Wordless Wednesday: The Most Important Star on The Walk of Fame
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Category Archives: Travel
Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Diagon Alley: Vacation Packages Now Available
You’ve all been waiting, and now the time has come: You can now officially book a package to visit the Diagon Alley expansion at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter! Here’s all the details you need:
ORLANDO, Fla. (May 22, 2014) – Universal Orlando Resort is announcing an all-new exclusive vacation package giving guests the opportunity to enjoy this year’s most anticipated theme park experience: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley. Travel for the vacation package begins June 29.
The new travel offer starts at $135 per adult, per night, tax inclusive for a four-night stay on-site at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort and includes multi-day Park-to-Park tickets to experience both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. As part of the vacation package, guests will enjoy access to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, plus exclusive benefits like Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and breakfast at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade and the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley. They will also receive a specially themed Welcome Parcel delivered to their doorstep.
Additional vacation package details can be found below.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Exclusive Vacation Package
Summer Package
~ Starts at $155 per adult, per night, tax inclusive for travel June 29 to Aug. 16
Fall Package
~ Starts at $135 per adult, per night, tax inclusive for travel Aug. 17 to Oct. 2 and Nov. 30 to Dec. 18
· 4-night on-site hotel accommodations at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort – an all-new hotel inspired by the iconic beach resorts of the 1950s and 1960s
· 3-day Park-to-Park tickets
· One breakfast per person at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade and the all-new Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley
· Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter one hour before the theme parks open
· Special themed Welcome Parcel
· Complimentary on-site transportation to both theme parks and Universal CityWalk
· Book by July 31
· Upgrade to one of three AAA Four-Diamond deluxe on-site hotels at Universal Orlando Resort to receive complimentary Universal Express Unlimited ride access to skip the regular lines at select attractions in both theme parks all day (a FREE benefit worth up to $89 per person, per day)
· Vacation package also available at Universal Partner Hotels
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida will double the size of the Harry Potter experience offered at Universal Orlando Resort – expanding it across both of Universal’s theme parks. Guests will pass through London and the iconic brick wall archway into Diagon Alley – a bustling, wizarding hub within a Muggle city. The new land will offer one-of-a-kind adventures where guests can:
· Experience the next generation thrill ride – Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts – where guests are propelled into a pivotal scene from the final Harry Potter book and film
· Stroll along the streets of Diagon Alley and stop inside well-known shops like Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, Magical Menagerie and Quality Quidditch Supplies
· Experience the darker side of magic in Knockturn Alley
· Witness the magical experience of a wand choosing a wizard at Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC
· And more!
And, just like in the books and films, guests can ride the iconic Hogwarts Express to travel between King’s Cross Station in Universal Studios and Hogsmeade Station in Islands of Adventure. The scenic, breathtaking journey will transport guests through the British countryside as they encounter magical creatures and familiar Harry Potter characters.
In The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade, which opened in 2010 at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, guests can experience Hogsmeade village and Hogwarts castle – which houses the groundbreaking Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey attraction.
To book a vacation package, visit www.UniversalOrlando.com. For additional information about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, visit www.UniversalOrlando.com/HarryPotter.
New Details About Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
Check out the brand new info just released this morning on Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, coming soon to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter:
ORLANDO, Fla. (May 13, 2014) – Today, Universal Orlando Resort revealed details about Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts – the revolutionary attraction found in the heart of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley. The Grand Opening date for the spectacularly themed environment will be announced at a later date.
Imagine being part of the iconic moment from the Harry Potter film series where Harry, Ron and Hermione break into one of the most guarded places in the wizarding world – Gringotts bank – to retrieve a magical object that will help defeat Lord Voldemort. You’ve seen the action on-screen, and now you get to be part of it.
Universal’s creative team worked hand-in-hand with Stuart Craig and his production team from the Harry Potter films to immerse guests in this pivotal scene from the final Harry Potter book and film.
During an action-packed, fully-immersive journey on Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, you will:
· Marvel at the 60-foot, fire-breathing Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon atop Gringotts Wizarding Bank
· Tour Gringotts bank and pass through the marble hall where you’ll see goblins hard at work
· Race through a labyrinth of underground Gringotts vaults
· Encounter the villainous Death Eater, Bellatrix Lestrange, as she attempts to send you to your doom
· Come face to face with He Who Must Not Be Named
· Experience even more mind-blowing moments
The multi-dimensional, multi-sensory attraction, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, will revolutionize theme park entertainment. This next generation thrill ride seamlessly integrates a compilation of the most innovative technology ever created, 360-degree themed sets, 4K digital high-definition animation, state-of-the-art 3-D Infitec projection systems and live special effects with beloved characters and breathtaking moments from the Harry Potter books and films.
“Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts will change the way you think about theme park attractions,” said Mark Woodbury, president of Universal Creative. “We’ve created an entirely new type of ride that propels guests into the story like never before, and guests will remember it long after their visit to Diagon Alley.”
CLICK HERE to watch a video with more details about Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley will bring even more of Harry Potter’s adventures to life. The new area will double the size of the sweeping land already found at Universal Orlando, expanding the spectacularly themed environment across both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Inside the land, guests will enjoy themed shops, dining experiences and the groundbreaking thrill ride – Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts.
For additional information about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, visit www.UniversalOrlando.com/WizardingWorld.
First Look at The Goblins in Harry Potter And The Escape from Gringotts
Are you getting excited for the Diagon Alley expansion at Universal Orlando yet?? Check out this sneak peek at the goblins from the “Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts” marquee attraction!
My Adventures in Florida
I’ve been talking about my trip to Florida from the minute it ended. I was telling a TSA agent about my zip line adventures while she was giving me the opt-out patdown in the Orlando airport; I showed my “Experience Kissimmee” portable charger to the lady I was sitting next to on the plane and told her about how much fun I had on my trip. As soon as I walked into the PDX airport, I began telling Jai all about the details behind the activities he’d seen pictured on my Instagram account. It’s safe to say that I had a good time!
Thank you to Melissa for this photo!
I purposely got out of my comfort zone on this trip and faced fears in the spirit of personal growth and adventure. The biggest of these – literally – was SkyCoaster, a ride that takes you 300 feet into the air in a harness, then cuts loose to create a swinging freefall. I was sick to my stomach just thinking about it, and although it was terrifying to do, I am so proud of myself for doing it and feel like it was a valuable experience!
Photo courtesy Gatorland & Experience Kissimmee.
Somewhat less terrifying – but still really scary – was when I rode the Screamin’ Gator Zip Line over alligators!
But not every ride was terrifying! I had the opportunity to ride a hot air balloon at sunrise and it was amazing.
I also loved taking an airboat tour at Wild Florida to spot alligators in their natural habitat!
Yes, this was a very alligator-filled trip! I stepped into a “Gator Wrestlin'” arena at Gatorland, checked out the alligators swimming in their zoo, held a small gator at Wild Florida, and fed a gator too!
Photo provided by SeaWorld and Experience Kissimmee.
Actually, I fed a lot of other animals on this trip, too. I gave grapes to lemurs and also had a chance to feed dolphins and stingrays!
Thanks to Experience Kissimmee for this photo.
But it wasn’t just a non-stop adrenaline rush – we also got to enjoy more relaxing activities like shopping at Orlando Premium Outlets!
Photo courtesy Experience Kissimmee & Medieval Times.
We also ate a royal banquet fit for a king at ye olde Medieval Times!
As seems to be the norm on these type of vacations, I ate my way through the state at a number of wonderful places, trying everything from gator bites and cheese grits to Tiramisu!
Photo thanks to Experience Kissimmee.
No matter what activity we did – going to dinner, heading to Gatorland to wrestle alligators, or even make a pitstop at Walmart, we were chauffeured there in style by Southern Elegance Limousines.
At night, I relaxed in an All Star Vacation Home with all of the other bloggers who were on the trip. It was so much fun!!
We hosted a Twitter party at another All Star Vacation Home in conjunction with the Rock Your Vacation contest. In addition to have 9 bedrooms and bathrooms, this home also had a special Star Wars themed home theater and gaming room. Maybe I’ll stay here next time I’m in the area! 😉
My trip to Kissimmee was unforgettable; it’s amazing to think how many new and exciting experiences I had jammed into the course of a few short days. I had an incredible time!
Wordless Wednesday: Gator Wrestlin’
Florida, Here I Come!
This weekend, I’m packing my bags and heading to Florida for the first time. I’ll be in Kissimmee for 5 days covering a special VIP tour around the area for MomStart. There are all manner of exciting activities planned, like an airboat ride through the Everglades and a trip on the fastest, highest zipline in the world over giant gators. I love having new adventures so I know this will be a trip to remember! You can sneak a peek at my full itinerary here, and be sure to follow me on Twitter and Instagram for real-time updates while I’m on the road. Once I get back, I’ll be sharing all of the details and alligator photos with you, so keep your eyes peeled for that!
