Right here’s a recap of day at Islands of Journey, together with Hogsmeade, Hagrid’s Bike Journey, Butterbeer, VelociCoaster, and household experience 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 resort and didn’t require a bus 2) We solely obtained the Specific 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) preserve us from zig zagging backwards and forwards and simply give attention to one park at a time. This meant we didn’t get to experience the Hogwarts Specific, however we didn’t even know to overlook it.
In the event you missed my first submit about our journey, you’ll be able to 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 greatest 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 obtained to go in at 8. Get up was round 6:30!
I went to Tuk Tuk Market within the resort to select up breakfast provisions, which grew to become 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. In the event 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 obtained these collapsible water bottles to make the backpack as mild as potential. They labored out nice! We stuffed them up at water fountains across the park. I additionally obtained these ponchos and these rain booties. We’re so glad we didn’t have to make use of them! An excellent drawback to have. I obtained the booties after my sneakers obtained socked at Hollywood Studios final time and it kind of ruined my afternoon having soggy toes. I additionally put an AirTag and child wristband on Birch simply in case we obtained separated.
We arrived on the gates proper round 8:00 a.m. and headed straight for Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Bike Journey, which is normally the preferred experience within the park. After which… we discovered it was delayed for technical difficulties. Ugh! Our entire morning revolved round attending to this experience early!
Hogwarts and the Forbidden Journey
Since Hagrid’s wasn’t working, we pivoted to the subsequent experience on our checklist: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey inside Hogwarts Citadel. This ended up being one in every of my favourite rides of the whole journey!
The queue alone is unimaginable. You stroll via Hogwarts, passing acquainted places from the films together with lecture rooms, portraits, and Dumbledore’s workplace. The eye to element is unbelievable.
The experience itself is movement simulation and takes you flying via the fortress. You go virtually upsidedown at one level within the coaster-like chairs, however you by no means go quick. Birch admitted afterward that the enormous spiders and Dementors scared him a bit, however he was additionally proud that he rode it.
His official assessment: “I liked it. However I don’t need to do it once more.”
Flight of the Hippogriff
Subsequent we rode Flight of the Hippogriff. Birch was hesitant to experience this one at first as a result of it regarded quick, and he mentioned he needed to do Youngster Swap. However as soon as we obtained to the entrance of the road he modified his thoughts. Good factor as a result of it ended up being one in every of his favourite rides of the day.
Exploring Hogsmeade
Earlier than the crowds actually constructed up, we spent a while wandering via 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 need to use on the interactive spell places across the village in any respect three of the parks. We discovered it to be a bit difficult and there have been traces by the point the crowds picked up, but it surely was nonetheless enjoyable.
We additionally went into Honeydukes for a chocolate frog, which was far more in regards to the expertise than consuming a strong block of chocolate on a scorching day was sensible : )
Hagrid’s Once more
Once we realized Hagrids was working, so did everybody else. Regardless of our Specific Passes, we nonetheless waited over an hour within the scorching solar to experience. A part of the issue was that everybody lined up without delay, and the opposite half was that one of many trains was damaged so that they have been going slower than standard via the queue.
This was in all probability probably 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 toilet was out of luck! (The non-express line was apparently 2+ hours!)
That mentioned, the experience actually is unbelievable. As soon as we lastly obtained on, all of us agreed it was price using.
Youngster Swap
After I first deliberate this journey I wasn’t positive how the rides would work with one mum or dad and two youngsters of various ages, however the Youngster Swap choice was nice! They’d household rooms for me to attend with Birch whereas Mazen rode, and I obtained a particular ticket to experience after Mazen obtained again to attend with Birch. They have been actually accommodating.
Watching Harry Potter within the household room:
The one destructive was that Mazen gave me his cellphone for Hagrids, so we had no means of speaking. It took him so lengthy to undergo that we apprehensive he had exited the experience. We frantically went out and in of the experience exit 3 instances 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 liked that that they had cell ordering that was tremendous straightforward 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 obtained mac and cheese with grapes. Mazen ordered a loaded baked potato.
And naturally we lastly tried Butterbeer! I can verify 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 obtained to experience, but it surely 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 experience in a bit automobile that moved on a observe. This ended up being one in every of Birch’s favourite sights of the journey, and we did it twice. Surprisingly he was extra scared the second time via and closed his eyes till Spiderman rescued us.
Jurrasic Park + VelociCoaster
I took Birch to the Jurassic Park Discovery Heart playground, whereas Mazen and I took turns using 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 experience launches, twists, climbs, hangs you upside-down 5 toes over the water, and usually does issues that appear bodily unreasonable. The over-the-top drop was actually excessive. I screamed in worry and liked it on the similar 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 experience man.
Hulk, Storm Drive, and Seuss Touchdown
After VelociCoaster, we headed into Marvel Tremendous Hero Island. Mazen and I used Youngster Swap once more so we might experience The Unimaginable Hulk Coaster. Birch and I rode Storm Drive 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 Prepare Experience, which ended up being one other Birch favourite. It gives a calming experience above the land with nice views.
Again to the Lodge
By late afternoon we have been utterly exhausted. We hit 17,000 steps today and seven miles! We took the water taxi again to Royal Pacific and instantly headed for the pool. After spending many of the day exterior, a swim felt wonderful.
Dinner at Jake’s American
Understanding this was an enormous day, I believed we’d need to keep on the resort 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 beautiful.
Birch and I each obtained pizzas, and Mazen had a hen sandwich. My greatest remorse of the journey was that I used to be a lot too full to order the S’mores skillet!
