Right here’s a recap of day at Islands of Journey, together with Hogsmeade, Hagrid’s Motorcycle Journey, Butterbeer, VelociCoaster, and household trip favorites.
After an early bedtime on arrival day, we have been prepared for our first full park day at Common Orlando: Islands of Journey! We determined to just do the 2 older parks on this journey as a result of 1) They have been near our lodge and didn’t require a bus 2) We solely acquired the Categorical Cross at these two parks and three) We solely actually had two days!
I additionally didn’t get the park-to-park tickets to 1) get monetary savings and a pair of) maintain us from zig zagging backwards and forwards and simply concentrate on one park at a time. This meant we didn’t get to trip the Hogwarts Categorical, however we didn’t even know to overlook it.
When you missed my first publish about our journey, you may examine our keep at Loews Royal Pacific Resort, pool hopping, and arrival day right here: Common Orlando Arrival Day.
Island Of Journey Early Entry and Rope Drop Technique
One of many largest perks of staying at Royal Pacific is Early Park Admission, which allow us to enter Islands of Journey earlier than the official park opening. The park opened at 9, so we acquired to go in at 8. Get up was round 6:30!
I went to Tuk Tuk Market within the lodge to choose up breakfast provisions, which turned our routine each morning. Espresso for me, fruit and yogurt, and normally a donut or two for the boys.
My uniform for the day was athletic garments, tennis sneakers, sun shades, visor, sunscreen, and a belt bag. Not cute, however extremely sensible. This ended up being our hottest and sweatiest day of the journey as a result of a lot of Islands of Journey is outdoor. When you’re visiting in the summertime, hats and sunscreen are completely important.
What To Pack
We additionally packed a single backpack with snacks, sunscreen, water bottles, a tiny umbrella, and ponchos. Plus room for souvenirs. I acquired these collapsible water bottles to make the backpack as mild as doable. They labored out nice! We stuffed them up at water fountains across the park. I additionally acquired these ponchos and these rain booties. We’re so glad we didn’t have to make use of them! A superb drawback to have. I acquired the booties after my sneakers acquired socked at Hollywood Studios final time and it kind of ruined my afternoon having soggy ft. I additionally put an AirTag and child wristband on Birch simply in case we acquired separated.
We arrived on the gates proper round 8:00 a.m. and headed straight for Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorcycle Journey, which is normally the preferred trip within the park. After which… we discovered it was delayed for technical difficulties. Ugh! Our entire morning revolved round attending to this trip early!
Hogwarts and the Forbidden Journey
Since Hagrid’s wasn’t working, we pivoted to the subsequent trip on our listing: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey inside Hogwarts Fort. This ended up being one in all my favourite rides of the complete journey!
The queue alone is unbelievable. You stroll by way of Hogwarts, passing acquainted places from the films together with lecture rooms, portraits, and Dumbledore’s workplace. The eye to element is unbelievable.
The trip itself is movement simulation and takes you flying by way of the citadel. You go virtually upsidedown at one level within the coaster-like chairs, however you by no means go quick. Birch admitted afterward that the large spiders and Dementors scared him a little bit, however he was additionally proud that he rode it.
His official evaluation: “I cherished it. However I don’t wish to do it once more.”
Flight of the Hippogriff
Subsequent we rode Flight of the Hippogriff. Birch was hesitant to trip this one at first as a result of it appeared quick, and he stated he needed to do Little one Swap. However as soon as we acquired to the entrance of the road he modified his thoughts. Good factor as a result of it ended up being one in all his favourite rides of the day.
Exploring Hogsmeade
Earlier than the crowds actually constructed up, we spent a while wandering by way of Hogsmeade. The plan was to spend the morning there and the afternoon on the opposite rides within the park.
For his memento, Birch picked out an interactive wand, which you should use on the interactive spell places across the village in any respect three of the parks. We discovered it to be a little bit tough and there have been strains by the point the crowds picked up, however it was nonetheless enjoyable.
We additionally went into Honeydukes for a chocolate frog, which was far more concerning the expertise than consuming a strong block of chocolate on a scorching day was sensible : )
Hagrid’s Once more
After we realized Hagrids was working, so did everybody else. Regardless of our Categorical Passes, we nonetheless waited over an hour within the scorching solar to trip. A part of the issue was that everybody lined up directly, and the opposite half was that one of many trains was damaged in order that they have been going slower than common by way of the queue.
