The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

In our house it is established that only those who have read the "Harry Potter" books can go to the Harry Potter World.      With that understanding there were no complaints when Emily and I headed off from Allyson's to Universal Studios.    Allyson's place is just 100 miles away from Universal Studios but because of downtown LA traffic it would take hours if you left anytime after 5:30.   We also discovered the night before that they had an early access at 7AM for those who bought tickets online.  So to avoid traffic and get there ahead of the crowds we left Ally's house at 4:30.   The traffic was fairly light and we made it to Universal by 6:15.  They hadn't even opened the parking garage so we found us a Carls Jr. ate breakfast in the car and was one of the first cars in for the day.  

I had done some research about how's the best way to explore Harry Potter World.  1st advice was to run to the ride "The Forbidden Journey" and to go on it twice.      We followed suit and made it through twice without a single hiccup.

Emily at the entrance at Hogwart's school.  It was too dark for pictures but it was so fun to feel like you were at wizard's school with Harry.

Second piece of advice was to skip the wand fitting ceremony.  The 2 blogs I read both said you'll wait in line forever and most likely not be chosen amidst the other 20 or so kids.    I had told Emily this and she was OK with just going straight to pick out her wand.    You see Emily had earned a wand with magical powers by having perfect attendance all school year.  As we were searching for the wand shop we saw the line for the wand fitting ceremony was light so on a whim we decided to go watch it.  To my surprise but not Emily's she was chosen to be the child who gets fitted for a wand.  The lady came over to Emily and said "This one is strong with the magic"    It was a magical thing to watch her me measure Emily's arm then pick 2 wands that wouldn't behave with Emily and then on the 3rd try as soon as she held it it lit up.    The magical part of it all was Emiy said when she saw the 1st and 2nd wand presented to her she said I kept hoping it wouldn't choose me because I didn't like them. (Have I mentioned Emily has done extensive research on the different types of wands available?)  Then she said as soon as she saw the 3rd one she thought "Oh I hope this one is it I love it".    It must of sense that from Emily because it was the perfect fit.  I remember when the lady gave it to Emily she said something about it having a heart string from a dragon its' made out of willow and picked Emily because she is kind to others and has bravery to do good.

After the ceremony the lady told Emily that although the wand picked her she still can decide if she'd rather have another one.   It wasn't even a question for Emily it was the perfect wand for her.  Later that day as we wandered around the wand shop I came across the meaning of a wand made out of Willow and took this picture.

After we got Emily's wand it was off to the windows to make magic happen.  Emily caught on quick and made drawers open, the chocolate frog's box open wide, she silenced a steaming caldron and made a snitch thing lift up.  We also met up with the Conductor for the Hogswart Express Train.

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At about 8:30ish we had done everything there was to do in Harry Potter World so we ventured out to explore Universal Studios.  Emily's favorite thing was the studio tour.  She giggled with delight and fear when we drove past the Bate's motel and Norman came out a room with a knife and chased down the bus with it.    I've always been a fan of Shrek so we got our picture taken with the characters.

Later that day after we'd been on most of the rides the park was packed and all the lines advertised and hour or more wait we went back and shared us some Frozen Butterbeer.  Thank heavens the real stuff was much better than the homemade ones.

 We also ate at "The Three Broomsticks" they had a yummy beef and lamb stew in a bread bowl with Pumpkin Juice for the drink.

 By this time my phone was long dead so no more pictures but we enjoyed wondered the park to wait until dark when they lit up Hogswart.  

What a wonderful day to spend with a girl who more than deserved to be spoiled with some fabulous memories.

In preparation....

3 or so years ago I told Emily that I would take her to Harry Potter World if she read all 7 of the books.  At first it meant little to her and being my Emily would only read books she picked out.  That was until her teacher in 3rd grade read to the class "Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone".    It was then that Emily developed her love of Harry Potter books.  She then proceeded to read the remaining 5 books and completed them at the beginning of her 5th grade year.  She then became a "super fan" and would often be found making some Harry Potter craft from You tube such as a wand make out of hot glue, a pencil holder with quotes from the book and some diy butterbeer (warning don't try to make that at home to butterscotchy)    She was constantly researching Harry Potter world and would ask me things like "Who is your favorite character from the book mom.


One day I happen to be on the County Library website and noticed a "OWL" camp to be held at the County library.  I submitted Emily's name to be "randomly" selected without her knowing.    Boy was she so excited when she got this letter in the mail addressed to her specifically.

