Category Archives: activities for kids

Tips for Visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

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Okay, fellow travelers.  For those of you who’ve been hoping to go, planning to go, and emailing me about the details of our trip, here’s how we did it:
(Note: This is one of my most popular posts, originally written in Jan 2011. A friend visited recently and said it’s still good info for those of you heading to Florida for Spring Break.)
Overview
For those of you who, like me, don’t have a bevy of Florida theme park experience, here’s the scoop:  there are two Universal theme parks next to each other.  The first is the Islands of Adventure; the second is Universal Studios.  The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is just one part of the Islands of Adventure, so that’s where you’re headed.  You’ll may also want to check out some of the other areas of the park:  Suess Landing, Toon Lagoon, The Lost Continent and Jurassic Park.  If you plan a full day at the park, you should have time for most or all of the areas.
Where to Stay
I strongly recommend staying at one of the three on-site hotels.  We stayed at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort.  It’s closest to the Islands of Adventure, which makes heading over super-early in the morning a little easier.  (There is a boat you can take, but it’s an easy walk.)  When you stay at any of the onsite hotels, your room key allows you early access to the park and puts you in the “express” line for most of the rides.  These two perks alone are absolutely worth the money.  Stay there!

Note:  If for whatever reason you don’t stay on the property, there are a limited number of Express Passes available for purchase each day.  The price varies by the day–some days they cost $19.99 each, others as much as $59.99 each.  The days we were there the Express Passes cost $49.99 a piece.  Please know, though, that these do run out and, even more importantly, they’re only good ONCE on EACH RIDE.  Yes, I know that seems like yelling, but it’s a big distinction.  I can’t tell you how many times we whipped through a line and did the ride again because the express line was so much quicker.  We lapped one poor woman (and I guess everyone around her) 3 times using our room key express passes.  You’d only be allowed one trip through the express line with your potentially expensive Express Pass.

