant Donut.

We continued on around to France where we found Père Noël.

After this, it was off to Japan where we learned the story of the Daruma doll and other New Year celebrations and customs.

While there, I tried one of the many special holiday food offerings available at each of the World Showcase Pavilions.

Next stop, Germany, where we heard Helga tell the story of the first Christmas tree and the tale of her first Nutcracker.

We both received a text that our rooms were ready, so we continued toward the front of World Showcase, stopping in Mexico, where we split a couple of meals for lunch, as well as another holiday offering, the Sweet Tamale. All the food was delicious!

 

We went to our rooms and unpacked, then met for a dip in the pool and hot tub. It was the last warm day of the trip, so it was the only time we'd actually take a swim during our stay.

A little later in the evening we met our friend Josie in the main lobby of the Wilderness Lodge.

We took a boat to the Magic Kingdom.

Barbie, me, Jill, Josh, and Josie

Luckily, we'd made it on time for the second Frozen Holiday Wish castle lighting show, which I had all intentions of taking video of and sharing here. But, as we weren't directly right in front of the stage, this happened. 

 Oh well, I moved a little bit to the right and...

There is a castle back there, honest!

I did manage to position myself in a spot where I could at least capture this much video:

After a ride on the Under the Sea -Journey of the Little Mermaid, our next stop was for a bite at Gaston's where Josh and I split a pork shank.

We made a stop at Pete's Silly Sideshow for photos with Donald, Goofy, Minnie and Daisy.

After that, we had a FastPass+ for the Jingle Cruise, a fun holiday overlay of the Jungle Cruise.

 

 

We took a ride on Pirates of the Caribbean, then made our way to Main Street, where at midnight we celebrated the arrival of Josie's birthday, a wonderful end to a very full first day.