Harry Potter Celebration at Universal - Part 2

 This morning I got up and headed to Universal to check out the Harry Potter Expo and attempt to attend some of the panels that would be happening throughout the day at Islands of Adventure. I never did make it to any panels, but the Expo was awesome!

I was an idiot and, upon arriving at the park and seeing all the cool photo ops, decided to return home just to change into my Slytherin uniform. *sigh*

It really sucked going to the event alone. I wish I knew other Harry Potter fans in the area. I did meet a lot of nice people while waiting in line. Quite a few of the Universal team members struck up a conversation with me throughout the day, complimented me on my costume, and offered to take photos for me. So that was nice! It made me really want to work at Universal. (Shh, don't tell anyone.)

Anyway, I had a blast. Here are some photos I took during the event:

This was one of the nice men that talked to me during the event! He was so nice.

Gringotts Bank vault photo-opportunity!

 

A set-up from the U.S. Postal Service where you could get a free souvenir photo! (Both physical and digital copies!)

Physical props from the movies:

The sorting hat ceremony! Of course, I was sorted into Slytherin and I documented the whole thing. (Suck it, Pottermore!)

The graphic designers for the Harry Potter films were there with actual props from the movies!

Costumes from Prisoner of Azkaban:

A wall presented by Scholastic where you could write was Harry Potter means to you.

Paul Harris, the wand choreographer for the films!

After seeing all there was to see at the Expo and participating in some wand combat lessons, I headed over to Islands of Adventure to ride Forbidden Journey.

I'm so excited for Diagon Alley to open this summer! Only a few more months!

Harry Potter Celebration at Universal - Part 1

Tonight was the beginning of the Harry Potter Celebration weekend at Universal Orlando, so I just simply had to go. So, as soon as I got off work, I changed clothes in the bathroom and headed off to Universal!

When I arrived, I walked as quickly as possible to the front of the park, trying to figure out how to buy an annual pass at such a late hour. I found guest relations, waited in line, purchased my annual pass (after haggling with the guy to let me use my apartment utilities bill as proof of Florida residency since I don't have a Florida I.D. yet), and got into the park just barely before they closed the park. The event was held 30 minutes after the park closed, so you had to actually be in the park before that time to attend. It was an insane rush to try to achieve all of this in the time that I had, but I made it!

Neville, Fred, George, Luna, Seamus, Mr. Weasley

It was so cold tonight that I bought a pretzel just to warm my hands up. It was really cool to get to see so many members of the Harry Potter cast in person and I'm really glad I went. Also, Neville is a babe:

I won't get to go at all tomorrow, but I plan on spending the first half of the day there on Sunday! Can't wait to see everything else at the Expo!

Disney To-Do List

I know I won't get to do everything on this list (especially dining), but I'm going to try my darnedest! I'm going to section it off into categories to make it a little more readable:

Disney College Program

• Attend at least one housing event
• Shadow someone who works for the Disney Event Group
• Visit Company D, Property Control, and Cast Connections stores
• Do a backstage tour of The Haunted Mansion
• Find a way to get a peek inside the Cinderella Castle Suite
• Be a Disney VoluntEAR
• Meet Joe Rhode
• Work in a different resort than the one I am assigned to.
• Create a magic memory for a guest.
• Earn a Guest Service Fanatic card
• Attend graduation

Theme Parks

• Take at least one behind-the-scenes tour in a park
• Attend Star Wars Weekends
• Participate in Dapper Day
• Collect paper Fastpasses for any rides still using them before they're done away with
• Meet any characters I haven't met
• See any shows I haven't seen (that I want to).
• Magic Kingdom: Enchanted Tales with Belle
• EPCOT:  Off-Kilter
• Hollywood Studios: Beauty and the Beast
• Animal Kingdom: N/A
• Ride/experience any attractions I haven't been on.
• Magic Kingdom: Enchanted Tiki Room (original), Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom
• EPCOT: Agent P's World Showcase Adventure
• Hollywood Studios: Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow
• Animal Kingdom: The Boneyard

Dining

• Get a Dolewhip (They're vegan now!)
• Eat at the following resort restaurants:
• Jiko and Sanaa at Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Kouzzina at the Boardwalk
• Maya Grill at Coronado Springs
• Trail's End at Fort Wilderness
• 1900 Park Fare and Citricos at the Grand Floridian
• Boatwright's at Port Orleans Riverside
• Whispering Canyon Cafe at Wilderness Lodge
• Eat at the following park restaurants:
• Magic Kingdom: Be Our Guest, Cinderella's Royal Table
• EPCOT: Coral Reef, Biergarten, Chefs de France, La Hacienda de San Angel
• Hollywood Studios: Brown Derby
• Animal Kingdom: N/A

Recreation

• Characters in Flight
• See Cirque du Soleil La Nouba
• Rent a watercraft in the Seven Seas Lagoon
• Learn to surf at Typhoon Lagoon
• Go bowling at Splitsville

Resorts

• Visit all the resorts by having themed Value, Moderate, and Deluxe exploration days!
• Attend Chip and Dale's Campfire Sing-a-Long at Fort Wilderness
• Take a dining tour at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Stay at the Yacht or Beach Club for one night so I can finally swim in Stormalong Bay!
• Watch the geyser erupt at Wilderness Lodge

Orlando Area

• Visit Busch Gardens
• Take a class with the Orlando Trapeze Federation
• Buy a season pass to the Universal Orlando Resort
• Attend the opening ceremonies for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - London
• Feed a baby manatee with a bottle.. somehow