Laced with Love: The Most Magical Place on Earth

Whilst planning our honeymoon to Disneyworld, I discovered that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter would have it's grand opening two weeks before we were there.  And have I ever mentioned to you that I love the Harry Potter series? If not, let it be known, I LOVE the Harry Potter series.  For my sake, Mr. Lace has watched all the movies with me.  However, as time passed, he started asking questions.  "Why does Snape hate Harry so much?" "Does Hermione like Ron?"  "Why didn't Harry die?" He was looking for a short answer, but for any of you Harry Potter fans, you know, there are no short or easy explanations in Harry Potter. I wouldn't say he loves Harry Potter, but I think he'll admit that it's a well-crafted story and is impressed with my in-depth knowledge on the topic (or so I'd like to think).  

Anyway, when I mentioned going to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios, Mr. Lace was all for it. However, we didn't make any firm plans.  After our third day at Walt Disney World we realized that if we didn't do a little research and planning, we might not get around to going so Mr. Lace stayed up late looking up tickets and transportation. I know that he wasn't necessarily excited about leaving Walt Disney World to go to Harry Potter Land, but he knew I'd be majorly bummed if we didn't make the trip.  So, on the fifth day of our honeymoon, we hopped in a taxi outside the Grand Floridian and headed to Universal Studios.

Mr. Lace forking over $200 for our tickets. 

So, how do I describe the Wizarding World of Harry Potter? It's about the size of Toon Town at Disneyland if you're familiar with that so I was a bit disappointed with the size.  I kind of feel like they could make an entire theme park just centered around Harry Potter - a Hogsmeade, a Diagon Alley, the Weasley home, Hogwart's Castle, Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, the Dursley's home.  This was a mish mash of Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley and Hogwarts.  When you enter you see the Hogwart's train.

Don't let the snow deceive you. It was 100 degrees and 100% humidity (or so it felt).  See this guy wiping the sweat from his brow?

First item on the agenda was to get something to drink.  Libations anyone? Your choices were frozen butterbeer, cold butterbeer or pumpkin juice.

Sweat-drenched Mrs. Lace drinking cold butterbeer.

Okay, so these drinks were like $5 each which is obviously pricey, but to be expected. I was so STINKIN' excited about buying the butterbeer though. Mr. Lace ordered us each a butterbeer.  While I was drinking it, Mr. Lace said, "How is it?"  I replied, "MMMM it's sooooo good."  Mr. Lace took a sip of his butterbeer and said, "We just paid $10 for cream soda."  Okay, so yes it was pretty much really cold cream soda, but it was so good.

Our next visit was to Hogwart's which happened to be the entrance to a ride.

The line weaves through Hogwart's Castle.

Professor Sprout's greenhouse

Hall of talking photos and yes, they talked! There were larger paintings of the four founders and they talked to each other about He-who-must-not-be-named and Harry Potter.

Mr. Lace taking a dive into the pensieve to check out some old memories.

Dumbledore's office

Honeyduke's and YES, there was a line to get into this store.

I didn't catch photos of Ollivander's (where you could choose your own wand), the Owl Post (where you could send a postcard stamped at Hogsmeade), Dervish and Banges and Zonko's.  There were hour long waits to get into the STORES.

Soon after this, as we were leaving Universal Studios, it began to POUR.  People were walking around drenched and shoeless because everyone was ankle deep in water. What was supposed to be a twenty minute taxi ride back to Walt Disney World, turned into an hour and a half long ride.  We were soaked and tired. At dinner, Mr. Lace asked, "so, what did you think?"  Even after the ridiculous ride back to Walt Disney World, the crazy crowds at Harry Potter Land and the mother of all rain storms, it was totally worth it.

We go to the happiest place on Earth.
I become a real housewife of Orange County.