Inside Hogwarts Castle

Yesterday I shared our Butterbeer experience in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The day before that I showed photos from the roller coaster ride The Flight of the Hippogriff.  Today, it's about the castle.

This is one of the entrances to Hogwarts.

And as you walk down the hallway you can see where the House Points are recorded.

I'm not sure who this wizard is holding the replica of Hogwarts and statued in gold...

but he's in the same hallway...and way taller than I am!! 

And then we came upon the entrance to the Headmaster's Office. 

But we were unable to guess the password!!

The portraits talked and moved as we looked up into this tall room.

(strange camera view, I know)  It's looking UP!

And more talking portraits....

And we saw the infamous pensieve!!

Tomorrow, I'll share our experience in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom!!

Butterbeer

In Universal's Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you can find Butterbeer to quench your thirst.

It's cold, creamy & frothy.

A combination of shortbread and butterscotch.

It's on tap...or frozen.

I preferred it frozen.

It tastes a lot like cream soda.  But with a little magic.

J.K. Rowling, the author of the series, made sure it tasted "just right."  

She was asked what butterbeer tastes like, and she said: 

"I made it up. I imagine it to taste a little bit like less sickly butterscotch."

The version sold at The Wizarding World was tasted and approved by Rowling herself.

And we got to keep the mug, of course.

Flight of the Hippogriff

In the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal in Orlando, Florida...over by Hagrid's Hut...

...is a roller coaster ride for a whole family, called The Flight of the Hippogriff.

Before you begin the ride, Hagrid instructs the muggles that they must bow to the Hippogriff.

The front of the roller coaster train is the figure of a Hippogriff.

The ride is fast and furious...and over quickly.

So my boys just kept riding it again and again until they had their fill.

They LOVED it.

And they didn't throw up butterbeer.  hehe

We visited The Wizarding World of Harry Potter the same week it opened, so it was super croweded, 

but still a LOT of fun.

Hogwarts Castle

Two weeks ago, I was in Florida on vacation.

And, we visited the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal.

It was super crowded, but the first thing you see as you arrive?

The Hogwarts castle.

Here's my photo below.

I'll post more about our visit there soon!!