Universal Day 2

After a long first day in the parks, almost 12 hours including dinner, we headed back to the Hard Rock to rest and recuperate.  Our goal remained to enter the park early every day, since that was a perk of our on-site hotel.  So Day 2 began much like Day 1, entering the Wizarding World. 

One of the first Harry Potter rides we got on was a small coaster called 'Flight of the Hippogriff.'  The Hippogriff's name is Buckbeak, a prominent creature in the book and movie, The Prisoner of Azkaban.  Harry appreciates animal creatures and befriends Buckbeak, who allows him to fly on his back.  Here is a picture of good ol' Buckbeak.

To entertain you while you wait, the line meanders past Hagrid's Hut, the home belonging to Hogwart's groundskeeper, professor of magical creatures, and mentor to Harry.

Here we are in front of the gentle giant's home.

Here is a picture we snapped of the castle while on the Hippogriff ride.

Another cool ride that the girls were not brave enough to tackle was 'The Dragon Challenge.'  The boys on the other hand rode them all.  Here they are in front of the gates.

In The Goblet of Fire, Harry along with 3 other contestants must defeat a dragon to continue on in the Triwizarding Tournament.  This ride is a feet hanging coaster with two separate tracks, hence two battling dragons.  Rob and Spenser rode both several times, and preferred the red one, or Chinese Fireball.  Here is that coaster.

Sienna and I did walk through the line to get on the Dragon Challenge because we didn't want to miss any decorative replica amusements, such as:

flags bearing the names of the competitors, and the infamous flying car of Ron's in The Chamber of Secrets. 

After riding it was time to attend our 9 am breakfast at The Three Broomsticks.

Here we are enjoying our English meal.

Here are a few more sights inside the restaurant.

After breakfast we headed out to the patio for a photo op.

One of the most loved treats in the Wizarding World is butterbeer.  It might sound gross but it tastes great, like a butterscotch milkshake!

The cup that Sienna is holding is of the frozen variety, and mine is more like a cream soda.

As you can see, spending the morning in the land of Harry Potter becomes us.  I've left out the best ride in the land, but that's because it may warrant it's own posting.  So I'll save that one for next time.

First Day in Hogsmeade

Our first day in Universal Orlando had to start in the village of Hogsmeade.  With early park admission we had to take advantage of enjoying the sights and rides before they became overpopulated.  Sienna and I were giddy as we neared the entrance to Hogsmeade.  If you can believe it, an attendant had to tell us not to run!  Tee hee!  Here is Sienna at the entrance to the Wizarding World.  Behind her you can see the Hogwart's Express and the Hogsmeade sign.  Check out her sweatshirt too.  Yes we're representin'!

A stroll into the Wizarding World transports you to a quaint winter village. 

There we are in front of the famous Butterbeer cart.

If only we were really boarding the Hogwart's Express!

See the luggage behind Sienna?  We like to imagine two of the trunks are ours, packed with robes and books for our first year at Hogwarts!

Here is the Owl Post, which is a Harry Potter style post office, and if you were lucky maybe you received a postcard postmarked from the owlery!

Inside the Owl Post you will find owls, like these....

as well as wands by Ollivander, and many highly valuable (and highly priced) Potter wares!  Believe me we purchased a few things but don't want to reveal too much in the first post.  Other important stops in Hogsmeade are:  The Three Broomsticks (a restaurant),

the Hogs Head (a pub),

and the candy store, Honeydukes.

And perhaps the best sight in the village....

Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!  And behind those walls lies the most exhilarating ride in all the land - The Forbidden Journey!!

Stay tuned for the next post in which I'll highlight the rides and more sights that Hogsmeade and Hogwarts have to offer.

Fun and Frolicking in Florida

The long awaited dream trip finally came to fruition as the Samours ventured across the nation to visit witches and wizards, a legendary race track, and ocean waters warm enough to swim in.  Here are some quick family highlights of the trip-

Here we are at the entrance of Universal Studios on the first day.  Every morning started with early admission to the park, which meant we were among the first allowed in to see the Wizarding World.

Here we are on the scenic walk between our hotel and the park entrance.

After theme park fun, it was time to hit the beach - Daytona that is.

We even hit the race track for family fun!

Trevor Bayne's winning car is behind us.

After the track it was back to the beach for the duration of our vacation.

Riding bikes and beach bummin' it, now that's our idea of a good time.

There are many more pictures and tales to tell, so consider this just a teaser.

All Aboard the Hogwart's Express!

Fall break is upon us and so is a family dream vacation!  Our obsession with all things Harry Potter will be further heightened when we go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Orlando.  Our flight will take off tomorrow and let's just pretend we are boarding the Hogwart's Express instead of a US Airways jet.  Our first priority will be to see ALL of the Wizarding World and then venture to the rest of the Universal Theme Parks.  But not only will the kids' dreams come true, so will that of Rob.  After 3 days in the parks we are going to Daytona Beach and of course, the Daytona International Speedway.  Rob will have been to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Daytona International Speedway in the same year!  Wow!

