When Vu made the decision to leave Microsoft, the recruiter for his new job suggested that he take some time off before starting because it would be the only true vacation he would ever take.  So that is what he did.  And we decided to go to Orlando for a week.  Shortly after we were married we had this vacation planned and airplane tickets booked , but that trip didn’t end up working out and we have never managed to make it since, so we were very excited to finally go.  We spent 9 days there and pretty much themed parked it the whole week.  It was my first time going to Disneyworld.  Vu found a calendar online with optimal days for each park so we tried to optimize it for crowds, but it was still a pretty busy week to go.  Especially Magic Kingdom and Harry Potter World, the crowds were crazy.  I really don’t like crowds and lines.  Despite that we had a really good time, and it was nice and relaxing for Vu.  Vu’s aunt very kindly let us stay with her.  It was only the second time Vu has ever seen her and we had a great time chatting with her and getting to know her better.

At Magic Kingdom Vu was asked to be a guard at “Enchanted Tales with Belle”, which was really meant for kids, but we both love Beauty and the Beast.  This was a really long day, we were there from open to close, there is just so much to do at Magic Kingdom.

This crane right next to Cinderella’s castle all day was really annoying…

I loved that most of the Disney Parks had a firework show each night.  I LOVE fireworks!

Magic Kingdom favorites:  Becky – Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain; Vu – Space Mountain

In Disneyworld all of the Star Wars stuff is in the Hollywood Studios park.  We did Star Tours twice, ran into some first order troopers on duty, and the nightly fireworks are orchestrated to Star Wars music and movie quotes.

We were going to go to the Phantasmic show at night, but it was canceled due to “rain” so we ran over quickly to the Toy Story ride before they closed.  We really liked this park, not just because it has all the Star Wars.  🙂

Hollywood Studios favorites:  Becky – Fireworks show; Vu – Star Tours

Animal Kingdom was our least favorite park and we did everything we wanted to well before closing time.  We also didn’t sleep very well the night before, so we were both really low on energy.  We still had a good time though.  And since it is the only park that doesn’t do fireworks it worked out well for us to leave earlier.

Animal Kingdom favorites:  Becky – Expedition Everest; Vu – Expedition Everest

We both really liked Epcot, which we were a little surprised about.  We heard that it is a bit older and more educational and less rides, but we really liked that about it.  The shows were interesting and funny,  and I loved the country spots and the mission to space simulator was really cool to experience, even if it really, really, really confirmed that space travel is not for me.  I was very close to the edge of freaking out in that small confined space.  Also there is something about that big golf ball that I really liked.  My parents came down from Atlanta for the weekend we were there and they went to Epcot with us which was fun.

The France section made me miss Paris so much.  Especially watching the video.  I was kind of sad after watching it, even though I loved it.

I loved the golf ball lit up at night and the fireworks show was over the lake which was really nice too.

Epcot favorites:  Becky – all the country video’s, especially the ones in 360; Vu – Test Track

In between Disney parks we took a day off to relax, sleep in and go to the temple.  I loved the stain glass windows.  It was my 28th temple.

We went to Universal on the weekend with my parents after Epcot.  And I LOVED Harry Potter World.  A few years ago my family went on a Carribean cruise for Christmas and since we are all huge Harry Potter fans we flew in a day early just to go to Hogsmeade, but since then they have also built Diagon Alley.  I think I had a huge smile on my face the whole day.  I loved it so much.  They really give you a feeling of being in Harry’s world.

Here is London and Sirius’s house in Grimuald place.

We had lunch at the Hog’s Head and Vu and I tried the frozen and hot Butterbeer, and I couldn’t decide which one I liked best.

I loved all the shops in Diagon Alley, and the Gringott’s ride.  Also the dragon breathes fire every now and then.  You can hear him start to rumble before hand.

We went to Ollivandar’s and I was chosen from our group to have a wand choose me.  It was awesome.  I think Ollivandar could tell that I was the biggest fan in the shop.  Also, he maybe was a little bit creepy.  I finally get it Harry.  The rest of the trip Vu would sporadically say “Hey a wand chose you” and “you are the chosen one”.  🙂

We were able to catch the end of a Celestina Warbeck and Banshees show.

And found our way to Knockturn Alley.  Where we saw Slytherin’s locket and Malfoy’s opal necklace for sale in Borkin and Burkes.

And we took the Hogwarts express to Hogsmeade.  And back to King’s Cross.  And then both again the next day we were there…

I love Hogsmeade and Hogwarts.  They really do make you feel like you are in his world.  Or at least they make me feel that way.  Along with all the kids…  So now I guess I will just keep waiting for my letter.

I seriously loved Harry Potter world.  We spent the first day pretty much only doing Harry Potter with my parents, so the second day we went back and did all of the other rides for Vu.  We had a really great time in Orlando.