Negeri Paman Sam: Honeydukes, Zonko's, and Chocolate Frogs

At Hogsmeade, I went inside Honeydukes to discover the wide selection of sweets that Harry and the gang usually have. The inside of the shop was very bright and colorful. There were candies everywhere, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Candy, Candy Quill, Sherbet Lemon, you name it! It was a really fun and magical sight, Honeydukes is. 

Honeydukes

A grand display of Chocolate Frogs for those who love window shopping

Bright and colorful describe Honeydukes perfectly

Lots and lots of candy you will find in here

The sweet shop is very small and compact, I had to squeeze myself through people to get in. There were shelfs everywhere, with different candies displayed on every area. It is also connected to Zonko's Joke Shop, making it efficient if you also want to get yourself some U-NO-POO. There you can find unique sweets and gizmos, while being entertained with endless laughter roaming around the red-colored shop. Some of the items that you will find are the Chattering Teeth, the Extendable Ears, Boxing Telescope, and Chinese Fortune Sticks. 

A connecting passage to Zonko's

Behold, an inside sight of Zonko's Joke Shop

The joke shop is brick red in color

But, to be honest, I do think that Wizarding World of Harry Potter is like a daylight robbery. Most of the candies were very expensive - $10 for a pack of Bertie Bott's, I mean, come on? I had a very limited budget during my trip to Orlando, so I could only buy an item or two from Honeydukes. Considering the fact that I might ended up not liking Bertie Bott's ear-wax flavored jelly bean, I decided to buy the Chocolate Frogs instead. I took my chance knowing that the frog might jump right out the box and run away from me. But, I would still have the wizard card in the end! Who knows, maybe I would get an Albus Dumbledore, or a Helga Hufflepuff.

Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Candy

Chocolate Frogs

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After a long wait, I finally unlocked the famous Chocolate Frog. The pentagon box was very very beautiful, just like the one in the movie. Dark blue was the box's based color, and it was embroidered with patterns and writings in gold color. On the side of the box was a "Free Wizards and Witches Card Inside" written. Who wouldn't get excited after you read something like that?

Chocolate Frog

"Free Wizard and Witches Card Inside"

I opened the box and found myself a heavy chunk of dark chocolate wrapped in plastic. "Oh my gosh, this is it," I thought. It's a good thing the frog didn't jump out and sprint to a nearby pond, otherwise there goes my $10. 

Underneath the chocolate was the famous card. I got Albus Dumbledore! The card was really fancy, it is a hologram and Dumbledore moves as the card moves. On the back side of the card was a short paragraph about the Hogwarts headmaster himself. "Dumbledore's self-proclaimed proudest achievement, however, was featuring on a Famous Wizards Chocolate Frog Card." What makes the card different from the one in the movie is that the headmaster didn't leave after a few minutes I glance at the card, he will stay in it forever. 

Watch out, it might jump out and frees itself!

Look underneath the chocolate, and there you will find the Hogwarts headmaster

I got Professor Dumbledore's card

The description written on the backside of the card

The chocolate frog itself was very heavy. There were no nuts, nor toffee, inside. It is merely made out of a block of milk chocolate. I tasted a wee bit of the chocolate and it was really delicious! But, it is more of a hot-chocolate-drink kind of chocolate, instead of the one that you would gulp in less than a minute. I'm saving my frog for a rainy day. 

This chocolate was very heavy

A bird's eye view of the frog

There was nothing inside, it is only a block of chocolate

Negeri Paman Sam: Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, and Butterbeer

Made my way to Wizarding World of Harry Potter, I am the happiest Hufflepuff on earth!

It was noon when the three caballeros, a.k.a. Mom, Dad, and I, arrived at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. We were just from Jurassic Park when I saw pointy roof far ahead of us. "Could it be," I said to myself. As I took another step, followed by a little sprint towards a metal gate, I couldn't help but to freeze with awe. "IT'S HOGWARTS!"

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

I saw Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy, my school (go ahead and judge me)! I may not be a Potterhead, but who wouldn't get excited when you see the Weasley twins wizarding school in front of you? 

I was thrilled. I entered the gate that leads me to Hogsmeade and I saw lines of shop, in which the roofs were covered in snow. "I'm at Hogsmeade," I thought, "AND THERE ARE SNOW ON THE ROOFS WHAT IS THIS SORCERY!". 

Hogsmeade was swarmed with wizards and muggles. It was challenging to stroll around the area with such crowd. 

