A Mom’s Survival Guide to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

In the early 2000s, budding Potter fans had little hope for leaving their humdrum muggle existence behind and entering the magical worlds of Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. No matter how many times they read the series, they were left to wait desperately and despairingly for an acceptance letter to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which they knew in their heart of hearts would never arrive.

Today’s generation of “Harry Potter” acolytes has it much easier. Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida offers young and old fans alike a wizarding wonderland full of shops and rides designed to dazzle even those with a superficial knowledge of the series’ sensational secrets. With 20 acres of magical fun, it is no wonder this addition to the amusement park has brought in millions of attendees to dramatically increase the park’s profits. In fact, only six months after the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened in 2010, the park announced that it had sold its millionth brew of butterbeer.

Your family may be utterly enchanted by the promise of Universal Studio’s magical realm, but you probably have some doubts about the shops, the rides, and the crowds. Fortunately, with a little guidance, you can prepare fully for your trip to the Wizarding World — unlike Harry while he searched for those Horcruxes.

Stay On-Site

If you and your family make hotel reservations at any of Universal Studio’s four on-site hotels, you are granted early admission to the parks, which means you and your kids will have one hour to see the busiest attractions before the rest of the biggest crowds arrive. Because the Wizarding World remains the newest and most visited region of the park, you can spend your morning touring the shops and riding the rides.

However, it is important to note that Universal Studio’s hotels can be a bit costlier than off-property lodgings. You can stay on budget by booking your flight to Florida on Flights.com. Alternatively, you can stay at a budget hotel for most of your trip and move on-site for the night before you plan to visit the Wizarding World.

Eat the Food

You might be tempted to smuggle in your own snacks and lunches to save money. While in-park meals can be expensive, in the Wizarding World, the experience is well-worth the price. Unlike hamburgers and French fries you’re likely to find in other amusement parks, the Wizarding World offers all the unique British cultural foods mentioned in the books, many of which your kids likely have never seen or tasted before.

There are a handful of restaurants and food stands to fill you up when your energy flags, but the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley and the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade are by far the most bountiful and immersive. For dessert, stop by Honeydukes or Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour.

Use the Facilities Beforehand

Little ones don’t have the best track record for letting you know when they need to go, and unfortunately, the Wizarding World has precious few restrooms to relieve the pressure of tiny bladders. Diagon Alley is particularly egregious of this crime, as there is only one bathroom located in a far, back corner — and as you might expect, there is always a long wait. Before you head to the Wizarding World, and Diagon Alley in particular, you should schedule a family pit stop to mitigate potential bathroom emergencies.

Look for Magical Secrets

Just like the books, the Wizarding World parks contain countless cute (and crucial) details designed to delight those paying close attention. If you and your family keep your eyes peeled, you might be able to spot any of the following hidden treasures around Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley, and Hogwarts Castle.

• Shrunken heads singing “Show Me the Way to Go Home” in Knockturn Alley
• Talking snake in front of the Magical Menagerie
• Self-playing cello in the window of Dominic Maestro’s Music Shop
• Moving cat made of Measuring tape in Gladrags Wizardwear
• Kreacher peeking out a window at 12 Grimmauld Place
• Moaning Myrtle’s cries in the Hogsmeade restrooms
• The red phone booth outside King’s Cross dials the Ministry of Magic with 62442 (“magic”)
• Potions class in session in Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride
• Voldemort appears in front of Malfoy Manor during Hogwarts Express ride to Diagon Alley
• And literally hundreds more.

Photos by Scott Smith on Flicker’s Creative Commons.

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Planning a Family Vacation

I'm not certain if it's the snow covered yard or the bitterly cold winds that seem to pierce my face when I step outside - but something has me craving a vacation getaway. When I glance at the calendar, there are still weeks upon weeks that separate me from summer and our travel plans. Yet in a blink of an eye, we'll be wrapping up school and summer will be here before we know it! So, it's time to start planning the travel details: finding our destination, booking a hotel online, budgeting the cost and reviewing area attractions.

Though it can seem as if I'm thwarting the point of a fun-filled and relaxing time by pouring over the details - I've found that if I don't, we not only spend more money but we also spend more time trying to decide what to do than actually enjoying our destination. Here are a few things I keep in mind when planning our family vacations.

Try to be flexible

Be flexible on the length of your vacation, destination, hotel, dining and attractions. I've found that our trips are most enjoyable when we travel to a destination that the entire family can enjoy, we make an effort to find attractions that fit the various interest of each family member and find restaurants that satisfy everyone's taste buds.

Set a budget

If you set a travel budget during the planning stage - I believe that you're less likely to overspend or feel you're missing out on adventures while on vacation. If your finances allow, go ahead and be flexible with your budgeting. Whatever the budget, it is possible to have a fun and stress-free trip.

