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First week of school: conquered.

I can finally admit to myself that summer is now behind us, but with so much to look forward to this fall, it’s not such a huge loss. Between (some) interesting classes, a new job, writing for various school publications, applying for study abroad and – oh yeah – socializing, fall 2010 will definitely be full and exciting.

That’s not to say I didn’t have a good summer. AU CONTRAIRE. It was amazing – a fulfilling internship, seeing the Potter cast, going to Orlando twice, seeing family in Jamaica – it was all good fun. Not studying is truly a glorious thing! [Read my internship experience blog for Maryland Life.]

That being said, I am taking a huge range of classes this semester. Psychology is so far my least favorite; Reporting and Multimedia Skills are battling it out for the top spot. I have to say, AU’s School of Communication has some pretty fantastic professors. They really know and love what they’re teaching and have so much experience in their field. Can’t say I’ve encountered the same sort of teaching with other non-SOC classes. But then again, maybe I’m just biased.

You know what I find fascinating? And I say this in a genuine and endearing sort of way….. People over the age of 60 who use iPhones.

During one of my many flights this past summer (I honestly couldn’t tell you which one), there was a couple sitting next to me both rockin’ the iPhone. Then during a trip to the doctor’s office last week, an elderly woman sitting across from me was typing away furiously on her iPhone.

I’m not saying people of a certain age shouldn’t be allowed to own and operate an iPhone. On the contrary, as I sat in the waiting room digesting the fact that this grandmother had a cooler phone than me, it made sense why people over 60 would consider an iPhone.

For starters, it’s actually really easy to use. All you have to do is tap the screen to get what you want – the icons on the screen are large enough and also very colorful. When the keyboard comes up, same thing: large, easy to see letters. Anybody with hard eyesight would find the iPhone convenient to use. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone over 60 with a Blackberry because they don’t have all those features listed above.

So why did I find this so fascinating? I can only assume it’s because my own grandparents have never fully grasped modern technology, no matter how hard we try to teach them. So to see someone from their generation being so savvy with the iPhone, it was awesome.

A new Washington area news site, TBD, was launched yesterday and it seems to be creating a big buzz amongst journos. I can see why – the site has a network that brings together all the popular local blogs in one place and has a sleek, easy to navigate design with interesting articles. Of course, this is only day two so who knows if TBD will continue to deliver, but I sure hope so because I’m enjoying what I see so far!

One of TBD’s quirks is a fondness for lists, and one of their first published lists had to do with the “most notable local college classes.” I can’t help but notice how most of the classes on this list are found at Georgetown – for example, “Shopping! A World History,” “Women and the Follies Men do,” and my personal favorite, “Knights of Old and Harry Potter.” Apparently this is the type of education money will buy you now.

Speaking of, the summer holidays are dwindling down… I’m excited to finally get this semester going but will definitely miss the comforts of having home cooked meals everyday, my own bed, and a car. I better make the most of it!

Whatever your belief in the paranormal may be, it’s hard to deny the sheer entertainment value of Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventures. Part of me would like to believe it’s true, while the other half of me knows how easy it is to manipulate those sort of “experiences” in post-production. Yet I’m still hooked to this show!

Where else on television will you see a frat boy-wannabe taunting thin air (“You’re a bastard! Why don’t you come and hit me?!”) or see a grown man running and screaming down the hallway because he “heard a noise, bro!”? I can honestly say I’ve laughed more while watching this show than during any recent comedy I’ve seen (Get Him to the Greek comes close, though).

The Ghost Adventures team is made up of three guys. You’ve got Zak Bagans, the lead investigator with biceps so huge you’d think he’s preparing to physically wrestle with the ghosts. Then there’s Aaron, the more reluctant of the bunch and whose fear amuses me the most; lastly there’s Nick, probably the most normal of the team, but he certainly has his moments.