So I write this blog to pre-warn you that the future postings will be Harry Potter laden, with some beach and race track pictures sprinkled in.  And to get you into the spirit, here is our little Gryffindor....

That was a few years ago!

 

This Gryffindor deserves to see Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for real.......

or at least as real as it can get!

Happy Birthday Spenser!

Eleven years ago today our little Buddy was born.  He was a cutie patootie then and now he's plain awesome and rockin'!  To celebrate his big day, Rob picked him up from school early and then it was off to Peter Piper Pizza for buffet lunch.  Then the boys did what boys like to do, race go-karts. 

Normal birthday tradition includes dinner, then cake and presents.  Unfortunately Sienna's first band concert was the same night of Spenser's birthday, so tradition had to be broken.   He opened his presents before the concert, and then we headed out to birthday dinner after the concert. He was so excited to open all his gifts!

He loves gift cards!  And he loved his BIG gift!  An 8 gig desktop computer!  Just what every spoiled 11 year old needs. 

Can you see his goofy expression?  After opening this box he and Rob went right to setting it up in his room.  It was a successful and quick set-up and now all he wants to do is his on-line gaming. 

Another nice birthday for a boy dearly loved.  What a lucky duck!

Number 43

One of Rob's favorite numbers is 43 and that is because it's Richard Petty's number, his favorite race car driver of all time.  So let's just call his recent birthday his NASCAR birthday because he turned 43 - the number on the car of his favorite race car driver.  To celebrate his NASCAR birthday the family went to Chili's for dinner and then back to the house for carvel cake and presents.  Here is the cake and the birthday boy!

I know the cake says 1 and not 43, but sometimes you just have to use what you got.  He is number one in our book anyway! 

After cake it was time to unveil the presents:  steering wheel for the PS3, a Judas Priest cd, a RATT greatest hits cd, a Poison cd, a bucket of virginia peanuts, Leinenkugel's Berry Weiss,  a fire safe filing box, and  ...............perhaps the best gift of all?

Custom made SAMOUR SOUNDS t-shirts!!

The fronts have the family name and the instrument of choice, and the back says -

ROCKIN' AND BLOGGIN' SINCE 2009

Needless to say, Rob liked them a little bit!

Fourth of July Fireworks

I know it's been quite a while since it was July but there are still some summer stories that haven't been told and I am ready to resume them.  So July was jubilant as my last post said, with Sienna's birthday and our anniversary.  When July started we were in California enjoying the last of our vacation.  It started with family tennis, including Rob this time, and then on the morning of the 4th Rob and I ventured to the beach for breakfast and to get a glimpse of campers on the beach, staking their claim for the fireworks show.  Here we are at Pismo Beach...

Unbeknownst to us, while we were enjoying our morning, Spenser was home with Papa and Papa Rose, in pain and unable to walk.  So we left the sightseeing behind to tend to Buddy.  Unfortunately the rest of our day was spent at the Arroyo Grande Community Hospital where Spenser was poked, prodded, ultrasounded, and made to wait.  As you know he was diagnosed with an undescended testicle, which would require surgery in the near future.  Hmmm.  That certainly changes things.  But it was still the 4th of July so after a bite to eat we drove up the hill in Papa's truck to watch the fireworks. 

Here is Spenser after spending 6 hours in the ER!  He looks great as usual.

Here is our set up to view the fireworks from Papa's truck.

And here is a bit of what we saw.  I'm sure it's much better from the sandy beach of Pismo, but this will do too.

With the diagnosis our plan was to get back to Arizona as soon as possible.  So much for our trip to Universal Studios Hollywood!  Since we needed a stopping point anyway, we decided to keep our hotel reservation for the first night at Universal.  We were still determined to see some sights even if we couldn't enter the park (doctor's orders).  Spenser even met Lucille Ball!

Okay, so she's a wax figure from Madam Tussauds, located in the lobby of our hotel.  Here is a family photo taken in the lobby as well.

Here are the kids at the front of Universal Studios.

And the rest of the family....

Universal has a great shopping area called Citywalk.  Of course we have to snap a photo in front of the guitar and the Hard Rock - because we rock!

And here's another view of the entrance to the park.  Talk about torturous tempting!  There it is, we have tickets - but we CAN'T go in!

Before we hopped on the I-10 to head home, we wanted to see the Hollywood sign. 

If you look really hard you can see the sign over the kids heads and to the left of Rob.

Then it was goodbye Hollywood, hello Arizona.  Spenser spent a few days laying low before seeing doctors and scheduling his surgery.  He handled it like a trooper and after the hardest part of recovery was over, this is how he spent most of his days -

laying in a recliner in his underwear, playing videogames, with all necessities within reach.  That's how our summer ended.  Now that's what I call fireworks!