nouvellefleur
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2017
So we’ve just returned from a 4 day trip to Universal Orlando and I thought I’d try my hand at a first-timer’s trip report.
Here’s the rundown:
Park Dates: June 8-11 (Thursday-Sunday)
Onsite Hotel: Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Express Pass: Nope!
Focus: Harry Potter
The People: me, K, C, and R (and J, in spirit), all in our early to mid 30s and die-hard Harry Potter fans
It all started years ago when K said she wanted the gang to get back together and meet up in Orlando to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter for her 30th birthday. We all went to college together but now we’re spread across several states from the Midwest to the East Coast, with some husbands and babies in the mix. Between jobs and the aforementioned babies, it took us a few years to get everything planned but at last everything was set - June 2017 was going to finally be The Year We Went To Hogwarts.
Well, then my sister J got pregnant (a dearly wished for near-miracle, thank you Science) and had to drop out. We were down to four, but, with her blessing, we pressed on.
I did a ton of research for the trip. So. Much. Google. My preferred MO for a vacation is to do as much research as possible before leaving and soak my brain full with preferences, tips, hints, tricks, and Must Dos. But I don’t do itineraries. I let the minutiae percolate in the background, go with the flow and let the day unfold. Then, e.g., if it’s lunchtime and we’re wondering where to eat, I can pull out some options from the percolator and submit them for consideration. It’s a little weird to try to describe, but I’ve learned that it’s the best way for me to balance over-planning vs under-planning, knowing where the good places to eat are vs staying spontaneous. It does mean that I obsess about a trip before I actually go, however.
In any case, I've totally messed this TR up from the start by somehow accidentally posting with like half a title. So just in case we're stuck with this situation - here we go!
When you get invited on a Harry Potter vacation with me, you get a notification via the Owl Post Forwarding Service.
Here’s the rundown:
Park Dates: June 8-11 (Thursday-Sunday)
Onsite Hotel: Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Express Pass: Nope!
Focus: Harry Potter
The People: me, K, C, and R (and J, in spirit), all in our early to mid 30s and die-hard Harry Potter fans
It all started years ago when K said she wanted the gang to get back together and meet up in Orlando to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter for her 30th birthday. We all went to college together but now we’re spread across several states from the Midwest to the East Coast, with some husbands and babies in the mix. Between jobs and the aforementioned babies, it took us a few years to get everything planned but at last everything was set - June 2017 was going to finally be The Year We Went To Hogwarts.
Well, then my sister J got pregnant (a dearly wished for near-miracle, thank you Science) and had to drop out. We were down to four, but, with her blessing, we pressed on.
I did a ton of research for the trip. So. Much. Google. My preferred MO for a vacation is to do as much research as possible before leaving and soak my brain full with preferences, tips, hints, tricks, and Must Dos. But I don’t do itineraries. I let the minutiae percolate in the background, go with the flow and let the day unfold. Then, e.g., if it’s lunchtime and we’re wondering where to eat, I can pull out some options from the percolator and submit them for consideration. It’s a little weird to try to describe, but I’ve learned that it’s the best way for me to balance over-planning vs under-planning, knowing where the good places to eat are vs staying spontaneous. It does mean that I obsess about a trip before I actually go, however.
In any case, I've totally messed this TR up from the start by somehow accidentally posting with like half a title. So just in case we're stuck with this situation - here we go!
When you get invited on a Harry Potter vacation with me, you get a notification via the Owl Post Forwarding Service.
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