Pottermore!...for you Harry Potter fans...

*If you haven't heard of Pottermore, go here.*

Now, many of you know that I LOVE Harry Potter. I love it so much that I "forced" my hubby to go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter <--link to that post
Mind you, we lived in Sacramento at the time; we've got Disneyland. But fans will be fans...

When the Pottermore site was announced, I was very curious, but also a little skeptical. They said Pottermore would be an experience like nothing we'd seen before, but for me, seeing how incredibly interactive pre-existing websites are, I thought, "Really? Just HOW much of an experience could it be?"

Well!

IT IS THE BEST THING SINCE BUTTERBEER AND CHOCOLATE FROGS!

*WARNING: If you prefer to save entire said experience for yourself, do not read further. I'm not posting everything, but I'm posting enough. Okay, I warned you...*

IT'S BRILLIANT!

I finally got my email, saying I could logon. After a few attempts ("Due to overwhelming demand, you cannot access Pottermore right now"), I logged on.

The site is like a giant, interactive book with equally interactive footnotes that have the detail level of an encyclopedia. You "read" through, chapter by chapter, via various images - all of which are interactive. Each image has "layers," where you can sort of zoom in (more like change the focus), images in the background/foreground come into view and you may find tokens (or potions or books or bezoars), unlock items, etc.

What's really amazing about each part/chapter/etc., is that Rowling has never before seen descriptions associated with certain items/characters (ie she's got a whole history on Professor McGonagall, McGonagall's parents, et.). She talks about where she got ideas, how those ideas morphed.... Some of you may appreciate this blurb (I found it very inspirational!), where she talks about all the plots in her head that never made it to the books:

(click on images to enlarge...)

Main Screen. So far, all I can access is Philosopher's Stone - all the other books are greyed out. The rest will be revealed in the future. Each "small" gold dot is a chapter, and each chapter has a few interactive scenes associated with it. Those owls are where my "friends" are. Yes, I only have 2. Madeline?? FIND ME!

Then began my journey, chapter by chapter. I explored the Dursley's (this is just one room):

The letters were floating all around the room. See how the background is blurry in this photo? Well, on the REAL screen, if you arrow up, the table becomes blurry and the room beyond is in focus, and you can find other items. Get it?

Hagrid arrives, you get your letter, and are shipped off on platform nine and three-quarters (all of which have interactive images and background information from Ms. Rowling). You then get a list of supplies you need before starting school:

As you purchase items, they're crossed off on your list

You have to go through Diagon Alley, into each appropriate shop, and buy your items (this is, of course, after you've opened an account with Gringotts and received your Galleons).

Each shop illuminates and displays store name as you hover - and then you can go inside :)

And guess what...you go to Ollivanders to get a wand! First, you must answer a bunch of questions, and then the wand chooses you. I was picked by an Ebony with Phoenix Feathercore, thirteen inches, unbending. (you can go to a page which tells you all about wands and what the properties mean, if you so desire.) Once you get your wand, you're stuck with it.

You answer another slew of questions and are sorted into your house. (I was sorted into Gryffindor. Also, once you're sorted in a house, you'll stay there.) From there, you may go to your common room and meet other people in your house/do magical challenges for points, or go to the great hall and see how all the houses are matching up.

 There's a place to practice spells (this is my cousin Madeline's favorite) and enter wizarding duels. I would have to say that, for me, the most entertaining part of this is potions. OH MY GOSH it's hard. Seriously. You have to crush things in a crucible, heat to "X" temperature for "Y" seconds, stir it this way and that "Z" times - almost threw my computer. I SO empathize with Ron now.

You get something like this:

Read them. Read them again. Memorize. 

And then you say to yourself, after preening of course, "Pfft. No problem! You want an antidote...I'LL GIVE YOU AN ANTIDOTE!"

And then you proceed. Did I mention this is all timed? See the purple hourglass? My first 20 tries looked something like this...

I eventually got it right, though, and decided to let my laptop live.

Remember - this was all just for book one! The others aren't "active" yet.

My only complaint is that the site has a tendency to crash. Often. Hopefully that'll be worked out before it launches next month.

