Harry Potter World

The highlight of our trip was visiting the Harry Potter world inside Universal's Islands of Adventure.  It had the best rides, shopping, and food... of course, we are big fans.

Hogsmeade

Hogwarts Castle

Hagrid's Hut

The Hogwarts Express

Shopping at Flourish and Blotts, Ollivander's Wand Shop, and the Owl Post Office

Lunch at the Three Broomsticks

 The ride inside Hogwarts Castle is the newest and most impressive we've experienced.  It's a combination of ride and simulator (like Star Tours) that makes you feel as though you are actually flying on a broomstick through and around Hogwarts Castle - with a Hungarian Horntail (dragon) chasing you down.  Complete with dementors and the Womping Willow tree - it's quite an adventure!  Another neat part of this ride was waiting in line because you actually get to tour the castle and visit with the characters from the books.

Mandrakes in the Herbology Room

the portraits on the wall move and talk

the Sorting Hat

We did leave the Wizarding World for long enough to get soaked on the Rip Saw Falls (Emily loved it and insisted on sitting up front).

We were glad for the 85 degree days.  It made the water rides well worth it.

We also hit a few of the Dr. Seuss rides.

The Harry Potter area is by far the most popular portion of Islands of Adventure.  It was packed from opening time till about 5 pm.  Then everyone disbursed.  So we headed back about that time and enjoyed some frozen butterbeer (like a slushy cream soda) and walked right onto the rides over and over (no lines!).  Amy took Matt on the Dueling Dragons roller coasters (I went once and about lost my head).  Emily and I did Flight of the Hippogryphs - a more moderate roller coaster.  We kept playing till late in the evening then finally decided we would have to say goodbye.