This was in all probability essentially the most irritating a part of the journey as a result of it ate up an enormous chunk of our morning and we have been so scorching and sweaty. Fortunately we had water, however anybody with out water or needing the lavatory was out of luck! (The non-express line was apparently 2+ hours!)
That stated, the trip actually is unbelievable. As soon as we lastly acquired on, all of us agreed it was value driving.
Little one Swap
Once I first deliberate this journey I wasn’t certain how the rides would work with one guardian and two children of various ages, however the Little one Swap possibility was nice! That they had household rooms for me to attend with Birch whereas Mazen rode, and I acquired a particular ticket to trip after Mazen acquired again to attend with Birch. They have been actually accommodating.
Watching Harry Potter within the household room:
The one unfavorable was that Mazen gave me his telephone for Hagrids, so we had no method of speaking. It took him so lengthy to undergo that we frightened he had exited the trip. We frantically went out and in of the trip exit 3 occasions earlier than we discovered him ready within the household room. Lesson discovered: take telephones with you always both in zip pockets or a belt bag! (What did we do earlier than telephones!?)
Lunch at Three Broomsticks
One factor we did proper was consuming lunch early. We walked into Three Broomsticks solely a 5 minute wait and located a desk instantly. I LOVED consuming lunch within the Harry Pottery institutions! I additionally cherished that they’d cell ordering that was tremendous simple and quick. Meals arrived at our desk inside 10 minutes. They’re very environment friendly!
I ordered the rotisserie hen salad, which was surprisingly good. Birch acquired mac and cheese with grapes. Mazen ordered a loaded baked potato.
And naturally we lastly tried Butterbeer! I can affirm the hype is actual. LOVED the frothy whipped cream-like topping.
Cranium Island: Kong
After lunch we headed towards Cranium Island: Reign of Kong. The underground entrance was actually scary, so Birch selected baby swap for this too. Mazen acquired to trip, however it broke down proper when it was my flip! Oh effectively.
Spider-Man (a Birch favourite)
Subsequent up was The Wonderful Adventures of Spider-Man. This was a 3D trip in a little bit automotive that moved on a observe. This ended up being one in all Birch’s favourite points of interest of the journey, and we did it twice. Surprisingly he was extra scared the second time by way of and closed his eyes till Spiderman rescued us.
Jurrasic Park + VelociCoaster
I took Birch to the Jurassic Park Discovery Middle playground, whereas Mazen and I took turns driving Jurassic World VelociCoaster. He LOVED this playground, which had a treehouse with nets, and a community of slides and caves. The caves have been good and funky!
VelociCoaster was INCREDIBLE! The trip launches, twists, climbs, hangs you upside-down 5 ft over the water, and usually does issues that appear bodily unreasonable. The over-the-top drop was actually excessive. I screamed in worry and cherished it on the identical time.
I feel VelociCoaster could have formally changed each different coaster as my favourite of all time, beating out the Busch Gardens Pantheon!
Mazen didn’t used to love thrill rides, however he couldn’t cease speaking about this one. He’s now a significant thrill trip man.
Hulk, Storm Power, and Seuss Touchdown
After VelociCoaster, we headed into Marvel Tremendous Hero Island. Mazen and I used Little one Swap once more so we may trip The Unbelievable Hulk Coaster. Birch and I rode Storm Power Accelatron “teacups” whereas we waited on M.
From there we headed into Seuss Touchdown. The Cat within the Hat was cute, quirky, and air-conditioned, which was a promoting level by that stage of the afternoon.
We additionally rode the Excessive within the Sky Seuss Trolley Practice Experience, which ended up being one other Birch favourite. It provides a calming trip above the land with nice views.
Again to the Lodge
By late afternoon we have been fully exhausted. We hit 17,000 steps at the present time and seven miles! We took the water taxi again to Royal Pacific and instantly headed for the pool. After spending a lot of the day exterior, a swim felt superb.
Dinner at Jake’s American
Figuring out this was an enormous day, I believed we’d wish to keep on the lodge for dinner, so I didn’t make a reservation in CityWalk and we went to Jake’s American Bar inside Royal Pacific. The patio was quiet and wonderful.
Birch and I each acquired pizzas, and Mazen had a hen sandwich. My largest remorse of the journey was that I used to be a lot too full to order the S’mores skillet!