The show’s in between seasons right now, so I’ve been able to catch the reruns this summer. There isn’t a single episode that disappoints, comedically speaking. And I’m clearly not the only one who thinks so – YouTube is littered with montages of the “funniest moments” from Ghost Adventures. To prove my point, here’s some hilarious scenes from season 3:

It’s been a little over a month since the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened at Universal’s Island of Adventure. I had the extreme opportunity to be there during the grand opening as press, but I also returned this month to experience the park with some other friends and attend a Harry Potter conference. Here are some of the things I discovered and hopefully you’ll find useful when planning your trip to Hogsmeade!

1. The Longest Lines Ever

Just because you’re able to get into Island of Adventure doesn’t mean you’ll be given immediate access into the Wizarding World. What am I going on about, you ask? Well, unless you have an early admission pass through one of Universal’s vacation packages, once the park opens, visitors are placed in a line and given separate ticket stubs which will eventually get them into the Wizarding World. The line I witnessed (but never had to stand in, thank god) was roughly three hours long. Usually by 2 or 3 p.m. in the afternoon, the line is gone and you can go in and out of the Wizarding World as you please. So sometimes it’s best to enjoy the rest of Islands of Adventure before making your way to Hogsmeade.

2. Get an Express Pass

Express passes are WORTH IT. You can get a hold of an Express pass one of two ways: stay at one of Universal’s resorts (Royal Pacific, Hard Rock Hotel, or Portofino Bay). Your room key acts as an express pass which will help you skip the regular lines. Instead of a 45 minute wait, you might have to wait only 15 minutes max.

The second option is to purchase Express passes which are sold around the park. They’re pricey, though, but very much worth it if you want to do several rides and do them more than once. Here’s more information.

3. Dragon Challenge

Dragon Challenge is one of the three rides at the Wizarding World. It is one wild roller coaster; definitely not for the faint-hearted! When I first went on the ride back in June, we went through the express line, which was wonderful. This time, however, we waited in the regular queue – big mistake.

The queue for Dragon Challenge is never ending. It starts off nice enough with banners for the four Triwizard champions, a look inside the champion’s tent, a glimpse at the golden egg, and a hall of floating candles. But after a while, the line turns into a never ending tunnel of caves. There are sound effects so to make it seem as if there is a dragon outside trying to get in, but that doesn’t change the fact that there’s very little ventilation in the tunnels making it stuffy, hot and uncomfortable. Many people also left the line because they were becoming claustrophobic.

The wait time in front of the ride said 35 minutes, but it was more like 45 minutes and it felt longer because of the blandness of the queue. I think Universal spent all of their money on the other attractions and didn’t have any more to spare for Dragon Challenge. It’s an amazing roller coaster, but seriously – don’t do it unless you have an Express pass.

4. Ollivander’s

In order to get into some of the shops like Zonko’s/Honeydukes and Dervish and Banges, you have to wait in lines that have about a 20 to 30 minute wait. Yes, to enter a shop.

Getting into Ollivander’s wand shop is no different, except the shop isn’t really there for you to browse through. Ollivander’s is supposed to be an “experience” – about 30 guests are allowed to enter at a time and Ollivander’s protégé picks only one person from the group to select a wand. You wait almost two hours in line for a roughly 5 minute presentation. It’s incredibly well done, don’t get me wrong, but is it worth such a long wait? I don’t think so.

Since the chances are you won’t be picking a wand inside Ollivander’s, after the presentation guests exit into the Owl Post which is where more wands are shelved. You can choose to buy either a replica of one of the character’s wands (Harry, Ron, Hermione, Voldemort, Sirius Black, etc.) or buy a wand that represents your birth date on the Celtic calendar. Employees in the shop are more than willing to help you select your wand, so that’s always a bonus. Plus, the Owl Post is connected to Dervish and Banges so you can do a bit of shopping there too. Dervish and Banges is the only store that sells wizard robes (priced at $99.99, but they are glorious!) and Quaffles, the Quibbler and other Hogwarts uniform accessories.