Have you ever visited Kissimmee?
Ride The Hogwarts Express at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
On Friday, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter made an exciting announcement with details on the new Hogwarts Express attraction coming this year. Fans will actually be able to ride from Hogsmeade to the new Diagon Alley expansion by riding the very train that Harry Potter himself travels by! Not only does this get you from one part of the park to another in a truly authentic fashion, but great attention has been paid to making it a true-to-the-books experience, including animations out the window to create a truly immersive ride experience – check out these screen grabs from the animations that will be shown during the journey:
Is that cool, or is that cool?! Check out the official press release for more details on what to expect:
ORLANDO, Fla. (March 14, 2014) – One of the most memorable and exciting experiences from the Harry Potter
series will come to life at Universal Orlando Resort this summer. Imagine:• Being transported from the Muggle world to the wizarding world as you pass through the brick wall at
King’s Cross Station to arrive at Platform 9 ¾
• Watching in amazement as the Hogwarts Express pulls into the station – its billowing steam and authentic
whistle beckoning you to hop aboard
• Sitting in one of the train’s cabins with your family and friends and actually riding the Hogwarts Express –
just as your favorite characters did in the Harry Potter films
• Looking outside your cabin window and enjoying a scenic, breathtaking journey through the British
countryside as you encounter magical creatures, some of your favorite Harry Potter characters…and even
Dementors…Since the very first Harry Potter film, every fan has dreamed of taking the same classic journey Harry Potter did
aboard the Hogwarts Express. And this summer – they will get to live it.Today, Universal Orlando revealed never-before-released details about the Hogwarts Express experience that will
debut as part of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley – the all-new, magnificently themed land
opening this summer. The train will connect the new land in Universal Studios Florida with The Wizarding World
of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure – allowing guests with park-to-park admission to enjoy a real
journey aboard the iconic locomotive.Never before has this been done – creating an actual train ride experience to connect two spectacularly themed
environments. The Hogwarts Express experience combines powerful storytelling, live special effects, lifelike
animation and state-of-the-art technology to take riders on the journey of a lifetime. Guests will enjoy two
completely different experiences depending on whether they’re traveling to Hogsmeade or London.Once seated in the cabin, guests will be able to look out their windows as an incredibly authentic and magical
adventure unfolds before them. They’ll see Hagrid come alongside the train on his flying motorbike, Buckbeak the
Hippogriff swoop gracefully over the black lake, the Weasley twins on brooms and up to their usual antics, the
Knight Bus swerving through London traffic – and other special moments and surprises.Universal’s Creative team has been working closely with Warner Bros., Stuart Craig and the production team from
the Harry Potter films to create a sensational Hogwarts Express experience that the entire family can enjoy. The
Creative team has gone to great lengths to ensure the experience is true to the books and films. Everything about the
train is authentic – from the paint and the materials used to build it….all the way down to the whistle.Park-to-park admission is required to experience the Hogwarts Express journey from The Wizarding World of
Harry Potter – Diagon Alley (located in Universal Studios Florida) to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter –
Hogsmeade (located in Universal’s Islands of Adventure). For more information about the Hogwarts Express –
including a new video that features a first-look at the ride experience – and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,
visit www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter.
Wizarding World of Harry Potter News!
If you’re excited about the new Diagon Alley expansion at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you’ll want to stay tuned for some new details about the Hogwarts Express being revealed this Friday!
I know at least one celebrity who will be excited about the news, too!
“On Mar. 8, 2014, Golden Globe award-winning actor Richard Gere visited Ollivanders wand shop at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Universal Orlando Resort. During his hosted visit, Gere visited the premier wand shop and experienced the wonder of the wand choosing him. Gere is best known for his roles in such blockbuster films as “Chicago,” “Pretty Woman” and “An Officer and a Gentleman.”
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade – located at Universal’s Islands of Adventure – opened in 2010 and is home to Hogsmeade village and the iconic Hogwarts castle, which houses the groundbreaking Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey attraction. This summer, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley will open at Universal Studios Florida, bringing even more of Harry Potter’s adventures to life.