Emily was counting the days until the OWL camp arrived.  They divided the kids up into houses with complimentary shirts,  fed them lunch, and then rotated to a few different classes such as star gazing,  potions for slime making,  wand making and then a walk down Hogsmeade for some homemade butterbeer (yuck).    As we left the camp Emily exclaimed.  "I just love hanging out with fellow Harry Potter nerds like me"

After we dropped her off the kids and I spent some time at a playground right by the library and as we drove away we got a glimpse of this...

 A couple of weeks later we were on the Sandy Library page looking up times when you can attend their 3D printer class so you can send them 3D things to print and ran across a Harry Potter party.  I tried to explain to Emily that it was probably a smaller version of the OWL's camp but Emily was not about to miss out on a Harry Potter party especially one that you could dress up for.  So she invited the only Harry Potter fan friend she has "Cassie" to come along.  Emily made herself a Luna Lovegood costume and won 2nd place for best costume.

After each new adventure Emily just got more and more anxious for the big day that we would go to Harry Potter World!!!

How things have changed

Back in July of 2011, I posted about our first adventure getting a free meal at chick fil a.  https://bartandcolletterichards.blogspot.com/2011/07/herd-of-cows.html.     

Back then we lived in sugar house and the closest chick fil a was in the fashion place mall.  I still remember being totally embarrassed to walk through the mall to get to chick fil a where we were greeting so enthusiastically by workers impressed with our gid ups and getting a lot of stares by other mall eaters because we were literally the only people there dressed like cows.   We also got a little bit of slack from my side of the family who perceives us as people who will do anything for a free meal.  

So fast forward to July 11, 2017 and I'm completely out of touch that is is "dress like a cow" day.  Allyson calls me and asks if I'm dressing up for a free meal.   "We are still perceived by my family as people who will do anything for a freebie".  I initially decline stating I've come to a point in my life that doing embarrassing things or facing horrible crowds are just not worth it anymore.  Don't get me wrong I love and search for great sales (mostly online, who has time to shop)  but I've also come to realize that I'd rather spend a little more money on 1 blouse that is flattering and modest than have a closet full of drappy bargain t shirts that don't hold up well.  I also feel my time is too valuable to spend countless hours searching through second hand stores for anything that isn't out of style or stained.    Despite being hesitant,  I think about it and realize I haven't planned well for dinner that night,  I still have all the "cow clothes" from last time, my kids were antsy and needed to get out of the house and chick fil a is only down the street.   So we decide to go.

Things have sure changed in 6 years.   The parking lot was packed, the line was out the door with people wearing mostly garbage sacks with holes cut out and the only individual attention was the manager commented that my graduation gown was "cool".    The first time we went we were able to order anything off the menu but I guess it's gotten so popular they've cut down to only an entree and the kids were limited to a 4 piece chicken nugget meal.  Either way it was still a free meal, my kids thought it was loads of fun and most importantly I was off the hook for dinner.  

Can you spot the "mad" cow face?  Isn't he adorable?

Bart made it just in the knick of time to not have to wait in any lines and to eat his and most of Spencer's free meal.  

My kids also did not  object to us swinging  by 7-11 for a free slurpee?  So we did that too.  

Celebrating the 4th

We spent the week before the 4th in Teasdale so my kids could take swimming lessons.  

The flu hit my family hard and just when it seemed it was gone another cycle would start up.  So instead of huts,  four wheeler rides and so forth a lot of time was spent recooperating in my mom's basement.  

Aaron who has a stomach of steel and never got sick, found time to take some selfies and build a little with Baxter. 

We celebrated "Big Apple" Days with my family in Torrey.       My dad was in the American Legion float and my mom was Citizen of the Year.    We all agreed it was about time considering it wasn't uncommon to call her and she was off volunteering her time for everything including playing the piano at a funeral of someone she didn't even know.  As always my kids loved the parade, especially the buckets of Candy for  all!

After the patriotic program and some naps.  We joined my sister up at Single Tree at her campsite for dinner.

Spencer was all about the fire pit and got soot all over him.  My dad said growing up he had as white of hair as Spencer and when he was at his Uncle Carlyle's house he would put soot in his hair and tell him to go home and tell his mom that he had black hair.   

On July 4th we spent the day at Lagoon and then the evening with Bart's side eating a yummy brisket and pulled pork BBQ.