Honey Honey Honey Honey Honeydukes

One of the many "treats" you can look forward to seeing at the Wizarding World.

Honeydukes
Hogsmeade Village
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Pram Parking

Gotta love the authenticity of this place.

Pram Parking
Hogwarts Castle
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Islands of Adventure
Universal Orlando Resort
Orlando, FL

A World of Wizards & Witches

Hogsmeade
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Islands of Adventure
Universal Orlando Resort
Orlando, FL

The Village of Hogsmeade

An outsider's view of the Wizarding World.

Believe it or not, this picture actually shows most of the length of the Wizarding World.

Hogsmeade
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Islands of Adventure
Universal Orlando Resort
Orlando, FL

Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans

I have yet to try these.  But with flavours like Booger, Earwax, Earthworm, and Vomit; who could resist!?!?!?

Honeydukes
Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Islands of Adventure
Universal Orlando Resort
Orlando, FL

Witches' Brew

... Where else would you expect to find it?!?!?!

I don't know what it is about the Wizarding World; but almost everytime I go to work on my pictures from there, I have the strong urge to play around with their treatment.  I think a part of me is inspired by the look of the films.  There also isn't a lot of emphasis on bright/bold colors.  Everything kind of has a natural/homely look.  I do like the color version of this scene though.  ;)

Hog's Head Pub/Inn
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Islands of Adventure
Universal Orlando Resort
Orlando, FL

Quidditch Essentials

Details outside one of the "stores" you couldn't actually go in.

Spintwitches
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Islands of Adventure
Universal Orlando Resort
Orlando, FL

Hogsmeade's Hog's Head

;

Hog's Head Pub... get your beer (Butter or otherwise) here!!!!  Wanna get a soda instead???  Well, you better head out of Hogsmeade.  The wizarding communitiy does not partake in the downing of those beverages.  Seriously, they don't.

On another note; I wish there were replicas of this sign for sale.  I'm sure it would grace the wall of many a Potter geek.  This one included... if my wife permits.  ;)  
Hog's Head Pub
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Islands of Adventure
Universal Orlando Resort
Orlando, FL

Christmas In Hogsmeade

(From an older Flickr post)...

Went to check out the Wizarding World the other day, to see what kind of decorations would be placed up for Christmas  And you are looking at the extent of what was done.  It almost seemed disappointing; but yet, not really.  The whole area already has the look of a Winter setting; with "snow" on the rooftops, and icicles all over the place.  There's even a snowman that has a permanent location.

I guess they just added some garland, wreaths, and other small details, to give the sense of a small village putting up simple decorations.  So if you look at it that way, it kinda works.  But I could've skipped this special trip to see Christmas in Hogsmeade.  I was actually gonna cancel my Universal pass back in July.   But I  was kind of contemplating a way to attend a special Harry Potter event last month (which I totally forgot about); and also wanted to check out what they would do for the Holidays.  Now that I've had my fill, I'll be ending my Passholder status this week.

On another note, Universal did an AMAZING job with decorating Seuss Landing.  There were delightful Christmas sights EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!

Owl Post
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Universal's Islands of Adventure
Orlando, FL

Good To The Last Drop

Hog's Head Pub
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Islands of Adventure
Universal Orlando Resort
Orlando, Florida

"Last Stop For Pottersville!!!!"

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Islands of Adventure
Universal Orlando Resort
Orlando, FL

Every Hour's The Witching Hour

Details of the Owl Post area. I don't know why this is screaming 'HDR' to me; but believe me, it's not. Just 1 RAW shot here.

The Owl Post
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Islands of Adventure
Universal Orlando Resort
Orlando, FL

The "Flying" Ford Anglia

Finally sought out this car after seeing everyone else's shot of it. I initially didn't care for the overexposed sky... until I added some warmth to the shot. So I'm glad it worked out.

The Flying Ford Anglia
Dragon Challenge Queue
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Islands of Adventure
Universal Orlando Resort
Orlando, FL

Hogwarts Castle: A Troll's View

A view from under the bridge at Hogwarts.

It was quite a nice challenge to come up with something interesting while under this bridge. You don't get great views of the castle, so you're forced to think out the box a little.

Hogwart's Castle
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Islands of Adventure
Universal Orlando Resort
Orlando, FL

Public Conveniences

Believe it or not, this is the one shot I desparately wanted to nail...... and I have no idea why. I guess it's just something about the theming of the 'Public Conveniences' that just grabbed me. But I also think it's one of the seldom things in the Wizarding World that I could find where I could play with the dof some; and still have the shot mainly be composed of just one subject, per se. I've tackled this during every visit here; but I guess it took me finally using my Sigma 30mm at f/2.8 to get the look I was going for.

Oh, and one cool thing about these bathrooms, is that they have Moaning Myrtle in there (just her voice). Gotta love that attention to detail.

Public Conveniences (Restrooms)
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Islands of Adventure
Universal Orlando Resort
Orlando, FL

Which Wand Will Choose You, Mr. Weasley???

Finally got a chance to check out Ollivanders. The line for this is usually quite long; but I guess I caught it at a good moment. And to tell ya, this was quite impressive. There definitely isn't much space in here (to keep with the authenticity of the "actual" wizarding world), but it really does help to keep this scene intimate. So I'd say it works out.

And yes, some crazy woman in line actually said this kid "must be a Weasley" to his face. He didn't like it though. Neither did his parents.

Ollivanders
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Islands of Adventure
Universal Orlando Resort
Orlando, FL

Walking "Around" Hogsmeade

... Ha Ha!!!!!! I'll be here all week, folks!!!!

Hogsmeade
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Hogsmeade Goes To Sleep

Besides the few stragglers that were taking pictures near the front, I was the last person to be walked (yes, by security/management) from Hogwarts to the exit here. :)


Hogsmeade Village
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Dogweed And Deathcap: Exotic Plants & Flowers

.... Would you expect them to sell anything else?!?!?

One of the various stores that are 'closed' to guests.

Dogweed And Deathcap
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Islands of Adventure
Universal Orlando Resort
Orlando, FL

Which Wand Will Choose You???

Some of the window details at Ollivanders Wand Shop.

During operating hours, guests can purchase various wands that are similar to the ones depicted in the movie. So you can get the same wand that Harry or Hermione uses; unless the Death Eater side of you wants a Draco or Voldemort wand. (there is more of a selection than just those though)

I just recently found out that people who are picked to be in the Ollivanders show (that constantly runs throughout the day) get a wand that is 'unique' to the them. The outside of the wand doesn't look like any of the ones that the characters use. And the "inside" has a core that is partial to the individual the wand chooses. ;)

Ollivanders
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Islands of Adventure
Universal Orlando Resort
Orlando, FL