I was really excited to be able to get a couple of press tickets – we had an extra one, so my little brother, Michael, was able to come. What did he think?

Well, he said dreams came true that day, and it would be practically his dream job to work there.

I’d say it was pretty much a success.

Leading up to our visit, we all were getting SO excited. We drove up from Anaheim in horrible traffic (but isn’t that always the case in California?), and it was pretty hot outside, but none of that mattered when we first entered the gates. It was so magical from the moment we got there. It’s about 1/3 the size of the Wizarding World in Orlando, but it was still incredible.

If you are a Harry Potter fan, this is a must-visit location. It was a bit out of our way, but I’m so glad we went. Since it’s a new place, I thought I would write a few tips and tricks for navigating the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Hollywood’s Universal Studios!

First off, if you are going to buy tickets, buy them from Get Away Today! You can buy them just for Universal Studios, OR you can buy a bundle with tickets to Disney, which is awesome. I think they have the best prices on tickets (especially when you bundle with Disney), and their prices on hotels are pretty unbeatable as well. If you book your tickets and a hotel through Get Away Today, you can get $10 off using the code ClarksCondensed!

Plus, you can use their awesome layaway plans so you don’t have to pay for the entire trip until two weeks before you leave. We planned most of our California trip through Get Away Today, and they made it so easy.

Now, on to the good stuff!

When to Go

We went in the middle of the day, and it was quite busy! Everything I’ve heard and read has said that you should either go first thing in the morning or wait until later afternoon.

With that said, the longest line I saw as for the Ollivander’s Wand choosing ceremony. The other two main attractions really didn’t have the longest waits at all. We went right in the middle of the afternoon even!

What to do First

There is a lot to look at inside the Wizarding World, so I recommend taking your time. However, the two places that had the longest lines were Ollivander’s Wand Shop and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. I will talk about these more in a bit, but they definitely had the longest lines.

I recommend grabbing a big cup of butterbeer while you wait in the line – if it’s out outside, it will definitely help make the wait a little less long.

The Three Broomsticks

We didn’t get a chance to eat here, but I wish we would have. It sounds amazing, and if you go, I think you should definitely make an effort to eat there. It sounds like it has a lot of traditional British fare.

One of the employees at Honeydukes told us that if you have a party of four or more, the cook will bring the meal out to you personally. I thought that was kind of cool!

Even if you don’t want to eat there, you can take a tour. We didn’t get the opportunity to do this, but I wish we had.

Butterbeer 

You can’t visit without getting Butterbeer. Not gonna lie – this is what I was looking forward to most! They have two stands throughout the Wizarding World, and you can also get it in the Three Broomsticks and at Hogshead.

They have two versions – the frozen kind and the regular kind. Forrest and I opted to try out the frozen version, and it was SO good. I wanted to go back for another one! We also bought it in the collectors mug, just because we could. My brother, Michael, got the non-frozen kind, and he said he preferred it over the sip he had of ours.

My friend, Brittany, said her favorite thing to do is mix the two kinds together. That sounds pretty amazing to me!

We also really enjoyed the pumpkin juice, which was another option available at the drink cart!

Rider Switch

This isn’t just in the Wizarding World (it’s available throughout all of Universal Studios), but it’s worth mentioning. I think they have one of the best rider switch programs in all of the theme parks I’ve been to. I was especially impressed with how it was set up in the “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” ride. There was a big room setup where you can go and sit with your kids and can switch with the other adult after they ride. I like that you could take your kids all the way through Hogwarts, because it’s seriously the most amazing place! I don’t think kids should have to miss out on it just because they are too short for the ride.

Ollivander’s Makers of Fine Wands

We didn’t buy wands, but you can buy them in Ollivanders. I believe they ranged from about $30 to $50, depending on what kind of wand you purchased. They have interactive wands for purchase, which are really cool. They are set up to work at different spots throughout the Wizarding World (I believe there is a map included to show you where.) It really can make your visit that much more magical.

Even if you don’t want to buy a wand, definitely visit Ollivanders. It’s really pretty cool. We enjoyed looking at all the wands for different characters for Harry Potter.

If you do choose to buy one, you can either choose a wand from one of the Harry Potter characters, or you can select one based on personality types. There’s one for everyone!

Attached to Ollivander’s is a place where you can watch a wand choose a wizard. There was a super long line for this. About 10 people are taken into a room at a time, and one or two people in the group are chosen to be a part of a wand choosing ceremony. It’s pretty fun to watch!