5. The Forbidden Journey

There’s quite a bit I can divulge to you about the Forbidden Journey now that I’ve ridden it … well, you don’t need to know how many times I’ve been on it. Just take my word for what I’m about to tell you!

First things first, there’s no express lane. Though there is one built, it currently is only used for those who want to tour the castle only and not go on the ride. Rumor has it, though, that the express lane will be fully functional by next summer. In the meantime, everyone has the opportunity to go through the regular line and tour the castle. During peak hours, the wait can be anywhere between 60 to 90 minutes, but it’s really not such an excruciating wait. The detail that has gone into this queue is amazing where you can visit Dumbledore’s office, the Herbology classroom, Gryffindor common room and so much more. I highly recommend doing the regular queue at least once.

Now once you reach the castle, you might see a line that goes out the castle doors. Don’t be fooled. This line is not for the ride. It is actually to get to the lockers since no loose articles are allowed on the ride. Lockers are free for up to two hours sometimes, enough time for you to go on the ride and come back. There’s a quick way to bypass the locker line: enter the castle through Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods. Filch’s is the “gift shop” the ride drops you off in, but there is an entrance to it on the right side of the castle (past the “pram parking”) and the store also connects directly to the locker area. So slither in from Filch’s, find your locker and from there you’ll see where the queue for the Forbidden Journey really begins (there are employees there instructing you).

If you’ve already done the ride once and are dying to get on it again BUT you don’t want to wait another 90 minutes, I have a solution for you! Go in the single rider lane. Yes, it exists! You skip out on touring the castle (though you still get to do Gryffindor common room), but the longest wait time I ever experienced was between 25 – 30 minutes. Sometimes you could even get it done in 10 minutes. Of course, the only downside is that you don’t get to ride with your friends. The employees won’t always be shouting about the single rider lane. In fact, we got lucky when we heard about it. If you want to go as a single rider, ask one of the employees where to enter for the queue. It can be easily missed.

6. The Three Broomsticks

If you’re looking for a nice place to cool down and drink your butterbeer, head to the patio behind the Three Broomsticks and Hog’s Head pub. You’re not allowed to stay in the Three Broomsticks unless you’re eating there. The patio is accessible from an alleyway to the right of the building (there’s a sign for Gringotts ATM machine). There’s also an entrance to the Hog’s Head pub from the back here so you can pop in and order some butterbeer while enjoying the cool shade and another stunning view of Hogwarts.

By the way, frozen butterbeer is much more refreshing than regular butterbeer. This isn’t just my opinion – Rupert Grint said so, too. And you can’t disagree with Ron-freaking-Weasley!

7. Flight of the Hippogriff

The third ride at the Wizarding World is Flight of the Hippogriff. I haven’t talked about it much because there’s really no big secret about it. It’s a family-friendly roller coaster that’s a ton of fun and generally has the shortest wait time. If you have an express pass, you can get it done in about 5 minutes. And then go on it again… and again… and again…

8. Mind the Details

Look at the window displays, stare at the ceiling, listen to the noises coming from upstairs at the Hog’s Head– no small detail has been spared. It really is amazing and you’ll be surprised at some of the things you notice. Perhaps that’s the only good thing about the long lines – you have no choice but to sit and admire all the hard work and tiny details that have gone into this park. There are a ton I’d love to share, but I want it to be something you discover for yourself.

9. One Last Thing

This isn’t so much a tip as it is a public service announcement. People of the world: please stop littering in Hogwarts. If I had to pick up another water bottle from in between the Herbology plants, I would’ve pulled a Filch and start threatening to hang people by their thumbs in the dungeons. I mean, COME ON. Littering in general is bad, but to do it in Hogwarts – a building that has barely been open for a month – is insulting. There are trash cans and recycle bins throughout the queue – use them! But please, do not deface Hogwarts.

