We spent the morning there and the highlight was definitely the "Robots 3D" IMAX.
The boys (probably like most kids) are really into robots. They have been planning them for awhile as part of "E.D. Industries". We asked them, "So what'd you think?" and Dalton said, "I think it's a lot harder to make robots than I thought." :D
Anyhoo...
We explored some other areas...
This "Materials House" where they tried to use, like, every single material that things can be made of. Which is apparently 213 things.
Some air transport stuff.
(The plane says "Jason", see it?)
And this cute exhibit:
(See? <-----Autumn)
Some body exhibit.
This is Easton's eyeball but I like to think he, Dalton, and Jason all have pretty much the same color eyeballs. It would be neat to see them all like this to see if I'm right, though.
We could have done much more more at the Science Museum but we had big evening plans (over the dinner hour, in fact) and therefore we needed to head off to a big late lunch at Spaghetti House. We went to the Leicester Square location as it was a straight shot from where we were at the museums and a necessary place to change trains on our journey for later.
Lunch was good and the kids' meals included ice cream!
From there we headed off to "Euston". Tee hee!
And there we caught our very very long train ride (more than an hour) up to "Watford Junction". We were leaving Zone1 or 2 or whatever it was we had included on our Oyster card, but adding money to our cards suddenly was too complicated and our train was about to leave and, well, we just hopped on and were going to play the "ignorant tourist" if we got into any trouble. We were fully planning to pay for it, we just couldn't figure out how and the train doesn't depart all that often so...
We made it up to Watford Junction without incident where a special shuttle picked us up...
(Side note: I got a selfie-stick for Mother's Day--yes, really--but hadn't used it till I busted it out for this trip. Problem is (other than being a 37 year old woman with a selfie-stick) is that my camera is total crap on my phone to begin with AND THEN when I flip the camera so we can see it with the screen, there is no flash option. So, this is our first and only selfie stick shot)
Oh yeah...back to our 15 minute journey to:
The Harry Potter Studios Tour! This was most definitely my #1 must-do for London. And the kids are decent enough Potter fans for the little bit they know. So if the rest of us were going, well, then Jason wanted to come too, despite not really being a fan (I know, people, I know).
They hooked the kids up with some passports to collect stamps throughout the tour: (as if we needed it to be more fun!)
We hopped in the queue that took everyone by the Cupboard Under the Stairs:
We sat in a theater for a short movie (which made me tear up) and then we got to go into the Great Hall!
Remember: we were there just before Halloween:
Such detail...
Dumbledore!
We're sitting in the Great Hall too!
Then it was on to other things. There are literally so many things I would show you but won't. Just some highlights.
Like this picture with a Death Eater just walking around. I am not sure if this occurs all the time or because we were there during the "Dark Arts" Halloween time...
This from the Yule Ball...
And I have always loved Hermione's dress from that movie:
(Too bad it's the skinniest thing I've ever seen.)
A few wigs (everyone's was there, though):
A make-up artist table for my make-up artist sister:
The wardrobe distressing area which was ironic as Easton had ripped a hole into his shirt that morning at the museum so it was a timely shot:
The entrance gates to Hogwarts!
Harry's bed in the boys' dormitory.
The beds were so small. It said that the boys all hung off them by the later movies so they had to adjust how they filmed.
These guys were making wands there for everyone to see:
This chair at the end of the "long" hall...forced perspective trick:
The Mirror of Erised:
And apparently I must be the happiest person in the world because I looked in the mirror and saw us, exactly as we are. ;)
"Lemon Drop!" We're off to see the Headmaster:
Made it.
This actually was not CGI (like one might have thought) but I don't speak Parseltongue so it just stayed like this:
Nagini (and Lucius) at the table in Malfoy Manor:
(And yes, there was a floating lady up above waiting to be eaten.)
Autumn wanting to be a good actress. "Ack! A train!"
Speaking of trains...!!!
Green screen in the train car:
Heading through Platform 9 3/4:
"Expelliarmus!"
The kids have not yet been allowed to read/hear all of book 3 (yet!), let alone anything beyond. And they've only seen the first two movies. So when this came...
...they're all, "Mom, who's that?" and I would just have to say, "Sorry guys, you'll find out one day. I won't spoil it for you."
So we went to drown our sorrows in Butterbeer (and some snacks and crisps snuck (sneaked??) inside):
Some stuff outside:
And back inside a new building:
Diagon Alley.
You have to be careful in there. You might run into Death Eaters or...
...this guy.
Aaaaaaaah!
The kids collecting their last stamp in their passports:
It was fun for them, even if it did mean they rushed through a few spots to get to the next stamper.
But I totally enjoyed the castle model.
It was the end highlight of the tour and was really special. They really did use it for the external shots and such.
And then, three plus hours later, it was over. And we were in the gift shop. With wands.
All those wands and Easton goes, "Hey look!"
You see that? "Sophie Easton"...couldn't have found that if we'd tried.
I looked and looked for the perfect souvenir for myself. Surely it had to be at my #1 must do spot. And there was lots of super cool things, but, at the same time. Were they any "must haves"? No. Not really. Autumn was eyeing this unicorn, surprise surprise:
And then this stupid Scabbers:
I had to tell her, "You do not really want this. Just be patient and we'll find a much better souvenir for you than a stuffed rat." (Plus I couldn't spoil what Scabbers really is for her...she really wouldn't want it then, right? Right???)
You may think you don't need to bother with a trip there yourself after this, but I assure you there was so very much more to see--and do. And anyway...
Now it was super late at night and we were ready for dinner and we had a long journey home. The shuttle busses stopped leaving at a certain time so we had to leave when we did or we'd miss the shuttle out. Then had to add the fare we skipped out on paying earlier to get in the gates to the train but a nice helpful man guided us through it and our consciences were clear again. It was a long day and a late night but so worth it!
Day 3 is here.