I wasn’t entirely sure if you had to buy the wand if you were chosen, but from my research you do. Some people say that if you are a chosen you can get a discount, but others said they didn’t. So I don’t really know! What I did find out is that if you have a AAA membership, you can get a discount.

There is also a cart outside of the Flight of the Hippogriff where you can purchase wands.

Performances

On the center stage in the middle of the Wizarding World, there are different performances throughout the day. Don’t just pass these by – there are so fun to watch. I believe they have the Frog Choir and a TriWizard Spirit Rally. It really felt like we were right in the middle of Hogwarts attending school. I loved it!

Harry potter and the Forbidden journey

This is seriously the coolest ride I have ever been on. I can’t even explain how amazing it was! We had front of the line passes, but I would have been more than willing to stand in line for awhile for it. It’s a virtual reality ride that moves around. I loved how long it was, and how real everything seemed in it.

The line for this ride goes through Hogwarts, which is an amazing attraction in and of itself. It really feels like you are walking through the corridors of Hogwarts as a student. I wish we hadn’t have rushed through it so quickly!

Owl post 

There is an Owl Post in the middle of the Wizarding World where you can go and buy different products (including stuff owls). It’s kind of a fun place! You actually can send a letter to someone here, which would be a nice surprise for any Harry Potter fan. I do recommend bringing your own stamps, though!

Flight of the Hippogriff

This was a fairly fast ride, and the line was pretty short. Most of the time, it said the wait was about five minutes. It was fun, but it wasn’t really anything special. So if the line is super long, don’t feel like you are going to be missing out on anything magical. It’s a little rollercoaster, and it made me feel like I got a little bit of whiplash afterward. It was still fun, though!

Honeydukes

You have to go to Honeydukes! It’s every bit as amazing as I imagined it to be. They had tons of different kinds of wizarding treats. Jack was in heaven (even though he didn’t end up getting anything.)

I do recommend hitting Honeydukes on your way out, though. They have lots of delicious candy and treats, but I’d be worried about them melting as you walk through the park. Also, it’s a good way to get your kids to behave if you bribe them with a trip to the candy store 🙂

Shopping

There is a lot of shopping all around the Wizarding World. They have Ollivander’s and The Owl Post, as I already mentioned,

Photos

You can take most of your own photos inside the park. We loved being able to take pictures in front of Hogwarts and other places throughout the area. However, there is one place where you can get a professional collectible photo taken as if you are inside the Hogwarts Express. We opted not to do this and instead took one on our phones in front of it with the conductor. But if you want a nice memorable one, you can definitely go this route!

Take time to  look around

Finally, just take enough to walk around and soak everything up. So much attention to details were put into creating the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. You can see mandrakes, quidditch equipment, wanted signs, the Hogwarts Express…everything just feels so magical. It really reminds of exactly what I thought living in Harry Potter’s shoes would feel like. I wish we had more time (and it hadn’t been so hot) so I could have looked at everything!

Don’t forget to the get BEST ticket prices and vacation packages in Southern California through Get Away Today, including $10 off vacation packages booked with the code MFTG.

The post 10 Secrets, Tips, and Tricks for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Hollywood appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.

Volcano Bay Orlando

I’ve shared travel tips for Universal Orlando Resort before, and today I’m excited to tell you all about Universal’s Volcano Bay.

Did you know Universal Orlando has three separate theme parks?

Universal Studios Florida focuses on blockbusters and TV shows while Universal’s Islands of Adventure focuses on superheroes and myths.

Universal’s Volcano Bay is a water theme park based on the fictional Waturi people, and it transports you to an island paradise.

Volcano Bay Tickets

In order to gain access to Volcano Bay, you will either need to purchase a three-day pass to Universal Orlando Resorts. There is a one-day ticket for Volcano Bay ONLY that you can purchase as well.

For a limited time, when you book Universal Orlando Resort vacations with Get Away Today, you get admission to Universal’s Volcano Bay for FREE. With dozens of attractions, it’s hard to believe a deal this good is real!

When Universal set out to create their very own water theme park, they made sure to include awesome perks no other park has.

Volcano Bay is conveniently located right next to Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s CityWalk.

Even when this deal is over, we still recommend getting your tickets to Universal Orlando Resort and Volcano Bay through Get Away Today for the best deals.

