Off to Universal to see all things Harry Potter

 We spent an entire day and evening and Universal visiting both the Hogsmeade sides and Diagon alley by way of the Hogwarts Express train.  

Oh my gracious!  We had SOOOO much fun and loved it all!

This picture truly says it all.  While waiting for the park to open to catch the Hogwarts Express, we were killing time and saw that there was no wait for a ride called the Mummy after the movie.  Well, let me first say that we did the at 8:00 in the morning and we had no clue what the mummy was about.  We thought we were just going through some interactive type exhibit.  Needless to say, we were WRONG.  It was a dark, scary and very fast roller coaster that we were already in the queue for before we knew it.  It scared the daylights out of us.  Matt nearly had a heart attack.  He was not happy. We named all of our pics where Matt rode, prayer portraits because Matt looks like he is praying for it to end.   Gracie and I were shaking when it was over, but we have all gotten the absolute best laugh off of that.  So funny!  It made for a great memory.  (now that it's over of course)

So excited!  Kings Cross station to catch the Hogwarts Express to Hogsmeade.

Watch as she passes through the wall at Platform 9 3/4.

The train ride was so cool.  We loved seeing Hagrid and other scenes pass by the windows.  Harry and Ron would walk past the doors of the train cars as well as dementors.  

The inside of Hogwarts was just like in the movies with things like the talking portraits.  We had so much fun looking at everything as we passed through to ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.  Gracie and I rode alone because after the new Hagrid ride,  Matt was done.  This ride was too cool but boy was I motion sick when we got off. 

Making our way up to ride Hagrid's Motorbike.  This is the ride that did Matt in for the day.  He is scarred for life from this ride and swears he would never ever ride it again.  It was hands down mind and LG's favorite ride of all the parks.  It's out in the open and gets up to 55 mph on a track leans 90 degrees at high speed, goes backwards when the track ends and does a deep drop.  

Lily drove our bike while I road in the sidecar.  

According to Matt, he missed most of the ride because he had his eyes closed.

Lunch at the Three Broomsticks

Matt and Lily tried Butter Beer and both disliked it.

The Night Bus outside Diagon Alley

Diagon Alley was right out of the movie.  It was so cool We loved it and had so much fun there.

And trust me, you could feel the heat from that fire 

Olivanders Wand Store- notice the broom sweeping the ceiling

The Wand Ceremony

There were so many choices.

She went with a wand like Jennys.

We had so much fun trying out her new interactive wand, raising feathers, opening curtains, turning lights on and making it rain.

The Money Exchange

Again just like out of the movie.  Entering Gringotts bank to ride Harry Potter's escape from Gringotts.

The Sorting Hat

Galaxy's Edge at Hollywood Studios

 We spent a day deep in the galaxy and it was so cool.  It was like being in the movies and the cast talked to you just like you were.  

The newest ride, Rise of the Resistance is by virtual queue only.  We all woke up early and at 6:45 had our fingers on our phones ready for the 7:00 am opening.  The spots are hard to come by and are gone within seconds.  We couldn't imagine having to leave Disney having not experienced this ride.  Luckily, thanks to Gracie's quick fingers (Guess texting and Candy Crush came in Handy) we got in.  

The other big event of this day, Gracie visited Savis Workshop and built her very own light saber.  It is really cool with sounds and all.  Definitely not a plastic toy.  She is quite proud of it. 

She loved doing this.  It wasn't just a build, but a complete experience complete with words of wisdom from Yoda.

Rise of the Resistance was completely worth the stress of getting in .  Again, it was a complete experience and it was just like being captured by the First Order.

Rise of the Resistance occurs in about three stages and a completely immersive experience.  We loved it!!!!!!!!!!

 

As we were waling around, these Storm Troopers saw Lily with her Light Saber and called her up to talk to her about being a part of the Resistance.  It was so funny.  She loved it!

Enjoying our thermal detonator Coke and Sprite in Galaxy's Edge

Entering the Millennium Falcon.  Lily and Matt were the pilots and I did the guns. 

 Such a fun ride. 

Lily and Matt tried Luke's blue and green milk and really liked it.

After a long day, we headed back to the resort and enjoyed the best meals ever at the Grand's Narcoossees.  It was beautiful, complete with a view of the castle across the water and hands down our favorite!!!!

The Grand Resort is beautiful both day and night.