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 Día 3 (February 27, 2024) Universal Orlando

Before      The second and last day in Orlando is planned to visit both Universal parks, with special attention to the Harry Potter areas in both parks.   The idea is to leave around 5 PM so we can get to the train station in time to catch our 6:50 PM train to Fort Lauderdale, where we will go directly to the hotel.

After   We are awake before 7 AM and go downstairs for breakfast having left our bags ready to check out. The complimentary bus from the hotel to Universal is at 8:20 AM, but we spend time talking to a German couple, so, without rushing, we leave our bags there and go by Uber to the nearby Universal, which we access by long walkways until we reach a promenade full of shops and restaurants.   From there there are two paths to the two parks and we follow the one to Universal Studios. We buy one-day tickets with the option to go to the other park for about $200 each and we walk along the avenue with shops until we get into one to buy the wand that can be used in the Harry Potter area for $75.   We continue walking forward, ignoring the attractions we already did in LA: The Mummy, Transformers, The Simpsons... but we go on the Fast and Furious one only because there is no waiting time. After passing by garages with vehicles from the saga, we start with a lot of action in what, theoryrically, is a bus.   Shortly after, we arrive at the Harry Potter area and we have a bit of trouble finding the entrance to Diagon Alley, I it is because, as it is theoretically hidden, there is no sign pointing where it is.   Once there, the first thing we find is a Quidditch shop and the Wesley twins' shop on the right, the "Leaky Cauldron" tavern on the left and Gringotts Bank in front with a spectacular dragon on its roof.   I start playing with my wand and wandering by the curious shops until, seeing that the waiting time is just 15 minutes, I go into the first attraction: Escape from Gringotts. The way to the attraction is full of amazing things, starting with the bank lobby with the goblins working there. The attraction combines two sections of roller coaster with 3D scenes.   On our way out we decide to have a snack and go to "The Leaky Cauldron" where they assign us a table and we end up ordering lunch: Scotch eggs and chips for me and shepherd's pie for Eva. Since I can't find the usual soft drinks we end up ordering butterbeer, which turns out to taste like cake and we like it.   We ate early and come back to action at 1 PM ready to complete the visit in this area by getting into the dark Knockturn Alley.   From there, we leave to go to Kings Cross station and board the train to Hogwarts. The journey is an attraction in itself with some things occurring through the train window and others through the doors.   The train drops us off at the entrance to the village of Hogsmeade, with its pretty snowy houses. We skip the Hagrid and his beasts attraction, because it has a 75-minute queue and it is just a roller coaster, and we go on looking at the village shops and playing with the wand.   Until we get to Hogwarts, whose attraction have only a 15-minute queue so we go in. The prelude to the attraction itself is a walk through the interior of Hogwarts, with its talking paintings and appearances by the protagonists of the films. Then we seat next to each other on platforms that keep us looking at the wall until it starta and we live an adventure in which we flight on a broomstick through several locations from the films with things happening continuously. The attraction combines 3D animations with real landscapes with mechanical monsters.   When we leave we feel like we have completed our to-do list and we sit down with two butterbeers to relax a little. To leave Island of Adventure we have to go through the whole park so, when the time comes, we take our time walking to the exit.   We have time enough. An Uber takes us back to the hotel where we retrieve our bags and charge our phones while we relax on the sofa. At 5 PM we take an Uber to the Brightline train station which is located in Terminal B of the airport.   The station is large and very clean, with a futuristic look. While we wait we can buy something for breakfast tomorrow and charge our cell phones until our train to Fort Lauderdale arrives at the scheduled time: 18:50h.   It is a pleasant and comfortable three-hour trip. Once in Fort Lauderdale we order an Uber and arrive in our room just after 10:30 PM.