Remember to take everything into account when planning the budget. Think of: transportation, lodging, attracting, shopping, dining, and entertainment. The best part of planning your family vacation and budgeting ahead of time - is that you'll give yourself time to find creative ways to save money for the trip.

Choose a destination

Now that you've set a budget - you can decide what destination fits your budget. The cost of transportation will be a large factor. Driving a long distance will have high fuel costs and flying can be expensive as well - even before you factor in car rental once you land. However, if you drive - you can pack a lot of food to bring if you have the space. We've currently only vacationed in areas that are very family-friendly.

You'll need to decide what is important to you in a destination. Are you wanting to lounge on the beach, spend a few days hiking and fishing or spend time in a metropolis? Once you know that - you're choices will be quickly narrowed.

Keep in mind the cost to get to your destination and the general cost of staying there (including lodging and dining). Remember to research your destination before you book your stay. Find out what time of year is best to visit and what events may be happening in the area that you'd like to attend or avoid.

Affordable lodging

Knowing where you'd like to go now makes it possible to choose a place to stay. Though I want to find a hotel or resort that is affordable - I'm always, always nervous about this stage of planning. Though you may not spend a lot of time at your hotel - your lodging choice can weigh heavily on how much you enjoy your vacation. I spend a lot of time researching all options. When you first begin searching online for a hotel - it's likely that the most expensive options will be at the top of the results. I suggest scrolling down a bit and browsing through all of the hotels. You are very likely to find a place that fits your needs and budget. You may also want to consider, motels, camping sites, bed and breakfasts and short-term rentals. Or perhaps you know someone who owns a condo in that area and is willing to rent it to you during your stay.

Attraction deals and discounts

Before I purchase tickets to local attractions - I try to find any deals or discounts available. Sometime, the hotel or resort you're staying at have special arrangements for discounts at local attractions. Be sure to ask this when booking your stay. Local travel guides and attraction passes are good ways to help save space in your budget. The large the destination, the more likely you are to find an attraction pass. Check out the visitor's bureaus for added savings, discounts and information.

The time of year that you visit can also change pricing on attractions and deals. Going during an off-season may result in lower lodging rates and attraction ticket prices.

Find Free or Cheap Local Activities.

My favorite activity is a free one! When we visit the Smoky Mountains - we love taking advantage of the national park. It's free and it is beautiful! If we stay near the beach - going to the beach is also free unless you need to pay for parking. We often try to find a hotel right on the beach to save ourselves time.

Some museums may offer free days, there may be local festivals happening that you can attend and there are always lower cost activities such as put-put.

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Before you travel to London

London is an amazing city and location to visit. It's rich with history, fashion, dining, and unique attractions. In fact, there are so many options that you may end up a little overwhelmed when trying to decide how to spend your time and leave without having seen all that you had hoped to. Even though my trip was well planned and scheduled - I spent one day feeling under the weather and didn't make it to several locations on my list. Careful planning helped to rearrange my remaining days in London so that I could see the historical sites and attractions that were at the top of my list. Here are a few tips for planning your trip to London.

Decide where to stay

You've decided to go to London - but you need to decide what part of the city will best fit your plans. Will your hotel be close to or make travel to your choice of attractions easy or difficult? I hadn't yet been to London but loved listening to Dan's grandfather's stories of Piccadilly. So The Shaftesbury Premier London Piccadilly was an easy choice. I also loved that it fit another hotel bonus that I like to find - a free meal! Book your reservations directly through their website or by calling Central Reservations and receive Free Full English Breakfast during your stay. Each booking reserved directly also features a lovely fresh fruit platter waiting to welcome you when you arrive to your room.

Arrival and transportation

Now that you know where you'll be staying - you need to plan for your arrival into London and your transportation around the city. Your location will dictate how you arrive. For me, being in the US, it was obviously by air travel. So I had to plan for the appropriate documents and the transportation from the airport to the city.

You'll need to map out routes and transportation options. Your options are the Underground, bus, and taxi. We chose the Underground for most of our transportation. How can you visit London and not use the Underground? Mind the gap and no busking! (Oh it was so much fun!) Between all of your options - you'll be able to navigate your way around the city fairly easily.

Dining

You'll find no shortage of eating options in London. I set out to sample as much of the local cuisine as I could. For me, it seemed as a once in a lifetime trip - and my only chance to truly enjoy what London had to offer. From fish n chips to takeaway - we tried it all. We, of course, also stopped by the Hard Rock Cafe. Harden's London Restaurants is a great place to find restaurants and reviews.