So, to do a quick recap:

• Universal’s Harry Potter vacation package is worth it for early admission
• Express passes in general are worth having
• Only do Dragon Challenge if you have an Express Pass. Otherwise, prepare to suffer in the tunnels
• Only one person gets a wand chosen at Ollivander’s. Other than that, go to the Owl Post to pick your own wand
• Do the Forbidden Journey queue at least once, and then go again as a single rider for a much shorter wait time.
• Enter the castle through Filch’s to bypass the locker line
• There’s a lovely patio behind the Three Broomsticks. Go there!
• Flight of the Hippogriff is a very fun ride
• Keep your eyes and ears wide open for the details – there’s a lot that can be easily overlooked.
• DO NOT LITTER IN HOGWARTS

There’s no way this latest invention will be available and widespread within the next year, but it’s so exciting to see technology involving. Ladies and gents, if the world doesn’t implode in 2012, we may eventually be flying around like the Jetsons! Exciting, no?

The Terrafugia has been cleared by the FAA and “can transform from a roadable vehicle that can hit a highway speed of 65 mph to a winged aircraft in 30 seconds.” Say what?! And it’s powered by regular unleaded gas!

I’m impressed. There are probably quite a few cons for a flying car at the moment – like making sure fellow aircrafts don’t knock into each others wings, creating public flying highways, etc etc. Safety first! Not to mention it costs about $200,000….gimme a ring when it goes on sale 50 years from now!

With this new post, it will seem like all my blogs are either about two things lately: Harry Potter or the World Cup. I promise you it won’t always be this way! But there’s much going on with both subjects, including the newly released trailer for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. [Watch here and prepare to be blown away]

When the trailer first began and this sweeping view of a lake and forest showed up on my screen, the first thing I thought was : ugh, Twilight because every. single. Twilight trailer has had this same shot. I was disappointed.

But then! They showed the Harry/Voldemort confrontation. And I’m pretty sure that’s around the time the waterworks started coming. “The boy who lived…come to die.” GAH! So powerful.

Wow, WB, way to really hit home. You know how to strike at the heart of fandom! I’ll shamelessly admit that by this point, I was a wreck.

In the previous teaser released with the Half-Blood Prince DVD, Hermione’s hands are covered in blood, yet here they’re awfully clean. I found out, though, that the MPAA doesn’t allow red blood (as if  there’s any other kind…) on a “for all audiences” preview.

This is one of my favorite scenes in the entire Harry Potter series: Ron battling the horcrux. And OMG IT LOOKS AMAZING.  He’s even holding Gryffindor’s sword!

Look at the chess pieces in the background (click for bigger)! They’re the same ones from the first film! Wow, this is really coming full circle.

No sign of the Ron/Hermione kiss yet (GOOD! I don’t want to be spoiled) but look! They’re holding hands! In fact, this is one of the many times in the trailer where Hermione’s clinging to Ron. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it seems like a complete 180 to Emma Watson’s “GIRL POWAHHH!11!!!” Hermione she’s created. In fact, Hermione hardly plays a part in this trailer. Aside from her scenes with Ron, she’s practically non-existent. Dan Radcliffe and Rupert Grint on the other hand….

There are dead bodies all around! Wow wow wow. That is so intense.

These films are going to be the end of me. I’ve never cried over a trailer before!!

Hey, America! It was really nice of you to show your interest in the sport between the time the US qualified for the Final 16 until they were eliminated by Ghana (again). Really, I admire your “jumping on the bandwagon” mentality.

No, but seriously, it’s a shame – the U.S. mens soccer team deserves more encouraging and faithful fans. Yes, I know there are some of you out there, but let’s face it – when the boys come home, it’ll be to little fanfare. And I think the New York Post’s headline is just plain sad.

Anyways, as you can see, I am still full immersed in the World Cup. I’m still getting over my bitter breakup with the Italian team (that’s really the only way I can properly describe it), but I was quite pleased to see how well Germany and Argentina played. Definitely some of the most exciting games so far!

