“I’ve been waiting to smile, been holding it in for a while / Take it with me if I can, been dreaming of this since a child.” — On Top of the World (Imagine Dragons)

We kicked off the day with breakfast at Omega Cafe and Market. The portions were massive. I ordered the Celestial Classic Breakfast to fuel up, but I swear it had the equivalent of five eggs plus everything else it came with. It was way too much food for a theme park day, but I tried my best.

Staying at an on-property resort meant early entry, and Super Nintendo World was open. We headed straight for Mine Cart Madness, but it wasn’t running yet. Neither was Yoshi’s Adventure, so we hopped in line for Bowser’s Challenge instead. As a lifelong Mario fan, I wanted to soak up every detail in that queue, but we had Express Pass, and we were racing the clock to get into the virtual queue for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry. Spoiler: we missed the first drop, but not for lack of trying!

Bowser’s Challenge was fun, but I honestly would’ve preferred it without the VR headset. They built beautiful real-life sets, and I wish I could’ve appreciated them more. So many rides use screens now and skip the physical charm. Afterward, we checked back on Mine Cart Madness, still down, but Yoshi’s Adventure was open and I was thrilled. It's a gentle ride, Universal’s version of the Disney PeopleMover, and since Yoshi is always my go-to character in Mario Party or Mario Kart, it was a personal highlight.

With Mine Cart still closed, we moved on to Celestial Park and rode Stardust Racers. There are two tracks with slightly different experiences. I only rode one this time, but it was smooth, super fast, and left my braid flying sideways the whole time.

Next up was Isle of Berk for our How to Train Your Dragon fans. Full disclosure, I’m not a fan of the franchise, but this land was incredibly detailed and I enjoyed being immersed in the story. We tried Dragon Racer’s Rally, which doesn’t have Express Pass. In theory, you can flip your seat upside down, but I didn’t even come close. If you don’t flip, it’s just a basic spinning ride with a slow load time, making the long wait a bit of a bummer.

We grabbed food at Spit Fyre Grill. I was still too full to eat, but I did snag a Diet Cherry Coke from the Coke Freestyle machine. The restaurant serves rice bowls and has covered outdoor seating, which is good to know for hot days.

After lunch, we went to the Toothless Meet and Greet, which ended up being the longest wait of the day. No Express Pass here either, and although the meet-and-greet is covered, most of the line is not, so come prepared if it’s sunny.

Luckily, Hiccup’s Wing Gliders reopened while we were nearby, so we jumped in line. It was more fun than I expected and gave fantastic views of the whole land. As we got off, it was time for our second try at joining the virtual queue for Battle at the Ministry. A Team Member told us we needed to be inside the Wizarding World to get in, but I knew that wasn’t true. I kept trying, and about 15 minutes after the drop time, I got us in.

We killed time in the shops and then headed to the Ministry of Magic Portal. I wasn’t sure what to expect. It was originally going to be themed to Fantastic Beasts, but the plans changed. While the portal itself isn’t as flashy as others, the land is stunningly detailed, just like all Wizarding World areas.

Our group was split when we tried to board via the Floo Network. Half of us got through, half didn’t. The ride went down mid-transport, so we ended up chilling in air conditioning with the area to ourselves. Once it reopened, we were perfectly placed and got right in. The queue is very long and seems never-ending, and I did spot my initials while walking through.

I managed to avoid spoilers for this ride, and I was shocked by how much I enjoyed it. It’s not my favorite Harry Potter ride, but it was way better than I expected. At the time of writing, the virtual queue is no longer in use, but that’s always subject to change, so check before your visit.

Afterward, we stumbled upon the Celestial Park fountain show, and part of our group sat down to watch. Something hilarious happened here that left me in tears laughing for the rest of the day. No photos, but if you want the story, send me a message. I’m laughing again just thinking about it.

Our last stop was the Dark Universe. I don’t do horror. I’ve never braved Halloween Horror Nights, and I ran into an actor in the Kong line once at Islands of Adventure and nearly jumped on top of people out of terror. So yes, I was on high alert. But good news: nothing jumps out at you here.

We rode Monsters: Unchained before it closed early for the night, and this ended up being my favorite attraction of the day. It’s like a more physical version of Forbidden Journey, with smaller screens and more real sets, which is great for anyone who gets motion sickness from large format screens.

Curse of the Werewolf, on the other hand, was a letdown. It was short and underwhelming. Apparently, the cars are supposed to spin, and ours didn’t. We’re still not sure if it was broken or if our weight distribution was too balanced.

A few of our friends had snagged a table at The Burning Blade Tavern, and I loved it the second I walked in. It’s mostly a bar, but they do serve snacks like the infamous Stake Pretzel. A live storyteller was interacting with guests while we were there, and it added so much charm to the experience.

For dinner, we tried Oak & Star Tavern back in Celestial Park. Most of the group didn’t love their meals, but I got the chicken and thought it was great. Everyone else had brisket or beef and didn’t seem impressed.

To wrap up the night, I returned to Super Nintendo World with the Power-Up Band crew. I didn’t buy one (they’re pricey and only work in that land), but I got to see how they worked. After watching them complete all the challenges and unlock the final boss battle, I’ll admit, it looked really fun and definitely something to consider if you’re a Nintendo fan.

Finally, Mine Cart Madness reopened. We rushed over, it went down again, of course, but four of us stuck it out and finally got to ride. Riding it at night was a happy accident because the whole land was lit up and beautiful. I grew up playing Donkey Kong Country on Super Nintendo, so this ride was extra special and it did not disappoint.

By the time we got off, the park was closed. I was so sad, but knowing I’d be back the following week made it easier to say goodbye. We slowly made our way out, taking in the lights, popping into shops, and soaking in the final moments.