Universal Orlando Resort – Volcano Bay Attractions

There is fun for all ages at Universal’s Volcano Bay. From lazy rivers to splash areas, you’ll find options to keep you cool for hours. Here’s a look at some of the rides you can expect to enjoy at Volcano Bay:

• Kopiko Wai Winding River: This lazy river is perfect for all ages. Strap on your life jacket and leisurely float through Volcano Bay.
• Ko’okiri Body Plunge: Designed for thrill-seekers 48 inches and taller, the Body Plunge drops you through a 70-degree chute so you can experience 125 more feet of twisting slides to the pool below.
• TeAwa The Fearless River: White water river float for guests 48 inches and taller. You’ll face the waves in your flotation device and nothing more!
• Tot Tiki Reef: Designed for even the youngest of guests to splash and play, the Reef is a shallow splash pad area. 
• Krakatau Aqua Coaster: A water coaster that winds around the man-made volcano, this attraction is for riders 42 inches and taller. You’ll ride a four-person canoe around and through the volcano and a waterfall.
• Waturi Beach: Leisure area for all ages by the entrance of Volcano Bay. 
• Puihi of Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides: Multi-person raft ride through caves and fountains, suitable for riders 42 inches and taller.
• Runamukka Reef: This play area features shade and interactive structures for guests of all ages.

Volcano Bay Hours

The hours for Volcano Bay will vary from day to day, but it’s typically open from 9 AM to 9 PM. You can always check the daily schedule here.

Universal Orlando Resort – Volcano Bay TapuTapu Bands

One of the best parts about Volcano Bay is the TapuTapu Bands system. Upon entering the water theme park, you’re given a TapuTapu Band. It serves as your ticket to get into virtual lines so you don’t have to spend time queueing for your favorite attractions.

While wearing the TapuTapu Band, you step up to a ride and tap your wrist to the line totem.

This puts you in the virtual line (for one ride at a time) so you can splash and play elsewhere in Volcano Bay until it’s your turn to ride.

When your time approaches, your TapuTapu Band will vibrate. If there’s ever any temporary closure for a ride you’re queueing for, your Band will notify you.

TapuTapu Bands can also make interactive features come to life, such as fountains or tiki statues. With the TapTu Play element, you feel like you really are in an enchanted island paradise.

TapuTapu Bands are also your ticket to making electronic purchases throughout Volcano Bay. Link your band to your credit or debit card so you can easily purchase meals and souvenirs without having to carry around a wallet. Additionally, your band opens your locker so you don’t have to keep track of a key.

Finally, TapuTapu Bands are used to snap photos throughout Volcano Bay. In designated areas throughout the water theme park, you’ll find Selfie Spots. Your TapuTapu Band links the photos to your account so you can access them later and purchase your favorites.

Volcano Bay Cabanas

While you wait for your return time for various rides in Volcano Bay, you can rent a private Cabana in which to lounge, eat and organize your day.

Cabana rentals include electronic access to virtual lines throughout Volcano Bay, as well as remote ordering from restaurants in the water park. Your Cabana will be stocked with a complimentary snack basket, a mini-fridge with water, towels and padded lounge chairs.

A single cabana on the ground floor is anywhere from $149.99 a day to $449. Upper level go from $199 to $549.99.

A family cabana starts at $299 and goes up to $599 – they can hold up to 14 people!

These features are so helpful in making your day at Volcano Bay fun, and I wish all water parks had them!

Universal Orlando Resort – Book with Get Away Today

Can you believe all the fun available at Universal’s Volcano Bay? It’s truly worth spending an entire day of exploration in order to experience the kid-friendly rides, leisure pools and racing slides.

To book a Universal Orlando Resort vacation, head to www.getawaytoday.com and choose between the 3-Park 3-Day Base Ticket or the 3-Park Park to Park Ticket.

Base Tickets allow admission to one park per day, and Park to Park Tickets allow admission to more than one park per day.

If you want to be able to ride Hogwarts Express between Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure parks, you’ll need to purchase Park to Park Tickets.

To get the 3rd Park FREE deal, purchase by December 2, 2019 and complete your trip by May 22, 2020*. 

*Blackout dates of December 26 through and including December 31, 2019.

The post Universal Volcano Bay – Everything You Need to Know! appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.

Universal Studios Hollywood Trip Planner

Southern California is home to some of the most popular theme parks in the world, including Universal Studios Hollywood.

With thrilling attractions, incredible entertainment and fun for the entire family – what’s not to love?

A few years ago, we went to Universal Studios Hollywood for the first time. Oliver was just about nine months old, and Jack was four.

While my parents relaxed at the hotel, we invited my little brother, Michael, to come along. Our main purpose in going there was to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – but we were pleasantly surprised with all Universal Studios had to offer!

