Book Thought – Immersed in Potter (Orlando Edition)

I’ve read all seven Harry Potter books twice.  I have seen all eight Harry Potter movies.  I also recently read and reviewed J. K. Rowling’s newest book, The Casual Vacancy, not that it’s Harry Potter related, but I guess in a tiny way. . .

Anyway, I’m a Harry Potter fan, but not a Harry Potter obsessor (although I think the books were genius and I did dress like Hermione for Halloween last year).

Me as a sort-of Hermione at a Halloween party last year with my golfer BFF. Like my “wand”??? (It’s a stick!)

When I lived in Florida, I was only a short distance from Orlando.  Therefore, I was able to check out the fabulous Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Studios.  And it totally was fabulous!

My husband and I getting ready to board the Hogwarts Express! Okay, you can’t REALLY get on it, but it still looks cool!

The Hogwarts Express is at the entrance, once you pass through the gates that say “Please respect the spell limits.”  If you’re lucky, the conductor will be around to pose with you!

Shops at Hogsmeade were so cool! Some you can go inside (like the wand shop) while others are for window shopping!

Oh, you need to use the bathroom while at Hogsmeade?  Go ahead, and while you’re in there, you can listen to Moaning Myrtle whining away.

It’s like 80 degrees out, but there’s snow on the roof!

Make sure you try a butterbeer (it’s nonalcoholic, people!), frozen or not (although frozen is my favorite!) and check out the Dragon Challenge rollercoaster (formerly Dueling Dragons, so same concept just more castle-type decorations on your way in).

And of course, Hogwarts!

The castle is amazing, and worth going through for the ride (The Forbidden Journey) as well as going through it at least one more time to slow down and really take in all of the majesty of the castle itself.  Check out the link for the ride, if you’re interested, because there are pictures of some of the cool items in the castle.

Have you been to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter?  Is it a trip you plan to take?

Come back soon to check out my next post on the my experience with the Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studio Tour in London!  Yup, I’ve been there, too!

Thanks for reading,

Rebecca

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling – Book 21

When I heard that J.K. Rowling was going to be writing an adult fiction novel, my first thoughts were apprehensive.  As the deadline for the novel’s release crept closer, I finally buckled down and decided I would read it (although I’m super annoyed at the ridiculously expensive Kindle price for the book).

Before you even read the book, if you are expecting a happy-go-lucky Rowling, you will be disappointed.  I made the conscious decision that as I read the book, I would not think of my Harry Potter author, but of a new author instead.  I believe that pretending she wasn’t the author seems kind of strange, but it could have been beneficial to my enjoyment as I read.

In “The Casual Vacancy” by J.K. Rowling, we are just introduced to Barry Fairbrother, when he drops down dead at the golf club restaurant in the small town of Pagford, England. The town erupts into a gossipy mess,