It’s not every day that I’m presented with the opportunity
to walk into the pages of one of my favorite fantasy series of all time. So,
when I found myself in Orlando Florida driving toward the Harry Potter
Wizarding World at Universal Studios, it was all I could do but pull out my
Nimbus 2000 and zip right over there.
As a HUGE Potter fan, I’d just like to say… the recreation of
Harry Potter's world was absolutely amazing!! I spent hours there visiting and
re-visiting the shops, snapping photos, talking to the Hogwart Students and
simply being amazed by how it truly felt like walking into the story. So I’ve
compiled a few of my favorite moments to share with you!
The Diagon Alley Shops were amazing!! I
had such a great time browsing through Flourish and Blotts, which is the
bookshop where Hogwart students purchase their school books, as well as Gambol
and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop, which is Fred and George’s joke shop
filled with trinkets and games. There were so many tiny shops, some of which
were simply display stores that I must have passed by each a few times before I
got my fill.
When I saw The Leaky Cauldron, I couldn’t
help myself but walk right in to the famous entryway into Diagon Alley. I was
also able to sit and enjoy a wizard’s feast at The Three Broomsticks.
Between you and me, I ate and drank everything with a bit of caution, but there
was no way I could leave without giving the Butterbeer and Pumpkin Juice a try,
right? Let’s just say it’s unique and quite sweet.
I’d have to say Honeydukes was my favorite shop!! I
mean look at all that candy!! There was Exploding Bon Bons, chocolate
frogs, Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans, Fizzing Whizbees… you
name it! YUMMY!
I also had a great time shopping at the Owl Store. I got to
see Olivander’s
Wand Shop, a copy of the Quibbler, HP merchandise and much
more!!
Last but not least… The Hogwarts Castle!!! Oh wow! That was
simply astounding!! There were Hogwart students walking around and singing, a
crazy ride that swept me through the castle, a quidditch game, fire spewing
dragons, dementors and a whole lot more. I saw the talking portraits and was
simply enchanted by how real everything felt. This was truly an awesome experience that I will never forget!!
Wait!! That's not all!!
I brought back a few goodies which I'm excited to giveaway!! For one lucky winner, you'll be receiving a bookmark and a few postcards from this amazing Harry Potter Wizarding World, but that's not all... you will also receive a book from the Harry Potter series of your choice from The Book Depository!! So if you want to re-read this series, or have never tried it before, here's your chance. All you have to do is share a thoughtful comment on the
post or share anything Harry Potter related. :) Good luck!a Rafflecopter giveaway
I love all the pictures! You are very lucky :) Something Harry Potter related...I LOVE Tom Felton ;) Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteWhere do I start? My obsession for Harry Potter is - even after all these years - still there. I always get excited when someone mentions HP. I've re-read the books so many times I lost count and despite the fact that some movies are horrible, I can't stop watching them. It's amazing to see the characters I love dearly on the screen. I even have the Dutch and English books, I have several extra books like "So you think you know Harry Potter?" I have a huge movie poster on my wall (my boyfriend got it for me <3) and yeah, seeing HP wizarding worlds is definitely on my bucket list!
ReplyDeleteIt's awesome that you went there and I'm happy you had such a wonderful time :D
I'm a Potter geek :D
I WANT TO GO SO BAD!!!!! It's been killing me that I can't. Some day, I hope. Thanks for sharing your experience!
ReplyDeleteI cannot wait to go! We are planning on August!!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat giveaway! I haven't read this series but hears WONDERFUL things! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! Who doesn't love some HP swag? :)
ReplyDeleteOMG! I envy you so much! The pictures look amazing! Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI am so jealous! I made butterbeer at home, and while I can't compare it to the official one of the park, I have to say it's pretty tasty! I'm glad you had a good time, and thanks so much for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteSo jealous!!! I want to go sooo bloody badly!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love Harry Potter! It makes me so happy!!! I even went to the Pottermore site and got sorted into slytherin which is my favorite house!
ReplyDeleteI'm dying to go there, like, seriously. You're so lucky :-) and anyway, thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThat was the bestest ride in the park by far! It was awesome!!!! :D
ReplyDeleteI am dying to go Harry Potter World!! That would be the coolest thing ever and I'm super jealous of you :) Thank you for this giveaway it's awesome!
ReplyDeleteOh gosh! I wish I could go there and see everything! It looks magical. :) Harry Potter is just always those books that will never die. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures, how exciting! This is definitely on my list of places I want to go.
ReplyDeleteI've never been there but it looks like fun. I have to admit that I have yet to read any of the Harry potter books, but I have been on a Harry Potter tour in London. My friend, Sarah, is obsessed so we did it for her!
ReplyDeletemestith at gmail dot com
Aw, Arlene--it looks like you had an amazing time! Yay. No need to enter me in the giveaway, but it's so like you to be so generous to your readers and bring something back for us, too. :)
ReplyDeleteWendy @ The Midnight Garden
Wow I am in awe. I am from the Asian part of the country and it seems impossible to ever visit Harry Potter castle. Thanks for the post andfor sharing all these pictures! :D
ReplyDeleteI cannnot wait to go myself to see Harry Potter. The whole family loves the Harry Potter series and the kids are now old enough to enjoy the books. Love the giveaway!!!
ReplyDeleteI went to Harry Potter and was a total fangirl. I absolutely loved everything about the park, and thought that the ride was one of the best made that I had ever seen! I bought a wand there, I admit it :-) Thanks for the great post!
ReplyDeleteHave always wanted to read the Harry Potter series- loved the movies! :)
ReplyDeleteOMG. I am a huge Harry Potter fan! I'm so jealous of you. I'm so going to go there whenever I happen to reach the US. Haha :)) Thanks for the giveaway! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is on my bucket list as well! I really want to go sometime! Our whole family would LOVE IT!!!
