wizards, minions and drunk little green aliens

The impetus behind last October's Girls weekend with the Portland crew (aka Jen, Ruthie and Leslie) was visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter since it was on my 2014 trip to Portland that Leslie and I convinced/bribed Ruthie into reading the books, which she was adamantly opposed to reading and now LOVES and has read multiple times.

So on the Monday following Sunday Funday, we headed up the hill to Universal Studios and entered the Wizarding World, which (with the exception of the 3D on Forbidden Journey, which I hear they are removing now... thank god) was awesome!

Here are some of the photographic highlights....

Hogwarts... aka the exterior of the "Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey" ride

Part of the Forbidden Journey queue... the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, with Harry, Ron and Hermione projections talking to the guests in line. 

Snow-covered buildings in Hogsmeade.
Who knew it snowed in LA? Must be magic ;)

Leslie, Ruthie, Little Green Alien and I pose with the Hogwarts Express conductor (left) and Ruthie with her new Gryffindor scarf (right). Did I mention we did a LOT of shopping in Hogsmeade? :) 

LGA in Honeyduke's trying to guess the number of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans in those tubes.

We had lunch at the Three Broomsticks, where LGA reminded me how much he looooves Butterbeer...

..... a little too much. #drunkalien

After lunch at the Three Broomsticks, we went on the Universal Studios Tour, and walked through Springfield... where the #drunkalien discovered Duff Beer. Oy..

Then we went to Super Silly Funland and hung out with Ruthie's other favorite characters, the Minions on the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride, also in 3D (Ugh. I'm getting a headache just typing that... Getting old sucks!)

Little Green Alien considers a new career option after being marketed to in the Minion Mayhem ride queue. Double Oy.

Then we ended our day at the Animal Actor's show, where a certain, fearless kid I know volunteered to go up on stage and help with the dog tricks.

She had a blast! But I have an annoyed auntie comment: Hey Universal Studios, how about when you give kids a "front of line" voucher for participating in the last show of the day, that ends 5 minutes before the park closes, you give them a voucher good for ANY day, not JUST that day?!?!? Kthxbai. #endrant