Which Tickets to Buy
This decision sets the rest in motion, and I struggled over it for quite a bit.  Still, I’m very happy with what I ended up purchasing–it worked very well for our family of 5.
Universal offers vacation packages, some of which are tailored for guests who love Harry Potter.  You can purchase a package, as we did, that includes breakfast at the Three Broomsticks (see Where to Eat).  You can also purchase theme park tickets separately, without a package.  Either way, you have to decide 1) how many days, 2) one or both parks, and 3) one park per day or both parks each day.
If you’re going for the Harry Potter experience, I don’t see any reason to visit both parks each day.  True, they’re close enough to walk, but there’s no way we would’ve left the Islands of Adventure that first day.  The second day, we went to Universal Studios, and I would consider returning to the Islands of Adventure at the end of the day for a last butterbeer or final ride on the Forbidden Journey, but I don’t know.  Our Wizarding World day was nearly perfect.  I’d hate to ruin it by trying to re-create it.  That said, I’m not a big amusement park fan in general, so if you are, perhaps you’d thrive visiting both parks both days.  Take your pick.
Plan for the Day
Keep in mind that our kids are well-travelled.  That is, they’re used to being hauled around and walking long distances for sight-seeing.  Needless to say, being hauled around and walking long distances for amusement park fun was a complete joy for them!
First things first: Park hours vary, but the days we were there Islands of Adventure opened to the public at 8:00.  That meant, as on-site hotel guests, we could get in at 7:00.  We did, and we were glad!  Listen to me very carefully:  go straight to the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride.  There is no express pass for this, the most popular new ride, and it is fantastic.  Go get in line, pronto!  We did, and only waited a few minutes.  We exited the ride and got back in line.  This time, we waited about 10-15 minutes.  Totally worth it–the line snakes through Hogwarts and there’s plenty to see while you wait, including moving photographs, just like in the books.  By the time we exited the ride the 2nd time, the line had grown immensely.  Very quickly, the wait was over an hour for something we rode twice in less than half an hour.  Go early!
Roller Coasters:  We hit the two roller coasters in the park next, using our room key express pass for both of them.  The Flight of the Hippogriff which is just my speed (that is to say:  not scary) and the Dragon Challenge, which I took a pass on but the boys loved.  Again, by going early and using the express line, we got through these rides without much of a wait.
Next, we enjoyed breakfast at the Three Broomsticks.  Reservations are required and a bit difficult to come by, so schedule early!  (See Where to Eat for more info.)
The park has done a fantastic job of recreating the village of Hogsmeade, and even my sons, who know everything Harry Potter, were impressed.  We visited all of the stores, and bought too much at Honeydukes.  It’s so very pretty, though, it’s hard not to!
yummy treats at Honeydukes
  • Dervish and Banges and Filchs Emporium of Confiscated Goods are great places to find keepsakes.  We came home with a quaffle, the Triwizard Tournament Cup, and a very fancy crest-type thingy.
  • Honeydukes.  Chocolate Frogs (delicious), Fizzing Whizzbees and Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavour Beans.  What’s not to like?
  • Zonko’s is attached to Honeydukes, and has every sort of Harry Potter-related novelty item you could ask for.  The boys couldn’t get enough of it!
  • Ollivanders:  Yes, the it’s the wand shop, and you can buy one of your very own.  There’s also a very small back room where they do a wand-choosing demonstration.  It’s cool but not worth the super long wait we saw there all day.  Around 9 PM, the line dropped to a more reasonable 15 minutes or so, and for that kind of wait, it’s a neat experience for kids who love these books.  Over an hour, though?  I wouldn’t suggest it.
After perusing the village and stores, we decided to check out the rest of the Islands of Adventure.  We did, and when we returned to the Wizarding World around 1:00, there was a line just to enter the Harry Potter part of the park!  An hour and a half!  We were all exhausted, running on 6 hrs of sleep at most, and getting grouchy.  We decided to take a midday siesta and it was one of our best decisions of the day.  Rather than waiting in line, we slept, and when we returned to the park two hours later, the line was gone.  We revisited our favorites from the AM, except for the Forbidden Journey, where the line was still impossibly long, then headed to dinner.  We had reservations at Mythos, which, I’m sorry to say, did not live up to its billing.  (More in Where to Eat.)
After a late dinner, we returned to the park (around 8:30), rode rides again, and saw fun performances by both the Beaubatons and the Durmstrangs.  Then we got in line for the wand-choosing show at Ollivanders (the wand chooses you).
Early AM:  Everyone grabbed a quick bagel to eat on our walk to the park (breakfast reservations weren’t until 9ish).
Breakfast: The Three Broomsticks.  The food is fine–you choose from a fixed menu when you enter (eggs, pancakes, etc), then pick your order up at a counter and seat yourself.  But to have eaten there, at this restaurant, was a thrill for my kids.  And I have to admit they did a fine job–it looks like some of the places we ate when we actually visited England with our three kids.  Plus, we bought a package that included this meal–alone, it would’ve totalled $70 for the 5 of us.
Lunch:  Grab anything.  Really.  I wouldn’t waste time sitting somewhere during the middle of the day!
Butterbeer:  BUY THE COMMEMORATIVE CUP!  Yes, it’s pricey (around $11) and you still have to pay for refills ($3.25, I think) but it’s sooo tasty and let’s face it–it’s a cool souvenir.  You can buy butterbeer straight up (just cold) or frosty (think slurpee).  Either is good, but I think the plain old cold one is best.
Pumpkin juice:  Try it if you must, but it’s very much like pumpkin pie in a cup.  Super sweet and not something I’d like to drink an entire cup of.  At breakfast, you can choose a drink, including butterbeer or pumpkin juice, so that might be a good place to try it.  Yuk.
Dinner:  We had reservations at the much heralded Mythos, supposedly the “best theme park restaurant 5 years in a row” or something like that.  The food was fine.  Totally fine.  But I wouldn’t give it any awards.  It’s best feature?  It’s right, and I mean right, outside the entrance to the Wizarding World.  Location, location, location.
Meal Deal: One thing I would not recommend is the Meal Deal.  The places are sporadically located and it’s not the type of food you want to eat several times a day.  Trust me.  Unless you totally love the nuggets and pizza scene, eat something else.
Extra Fees
We didn’t get hit with any charges we weren’t expecting.  The two we did have, we knew about in advance:
  • Rollaway Bed added $25 per night
  • Parking added $15 per night.  You don’t need a car AT ALL, unless you’re planning to leave the property.  We were staying a couple of extra days, so we needed a car but taking airport transportation to the hotel might be cheaper.
Questions, comments?  Let me know!
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Rainy Day Activities for Kids

activities for kids

So it’s gray and rainy today.  It was gray and rainy yesterday.  And it’s supposed to be gray and rainy tomorrow.

