Islands of Adventure, Again, but with Friends

Once upon a time, I was a member of a forum all about Buffy and Angel. I'm talking, what, 10 years ago? Maybe more. It was a fun group of like-minded people talking all things Buffy and Angel.

I started conversing with a group of people, and we ended up exchanging e-mail addresses. For some reason that I cannot remember now because I am old & decrepit, we called ourselves the Mafia Chicks. Never mind that there were 7 girls and one guy. I think we were trying to put a virtual hit out on someone annoying on the forum, I don't know. There are 2 in California, 1 in New Jersey, 1 in Maryland, 1 (now) in Connecticut, 1 in Florida (me) and the two over there; Australia and Denmark. We ranged in age from 13 to 29.

I met Jersey Gal (Jules) and Maryland Gal (Jamai) in DC once, before Isabel was born. I met Jules again when she came down with her family to the theme parks last year.

Then Michael came to visit Florida in 2007 and we finally met.

So far, I'd met 3 of the 7 other Buffy Mafia Chicks. Now, I can bring that number up to 4.

California Kelly and her guy Tim are spending the entire week in Florida doing the theme parks. I took off Thursday, kept the kids home from school (Shhhhhhhhhhh!) and we all headed to the park to finally meet one of the 2 West Coast Mafia Chicks. Kelly was just like I knew she would be; fun and happy. Tim was a sweetheart and he and David totally got along. It was such a fun day. Isabel kept poking Kelly in the boob (sorry Kelly). OK, that's because her shirt had beads all over and one set was placed right there. Isabel wasn't being fresh, she was just all "Ooooh, sparkly!" :D

I took TONS of pictures of the ONE day. Over 150. Yikes! I loaded like 67 on Facebook. Here are the highlights of the long day.

Isabel and me in Toon Town.

This guy was so great. He took the time to ask Isabel about her missing teeth and how much money she scored from the tooth fairy, all while Isabel hopped up and down in complete excitement and awe.

My favorite picture. The colors! Click on it! This is where we ate lunch.

OF COURSE, we headed straight to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, where we finally got to ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, which was FANTASTIC!!!! One of the best developed and planned-out rides I have been on! MUST SEE, people!

Tim and Kelly enjoying butterbeers and pumpkin juice.

We want some too!!

We made it into Zonko's Joke Shop.

and also into Honeydukes, which wasn't as packed this time.

We also waited the long line (at least 40 minutes) to get in to Ollivander's wand shop. They choose a child in the group of 30 let in to be the main child who gets to be chosen by the wand. Well, they choose a boy who spoke no English and refused to repeat what the shop keeper said. What a disappointment, but wait! As we're escorted out of the shop to another section, the shop keeper asks Isabel her name and age. He hands her a wand.....

lights blaze, wind whips her hair...and her wand has chosen her!

She was SO excited!! (Thanks ,mister! We ended up buying her the darned wand because he said it had chosen her and it was hers. Who am *I* to be the evil witch-monster from Hades to say no??? Thanks, mister.)

She truly believes this wand is magic but that she can't use it because she's not 11 yet, and 11 is when they're allowed to use Magic in Hogwarts. ;)

(I want to go to there.)

We were there from about 9:20-6:30 or so. My feet were killing me, but it was so much fun meeting Kelly and Tim and showing them around Islands of Adventure and Hogsmeade.