Places to see

I hate to say, but I backed out of one of the top attractions on my list. So, for me, please check out the London Eye. It's the world's tallest observation wheel. From it, you can find a great view of the city and skyline. I also suggest you visit the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, and Shakespeare's Globe. You can also schedule bus and river tours. I also suggest that you take a day trip outside of London to visit nearby castles and the countryside.

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Everything is awesome! #LegoKidsfest

I can not believe how much fun we had at LEGO® KidsFest in Indianapolis! Yes, Joey loves LEGOs and could design and build for days on end. But, I wondered how LEGO® KidsFest was any different than playing with LEGO® bricks at home or at a friend's house? I guess I wasn't as hip to this amazing LEGO® world as my seven year-old son.

When we walked into the convention center and were immediately met a life-size Emmet (from Lego Movie) made entirely of LEGO® bricks - then I understood. It was almost unreal to see something so large made of LEGO® bricks. Savannah and Joey were in complete amazement as we walked from one creation to the next. I think I was most impressed with the giant Green Hulk and from Lightning McQueen from Cars. Oh, and Lord Business from Lego Movie was also surreal. He was about three times taller than I am!

After we ooh'ed and aaah'ed at the masterpieces that greet you at the door - Joey spent twenty minutes playing in the over-whemingly large pile of LEGO® bricks. It was difficult to pull him away from all that fun. After we convinced him there were many more activities he would enjoy we finally had the chance to wander between the different sections.

LEGO® KidsFest Activities

Some activities are subject to change.

• LEGO Model Gallery: dozens of life-sized models made entirely from LEGO bricks
• LEGO Master Builders: live demonstrations and activities from the crew who get paid to play
• Race Ramps: build a custom car, then race it down the ramp against friends and family
• LEGO Chima: choose a tribe and test battling skills with the whole family
• LEGO Star Wars: build and display a Star Wars model
• Creation Nation: build your own creation to add to a custom map of the U.S.
• LEGO DUPLO: younger visitors can explore imagination through building
• LEGO Retail: purchase LEGO merchandise and official KidsFest tour goods
• Brick Pile: a gigantic pile full of LEGO bricks for creative play and enjoyment
• Monochromatic Builds: bricks of a single color to foster group creativity
• LEGO Friends: build for the five empowered friends from Heartlake City
• LEGO Mindstorms: build and program robots and snakes
• LEGO Ninjago: spin the way to being a Spinjitzu member
• LEGO City: using the imagination to create buildings and vehicles to the urban diorama

Every activity we chose ended with the kids receiving a small packet of LEGO® bricks. They were ecstatic to walk away with new additions to their collection. Joey has spent most of today playing with his LEGO® Legends of CHIMA Spider Crawler.



If your kiddo loves LEGO® and you have the chance to attend a LEGO® KidsFest - I recommend going and grabbing your tickets early. Tickets are limited and do not last long! You'll have a fun time and learn a lot about LEGO® that you never knew existed!

Did you know?

• More than 400 billion LEGO® bricks have been produced since 1949.
• The LEGO® minifigure represents the world's largest population of people! More than four billion minifigures have been produced in the last 30 years. This is almost 12 times the population of the United States!
• LEGO® minifigures are out of this world, literally. The two Mars Rovers have an image of the LEGO® minifigure etched into their front grill.
• Approximately seven LEGO® sets are sold each second.
• There are about 62 LEGO® bricks for every one of the world's six billion inhabitants.
• Laid end to end, the number of LEGO® bricks sold in a year would reach more than five times around the world.
• There are 915 million ways to combine six eight-stud LEGO® bricks.
• Children around the world spend five billion hours a year playing with LEGO® bricks.
• With a production of about 306 million tires produced a year, the LEGO® group is the largest producer of tires in the world.
• LEGO® is the contraction of two Danish words, "leg godt" which means "play well".
• There are about 62 LEGO® bricks for every one of the world's six billion inhabitants.
• 19 billion LEGO® elements are produced every year. 2.16 million LEGO® elements are molded every hour, or 36,000 per minute.

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Kids eat free at McAlister's on Halloween!

We love McAlister's - and I LOVE free McAlister's. Dress the kiddos up and visit McAlister's this Halloween for a free kid's meal!

Halloween is right around the corner and McAlister’s Deli knows that trick-or-treaters need fuel for the night. This Halloween (Friday, October 31, 2014), participating McAlister’s Deli restaurants will be offering free kids meals for those wearing a Halloween costume. Families can receive up to two free kid's meals with each adult entree purchased. This delicious deal features a menu of kid’s favorite meals such as mac & cheese, peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, nacho basket, or cheese pita pizza. Bring the entire family to McAlister’s Deli this Halloween for a treat everyone is sure to enjoy!

For a complete list of participating locations please visit www.thesaxtongroup.com/locations

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