For some reason that is completely beyond me, people generally despise the Italian football (soccer) team. Unless you’re Italian, of course.

Really, I can’t understand why… they’re gorgeous, excellent players and  make any game entertaining to watch. The World Cup is going to be so boring now without my boys.

Of course, I can’t blame you if you want to challenge me when I say they’re “excellent players” given what happened during their short-lived time in South Africa. Actually, I’m not really sure what happened. There were good moments, there were bad ones. Unfortunately, mostly bad, but at least they didn’t go the way of the French (ha!).

As early as they were disqualified, I still got a feel for some of the new players, but am really disappointed to say good-bye to the old ones.

Buffon: Ugh, every time they showed him on the sidelines today I wanted to cry. I’m certain he would’ve made at least a slight difference in the way things went for the Azzurri. Which leads me to his replacement…

Marchetti: In another four years, I think he’ll be up to Buffon’s standards. There’s plenty of potential with him – I call him the Little Flyer because he flies and dodges all over the place to keep the ball out of the net. But he just wasn’t good enough this time around. But I like him. He’s channeling some Buffon in the way he plays and in his appearance as well. That’s always a plus!

Montolivo: A relatively new player who did well. I’m more interested in him though because he reminds me of those heads I remember seeing on old Roman coins. He should’ve prayed more to his Roman ancestors.

Iaquinta: He’s obviously a good player, but I also like him because his eyebrows remind me of David Beckham’s and therefore I laughed every time I saw him.

Pepe: People seem to think he’s an amazing player, and he’s alright, but I wasn’t too impressed. He looks like a real douchebag.

Sadly, this was it for Cannavaro and Gattuso. It explains why Gattuso looked especially depressed and angry when he realized the team was losing today. He looked like he was about ready to slap a bitch. But kudos to Cannavaro for always being classy and cool – and sometimes slightly devilish like when he purposefully stood in place while a Slovakian player was running his way. Ha!

Like I said, the World Cup is rather boring now for me. The only teams I’m remotely interested in are Germany, England, USA and Argentina. Maybe Portugal and Spain, too, but we’ll see. I’ll float around and give my support to the better team.

To close this entry on a lighter now, I leave you with this quote from Stephen Fry’s Twitter: “This World Cup is like WWII: The French surrendered early; the Americans turned up late leaving England to fight the Germans.”

Italy vs Slovakia GALLERY! You’re welcome. (Pics courtesy of PicApp and Getty)

Gigi and Andrea thank you for your time.

So Hershey, PA likes to call itself the sweetest place on Earth, and okay, I can agree with that given the endless amount of chocolate located in that town. And Disney World wants everyone to believe it is the happiest place on Earth, but I’ve found a place that can top that and Hershey. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is by far the most magical place on Earth.

In 2007, my family took a trip to Universal Orlando Resorts for our annual summer vacation. This was around the same time they had just announced plans for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. We had a fun time, but the whole trip all I could think was, “next time I come here, it’ll be for the grand opening of the Harry Pottter park.”

Of course, back then it was too early to know the details and it was just a far off dream. But since that summer I’ve attended two Potter premieres for RupertGrint.net and, yes, was now even invited to attend the Wizarding World of Harry Potter grand opening. I promise I’ll try not to get too corny!

In the beginning, the nerves were building up and I really didn’t know what to expect. After having to wait two hours for my luggage to arrive in Orlando, I was certain the trip was doomed. But in a way, I was lucky. On the bus to the hotel, I met two companions: Rachel, an equally anxious and excited intern from Philly, and Red – a fansite webmaster I’d communicated with several times before, but never actually met. We ended up sticking together for pretty much the entire trip.