Hogsmeade in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Board the Hogwarts Express and have the journey of your life time!

Our first stop was at the Dragon Challenge attraction. It's a thrilling and adrenalin-pumping roller coaster ride where you get to choose which roller coaster you want to ride. There are two kinds, which are the Chinese Fireball and the Hungarian Horntail. "You need the courage of a Triwizard Tournament Champion as you climb aboard one of two ferocious dragons that twist, loop, and nearly collide in a high-speed intertwining roller coaster chase across the sky." This roller coaster is Ridikulus-ly epic! I am proud to say that I conquered the Hungarian Horntail.

Then, we took a short break by visiting the shop in Hogsmeade and shot some pictures. I spotted Olivander's, Zonko's Joke Shop, Honeydukes, Dervish and Banges, and the Owl Post. There was a stage, near the Dragon Challenge arena, where we can watch a performance by the Durmstrang and the Beauxbatons. I missed the show by a second, but managed to hopped onto the staff-only-stage and took picture with my house's flag. 

I have to slip this picture here

The most important thing to do when you get to Wizarding World of Harry Potter is to get yourself a glass of Butterbeer! Yes, Butter -effin beer! 

For those who don't know, Butterbeer is a very famous beverage among wizards that costed 2 sickles a glass. This drink is served cold, or hot, at The Three Broomsticks, Hog's Head Pub, and the Leaky Couldron in Diagon Alley. It is said that Butterbeer is strong enough to make house elves drunk, but not human.  

Did you know that J.K. Rowling herself participated in the making of Butterbeer that you can find in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter? It means that we actually taste the genuine beverage that wizards fancy! 

You can find lots of Butterbeer booths on the streets of Hogsmeade in Universal Island of Adventures, there were three to four of them, and the line keeps getting longer by the second. 

On the other hand, if you're into genuine beer, you can check in at Hog's Head Pub and order a pint. But, of course, you will have to show your ID. If you are under 21, like me, you are not allowed to order an alcohol from the pub. But, I do suppose I could slither myself into Hog's Head Pub and take a glance. No harm done. I solemnly swear I am up to no good. 

Hog's Head Pub

Pick a drink or two

There was this big drum with "Butterbeer" written on it just outside Honeydukes. My Mom found out that it was the place where I could get some Butterbeer, so she told me to line up. It's a good thing my Mom has an eagle eye, because there were only two people in front of me at that time. 

It didn't take long before I was served with this two very adorable and cute wizard staff. One of them was a Slytherin, and the other one was a Griffindor - it's a shame I didn't get their names. "Would you like a Frozen Butterbeer," the Slytherin asked. I simply nodded, still awestruck. He then proceed to ask about my day and about what attraction I have ride, which I replied enthusiastically, as if I just won the Triwizard Cup. He was a very fun and kind Slytherin, unlike any other students of Salazar, and I enjoyed my quick chat with him. 

A Butterbeer stand outside of Honeydukes

Sweet and cold Pumpkin Juice

Butterbeer souvenir glass

Get your Butterbeer here

Fill 'em up!

Don't forget the cherry-on-top of this magical drink

I finally got myself the drink that wizards favor. My Butterbeer was light brown in color, and topped with a very nice and bubbly white foam. On the plastic glass was written the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, very simple yet can be a great souvenir for oneself. I kind of regret my decision to trash my plastic glass. 

"This is it," I thought. It was very exciting, I was about to get my first sip of Butterbeer ever. 

My first and official Butterbeer from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

BUTTERBEER TASTED SOOOO GOOD! The drink was literary frozen, it just froze there as I spin my glass around. The brown liquid was sweet and caramel-like. People say that the drink taste similar to butterscotch. Unfortunately, I have never tried any butterscotch before, so I don't have the liberty to second the motion. The white foam tasted like Vanilla ice cream, very creamy and bubbly. It had this funky aftertaste that left you wonder. My drink costed me no more than $7 and I regret nothing!

This drink is Riddikulus-ly good!

After I finished my Butterbeer, I continued my journey to Flich's Emporium and the Hogwarts castle to ride the Forbiden Journey. And may I just say that I had an encounter with Harry, Ron, and Hermione? I also went on a ride on a magic broomstick, was it Nimbus, and had to face tons of Dementors. Then, I flew across Hogwarts, running away from dragons and spider, saving myself from the deadly Whomping Willow, and experience the thrilling sensation of actually flying in the Quidditch field. 

It was an experience unlike any other!