FOURTEEN

On April Fools day we told the kids we were heading to Harry Potter World the next day. They absolutely did not believe us. They thought we were playing the lamest and most unbelievable prank on them. They ridiculed us all day about our lame prank. The prank was that we were telling the truth and absolutely fooled them. It took quite a bit of convincing for them to finally believey us. But for Easter weekend we did, in fact, fly to Florida to go to Universal Studios. 

On day one we did the park to park pass to get in as much Harry Potter as possible. We rode the Hogwarts Express between parks. 

 

Disappearing to Platform 9 3/4

About to board the Hogwarts Express. 

Entering Hogsmeade

Enjoying our Florean Fortescue Strawberry and Peanut Butter ice cream after the kids got their wands. 

Trying not to curse each other at the Leaky Cauldron after lunch. 

Theo was particularly interested in visiting Knockturn Alley. 

Theo got some butterbeer ice cream and I got a delicious pumpkin juice. 

On Day 2 we explored Epic. It was smaller but the attention to detail was breathtaking. It was actually a beautiful theme park. There were some hiccups with a few of the rides and technical difficulties but it’s pretty new and they’re working out all the bugs. 

The kids rode the Frankenstein ride 8 times while other rides wait times were too long. 

Butterbeer at the French section of the Harry Potter parks. 

Inside the Ministry of Magic. 

Traveling by Floo powder. 

We did a lot of walking. Over 8 miles each day. 

How to Train your Dragon ride. 

Nintendo land was so cool but clearly very popular. 

No one wants to sit by Papa on any of the rides because you WILL get tickled. 

On the beautiful carousel. 

We all rode stardust once but these crazies went back a second time after dark.

V and Matt at ease while Grandpa and Theo contemplate their mortality. This ride was terrifying… for some of us. 

Epic after dark was quite fun. 

On Sunday the kids woke up to an Easter shoe instead of an Easter basket. The kids took turns hiding Easter eggs for each other before taking a long swim.