ReplyDeleteI could only wish I lived in the US, you always have so many wonderful things to see there :D I cannot wait till I can go on a holiday there next just so I CAN go to Harry Potter World, I'd be satisfied to go there just for that alone LOL I'd definitely be spending quite a bit though, I just wouldn't be able to help myself :( I spent heaps at Disneyland too.
ReplyDeletei've been to HarryPotterWorld twice & now with the upcoming renovations, i will have to go back soon!! cannot wait!!!
ReplyDeletei'm glad you enjoyed your visit to HPW!!!!
& thank you for the giveaway!!!
Wow, I am so jealous! It's one of my dreams to go there one day!
ReplyDeleteI am so, so jealous! I would love to go and visit the world! I will go there one day, hopefully! I have 2 children, my eldest has a bone disease and it would be too awkward for him to go on a plane at the moment to see the castle and shops etc, so maybe in the future we'd be able to go then.
ReplyDeleteHow awesome that you got to see all those shops and shared your pictures with us, thank you! My life is pretty much ruled by Harry Potter. I've read the series several times, my eldest has read them and my youngest isn't quite at the reading ability yet, so I am reading them to him. We have the Lego Harry potter games on the DS, Wii and Xbox, we have so much fun playing them! We have all the films, which we watch all of the way through at least every 3 weeks. I just love eberything about Harry Potter, the world is amazing but also the films and the books can bring a family together, I love that!
Than you for sharing you time with us!
WOW! Congrats on being able to go!:)
ReplyDeleteOne cannot simple move on from Harry Potter. The theme park is one of the places I want to visit. As well as their studio in London.
ReplyDeleteI can see that you really had a good time. The pictures just made me feel giddy all over. Thanks for being so generous and having this giveaway!
x,
Charlie @ Letter Trails
My husband bought me the whole British version of the series for Christmas a couple years ago. It's wonderful. I'd already read all the American versions as they came out, of course. I really want to go to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!
ReplyDeleteWould love to see Harry Potter World. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThat was a great tour of HP World! I want to see it myself though. It's so magical. Thanks for bringing back some goodies for us!
ReplyDeleteThis must have been amazing!!! I want to go so badly! I heard they are opening one in California! Hopefully it's as good as the one in Florida!!!!
ReplyDeleteOMG what a INCREDIBLE experience this must have been!!! I am so happy you got to experience this and I really hope I get to do the same thing soon :D Your pictures are amazing too, I think my favorite places to visit (aside from Hogwarts) would be Olivander's and the Owlery! Thanks so much for sharing & for the sweet giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThat sound so amazing. I'd love to go to something like this. Oh, and take my cousin, too. We would both be totally fangirling at everything!
ReplyDeleteI ENVY YOU! I wanted to go there or the one in UK :)
ReplyDeleteGosh, I want to apparate then and there!
I agree, why wouldn't you try the famous BUTTERBEER? :) Have you bought a wand? :D
*Oh shiiz, I hope TOM FELTON pops there :) HAHAHA!*
I remember when I first discovered Harry Potter in elementary school. Being as I went to a private school it was banned for 'witch craft', but still I took it to school and flaunted it to all the other kids! My dream has been to go here, and it is finally coming true for my senior present! Can't wait to have this experience
ReplyDeleteHarry Potter Wizarding World looks amazing and so much fun. It's seems like an incredible experience, I'd definitely love to go there sometime. Thank you for sharing this giveaway and all the lovely pictures. :)
ReplyDeleteHufflepuff don't care!
ReplyDeleteHUFFLEPUFF HOUSE FTW!
Harry Potter is my favorite book of all time. nuff said
ReplyDeletethanks for the giveaway!
OMG I want to go there so bad that must have been awesome!
ReplyDeleteAHHHHH! You are sooo lucky!!! My friend just went too and it sounds AMAZING!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway
WOW!! You are so lucky!! I've heard of the Harry Potter Wizarding World at Universal Studios but I haven't had a chance to go:( My kids bugged me about it when it first opened. And I was like, well good luck because we live on the west coast! lol It sounds like sooooo much fun!! I would LOVE to go and see this place!! You never know maybe one I will!!
ReplyDeleteI am so jealous! That is my own personal heaven!!! Thank you so much for sharing!!!! :D
ReplyDeleteI must admit that I haven't read any Harry Potter book but I've seen all the movies! You are very lucky! Great pictures and thank you for the giveaway :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of the books(watched and enjoyed most of the movies) but hubby read all of them in a row. I recently won one of them in a giveaway and want to collect the rest b/c our daughter wants to read them. They would be a great addition to her library.
ReplyDeleteWe would love to share the Harry Potter experience at Universal Studios with her. It sounds amazing.
Thanks for the great giveaway :)
OMG lucky you! I wish I lived in the US. The wizarding world is on my list of places I'd like to visit someday, including Kings Cross station and maybe the studios... :D
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway Arlene!
AAAAHH! Harry Potter World!!! Such an amazing opportunity! Thank you for doing such an amazing giveaway!!! :)
ReplyDeleteDamn I wish I could go!!!! I mean who wouldn't want to be part of the Harry Potter World?! Thanks for the giveaway...now I just have to stop myself from getting high hopes so when I don't win it wont be so bad.....................................I WANT TO TRY BUTTERBEER!!!
ReplyDeleteWAAAANT omfg I'm so jealous of you right now :D And I only have the first five books in hardcopy gotta finish my collection
ReplyDeleteSo lucky!! It's nowhere near me and I want to go so badly!
ReplyDeletethis is so amazing! :D soooo jealous! :D
ReplyDeleteWhat a dream trip!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great post on your blog, it really gives me an insight on this topic.
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