Whether you’ve been to Universal Studios Hollywood recently or haven’t visited for years, I’ve teamed up with my friends at Get Away Today to give you a guide on how to plan your visit to Universal Studios Hollywood.

This way, you’ll be able to experience all of the fun at the very best price! We found our day at Universal Studios to be a nice change of pace from Disneyland. It was quite a bit less busy – and we had a great time. 

Planning a Trip to Universal Studios Hollywood

Purchase Universal Studios Discount Tickets

Our first, and possibly most important tip is to pre-purchase your Universal Studios Hollywood tickets before you go.

Not only will you be able to skip all of the long ticket booth lines, but you’ll be able to save some cash. L

Luckily, Get Away Today offers all kinds of Universal Studios Hollywood discount tickets.

Choose between a 1-Day admission ticket, 2-Day admission ticket, Universal Express pass and a VIP Experience.

No matter what ticket you choose, you’ll be able to have the peace of mind knowing you got the best price. Plus, you’ll be able to skip the lines and go straight to the gate! What’s better than that?

**Expert Tip** If you want to avoid lines for popular rides, the Express Pass or the VIP Experience will definitely be worth it (if you can justify the cost). The Express Pass is significantly less expensive than the VIP Experience, but you’ll just get one front of the line pass for each ride that offers it.

The park typically limits how many Express passes are sold, which makes it so you know you’ll have shorter wait times. I would suggest buying these if you are going during peak seasons or dates.

When we went, the lines at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter were pretty long, but the Express pass let us go straight to the front of the line.

Stay in Anaheim

Most families visiting Universal Studios Hollywood are also visiting the Disneyland Resort, which is why we recommend staying in Anaheim. Here, you’ll be able to get a lower rate and take advantage of exclusive amenities that aren’t typically found in hotels in the Hollywood area.

As a Get Away Today guest, you can get access to free parking, free breakfast and even free night hotel stays within the Anaheim area – saving you hundreds on your Universal Studios Hollywood vacation. 

Get Away Today offers discount shuttle services through Karmel Shuttle services, which can take you from most hotels in Anaheim up to Universal Studios. Trust me, this is a much better option than battling the LA traffic yourself!

However, if Universal Studios Hollywood is your main destination, Get Away Today does offer incredible hotel deals for properties within walking distance to the park. Not only will you get the best price, but you’ll be minutes away from all of the fun! 

Here are a few to consider:

• Sheraton Universal Hotel – free shuttle to Universal Studios
• Tilt Hotel
• The Garland – free shuttle to Universal Studios

Single Rider

One way to get through lines faster is with the single rider line. If you (or someone in your party) doesn’t mind going by themselves, these lines are typically considerably shorter.

Here are rides at Universal Studios Hollywood that have a single rider line:

• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
• Flight of the Hippogriff
• Revenge of the Mummy – The Ride
• Transformers: The Ride 3D

Use Child Switch

More often than not, people associate Universal Studios Hollywood as a theme park that only caters to teens and adults, but it’s actually a great place for kids too!

Little ones will love attractions such as:

• Flight of the Hippogriff

• DreamWorks Theater
• • Featuring Kung Fu Panda
  • Despicable Me Minion Mayhem.

Plus, they’ll be able to play in areas like Super Silly Fun Land and Dino Land (coming summer 2019.)

However, if your children still don’t meet the height requirement for some of these attractions, there’s no need to worry. At Universal Studios Hollywood, they offer a service called Child Switch.

If any child in your party cannot ride an attraction, one or two adults can wait with the child in the attraction’s Child Switch room. When the rest of your party returns, you can switch with those who were waiting with the child, without having to wait in line again!

Child Switch is an easy way to experience Universal Studios Hollywood as a family, so no one has to get left behind.

Personally, I think their Child Switch is really well done and easy to use. Don’t tell anyone, but I think it’s a lot smoother than Disneyland’s rider switch program.

Also, keep your eye open for characters. We found the lines to see them to be very short, and Jack loved it!

I will say that I think the park is best for 5+, just to get the best experience. But there are certainly options for little ones.

Visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Of course, a trip to Universal Studios Hollywood would not be complete without visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. However, it’s no surprise that this area is still incredibly popular.

So, if you don’t want to worry about waiting in long lines, we’d recommend visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter as soon as the park opens. This way, you can experience all of the witchcraft and wizardry without any muggles getting in your way.

Make sure you check out our post all about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and what you should know before you go.

See a Show

Universal Studios Hollywood is one of the world’s most famous movie studios, which means that their entertainment is nothing to skip.

