Hogwarts... in Orlando

So, I'm doing this post a little backwards, but my computer is giving me problems uploading my pictures and I'm doing this with bronchitis. So you get to see the end of my trip first, and then I'll post the first days later. :) I hope you enjoy my pictures from Universal Studios.

The first place my cousin and I were told to visit was the Harry Potter area, because the lines get really long really fast and last like that all day. They weren't kidding either! Dayla and I went there first and stood in line for 45 minutes to ride the Harry Potter ride, and then couldn't even visit the stores because of the long lines. No Ollivanders or Zonkos for us. The ride was totally worth it, though. I felt like I was in the movie, flying on a broomstick with the main man himself. It's the best amusement park ride I've ever been on.

The Hogwarts Express.

Hogwarts. That is where the ride is, and the inside feels like the set of the movie. Very cool.

Once we left Harry Potter, all the lines were very short and we could get pictures with whoever we wanted since there were no lines. So, here we are with Thing 1 and Thing 2.

If I ran the zoo. These are all in Seussland in Universal Islands of Adventure.

The Cat and the Hat ride - I nearly got thrown out of that one. :) The sign said it spins, but that was an understatement!

The Lorax - and nearby were Truffula Trees.

Photo op with the Cat in the Hat and the Grinch.

This is the Poseidon area - we didn't ride any rides here but the buildings were cool.

We did see some dinosaurs. This area felt just like the movie set, too. We rode the Jurassic Park ride and got a bit wet. Dayla said it was a fun ride - I just didn't know I needed a swimsuit for it! :)

Grr!

I'm not really into the big roller coasters that go upside down, but I told Dayla I didn't mind waiting if she wanted to ride them. She was brave enough to do the Incredible Hulk ride, ALL BY HERSELF, and it did all sorts of twists and drops and upside down turns. I couldn't believe she was brave enough to do that.

We had lunch at Hard Rock Cafe between Island of Adventure and Universal Studios. It was very good and lots of fun.

The famous sign - I actually have a postcard that looks just like this. :)

The last thing we saw and that I took pictures of was an animal actors skit. These people train the animals that are in some of the movies in theaters - like Men In Black, Hotel for Dogs, and Evan Almighty. This is one of the pigs that had a big part throughout the show - you'll see.

This is the cockatiel from Evan Almighty. He was trained to grab a dollar from someone in the audience, and then take it back. Very neat.

They were showing how they film birds flying in front of a blue screen, so that movie-makers don't have to film them in real life.

The pig. :)

The pug from Men In Black

One of the dogs and one of the kids from the audience. The dog's playing dead - although he would pop up until they gave him a treat to lay there. :)

They played "Who Let the Dogs Out", and then afterwards the pig went by.... :)

This little guy was supposed to tell the dog two items of clothing, and then the dog would go fetch them. So the first was a hat, and the second....

was an unmentionable item the monkey was missing! :D The little boy was totally embarrassed by the whole thing. It was way cute.

The monkey.

The time machine from Back to the Future.

Well, that's all the pictures I have.

We rode the ET ride, which was very fun.

Lots of food, lots of shows and rides, and just a blast.