Wednesday, December 1, 2010

FINAL POST FROM HOGSMEADE ... THE RIDES!



I am sad to say that today is my last day visiting Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I must admit that the rides held very little interest for me, but I still had to experience them. My favorite by far was the Forbidden Journey, pictured above. After winding through the greenhouses in back of the castle, you climb your way into Hogwarts Castle. As you have seen from many of my former pics, the details are insanely real and beautiful. The pictures speak. Slytherin in particular is unhappy by the "muggle" invasion. Winding through the castle, you visit Dumbledore's office and have a meet with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. As you approach the final corridor and the sorting hat greets you with ride-safety warnings in rhyme.

Next you slip into your comfy bench, the students bring down your safety device and you hold on for DEAR LIFE! Actually it is a very exciting ride and experience. You spin, twist, jerk, and maneuver your way through high action meetings with, spiders, dragons, the whomping willow. and quidditch with Draco Malfoy.  Harry leads you through all these dangerous obstacles. Definitely don't eat a thing before this ride, you are bumped around a lot.





Flight of the Hippogriff is a charming family-friendly roller coaster. As you follow the queue around the grounds, you get see Hagrid's hut and pumpkin patches. The sounds of the munching bowtuckles and Fang barking adds to the charm. Eventually you board the wicker replica of Buckbeak and you're treated with a "bird's eye" view of the castle and surrounding grounds.



For those of you with nerves of steel you will enjoy the Dragon Challenge. Twin Dragon coasters race each other looping, spinning, and cork-screwing. I sat this one out, but I was told it to be one of the most thrilling rides in the park.

Well my fellow HP fanatics, I hope you enjoyed your tour of Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It was a thrill a minute and I hope you all can make it there soon. Perhaps we can all meet sometime in the future year!

Don't forget to sign up for my HP BLOGFEST! Prizes are coming from Wizarding World .... You will not be disappointed.

On Saturday I venture back to snow covered Chicago.... Wish me luck this will be one hell of a ride home.

See you soon,

Michael

18 comments:

Melissa said...

I am so excited for the prizes! I wish I could've bought EVERYTHING there so... you know, it's awesome that you are sharing!

Personally, I loved th Dragon CHallenge (particularly the Fireball!!!! Faster!) And I thought the forbidden Journey was absolutely brilliant! My best friend and I went on the ride 15 times! WOOHOO for the single riders line. And traversing through the castle was absolutely amazing!

I'm going to go back and look at all your posts I've missed from the wizarding world because you are feeding my obsession and nostalgia! I want to go back!

Michael Di Gesu said...

Great Melissa,

I am so glad that I can bring you back to your happy memories. I definitely have many of my own. The experience was M A G I C A L...

Michael

Patricia A. Timms-McGehee said...

It was so nice to go on vacation with you, at least vicariously through your photos. I'm glad you had a great time and was able to get back to WW a couple of times.
I wish you a safe journey. Please be careful!

Looking forward to reading posts from your blogfest.

Michael Di Gesu said...

Thanks Patty,

I'll be keeping in touch on the ride back. I don't want to worry you or my other friends.

Roland D. Yeomans said...

Like Patricia said, it was great to go on vacation to Harry's Wizarding World. That blonde on the Flight of the Hippogriff ride looked so full of outright joy and happiness, I smiled just looking at her. Was she screaming her delight, too?

I am so happy for you, Michael. So few of us get to fulfil any dreams these days. That you got to go to such a magical place has me smiling wide just for you. But then I am a sentimental fellow. Have a safe trip back. And thanks, again.

Michael Di Gesu said...

Thanks Roland,

Yes, she was screaming with happiness. And yes, this is one of my dreams that has come true. I wish the same for other's who seek this particular dream ... they will not be disappointed.

I left a post on your blog at the same time you were at mine.... nice coincidence that we thought about each other at the same time.

Dominic de Mattos said...

What an incredible experience, and thank you for sharing. We've had quite a lot of snow, and predictably everything has ground to a halt. Hope your journey back to Chicago is not too difficult or delayed.

:Dom

Michael Di Gesu said...

Thanks Dominic, I appreciate it.

Bast said...

I'm incredibly jealous! I've been loving all these posts and getting to go along on your vacation with you; although I'm technically not with you (hence the jealousy).

Hart Johnson said...

The rides look great! As I've gotten older I don't spin as well as I used to (equilibrium messing makes me nauseus) but I still love a good roller coaster. You know, they have a lot of opportunity for the 'experiencing magic' kinds of rides if they'd develop them... you know at Disney the ones where you really just go in a box--the seats shake some, but mostly the ride is a 3-D optical illusion? It would also be cooler than cool to have the Ministry of magic set up like the Haunted house (part walking part riding tour)

Lisa Galek said...

I just read through all your posts! I'm soooooo jealous! The whole place looks amazing! I can't wait until next year when I go :)

Michael Di Gesu said...

I did all of this for my friends who don't have the opportunity to come. I'm glad you came along for the ride Quinn.

Hart,

I agree with you, they should have more virtual rides. I heard through the grapevine (an owl post employee) that they will be added much more to Wizarding World within the next few years. Something to look forward to on my next visit!

Lisa,

I'm very happy you enjoyed all the posts. I actually had one more day there today! Each visit is always a new experience. I took many more wonderful pics. I can never get enough!

Jodi Henry said...

Michael, I have given you an award. Stop by my blog to see why and what it is.

J

Rachael Harrie said...

Sounds like you had a wonderful trip, filled with heaps of great memories :)

Thanks for sharing it with us!

Rach

erica and christy said...

You were brave to do the rides! I used to love them - the scarier the better - but not so sure I could manage it now. Thanks for all the pictures (only a designer would post about how nice a set of lockers is!) Safe travels home - it sounds like MN will get more than WI or IL this time, so that's good for us!
erica

Nicki Elson said...

Thanks for the pictures and the tour. It looks amazing, even if they did combine Diagon Alley into Hogsmeade...and expected us not to notice. *slight grumble but I'll get over it* It must've felt incredible to stand there and look up at Hogwarts. HOGWARTS! And butterbeer, mmm, I honestly thing that's my number one reason for wanting to go.

God speed on your flight home. I'll see what I can do to keep the skies clear of that predicted snow here in Chi-town. ;)

Anstice Brown said...

Thanks so much for all the posts and pictures about this. It's been so good to get a chance to see what it's like as, living in England, there's no opportunity for me to go there myself. But your posts have really brought it alive for me. I enjoyed the way you described everything in detail so I could imagine it as if I was there. Great stuff!

Anonymous said...

Wow looks fabulous! :O)