While it was a fun experience, and the kids especially loved seeing Harry Potter World…
And taking a spin on all the rides, Charlie and I had much more fun watching them, take it all in. What visit to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter would be complete, without a quick stop for chocolate frogs at Honeydukes?
For the record: Charlie and I did ride this Jurassic Park waterslide with the kids, the first time they went on it. And after we were COMPLETELY DRENCHED, we decided to go get a hot beverage and let them do it again, by themselves, while we stood above and watched - sipping our tea and coffee. If you think it looks like Henry is having a spiritual experience, he actually is … Jurassic Park is one of his favorite book / movie / stories ever told.
Although he's also a big fan of Harry Potter and Butterbeer.
Oh, right. And he loves King Kong.
Funny story behind this picture. One of my children, who shall remain nameless, was driving me nuts because they were acting like an unprovoked moody teenager, which was quite flustering because we were on vacation - in this awesome place - that was costing an awesome penny - trying to have an awesome time - and attitude? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? So I might have actually pulled up military schools for girls while we were having lunch, and shortly thereafter, saw this sign and I said, "YES. THIS IS PRECISELY WHAT I NEED." And someone, who might have been feeling like their mother was being a real piece of work, agreed and said, "YES! WHEN CAN I MOVE IN?"
Then we laughed, hugged, apologized for our snarkiness, and agreed that they would never, ever move out because they are my heart's delight. (The majority of the time!) This was the sign over our booth at dinner, a few hours later. Quite fitting - for both of us!
It really struck the kids, when we did the studio tour and were checking out the various sets, how so much of what we see in the movies is actually fake. Mock streets and neighborhoods, fantastically constructed castles, building and house fronts, special effects for flash flooding - robotic sharks, dinosaurs, and timed explosions.
This is Hollywood Magic!
You mean to tell me, if I was standing on the roof, I'd be taller than the turret?!
There's a lot of planning and engineering that goes in to making things appear so real and perfect: it's all designed specifically to pull us in and make us believe.
Interestingly enough, that led to a whole separate conversation about social media and airbrushed models within magazines and on television. It was such a great discussion and learning experience - particularly at this formative age to see "behind the scenes" because it really put in perspective how what we see, isn't always the whole truth...
Sometimes, it's just shaded … ever so slightly.
And wow, the people who make it come alive? They're the real magicians!