Enjoy the Special Effects Show, Universal’s Animal Actors, WaterWorld, the Triwizard Spirit Rally, Frog Choir, The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle and so much more!

Each of the shows is filled with awe-inspiring special effects, interactive experiences and fun for the entire family.

Ride Attractions

In addition to the entertainment, you’ll want to make time to experience some of the best attractions that Southern California has to offer.

If you’re looking for a thrill, be sure to ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Transformers: The Ride – 3D, Revenge of the Mummy, The Simpsons Ride and the all-new Jurassic World – The Ride coming summer 2019. Plus, you won’t want to miss out taking a ride on The World-Famous Studio Tour.

On this attraction, you’ll be able to get a behind-the-scenes look at real television and movie sets, making you feel what it’s like to be an actual movie star!

Explore Universal CityWalk

Universal Studios Hollywood is also home to Universal CityWalk, a bright and lively downtown area filled with over 30 places to eat, a nightclub, an IMAX movie theater, and more than 30 unique shops.

Enjoy places like Buca di Beppo, Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, Hard Rock Café, VooDoo Doughnut, Billabong, Hot Topic, Sephora and more.

Universal Studios Hollywood Food

There are a lot of great dining options at Universal Studios Hollywood.

We ate in Universal City before we went into the park (we got there around noon and left around five), which worked well for us. As I mentioned above, there are TONS of options.

However, if you want to eat in the park, there are many, many options as well. Just expect typical theme park prices.  Here are all the Universal Studios in-park dining options.

In general, it’s suggested to either eat before 12:30 PM or 2:00 PM to avoid the longest lines.

Best Times to Visit

So when should you plan a trip to Universal Studios Hollywood?

Basically, any time that kids are out of school – so major holidays, spring breaks, and the entire summer time.

However, that’s obviously not ideal for most people who are going with kids, since, well, they can’t usually miss a lot of school.

So if you want to still go and have to go during peak season, it’s best to go early in the morning and mid-week for the lowest crowd times.

Get There Early

Get to the park before it opens to avoid lines for parking and getting in. The early bird DEFINITELY catches the worm here.

Depending on where you buy your ticket from, you might be able to get Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. With this ticket, you’ll get in 30 minutes early…which can make a big difference!

Outside Food

Unfortunately, Universal Studios isn’t quite as food-friendly as Disneyland. However, you can still bring in some items which can save you money in the long run:

• Water bottles – maximum 2 liters
• Baby food (including formula and breast milk)
• Small snacks
• Fruits and vegetables

Celebrity Sightings

There are often celebrities that will be at the park (or surrounding areas) throughout the year.

If that’s something that sounds fun to you – be sure to check out the Universal Studios Hollywood calendar to see what’s filming when you are there and what celebrities might pop up!

Download the App

These days I would never go to a theme park without downloading their app!

You can download it here, and enjoy the following features:

• Accurate wait times
• Trip planner that helps you plan your itinerary
• Alerts to get into line
• Park updates

And guess what….you can connect to the in park WiFi for FREE!

Locker Rental

We had a stroller, which, if you have children, I strongly recommend bringing. This made it easy to tote around snacks, diapers, and other random stuff we had.

However, if you don’t have a stroller (or don’t want to lug around your bag all day), renting a locker for the day might be a good idea.

At the time of writing this, here are the prices for one-day locker rentals:

• $8 Lockers: Height – 12¾” Width – 11″ Length – 16½”
• $12 Lockers: Height – 16″ Width – 8″ Length – 16″
• $15 Lockers: Height – 21½” Width – 11″ Length – 16″

What to Bring

I would recommend packing as lightly as possible, but here are a few good things to bring with you:

• Small snacks
• Water bottles (no more than 2 liters)
• Phone charger – there are outlets in the Upper Lot…but if you forget yours, Guest Relations has some you can borrow. Even better, I would
• Ponchos (for wet rides or if it rains)
• Good, comfortable shoes

How Many Days

Honestly, I think one day is PLENTY. We were there for 1/2 a day, and we were able to see all that we wanted to (granted, we had small children at the time).

If you’ll be going during peak season, two days might be a better idea. But for every other time of year, unless you are a huge fan of everything they have to offer, one day should be PLENTY.

**To book your Universal Studios Hollywood vacation, visit getawaytoday.com or call 855-GET-AWAY to speak to a travel expert directly. Don’t forget to mention promo code ClarksCondensed for an additional $10 off your vacation package. Let them know that Clarks Condensed sent you!**

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