Needless to say, we’re going a bit stir crazy here in the house-of-boys.  You can only last so long outside in the rain.  At least 2 of my 3 boys can read chapter books in a cozy chair on days like this.  I love that.  My youngest?  Not so much.  And I remember the days, very recently, when all three of them were standing there, looking up at me with those big expectations, asking, “What’s next, Mom?”

My opinion?  The best way to survive these days with a smile in your face is to throw in the towel.  Yes, that’s right.  My great parenting nugget for the day is….drumroll please…throw in the towel.  Fine words of wisdom, don’t you think?  What I mean by this is that a rainy day is a day for us to forget our Very Important List of Things to Do, get down on the floor with our kids, and remember what it’s like to simply play.

Rainy Day Activities:

  1. Make a Fort.  The old stand-by is as good as ever.  Kids in every state and every town love nothing better than building an Awesome Fort out of couch pillows, blankets, and sheets.  But the real giddiness kicks in when they see that mom is actually going to join them in the Fort.  The smiles you’ll receive are worth every single thing you didn’t get done today that you will absolutely pay for tomorrow.
  1. Break out the Perler Beads.  As I’ve mentioned before, Perler Beads are a fantastic activity for kids to do on their own.  But they’re fun to work on together, too.  Your kids can create beautiful designs to give to Grandma and Grandpa for the upcoming Mother’s and Father’s Day celebrations.  After you’ve ironed their masterpiece, simply stick a magnet strip on the back & your gift is ready to go.
  1. Break the Rules.  No running in the house?  No hiding in the pantry?  Take a half an hour today, ditch the rules, and play indoor hide-and-seek.  That thing that breaks?  It’s just part of the deal.  Plan on it, and it won’t seem so tragic.
  1. Break Bread Together.  Eat your snack the floor!  Another ageless old-timer, the picnic-on-the-living-room-floor is a sure crowd pleaser.  Feed the baby first and have your picnic with the older kids during naptime.  (Babies tend to be a little messy for the living room.)  I have a huge piece of canvas fabric that we put down to spare the carpet.  The kids shriek with joy when I pull it out.  The mayhem that ensues, in anticipation of peanut butter and jelly that they don’t have to eat at the table, is a bit unbelievable.
  1. Rediscover Rubber Ducky.  On a rainy day (no, not one with lightening), the bathtub can serve as a small pool.  Don’t worry about the clean-factor.  This bathtime is just for fun.  Bubbles, toys, bath paints, splashing:  it’s all included.  The bonus?  You don’t have to get in…you’re just the lifeguard for this one.
  1. Special Box of Toys.  What?  You don’t have one?  Oh, you gotta get one!  All the cool kids have ’em.  Okay, here’s the deal: our children have too many toys.  Can we agree on this one?  We buy, our parents buy, our friends buy.  Too much buying.  When I realized our windows were on the verge of popping out because of all the excess, I just wanted to chuck it.  Goodwill, here we come.  But my friend intervened.  “Buy a large plastic bin,” she suggested.  “Fill it with lots of these toys, then put it away for a rainy day.  When the rainy day comes, pull out the bin.  The kids will be so excited to play with these “special” toys.”  Hmmm…  And she was right.  Thank you, friend!  Goodwill still received a donation, but we save some for the Special Box that creates Special Fun on rainy days.
  1. Make a Movie.  These are some of my most treasured keepsakes, and I didn’t have a thing to do with them.  My husband, bless his heart, spends hours with the boys creating movies.  They’ve “gone” to Africa, flown into outer space, and even fought aliens.  I watch these movies and I can’t believe how little they once were!  Those voices!  I promise you, moms, their voices will change, their annunciation will improve, and to be able to hear them, to see them in action at those tiny little ages, is a precious gift.  The movies are a bit of a pain to make, with props and all, and they’re definitely time consuming.  In other words, it’s the perfect activity for an otherwise boring, rainy day.
  1. Make Play-Doh.  Play-Doh is such a kid-pleaser, but no one likes it when they peel off the lid and instead of easy to mold clay-like material, they find the hard, gross substance formerly known as Play Doh.  My neighbor, Pam, gave me a recipe about years ago (see below) and this stuff lasts forever.  It’s kind of weird how long it lasts, actually.  Sometimes it gets a little sticky – just add a touch more flour, and you’re ready to shape and mold.
  1. Or, Make Dough Figures.  During the holidays, my kids make something for their teacher’s, grandparents, and other lucky souls.  One of the things they’ve created is dough ornaments.  (Yep, I like the oldies.  What gave it away?)  This dough is easy to work with – just don’t over bake it!  If you’re feeling extra crafty, the kids can paint their designs once they’re dry.
  1. Keep a Few Tricks Up Your Sleeve. Under no circumstances, no matter how gray and rainy it is, are you, the parent, to use all of these tricks in the same day.  Pace yourself, people.  Pick a few, and maybe a back-up, and go for it.  Trying to make play-doh, build a fort, and have a living-room picnic on the same day is just asking for trouble.  There’s always tomorrow.
Homemade Play-Doh Recipe:
2 c flour 2 c water
1 c salt 2 T oil
4 t cream of tartar food coloring
(This makes a ton.  Sometimes I just make half.)
Mix all ingredients in a saucepan.  Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly.  Stir in food coloring.  Remove from heat.  Put mixture onto waxed paper and knead.  Add extra flour, if sticky.
Dough Figures/Ornaments Recipe
1 c salt 1 c water
2 c flour food coloring (optional)
 Mix salt and flour, then add water a little at a time.  If you’re using food coloring, separate dough into different bowls, add color, and mix.  Knead for 7-10 minutes until dough is putty-like.
Create people, animals, or other figures with dough.  For ornaments, roll dough to ¼” thick (I go a little thicker).  Use cookie cutters for basic shapes, like snowflakes, Christmas balls, or snowmen. 
Bake on cookies sheet at 325 until very light brown.

