Day 3, Part 3
Once we got to Hogsmeade, we rode Flight of the Hippogriff, which I kept calling Flying Unicorn (old name) and then started calling it Flying Hippogriff, sometimes because my brain doesn't work as well as it used to and sometimes just to irritate my kid when she had a bad attitude because she just loves to correct me
Well, she just loved that ride!
I hadn't eaten yet and I was getting awfully hungry but she wanted to ride it again. We told her she could take her express pass and go ride it by herself. Well, she loved that idea! Especially since she was a l'il bit grumpy at that point and wanted nothing to do with us
Rob waited for her at the exit while I headed over to Three Broomsticks.
She is framed in the tracks, last person you see on the ride.
And this was her much better mood after coming off the coaster. She might have gone around one more time before they joined me.
I got to the Three Broomsticks to find a huge line OUTSIDE in the blazing hot sun!
It was a long line too! They really need to put some covers over this area because everyone in the line, not just my heat-hating self was dying!
People were squishing themselves next to the building to be in the teeny bit of shade it provided on the final zig zag.
By the time Rob and Kira caught up to me, I was melting! I'm shocked I didn't pass out
I was happy to make it to that final zig zag where I could finally stand in the shade!
This is my 'I'm-grumpy-why-are-you-taking-a-picture-of-me?' look
The only thing that I would even consider eating here is the fish and chips.
If they had chicken pasties, I would totally eat those but I wasn't in the mood for ground beef ones.
In line, Rob zipped off the bottom part of his pants. You know it's hot out when he does that!
I don't like the whole ordering system here...you wait in a huge line up for them to tell you which cash register to go to, where you order, then they send you to a specific line to get your food, then you fight your way through both those lines to get to the condiment area and then another line (carrying your food) in order for them to find a table to fit your party.
It's just total chaos and it's really not fun.
I much prefer the way they do it at Leaky Cauldron!
The theming is amazing though!!!
So we finally got our food and condiments and we were seated....in the tiniest little chairs ever!
Kira's chin is almost at table level!
I don't know why they made the chairs so short? I looked around and everyone seemed to have the same chairs so they weren't kid chairs, which was my first thought.
Rob had the chicken and ribs combo while Kira and I split a fish and chips. I didn't want to have a heavy tummy as we had more rides ahead of us.
We also got a butterbeer ice cream to share but Kira ended up having most of it as she ate really quickly and got to it first
I also ordered us three ice waters, which I highly recommend asking for at all counter service places as the water is good, cold and refreshing and free!!
And of course, we all shared a cold butterbeer, which gave us butterbeer mustaches until we found some straws.
I really loved the topping but didn't care for the main drink part. Kira enjoyed it though and she finished most of it I think.
After we fueled up, it was time to hit Jurassic Park! One of my favourite movies ever and a great area of this park.
I told them both to act scared
They look awfully happy to me!!!
FAIL!!!
I had shown Kira some YouTube videos of the log ride and she was seriously considering it until we actually got to the ride, where she declared NO WAY!
So, we headed to our next stop...Kong! The one and only new ride for all three of us this trip.
Sorry, this is a terrible photo but it was so bright, it was hard to see on my screen.
We all enjoyed this ride, surprisingly. It was different, which is what I liked about it. It was fun and bumpy but not annoyingly so. This was the longest we waited for a ride. It was a 65-minute standby wait and I would say about 20 minutes in Express but it was all inside in the coolness, so we didn't complain!
Although, since returning home, where Rob and I watched the movie, we were confused because it didn't seem to be based on the movie, which I totally thought it was
It was a good ride anyway but I wish they still had the original Kong ride over at the Studios, now that was a fun ride
We were hoping Kira might do Dudley Do Right's Ripsaw Falls but that was a hard NO when she saw it
None of us were really keen on getting super soaked on Popeye and Bluto's at the moment so we just skipped Toon Lagoon and went straight for Marvel Super Hero Island or whatever they are calling it these days.
Just one little pic here first!
We rode Spiderman and Kira loved it! She wanted to go again and I did too but the storms were rolling in again and I really wanted to hit The Hulk before that.
Last time I was here, Hulk didn't even have a track up as they were doing a major refurb on it and it's one of my favourite coasters ever so I needed to make sure I got that ride in today as I only had today to do the rides.
I told Rob and Kira to ride Spidey again without me, I was heading to Hulk. Since Hulk is another one of those rides where you can't bring anything on you, I gave them my fanny pack and told them I would meet them at the Hulk exit.
I approached the entrance, literally steps away, looked up at the sky and it LIT UP with a huge lightning bolt, right behind the track!!!
CRAPPPPPP!!!!!
I knew what that meant and as I looked over towards the entrance and exit, throngs of people were exiting the ride. They don't operate any outdoor rides while lightning is in the area.
I've never been so upset to see lightning before
It wasn't raining yet so I just hung out at the exit until Rob and Kira made their way over to me.
Told them my sad tale and then we made our way over to Storm Force Acceleration for Kira. She loves spinning rides and this was just like teacups, so we watched as she enjoyed her ride.
The only things I had wanted to do for the rest of the day were Hulk and Dueling Dragons...wooops! Sorry, I mean Dragon Challenge
None of them operate with lightning storms going on and I was feeling a little wiped, I could use some time off of my feet.
Rob and Kira were going to do Spidey again and maybe a few other rides so they stuck around.
I was heading back to the room so I could do some unpacking and I grabbed our Blue Man Group tickets on the way out too, since there were no lines.
We were going to be surprising Kira with BMG the next evening so it was a good opportunity to grab the tickets without her with me.
I was thinking of having dinner here but changed my mind later as I wasn't going to be heading back to the park that evening, well that was my original plan anyway.
I just love this sign...
And then I enjoyed a nice slow, quiet, peaceful walk back to Hard Rock Hotel.
Seriously, one of my favourite things about stay staying at this hotel!
I had intended to cut through the pool as it made for a much shorter walk but then I forgot that they close the pool gates during storms.
Luckily, there is a door right there that with your room key you can go through and follow all the way down to the main part of the lower lobby, where the elevators and Emack & Bolio's are.
I grabbed a Diet Coke from E & B's and then headed up to our room for some much needed peace and quiet.
I love your writing style and feel like we're all taking this journey with you and your sweet little family. 
I always have to ride that one alone - love it. But, at least my family can hold my belongings so no locker required! I think the Mummy remains my fav in that park. Do you think Race Through New York will be a must-do for your family moving forward? Well, maybe not for Rob! 
I missed it by a few weeks in February, so I have yet to experience it.
Butter beer ice cream? Will definitely have to try that. I was one who loved the frozen version and remembered it fondly long after we returned home. Oh boy and I sure can sympathize with how you felt waiting in the hot blazing sun outside the restaurant. There were times I was so hot and tired in the Magic Kingdom that I felt like I would pay one hundred dollars for a cold dark room with a cot to put my feet up for just even an hour or five. Maybe somewhere in Tomorrowland would be nice. 
). Then the dentist comes in and asks if Kira is my daughter! I had to laugh and explain, no I'm just reading about someone else's 
Your trip report updates are a fun way to start my day. 
