{"id":7891,"date":"2018-01-13T12:42:09","date_gmt":"2018-01-13T17:42:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/?page_id=7891"},"modified":"2025-06-18T19:08:57","modified_gmt":"2025-06-19T00:08:57","slug":"travelogue-universal-studios","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/?page_id=7891","title":{"rendered":"Travelogue: Universal Studios"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>January 2018<br \/>\n<\/strong>Where We Stayed: The Contemporary<strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Am I the only one who still laughs a little when I think of Hermoine saying, &#8220;It&#8217;s leviohhhhhhsa, NOT leviosaaaaa&#8221;? Oh, how I love the world of Harry Potter. My mom was itching to see the newest Harry Potter park at Universal Studios, so naturally, we visited!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">There are two Harry Potter worlds at Universal &#8212; Hogsmeade (located at Universal&#8217;s Islands of Adventure) and the newer Diagon Alley (located at Universal Studios Florida). If you want to visit both, be sure to buy tickets to BOTH theme parks. It&#8217;s so adorable how they move you between the parks &#8212; you board the Hogwarts Express! It really does feel like you&#8217;re in the movie &#8212; it&#8217;s magical.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I had been to the Hogsmeade portion a few times, but my Diagon Alley experience was new. It was AMAZING. The attention to detail blew my mind &#8212; and I teared up a few times, because you really do feel like you&#8217;re\u00a0<em>there<\/em>. The entire Harry Potter story is brilliant, creative, magical, heart-wrenching, and most of all,\u00a0<em>fun<\/em>. If you haven&#8217;t read the books, get on it! You won&#8217;t regret it.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Here are some photos from our day at the two parks.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/?attachment_id=7871\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7871\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7871\" src=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/001.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/001.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/001-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/001-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">The view from the entrance to Islands of Adventure. \u00a0I&#8217;d love to return to Universal someday and stay longer than a day &#8212; they are beautiful and exciting parks!<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/?attachment_id=7872\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7872\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7872\" src=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/002.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"902\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/002.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/002-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/002-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/002-768x770.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Seuss Landing walks the fine line between whimsical and creepy!<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/?attachment_id=7873\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7873\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7873\" src=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/003.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"902\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/003.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/003-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/003-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/003-768x770.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/?attachment_id=7874\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7874\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7874\" src=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/004.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/004.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/004-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/004-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/?attachment_id=7875\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7875\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7875\" src=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/005.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"902\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/005.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/005-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/005-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/005-768x770.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/?attachment_id=7876\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7876\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7876\" src=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/006.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/006.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/006-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/006-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/?attachment_id=7877\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7877\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7877\" src=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/007.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/007.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/007-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/007-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/?attachment_id=7878\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7878\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7878\" src=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/008.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/008.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/008-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/008-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">The Harry Potter adventure begins! Isn&#8217;t the train station adorable?<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/?attachment_id=7879\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7879\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7879\" src=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/009.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/009.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/009-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/009-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Candy shop in Diagon Alley.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/?attachment_id=7880\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7880\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7880\" src=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/010.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/010.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/010-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/010-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">TOO CUTE FOR WORDS.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/?attachment_id=7881\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7881\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7881\" src=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/011.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/011.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/011-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/011-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I\u00a0<em>loved<\/em> how they made Gringotts come to life. Look at that sweet dragon!<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/?attachment_id=7882\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7882\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7882\" src=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/012.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"902\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/012.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/012-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/012-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/012-768x770.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">We had to buy some frozen butterbeer. It&#8217;s a must. And in case you&#8217;re wondering &#8211; it&#8217;s a really delicious combination of marshmallow, butterscotch, and creme soda. I know that sound disgustingly sweet, but somehow they make it work!<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/?attachment_id=7883\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7883\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7883\" src=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/013.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"599\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/013.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/013-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/013-768x511.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/?attachment_id=7884\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7884\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7884\" src=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/014.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"904\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/014.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/014-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/014-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/014-768x771.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Back at the Hogsmeade portion of the parks&#8230;<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/?attachment_id=7885\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7885\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7885\" src=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/015.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/015.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/015-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/015-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/?attachment_id=7886\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7886\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7886\" src=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/016.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/016.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/016-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/016-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a>Cute parents.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/?attachment_id=7887\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7887\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7887\" src=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/018.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/018.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/018-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/018-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">We then moved onto the Jurassic Park portion of Islands of Adventure. Cause y&#8217;all know how much I love dinosaurs!<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/?attachment_id=7888\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7888\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7888\" src=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/019.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/019.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/019-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/019-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Eating some Jurassic Pop in Jurassic Park.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/?attachment_id=7889\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7889\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7889\" src=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/017.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/017.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/017-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/017-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">And this is a little out of order, but I ran into the Grinch in Seuss Landing&#8230; and had to get a photo for my friend (and Grinch lover) Paul.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/?attachment_id=7890\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-7890\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7890\" src=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/020.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/020.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/020-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/13-7870-post\/020-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">We had a great time at Universal. \u00a0Can&#8217;t wait to go back someday!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>January 2018 Where We Stayed: The Contemporary Am I the only one who still laughs a little when I think of Hermoine saying, &#8220;It&#8217;s leviohhhhhhsa, NOT leviosaaaaa&#8221;? Oh, how I love the world of Harry Potter. My mom was itching&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/?page_id=7891\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-7891","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","5":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7891","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7891"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7891\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.anniee.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7891"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}