We checked into our hotel at Universal (Loew's Royal Pacific) and were quite impressed with our digs. Despite my love of Harry Potter, I’m actually a Disney snob, so I had pretty low expectations for staying on Universal property. I was pleased to discover these were all misplaced. It was beautiful and well-appointed and a lovely respite.
Wednesday afternoon took us to Harry Potter World (which shall hence be referred to as HPW), and with the combination of it being a weekday afternoon in February on a day that had seen rain, there were virtually no wait times for any attraction and low crowd levels in general - definitely how I prefer my theme parks. We had visited HPW when it first opened (in conjunction with another CFA trip) four years ago, and it was great fun to see the new section and ride the Hogwart’s Express between the parks. I love the immersive nature of it all, and they certainly did an excellent job of capturing the feel of the books and movies.
The rest of our time we spent eating in delicious restaurants on our hotel property and sleeping, which was a gift. I wish that all had been quiet on the home front, but while we were away and starting while we were with CFA, John’s dad ended up with some health issues that required several doctors visits and culminated in a surgery on Thursday. It meant we fielded many phone calls during the week and needed to find alternate childcare for our children from Orlando - no easy feat. However, between John’s sister and our dear and wonderful friends, our kids were taken care of so
that John’s mom could take care of John’s dad.
It’s a good reminder that there are almost always two tracks running simultaneously in our lives. There is the fun track that includes vacation and a respite from routine, and there is the stressful track that is also always running. There are health emergencies and business questions and four children, and we exist at the center of those webs whether we are home or not. We cannot and should not dodge those responsibilities. I tried to really take in and enjoy the moment when we got to relax by the fountains at our hotel, even while knowing that a friend was at my house with three of my kids and three of hers trying to get some of them down for naps.
I am grateful for so many things about this time away - the fun of seeing HPW, the joy of being with John, the health of the kiddos, the great doctors to care for my FIL, and the chance to see once again what great friends we have. It takes a village, and I’m so glad and humbled that we’re surrounded by such a great village to help when we desperately needed them to.
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