Hello, and welcome to Dateline Universal Orlando! This week, we’re heading to Islands of Adventure for our first glimpse of the holiday season in the park. Let’s go!

, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays
Took the walk from Royal Pacific this week. Was quite nice!
, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays
Welcome to Islands of Adventure!

, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays

, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays
The holidays have arrived at the Port of Entry.

, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays

, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays
Grinchmas is also in full decoration at Seuss Landing.

, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays , Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays , Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays

, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays
Even the Lorax is in the spirit of the season.

, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays , Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays , Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays , Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays , Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays

, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays
For the first time ever, Hogsmeade has received holiday decor.
, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays
Weird not seeing the Dragon Challenge coaster in the park any longer, as it has been fully demolished.
, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays
Well, the holiday decor in Hogsmeade is classy.

, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays , Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays

, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays
Seriously, this all looks great.

, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays , Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays , Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays , Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays , Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays , Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays

, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays
The snowman makes sense!
, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays
This tall guy is there for the projections that will be happening on Hogwarts, and looks to be a permanent addition.

, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays

, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays
This one, on the Jurassic Park side, doesn’t look quite as good.

, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays , Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays , Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays , Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays , Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays , Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays , Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays

, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays
Almost time here in Orlando where people don’t want to ride water rides. Almost.

, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays , Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays , Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays , Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays , Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays , Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays , Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays

, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays
Thor Ragnarok is a great movie. Go see it.
, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays
A Very Marvel Christmas.
, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays
This guy also shows up in the new Thor movie.

, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays , Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays

, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays
Time to head out!

That does it for this week! Will you be lucky enough to see the Wizarding World all decked out for the holidays? Let us know in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

If you appreciate what we do here and would like to support Dateline Disney World, you can shop at Amazon.com using my link (please CLICK HERE before you do). It won’t cost you any extra, and it’ll help out the column!!


, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays

The MiceChat invasion of Orlando has begun. Come join us this week for meetups and lots of fun! Here’s a snapshot of the events we have lined up for this year’s Invasion.

 

Wednesday November 8th – Hollywood Studios

, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays

Day 3 will begin with a lunch meet up at the Backlot Express, home of the Darth Vader Galactic Chicken and Waffles – totally worth going over to the dark side. Then we’ll explore some of the wonderful attractions of this great Disney park, including the Seasons of the Force and Star Tours. Our evening will end with a bang, at the Star Wars: Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party!

  • Meet Location: Backlot Express – just to the left of the front door (See map below)
  • Meet Time: 11:30 am

, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays

This dessert party starts at 5:15PM and includes an out-of-this-world selection of desserts and specialty drinks—including alcoholic beverage options, as well as a souvenir Chewbacca stein and reserved viewing of the Star Wars: Galactic Spectacular fireworks show. Price is $79 per adult/$45 per child, and does not include admission to Hollywood Studios Park. Tickets sell out quickly, so don’t wait if you’d like to join us! You can purchase your dessert party tickets HERE.  Event attendees should coordinate with Dusty Sage or Ari Merino for specific meet up times and locations for the Dessert Party.

Thursday November 9th – Universal Studios Orlando/Islands of Adventure

, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays
© Universal Orlando

The day will begin early with a coffee meetup at the Starbucks in CityWalk before the park opens. We’ll then head straight to Diagon Alley at Universal Studios and get in line for the Gringots attraction. We’ll follow that with a visit to Men in Black, ET, and the New Jimmy Fallon attraction, before heading back to Diagon Alley for a lunch meet up at the Leaky Cauldron. Following Lunch, we’ll take a little tour of Diagon Alley with Dusty Sage through Knockturn Alley and try our hand at some of the interactive wand experiences. Then we’ll take the Hogwarts Express to Islands of Adventure to experience Hogsmede and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Afterwards, we’ll experience some of the other amazing attractions like The Amazing Spiderman and Jurassic Park, and everything else Universal Studios has to offer. Fairy Godmother Travel is always available for Universal Studios theme park admission. Please note that you will need a park hopper ticket for the day.

  • AM Meet Location: Starbucks Citywalk (See Map Below)
  • AM Meet Time:8:30am (we’ll line up in front of the park at 8:45 am)
  • Lunch Meet Location: Leaky Cauldron  (just in front of the front door)
  • Lunch Meet Time: 11:45am (we’ll get in line for lunch at noon)

, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays

Friday November 10th – Sip and Nibble

, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays

Friday will be the world famous Sip and Nibble at Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival. This is where we meet new and old friends, share food & drink, and try to make it through all the food and wine offerings. This year there are 35 separate kiosks featuring food and wine from different continents and countries, as well as quite a few new offerings- including the much hyped Light Lab, home of the GlowNut!

, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays

We’ll gather at the FESTIVAL WELCOME CENTER (old Wonders of Life – located in Future World East) at 10:30 a.m. and take a leisurely stroll around World Showcase, sampling the food and wine offerings along the way. Each of us will have a lanyard with a marker attached so we can record our progress. Those who desire to partake of the adult beverages will also sport a small glass on a lanyard to conveniently share “sips” along the way. (It has been previously determined that a full portion of adult beverage in each country would doom the effort to certain failure.) After all, this year there are over 35 stops!

This year's lanyards are ready!
This year’s lanyards are ready!

Online registration is now open. If you are planning to join us, please sign up as soon as possible to help us with our planning and to ensure we have enough lanyard and supplies for everyone. Click here to sign-up.

 

, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays

  • Meet Location: In front of the Festival Showplace (if it rains, we’ll meet just inside the front door) – See Map Below
  • Meet Time: 10:30am (we’ll meet, chat, hand out lanyards and maps, then head off just before 11am).

, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays

Saturday November 11th – Breakfast and Catch Up Day

, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays

If you’re able to walk after Sip and Nibbling your way around Epcot, we’ll be hosting a breakfast at a yet to be determined location. But you can get your name on the list by contacting your Fairy Godmother.

This is a day for catching up on the things you didn’t get to do during the week. Make some friends at breakfast and then head off to choose your own adventure.

We’ll also meet at 9pm for an evening extravaganza at the Boardwalk’s Piano Bar, Jellyrolls!

SEE AN EVENT YOU’D LIKE TO ATTEND?!

  • Please make sure you follow the Facebook event link below to let us know you’ll be attending:

FACEBOOK EVENTS LINK

  • If you need any special assistance (tickets, travel booking, have questions, etc.) please contact [email protected]

 

DON’T FORGET TO CONFIRM WITH US!

Please join our Facebook events page to let us know if you plan to join us for one or more of our meet-ups, dinners, Sip and Nibble, or Galactic Dessert Party. We’ll save a spot for you at our meal meetups if we know you are coming. We can’t wait to see you!

The MiceChat Invasion of WDW is November 6th through 12th and includes meets, dinners, events, and our famous Sip and Nibble around Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival (this year we are creating a separate event for each of our meets and events to make it easier for us to track who is planning to join us for each activity). For assistance please contact [email protected]

Not The Right Dates?

Adventures never end with MiceChat and Fairy Godmother Travel. Booking now for your personal vacation could save you some green. Deals up to 30% off are available for Walt Disney World, and you can always see where we’re going next with MiceTrips.

, Dateline Universal Orlando – Hogsmeade for the Holidays

Cory Disbrow
Cory likes Walt Disney World so much, he recently packed his bags and moved to Orlando. Cory is a photographer and writes MiceChat's Dateline Disney World columns every Friday.