Immediately upon arriving, I was escorted to my room by Universal PR and given a complimentary chocolate frog. It was in an identical box to that in the films! I knew right then and there that there had to be a Witches and Wizards trading card within the box. I assumed I would probably get a major character like Dumbledore, but imagine my great surprise when I turned the card over and saw who it was. IT WAS HELGA HUFFLEPUFF! Not gonna lie, my little ‘Puff self did a  dance around the room. Did you know Helga was the one who came up with the menu for the Hogwarts feast?! ME NEITHER!

Yep, right then and there I knew this trip was going to be amazing.

That same Tuesday night, a small group of us fansite reps decided to head down to the Wizarding World before closing. Contrary to what you might’ve heard, the park has been opened for a couple weeks now as part of a “soft opening.” This was my first time entering the park, and I was gobsmacked. Everything was so detailed and utterly perfect! I had my first taste of butterbeer that night, and it was delicious. We also rode on the crazy Dragon Challenge roller coaster. What I love about all the rides in the Wizarding World is that the queues are more than just boring old queues. There are props and decorations to keep you entertained while you wait and make you feel as if you’re really in Harry’s world.

Wednesday was a more routine afternoon: we had a delicious breakfast, a brief Q&A with Bill Davis (COO of Universal Resorts) and Mark Woodbury (President of Universal Creative) about the Wizarding World.  Then we met our Universal escorts who brought us around the park for most of the afternoon. It was painfully hot, though, so we cut our day short to rest at the hotel and prepare for the evening’s festivities.

We actually weren’t really sure what to expect Wednesday night. No doubt it was going to be a huge event, but we weren’t told much aside from the fact that the legendary John Williams would be there conducting his orchestra and the cast of the Harry Potter films would also be present and walk the red carpet. As for myself and other media, we were there as VIP and told to just enjoy the evening. So that’s just what we did!

We spent most of the evening chugging back some more butterbeer and standing on the side of the red carpet watching the stars arrive. It was everyone we had expected to see: Matthew Lewis (Neville), Warwick Davis (Flitwick), Bonnie Wright (Ginny), Michael Gambon (Dumbledore), Tom Felton (Draco), James and Oliver Phelps (Fred & George Weasley), Rupert Grint (Ron), and Daniel Radcliffe (Harry). But then someone showed up whom we were not expecting AT ALL…

J.K. Rowling hurried down the red carpet right in front of me. I mean, there’s really not much else to say! It was not a moment I was prepared for (which is probably why the only pic I managed was of the back of her head). My feet were rooted to the ground, though and my hands were shaking. Did the genius who created Harry Potter and change the lives of so many people just walk by me?! I saw her again once more that night and managed to get a better photo, but my reaction was the same. She’s so lovely in person and I wish I hadn’t lost control of my voice so I could shout a “thank you!”

After the shock of the night, the festivities were underway and we were treated to some classic Harry Potter tunes by the Hogwarts choir and by John Williams. Myself and everyone else got such chills! It was amazing. But then it got better: the cast led the crowd in turning on the lights for Hogwarts castle. We all got wands that lit up simultaneously when we shouted Lumos Maxima! Together, our awesome powers lit up the castle and the most amazing display began playing. John Williams began conducting again and clips and soundbytes from the films began playing on the surface of the castle. All that was topped off with a spectacular fireworks display. I’m pretty sure I heard someone next to me crying, and I got pretty emotional also. It really was a sight to see.

We were then invited to ride the Forbidden Journey inside Hogwarts castle for the first time. This night was getting better and better!! The queue through Hogwarts is incredible and replicates the films perfectly. The moving portraits are so life-like, just like the holograms of Harry, Ron, Hermione and Dumbledore that show up as you walk through. Woah, just mind blowing what technology can do! But that’s only the beginning. The Forbidden Journey ride itself is something I don’t even know how to properly describe. It’s called a “visual simulator.” You really do feel like you’re flying. I was in such shock and awe, my photo came out pretty funny. Everyone from the Universal employees to my Potter friends were laughing at me for it! But I’m glad I will now forever have my genuine, first reaction to the Forbidden Journey to keep!

