Sorry bout the bumps at the start but does get better quickly. and then both video and sound are amazing! Got such a good place to stand tonight for this amazing wonderful show at #UniversalOrlando #UniversalStudios Had a perfect view of the #fountains #fireworks lights and sound. Somehow having the people in front of me, made the video look even more amazing. Their silhouettes made a great frame. It is truly a treat for the senses!

Watching and listening to the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra play music from the Harry Potter movies was one of my absolute favorite experiences in Florida. Any Harry Potter fan should be here for the next one. Be sure to join the Facebook page below to be able to get notified of Day 2 and Day3 posts on this blog. Lots more great stuff to see and hear! 

Our daughter began the Harry Potter fandom in our home although the first movie came out when I was pregnant with her. We saw the first movie then in 2001 and lost touch with the series until she became of age to want to repeatedly read the books. at which point the movie marathon became a twice a year thing for our family and made us all avid fans. When we moved down to Fla in 2013 we did not have the ability to go to Universal as we only had passes for Disney and could not do both. In 2017 that changed and we were so happy to be able to attend our first Celebration of Harry Potter at the Universal Festival. We knew it would be great and got our tee shirts but had no idea of what was in store for us. It was truly inspiring to be surrounded by everything Harry Potter. This post and my next 2 will be our 3 days at the Festival and all of the events we saw. There were many more that we did not get to do and hope to next time. If you are a fan of HP, and you have a chance, you should get down here for this next year. It is beyond wonderful!   

The first day we walked in to hear the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra warming up and practicing the music from the Harry Potter movies (video below). We didn't know at that point, but it was for the event later on where they showed parts of the films behind the stage with the full orchestra playing the music to those scenes live. I will never have chills like I did during that!! Before that happened, they brought the talent out on stage to say hi. The 2nd day which I will post soon, we got to listen to and watch the talent talk on stage from almost the front row. This year we saw James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley), Stanislav Lanevski (Viktor Krum),  Natalia Tena (Nymphadora Tonks), and Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley). It was amazing to listen to them talk and especially about how it was for them to see Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade and Hogwarts the first time coming to Universal and how immersive and overwhelming it was for them and different than the filming in front of green screens. The whole event gave me chills in an awesome way. Will be doing 2 more posts for Day 2 and 3 with more amazing things to see and experience. Come down next year and do this!  

I put this video on bc I love it. Have not seen many videos of Ralph Fiennes talking about being Voldemort and this one is just awesome. I was shocked when I realized this was him. I had liked him in Maid in Manhattan a long time ago and it was only when I saw his eyes in one shot as Voldemort that I made the connection that this is the same man. He is so handsome and it amazes me that they were able to make him look so evil. He is an amazing actor to put so much into this part.