HARRY POTTER, characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Harry Potter Publishing Rights © JKR.
(s14)
© 2014 Universal Orlando Resort. All rights reserved.”
Hyatt Regency McCormick Place: Room With a View
Hotel accommodation provided by Hyatt Regency McCormick Place and The Chicago Auto Show in conjunction with my travel and other consideration.
During my time at the Chicago Auto Show’s Media Preview, I stayed at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, a very comfortable hotel that is conveniently connected to McCormick Place, the convention center where the Chicago Auto Show was held. This meant that I could walk right to the show from my hotel without once stepping foot in that cold Chicago snow! But I could certainly admire the snow thanks to the beautiful view:
My room had a large window overlooking the city, so I was treated to a fantastic view of the Chicago cityscape dusted in snow.
In addition to the view, I also enjoyed watching the flatscreen TV in my room! Business trips like this are always jam-packed, so I enjoyed flopping down on the comfortable bed and catching a few minutes of mindless reality TV before passing out for the night. I’d love to stay here again when I have more time to relax, because it’s a great place to stay!
When I stay at a hotel that I plan to write about, I tend to look at it with a slightly more critical eye than I might normally, since I feel it’s important to be fair and think of things that might bother other travelers, even if they don’t phase me. If I stay at a hotel and notice a spot of dust on the baseboards, it makes me personally feel relieved – I’m a perfectionist when it comes to myself and so I never feel like my own home looks good enough no matter how much work I put into it, even though I truly could not care less about how anyone else keeps their home. It makes me feel better to realize that no hotel I’ve ever stayed at has ever matched the museum-quality that I expect of myself, so I breathe a sigh of relief to think that maybe no one care about the dust under my fridge after all. 😉 There was one cleanliness nitpick I had that could have been bothersome, but I didn’t care enough to call anyone to change it so I don’t know that it’s even fair to bring it up. The staff were extremely attentive in responding to any request I had, so if it had bothered me enough to mention, it would have been immediately addressed.
My room had a big mirror and sink adjacent to the shower and commode, so there was plenty of room for my cosmetics. See how nicely arranged my hair items are on the counter? That was how housekeeping had tidied my items when they cleaned the room. I thought that was a nice touch and attention to detail!
One thing I noticed about the shower was that it poured a LOT of water on the floor event though I closed the curtain tightly. It didn’t matter since the floor was all tiled, but housekeeping must have thought I was nuts for using so many towels every day – I just didn’t want to be a huge slob and leave the floors flooded!
I had a lot of other requests for the staff during my stay, which felt weird since I don’t like to be high-maintenance! The first night, the zipper on my purse broke, and I asked the front desk if they had pliers I could use to try and fix it. They called in someone from maintenance who gave me his pliers to try. I wasn’t able to fix my purse, but I appreciated the help!
The second night, I scheduled my first-ever “Wake up call”, which I promptly canceled since I woke up early. I also called the front desk to ask for extra paper products, and someone came to my room very soon with that plus extra and towels. But the area that impressed me the most was the “Convenience Collection” card in my room, which listed a bunch of items that you could call the front desk and ask for. These included larger items you could borrow, like a flat iron, as well as additional toiletries that were yours to keep upon request. I noticed that the list had a sewing kit on it, which I thought might be really handy since my purse zipper was broken! So, I called the front desk and asked for the sewing kit, plus a laundry bag since I had forgotten to bring enough bags for my dirty clothes. I believe I asked for the “Vanity kit” as well since it included a emery board and my nails keep breaking. They advised me that they’d hang a bag with the items on my door shortly, and I’ll tell you what, they must have gotten there fast – I took a shower, and when I was done, my items were already waiting. Did I mention that this was around 4:30 in the morning? But it gets better.
They didn’t just bring me the items I requested – they gave me at least two of pretty much every item on the list. Toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, makeup remover, deodorant, shaving gel, razors, a small hairbrush and more. These weren’t just “Hotel brand” toiletries – the deodorant and shaving gel were both the exact same brands I am loyal to and buy myself. They even gave me 2 sewing kits! This was one of those small touches that I really appreciated. Next time I stay at Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, I’ll know that I can pack way lighter since they have so many of the things I use already on hand.
In all, I really enjoyed my stay – it’s been a treat getting to spend a little more time in Chicago lately, and I loved the fabulous view and great amenities that Hyatt Regency McCormick Place has to offer. I hope to stay here again in the future!