I can't remember having this much fun on a website. Thank you, again, JK Rowling! Now I'll never get anything done...

OH, almost forgot - if you're on Pottermore, find me! My name is: AccioSnitch12 :D

***If you like YA Fantasy, check out my book, GAIA'S SECRET. The sequel is coming soon!

And We Have a WINNER!!

Well.

It was sooooo hard for me to choose. The comments you guys left were fabulous! (If you missed out, you can read them here.) And I must thank you because I smiled and laughed, reading all of your answers :) So, THANK YOU! You guys are awesome.

But, alas! Laura's only given me "rights" to ONE book. *nudge nudge* Laura? :)

And the winner is...

Wait for it...

*cues drum roll*

CHRIS PHILLIPS

Who, poor sap, was actually stripped of his award. Read his confession for yourselves...


"I was stripped of my Professor of the Year award at Hogwarts for perfecting a Patron-Us charm that turns water into Patron'. Mr. Filch is sleeping in for some strange reason."


Thanks to everyone who participated...I had so much fun reading. :)

Day 2: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

If you were thinking "But I thought you were in Disneyworld", you're right. HP world is at Universal's Island of Adventure. We hired a driver to take us to the park, unbeknownst to our faithful Disney Devotees. Of course, I give myself away returning to Disney with a striped red and yellow scarf around my neck.
And once we reached Universal, we spent almost the entire day in the Harry Potter section of the park. We, as well as everyone else, ran straight to the back where this wonderful world was, thinking to beat the crowds. But the 'crowds' had the same idea. I really think most of the park's guests were meandering through Hogsmeade all day. But still, according to the nice Irish Hogs Head bartender, this was the most quiet week he'd seen since the parks opening in June!
When we entered Hogsmeade and wer e greeted by the Hogwarts Express, I was in awe, looking everywhere but where I was walking, and consequently running into people. The attention to detail was incredible-snow on the roofs (which only made the 46 degrees in Florida that much colder!) leaning chimneys, doorways, and walls, all the stores--we stood for a bit just taking photos. There were owls in the owlery, up in the rafters, accented with poop stains. Ollivanders, Zonko's, Honeydukes, Dervish and Bangles... Photos below. I bought a scarf at Filche's Emporium of Confiscated Goods. Gryffindor, of course. Lots of Slytherins walking around though. I was on my guard.
There were a few shops that were 'closed', and when I asked an employee when one in particular would open, she said : "They aren't open to muggles". She was wearing green. I should've known better.
We ate at the Three Broomsticks. Three times. I must say the butterbeer was incredible! It tasted like shortbread cookies with butterscotch foam... And that foam was thick! They actually make the foam separately, top off your drink with it. Hogs head brew was great too-- and we got the commemorative mugs (see photo below). Oh and Hogs Head does in fact have a hog's head...that moves.
Then, of course, there's the Forbidden Journey at Hogwarts. It's a ride/interactive movie/ flip you through the air in a cage through the castle as you journey through the adventure that is Harry Potter. From Quidditch, to dragons, to dementers trying to suck your life: it was all there! It was amazing in that the ride was so personalized...you're only aware of the people in your 'cage'. However, Ben and I still walked off nauseous from the 'twirling in the air before a moving screen' flying effects. When/if we have kids: Dramamine. The line itself was amazing. You wait in the many twisting turning corridors of Hogwarts, passing through a hall of moving/ talking portraits (just like the movie). You pass through the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom where Harry, Ron, and Hermione stand on a balcony above, warning you of your current danger--and, of course, accidentally making it snow in the room. There's Herbology, Dumbledore's office (he's in it too), the sorting hat, the daily prophet with moving photographs. Needless to say, if forced to wait, you're highly entertained.
The Flight of the Hippogriff was cute and fun, traveling past Hagrids hut. And the Dueling Dragons was a high-speed rollercoaster--guests enter through the Triwizard Champions tent.
And playing constantly all throughout the park were those familiar musical themes we love and recognize.
Overall, my thought on this incredible new attraction? WICKED!!!!
FYI many more photos of the details in this world were taken- hope to post somewhere soon.