Hogwarts in Hollywood!

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens at Universal Studios Hollywood on April 7, 2016.

But a "soft open" (aka "Technical Rehearsal") has begun and we visited it!

Hogwarts Castle - The Forbidden Journey Ride!

It's very similar to the one in Orlando, Florida.  

It recreates Hogsmeade!

I was eager to investigate.  

I need this pink ice cream

There are a few nice hidden spots:

And Honeydukes, the candy shoppe, is very pink.

All the better for hiding

And, of course, we had Butterbeer!

We prefer our Butterbeer frozen

I can't wait to go back!!!

Honorary Citizen of Disneyland

ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED.

Pink Lane. And Rabbit Street.

Gotta love the street names in North Carolina.

Me, Jim and Kermit.

Disney World, Food & Wine and Diagon Alley!

We went to Walt Disney World for the Epcot Food & Wine Festival!

Cranberry bog

I finally got a table!

It was all very delicious.  

And we got to go to the Chase Lounge!

the view from the lounge

Speaking of food, we also got to eat at Victoria & Albert's!

We took a side trip to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal. 

We wanted to see the new Diagon Alley!

Back at Disney World, we visited the new Indiana Jones themed watering hole.

It's called Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar.

There's a diving bell you can sit in!

Of course we visited the Magic Kingdom:

We rode the Peoplemover over and over:

And we found a nice place to stop and enjoy the scenery:

And the BEST PART: 

WE SAW A BUNNY ON MAIN STREET!!!

It was in the courtyard by the Town Square Theater.

If that's not Disney Magic, I don't know what is!!

Jim Henson Studios!

Visiting Jim Henson Studios was on my Disney Bucket List.  

And we finally got to visit!

Jim Henson Studios used to be Charlie Chaplin Studios.

The bathroom signs are Muppet-ized:

Gentlemen

Ladies

Love the centerpieces at the event

After Chaplin, it was A&M records before The Henson Company bought it.

There's quite a bit of creature memorabilia. 

Here's Carol from Where the Wild Things Are:

Kermit is everywhere!

in Brian Henson's office

It really was a lovely day and a dream come true to visit.

BB-8 in Club 33

It's how he rolls.