Family, travel, mom blog | Theme Park Mom (Leigh Caldwell)

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is very near completion at Universal Orlando Resort.

Many Harry Potter fans have been waiting with great anticipation to see it. But what if you were more than just a fan? What if you were in the Harry Potter movies?

Some of the Harry Potter series actors are in Orlando today touring the Wizarding World.

That’s Robbie Coltrane, Matthew Lewis, Emma Watson, and Oliver and James Phelps starting their sneak-peek tour of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter today at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, in this photo tweeted by Universal Orlando. I wonder what they think of the butterbeer?

I actually got to taste butterbeer on Monday night, when I attended a private party in the Wizarding World. I loved it, especially the frozen variety. We weren’t allowed to take pictures during the party, but I wrote about many of my observations at Gadling.com:

Inside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. No, really. I got inside.

The Wizarding World has three thrill rides. Thrill rides. Which makes it not the best for little kids. Here’s my take on the target audience for the new theme park land over at Traveling Mamas:

Wizarding World of Harry Potter is not for the little ones (and that’s just fine)

The Wizarding World opens on June 18. As Dewayne Bevil notes on the Theme Park Rangers blog, there are several theories on when (and if) a soft opening will happen. Cast members are previewing the attractions this week.

Whew! It was another whirlwind of traveling this week. I’ve been in Cleveland and Sandusky, Ohio, and I’m excited to start writing and share all the great family activities available there. One of the highlights for me was a behind-the-scenes tour of Cedar Point theme park, which opens for the season next week. I love this view of all the roller coasters across the water:

I was caught on the TV news this week, talking about Busch Gardens’ Sesame Street Safari of Fun with SNN Local News 6 anchor Adrienne Stein:

While I was away from my home state for most of the week, my mind never wandered far from what was happening with the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Some of you may be wondering how the oil spill will affect your vacation this summer, and my colleague Shannon Hurst-Lane has some great insights at Traveling Mamas:

• Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill – How it will affect your Gulf Coast beach vacation and ways you can help

Also at Traveling Mamas, I wrote about the new water park resort in Orlando, CoCo Key:

• New family lodging option in Orlando: CoCo Key Hotel and Water Resort

And at Gadling:

• Nashville’s Gaylord Opryland Resort to be closed for months after floodwaters rise
• SeaWorld offers $5 admission for kids
• Nashville landmarks remain closed after historic flooding
• Alton Towers theme park offers free mullets and perms for employees
• Riders stuck hanging upside down on U.K. coaster
• Disney Parks testing new, talking Mickey Mouse for character greetings
• Universal Orlando announces summer concert series

I *think* I’m going to be home, catching up on work and writing, all week this week. Have you taken your kids to the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival yet? This is the last week to go. I’ve got some tips here if you’re planning a last-minute trip.

The CoCo Key Hotel and Water Resort opened this week in Orlando, and my family and I went to check it out. While we were there, the folks organizing the grand opening asked the Theme Park Kid to help cut the ribbon. She got to go down the pink slide.

When she got out of the water, she immediately ran up and asked, “Mom, did I win?” She thought the ribbon meant it was a race!

Though the new resort is miles away from Cinderella Castle, this property played a significant role in Disney history. I wrote a guest post about it over at The Disney Blog:

• CoCo Key Water Resort now open in Orlando

At Traveling Mamas, I shared more information on the new Sesame Street children’s area at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Have you planned your summer visit yet?

• Visit Elmo, Big Bird and Cookie Monster at Sesame Street Safari of Fun

And at Gadling:

• Are Disney’s buses dangerous?
• Walt Disney World offers free tickets for stranded European travelers
• Rare find: Cheap, tasty hotel food in Orlando
• Southwest Airlines introduces Florida-themed plane and a Florida fare sale

It’s a busy travel week for me. I will be in Lexington, Louisville, Orlando, Tampa and Austin between today and Saturday. Whew! The best way to see if I survive is to follow me on Twitter.

Have you heard about the Dismarks Disney Blog Carnival? If you are a Disney fan, it’s a great place to go to check out lots of Disney posts from around the Web.

Studio Catering Co., a quick-service restaurant at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, has reopened with a new menu. This week, I reviewed the new offerings for the Disney Food Blog:

• New Studio Catering Company menu review

Over at Traveling Mamas, I must have country music on the brain. I’ve written two posts this week about where to eat and where to stay in Nashville, Tennessee:

• Gaylord Opryland hotel review
• Bringing people together with food at Monell’s

And the good food theme continued at Gadling, where I wrote about a new theme park snack and a great deal on season passes:

• Knott’s Berry Farm adds chocolate and bacon funnel cake to the menu
• Cedar Fair offers road-trip worthy deal: 17 theme parks for $160

Have you entered my Disney Store Earth Day product giveaway yet? The winner will get a box filled with these cute “Save Planet Earth” goodies featuring a three-eyed alien from Toy Story!

Coming up this week on Theme Park Mom, I’ll have an awesome giveaway to get you ready to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, as well as more Earth Day goodies!