even more magical at night...

Granted - it's the smartest move to get there early in the day (WWHP was closed due to crowds and people had to get "return later" passes when we were there) but we thought it was even better at night...

mmmm- frozen butterbeer

Is there anything more delicious on a hot day? Especially when it's served here?

My Child as the Chosen One ---

You never want to get your kid's hopes up too much but aren't glad when their wishes are granted?

We went back to Ollivander's in the evening as Mike headed elsewhere in the park, and every ounce of her being was quivering with the intention of being chosen. I tried to tell her not to get her heart set on it but I knew it was -

Wizard that he is, he felt it.

Ollivander spotted her as he descended his staircase and picked her out of the crowd. She was radiant and starstruck and seized the wand he offered with zeal -

She tried to water his flowers and they wilted....

but finally he found the right one....

which, of course, even though I vowed that we weren't buying a wand (since she has Ginny's wand at home) we had to get...

A Forbidden Journey....

My kid isn't a roller coaster fan - she inherited that from me and Mike - but she went on a Forbidden Journey at 8 o'clock in the morning -

We wended our way through the greenhouse at Hogwarts, made our way down a dark hallway and past portraits who talked to us (hello Fat Lady!)...

We saw Dumbledore, Harry, Hermione and Ron....

Even the waiting was magical. And therefore not much like waiting....

And this was before the ride even began.

I've thought about showing some photos, about trying to describe the ride exactly but I don't want to spoil your fun or ruin any surprises -

But I do want to say it's fascinating watching your kid gain courage. From the girl who gripped my hand the first time through to the one who gloried in flying on a broomstick and raised her hands up to the rush - to the girl who went on the single rider line so we could get in one more time before we had to leave...

to feel the wind in her face and to fly....

please respect spell limits

When I was kid, obsessed with Little Women and Nancy Drew and Narnia, I'd make up continuing stories where I was part of the action, a character amongst them, immersed in their worlds. But that had to stay all in my head.

For years, as you know, Julia has been creating her own Harry Potter books and adventures -

This past week she got to be part of the action -

We flew to Orlando, woke up at the crack of dawn (the time change killed us) to be early at the park to be among the first when it opened.

I've never been much of a theme park person. I'm now a convert.

My kid was in heaven - I mean Hogsmeade.

Julia enters the Wizarding World of Harry Potter....