Universal Studios: Harry Potter World

We got off the boat early Friday morning and drove over to Universal Studios to experience Harry Potter world.  We even made it there when they opened!  It was pretty amazing.

These three waited in line extra long so they could ride front row.

We had to experience butterbeer...

Abby liked it the most.

One of the longest line we stood in all day was to go into Ollivanders Wand shop.

And it all became worth it the moment Zachary was picked for the demonstration...

which of course meant we HAD to buy the wand.

After spending the morning in Harry Potter we headed out to explore other parts of the park.

Bret found a good place to take a little nap...

Bret and Mckenna are somewhere on this roller coaster.

Late afternoon we headed back to Harry Potter.  Lines were so short everywhere so the kids were able to ride their favorite rides multiple times back to back.  The girls bought some chocolate frogs at Honeydukes.

On our way back out to the car the kids rode the Jungle Cruiser....not knowing they were going to get this wet.  Abby, McKenna and Zach rode it a second time.  And then once they were nice and wet it was time to go home.

This was the end of our trip of a lifetime.  Saturday found us driving back home in the car with us all anxious and excited to reunite with Grayson.

Disney Cruise Day 4: Day at Sea

Day 4 was our full day at sea.  Because we could sleep in we let the girls stay up late the night before and go to an 11:00 showing of Thor.  Sleeping in and a lazy breakfast was great.  The boys spent some time in the kids club, the girls went to another movie, and then we hit the pools and the slides.  The boat we were in just came out of dry dock a few months ago where it got totally redone, including adding this awesome water slide called "the aqua duck."  You stood inside this cylinder, Daisy Duck counted down from three to one and then the floor beneath you opened up and you dropped into the tube that went out over the side of the boat and back around.  It was so much fun!

Abby going in...

and coming out.

Gavin had some serious dance moves he busted out

Games of shuffle board...

McKenna and Bret were the two who made it to the championship round...

It was a close game, but Bret was the ultimate shuffle board champion.

(I know this picture is blurry, but it happened too quickly for me to really focus on it and I love it so much, blurriness and all!)

That night we stood in line to meet Mickey.

The waves were really big and the boat was rocking a lot that last night.  We all got a little motion sickness during dinner and the show.

We had the best waiters that were with us each night.  The boys loved these guys.  

One thing is certain, Disney knows how to do things right.  The entire trip was probably the best trip we have ever done as a family.  It was perfect from start to finish.  We created wonderful memories that I'm positive we will talk about and share for years to come.