By the end of the evening, it was decided that this was pretty much the greatest night of our lives. JK Rowling, John Williams, lighting up Hogwarts, riding the Forbidden Journey, seeing the cast – how can anything ever top this?!

Thursday morning were press conferences with the Universal creative team whom we have to thank for creating such an amazing park. There were also interviews with the Harry Potter cast, mostly about their impressions of the park, but also a bit about filming Deathly Hallows. In fact, the cast had wrapped filming for good about 5 days earlier, so the emotion was still fresh in their minds. It was so sad seeing Dan and Rupert talk about it – it looked like they were both about ready to burst into fresh tears!

After the press conferences were done, we waited in the Hogs Head/Three Broomsticks for our Universal tour guide. That was also where we just so happened to spot Rupert sipping on some butterbeer, enjoying a rare break from interviews. Famed Harry Potter producer David Heyman was with him, also. Red and I realized this was our only chance, so we went over to chat with him for a few and he kindly took pics with us – Heyman included! Why is everyone associated with Harry Potter so freaking amazing? From the cast, crew, and fans, everyone is just so friendly!

Later that afternoon, we also took the opportunity to eat lunch in the Three Broomsticks. I was dying for some good meat, so I ordered a chicken rotisserie platter that came with potatoes and a whole corn on the cob. Yum! Though when asked what drink I’d like, I ignorantly told the waitress, “I’ll have a coke.” She looked at me with a mocking smile and said, “You’re in Hogsmeade, there’s no soda here!” I could’ve slapped myself, honestly. So I quickly replied, “Well then give me a butterbeer!” So surreal.

Thursday night we were treated to the Blue Man Group, which was great fun! I’d never seen them before, nor did I really have any idea what it was supposed to be. I guess the best way to describe it would be as a sort of mime show with a lot of audience participation and some very cool tricks. It was really funny and a great way to end the day! Afterwards I went straight back to my hotel room because I had to wake up at 5:30 a.m. for the official grand opening.

Right when we left the hotel Friday morning, I knew it was going to be a big day. There were already helicopters circulating the area getting aerial shots of the ever-growing crowd outside Island of Adventure. I heard rumors there were already thousands of people out there waiting. WOW. The power of Harry Potter!

I managed to get a good spot in the press section directly behind the first graders who won the contest from the Today show. We had to wait so long out in the heat, I wasn’t sure I would make it! But myself and the other Potter fansite reps spent most of the time being weirded out by the fact that we were visible on the live feed and our friends and families were creeping on us.

The festivities got underway, and the awesome cast came out again to officially open the park. It was very a very quick celebration, and the first graders went into the park first the the cast. Then came the public! Oh man, did the place fill up quickly! But the looks on everyone’s face was priceless. People were crying walking into the park because they were so happy to finally see it. It was truly magical.

My flight was leaving later that afternoon, but I knew before returning to the hotel I needed to ride the Forbidden Journey one last time and get one last cup of butterbeer (by this point, I think it’s fair to say I was addicted to this drink!). Our lovely tour guide let us skip the line for the Forbidden Journey, so we managed to get it done quickly. I feel so unbelievably lucky to be able to say I’ve already ridden it three times!

But then it was time to say our good-byes. The trip was really coming to an end, I couldn’t believe it. I had only been there for three days, yet it felt like I had been there for weeks already and everything was familiar to me. There are so many memories and stories from this trip, I could go on for hours! Don’t be surprised if I bring it up again on the blog…

Unpacking my luggage after leaving Orlando was unreal. It didn’t look like I’d come back from Orlando at all – it was genuinely as if I’d taken a trip to Hogsmeade, UK. Pumpkin juice, a sneakoscope, Gryffindor scarf, butterbeer cup, Hogwarts mug, and a snitch had all found their way back to the Muggle world. Please don’t send the Ministry of Magic after me!

My complete coverage from the grand opening festivities of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter can be found at RupertGrint.net including more photos and video from the press conference.