Enjoy the rain!

This updated re-post is here today courtesy of the weather!

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Go to the Getty!

activities for kids, travel
Spending a week in LA is a tough assignment, but someone’s got to do it.  Between walking around the lovely grounds at the hotel and sunning by the pool, I managed to fit it time for lunch at the Ivy and dinner with a friend I haven’t seen for 19 years!
My friend, who has lived in LA all of this time, suggested a trip to the Getty.  I was already thinking about heading over to Santa Monica for a day, so I decided to take his advice and hit the Getty first.
Wow!
I should’ve just planned to spend the entire day at the Getty.  If you don’t have time, make some:  the Getty is worth it.  Kids will love it just for the tram ride!  After you park your car ($15 to park, but admission to the museum is free), a tram takes you to the tip top of the hill where the Getty is perched.  There’s so much to see, inside and out, that you should plan to spend as much time as you can here.  The architecture is stunning, the gardens are beautiful, and the art..the art!  My favorite, if I had to choose, was probably the Photography section, which had photographs from Cuba so poignant, so beautiful, it was hard to pull away.  I’m also a sucker for Impressionists, so imagine my joy with the Monets and Renoirs!  How about this beautiful Sisley?
The Road from Versailles to Saint-Germain (1875)
They have old books so intricate that I was at once amazed by the intricacy of the work and the perseverance of the people who created them, the people who kept stories alive through the written word.  At the same time, as I looked at those treasures and wondered if I would have ever owned a book in those days, I felt immensely grateful for the Guttenberg Press and the far-reaching impact it had on literature and the people of the world and my life in particular.  
In addition to the paintings, photographs, and books, they have furniture and clothing on display that is so ornate that it’s hard to believe people lived like that, real people, not just characters in a scene on a stage.  Incredible. 
Keep going and you’ll see pottery so embellished and adorned it will humble you to gaze upon it.
It’s worth the traffic, it’s worth any hassle, it’s worth the $15 parking fee.  If you’re near LA, go to the Getty!
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