Universal announced a “deal” where Florida Residents can get 15 months for the price of an annual pass. So for $276, I have an annual pass to both Universal parks including parking for the next 15 months. It is $189 plus tax for a non-Floridian for one day for both parks. (I think the Harry Potter areas, Mardi Gras Concerts for two years, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade/ Christmas season will make it worth it).
I am not a fan of Universal, but today was really fun. I started at the Hogwarts area (in Islands of Adventure) of the Harry Potter world. I spent like 5 minutes there. I waited 45 minutes for the Hogwarts Express. The Express takes you to London (from Islands of Adventure to Universal), so you have to have the two-park pass to ride the train AND the train is amazing! I can’t describe it, so I will add a youtube video of it below. The train stations are so neat. I loved arriving in London in the tube station and walking out into the streets of London. Then, a weird looking world was behind the facade. I am sure all the readers of Harry Potter will love it as much as I loved the London portion. Diagon Alley (the new part) is quite larger than the Hogswart area. There is a lot more to explore. I had some ice cream from the ice cream parlour. The new area has at least one ride. The line was 60 to 75 minutes long, so I didn’t ride it. The lines at Universal seemed really long to everything including the bathrooms and even Starbucks.
I also saw the Mardi Gras parade and went to the Jessie J concert. I left early as it was getting cold and there were a lot of people that I didn’t want to compete with leaving.
(At work, we had the Free Trade Agreement seminar finally. I was able to play my game.)
