I have the best big sister in the world, let me just say that first. Now that you know that let me tell you why. Besides the fact that she is just an amazing person as well as a huge inspiration behind a lot of what I do, she took me to Harry Potter World for my birthday. HARRY POTTER WORLD PEOPLE. If you know me, you know how huge that was for me. If you don't know me, let me clue you in. I'm a huge Potter Head. I've read all of the books 7 times. You heard me, 7. Go ahead- judge me. It won't stop me from proudly knowing Dumbledor's full name.
The cherry on top? The Four Seasons Orlando was hosting us for the weekend. Which meant that I could dork my face off at the theme park with my sister and then come back and drink frozen cocktails in the lazy river. Yes, they have a lazy river, and it is oh so lazy in the best way possible. So lazy in fact, that upon requesting, someone delivered us our beverages to the side of the lazy river as we mosied by- without having to get out of our tubes! Talk. About. Service.
Lazy River. Heaven.
Handwritten note welcoming us
I had been to The Four Seasons Vail multiple times before, so I knew that The Four Seasons didn't skimp on any details. But I had never been hosted by The Four Seasons for my birthday. And I'll tell you what, I felt like a Queen for a weekend. After our first day at the park we returned to our room to find they had left a surprise Harry Potter birthday cake for me! It's like they knew all of my hearts desires before I even knew them.
Literally 5 minutes later...
Our second day at the park was quite possibly the best day of my life. I walked through Hogwarts, escaped from Gringotts, and spent half my life's savings in Honey Dukes (totally worth it- had to get as many chocolate frogs as possible).
My Favorite Ride: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Hands down. It was around 85 degrees when we got to the park (at 9 am) and I was already starting to sweat, so I was absolutely dreading the lines that awaited me. But thank God for this ride because the whole line is inside! And it's interactive, so you don't feel like you're waiting in line. Honestly it'd genius and I don't understand why every single ride doesn't follow suit. Waiting in line consisted of taking a tour of Hogwarts. We traveled through classrooms and there were holograms of Harry, Ron and Hermione that talked to you as you walked by. And the ride itself was mind blowing. It was 4D, and I won't spoil all of it for you... but at one point my 32 year old sister and I we screaming "OH MY GOD WE'RE PLAYING QUIDDITCH". I'll leave it at that.
First glimpse of HOGWARTS
After a full day of not acting our age, we returned to The Four Seasons exhausted and craving pizza and beer. Very dainty of us, I know. We almost cried when we saw there was no pizza on any of the menus. But one quick call downstairs and behold! Pizza and a 6 pack of Bud Light appeared at out door. Almost like magic (wink, wink).
As the night came to a close, we watched the fireworks out of our bedroom window. In the morning, we checked out of our room but decided to take advantage of some spa time. We stored our bags for a few hours and blissed out in their to die for spa. If it was socially acceptable to live my life in one of their spa robes- I would.
We gathered up our bags and just as we were about to walk out the door I realized I had made a crucial mistake. I hadn't gone to Lickety Split for Gelato! Lickety Split is in the lobby of The Four Seasons, and with the sweet tooth that I have, it had been calling my name all weekend. So I made us come dangerously close to missing our flight in order to eat this divine mixed berry & pistachio combo. Well worth the risk.
Inside of Lickety Split- love everything about this look.
As one last sweet surprise, we were upgraded to first class on our flight home! And you know what that means? Free cocktails.
I can not say thank you enough to my big sister (aka thisphotographerslife) and The Four Seasons Orlando for the best birthday to date. We'll be back!
A few bonus pictures:
