Radley Haunted House becomes even more intense with a one night experience that will test even the bravest of Halloween fans.
Dr. Radley’s Nightmare Machine is the name of the previously announced new haunt that will entertain hundreds this October for 15 nights. But for just one night, it will become Dr. Radley’s Sleep Sessions – the ultimate extreme haunted attraction.
Unlike the regular haunted house walkthrough, which will last roughly 5 minutes keeping guests flowing constantly through multiple rooms, Dr. Radley’s Sleep Sessions is a much more personal experience. Lasting roughly 30 minutes, this extreme event will target up to 4 visitors at a time and will provide up-close encounters like nothing Central Florida has seen before.
The number one rule of haunted attractions is generally, “You don’t touch the actors and the actors won’t touch you.” But in Dr. Radley’s Sleep Sessions, you take on a starring role in a very special production that most definitely involves physical contact. You won’t be harmed in any way – except perhaps psychologically after braving this unique experience.
Inspired by extreme haunts like Blackout, McKamey Manor, and The ScareHouse’s Basement, Dr. Radley’s Sleep Sessions is an almost-anything-goes experience that will leave you speechless, breathless, and witless.
And only a very limited number of horror fans will get the chance to experience it first hand.
To reserve one of the very limited spots, select the appropriate reward on the Radley Kickstarter project and contribute. These contributions are not only paying for the one night Sleep Sessions experience, but also donating to help create the nightly Radley Haunted House.
Dr. Radley’s Sleep Sessions will take place on the evening of October 22, 2014. The Kickstarter contribution includes admission for up to four people in a group for the special event. All participants must be at least 18 years old and will be required to sign a waiver.
For several years, the Radley Haunted House has stood out among the finest independent haunted attractions in Central Florida. Often compared to the quality of Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights and Busch Gardens Tampa’s Howl-O-Scream, Radley never fails to impress with its immersive environments, eerie ambiance, and startling scares.
But this is no professional haunt. The Radley Haunted House is the creation of artist Cody Meacham, who completely reinvents the experience each year, carrying the storyline of the Radley family across each Halloween season, revealing new details over time all while entertaining hundreds of guests each night. It all takes place within the confines of Meacham’s home.
ABOUT OUTSIDE THE MAGIC
OutsideTheMagic.com is Ricky Brigante’s newest venture, a spin-off of the popularInsideTheMagic.net web site. Where Inside the Magic covers theme park happenings and special events with a family-friendly focus, Outside the Magic broadens the scope of coverage to include more adult-oriented themed entertainment – especially including Halloween / haunted attractions.
DISCLOSURE: I was an invited guest of the Universal Orlando Resort, and I was provided with admission, lodging, and promotional items for sharing my opinions, experiences, and thoughts.
An Introduction To Diagon Alley
At The Universal Orlando Resort
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley has been open at the Universal Orlando Resort for a short bit of time, and I was lucky enough to have a few days to take a a look at this amazing new area as an invited guest of the Resort!
In Diagon Alley you can dine at the Leaky Cauldron, watch as the wand chooses the wizard at Ollivanders, see some amazing Wizards perform, shop for wizarding supplies, and more as you walk in the footsteps of Harry Potter in his Wizarding World.
So let’s see if I remember this correctly…Three up…two across…
Welcome to Diagon Alley!
Diagon Alley Attractions
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
Height Requirement: 42 inches
While all of Diagon Alley is stunning, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is truly the area’s crown jewel!
As you approach Gringotts Bank, you are greeted by a 60ft, seven-ton, fire-breathing Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon who breathes fire every 15 minutes!
Inside the archway, you walk through the bank’s grand marble lobby and see several goblins hard at work.
Then you grab a pair of 3D glasses for your journey through cavernous passageways that lead deep underground as you climb aboard the mine trains of Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts.
You’ll encounter Harry, Ron, and Hermione along the way, but you’ll have to evade the wrath of malicious villains Voldemort and Bellatrix as well as trolls and other creatures who stand between you and a safe return to Diagon Alley.
The Hogwarts Express
If you have a Park-to-Park admission ticket, you can pass through Platform 9 ¾ and board the Hogwarts Express from King’s Cross Station in London, located inside Universal Studios Florida theme park, and travel to Hogsmeade Station, located inside Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park (right next door to Universal Studios). Or you can ride the train in the other direction!
This is the first time that Muggles have been allowed to board the Hogwarts Express, and it was quite the amazing trip!
Before you can board the Hogwarts Express at King’s Cross Station, you’ll have to get to Platform 9 ¾ just like Harry Potter did so make sure you have your cameras ready for this fun photo opportunity! Once you are on the platform, you will be waiting to see the famous scarlet engine that will take you on a trip through the British countryside to Hogsmeade.
During the trip to Hogsmeade, and back to London, make sure that you keep your eyes peeled for cameos from characters from the books in the windows and compartment corridors. This is the part that really makes you feel like you have jumped into Harry Potter’s adventure!
To board the Hogwarts Express from Hogsmeade, you just need to travel right outside of the Village of Hogsmeade to the stone station for your return trip to London and Diagon Alley.
Diagon Alley Dining
Leaky Cauldron
Cuisine: Cottage pie, fish and chips, bangers and mash, Scotch eggs, stew, & much more.
Children’s Menu: Fish and chips, macaroni and cheese, and more.
Service Type: Pub Style
Dining Hours: Lunch and Dinner daily
The Leaky Cauldron offers a wide variety of British fare, Butterbeer, and the new specialty drinks of Diagon Alley in a setting that is fantastic.
The famous inn appears just as it does in the movie, including the amazing ceiling, so make sure you take a few moments to take in all the detail.
Pub Style of service means that once you order, you will receive your drink and be escorted to a table where you can relax and eat among fellow muggles!
Just in case you have a less than adventurous eater, the children’s menu is full of familiar favorites.
Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour
Cuisine: Scoop and soft-serve ice-creams, breakfast items, and drinks
Service Type: Counter
Hours: From park open to one hour before park closing
Magical displays of ice-cream cones welcome guests into this colourful, quaint ice-cream parlour where they can enjoy scoop and soft-serve ice-creams.
In the morning Florean Fortescue’s serves a continental breakfast with pastries, bottled Pumpkin Juice, teas, and water available.
There are some truly amazing flavors at Florean Fortescue’s!!! My next flavors to try are Chocolate Chili and Clotted Cream.
The Fountain of Fair Fortune
Cuisine: Diagon Alley Specialty Drinks, Custom Beers, and Muggle beverages
Service Type: Counter
Hours: From park open to one hour before park closing
The Fountain of Fair Fortune is also a great place to grab a Butterbeer, Frozen Butterbeer, Fishy Green Ale, Gillywater, Wizard’s Brew, Dragon Scale, Strongbow, Fuller’s London Pride, and Amstel Light.
The line to head into Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour are often times long, so if it is Butterbeer Ice Cream you seeking ducking into the Fountain of Fair Fortune is a better bet for grabbing this delight.
The Fountain of Fair Fortune, located across from the Magical Menagerie near Knockturn Alley.
The Hopping Pot
Cuisine: Diagon Alley Specialty Drinks, Snacks, and Muggle beverages
Service Type: Counter
Hours: From park open to one hour before park closing
Looking to grab a quick specialty Harry Potter drink and a light snack? Then The Hopping Pot is where you want to be!
This is an ideal location for a quick visit, because the line moves quickly and there are a ton of Team Members to speed things along!
While you are enjoying your beverage make sure you look up at all the advertisements!
Eternelle’s Elixir of Refreshment
Cuisine: Diagon Alley Specialty Gilly Water and Specialty Potions
Service Type: Counter
Hours: From park open to one hour before park closing
Water in Diagon Alley is ‘Gilly Water’, and it is available at several locations however you can take your Gilly Water experience to the next level by adding one of four potions to it for an additional $4.25.
The Four potions that you can purchase (with their corresponding flavors) are:
Fire Protection Potion: Watermelon
Babbling Beverage: Fruit Punch
Draught of Peace: Mixed Berry
Elixir to Induce Euphoria: Pineapple
Eternelle’s Elixir of Refreshment, located in the arcade across from the Carkitt Market stage.
Diagon Alley Shopping
Ollivanders
Ollivanders, makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC, Ollivanders, is one of the wizarding world’s premier wand shops and their Diagon Alley location is even bigger and better than ever!
You walk through hallways of thousands of towering wand boxes to be able to witness the magical experience of a wand choosing a wizard in a larger area.
You are also able to purchase your own unique Ollivanders wand, select one of the many Harry Potter character wand replicas, as well as interactive wands.
I will be sharing more about the interactive wands soon, but they are awesome and add a layer of amazingness to your visit to both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade.
Weasley’s Wizarding Wheezes
Photo: Universal
Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes is exactly what you have ever wanted and more!!!
Here in Fred and George Weasleys’ shop you will find magical jokes, tricks, toys, treats (including Skiving Snackboxes), Pygmy Puff naming ceremonies, and more in a fantastic and colorful setting!
You will find all kinds of mischief and fun in Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes, but make sure you look up to find the never-ending fireworks and an appearance by Dolores Umbridge!
Magical Menagerie
First years who are looking for an owl, toad, or toad have all made their way to the Magical Menagerie!
The Magical Menagerie is full of amazing animals such as Hippogriffs, unicorns, a crumple horned snorkack, and other magical creatures depicted in the Harry Potter books and movies.
You can purchase a variety of plush toys including Crookshanks, Fang, Buckbeak, Fluffy and Scabbers, cats of every color, ravens, sleek black rats, and fat white rabbits that transform to and from a silk top hat.
Again, make sure you spend some time looking around the store and their windows of exotic animals!
Madame Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions
Looking for wizardwear to represent your Hogwarts house? At Madame Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions you will find a selection of authentic wizard’s robes, character costumes from the movies, and more.
Here is where you can buy your Hogwarts school uniforms, ties, scarves, sweaters, and cardigans. YOu will also find apparel, jewelry, and fashion items inspired by the four school houses of Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin.
There are also new wizard hats that are super fun!
I am seriously thinking that I may need some Ravenclaw wizardwear….
Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment
Located at the exit from Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment is full of wizarding wares and supplies in a celestial backdrop.
Crystal balls, telescopes, binoculars, armillary spheres, compasses, magnifying glasses and hourglasses line the shelves of this unique selection of apparel and accessory products from your favorite Hogwarts house!
Quality Quidditch Supplies
If you are looking for a place to purchase Quaffle balls, Quidditch brooms, Quidditch apparel and team souvenirs you have come to the right place!
Quality Quidditch Supplies is the destination to find everything you will need to play and be a fan of the most popular sport in the wizarding world!
Borgin and Burkes
When you head down into the darkness of Knockturn Alley, you can find shelves of Dark objects and Death Eater merchandise lining the shelves of this antiquated Borgin and Burkes.
The store is packed full of a fascinating, eclectic collection of Dark Arts objects and racks of Death Eater masks, skulls, and costume replicas.
The shop also sells apparel, accessories, jewelry, collectibles, and gifts.
It is definitely one of my favorite spots to explore in Diagon Alley!
Diagon Alley Special Places
Money Exchange
The Gringott’s Money Exchange is a separate location, next to Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment and across from Eternelle’s Elixir of Refreshment under the arcade in Diagon Alley, where you can exchange Muggle money for Gringott’s Bank Notes.
This is a really cool experience, because you get to interact with animatronic goblin who oversees the exchange of currency.
These Bank Notes can be spent anywhere, but I have a feeling that most people will save them instead of spending them.
Carkitt Market Stage
The Carkitt Market Stage under the arcade in Diagon Alley is where you can find some amazing entertainment options!
Guests will be able to watch as two of the The Tales of Beedle the Bard are performed by a troupe of four students from the Wizarding Academy of Dramatic Arts.
The Tale of the Three Brothers and The Fountain of Fair Fortune will be presented as a trunk show utilizing stylized props and puppetry from award winning designer Michael Curry.
Also, the Singing Sorceress: Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees will perform never-heard-before songs “A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love,” “You Stole My Cauldron But You Can’t Have My Heart” and “You Charmed the Heart Right Out Of Me”.
As you can see Diagon Alley is full of some really unique and amazing places, and I can’t wait to share more about my adventures!
What are you most excited about seeing on your visit to Diagon Alley?
Make sure you keep up with our adventures as we are On the Go on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
The Orlando City SC Lions went on the road without two key starters, Darwin Cerén and Luke Boden, due to suspensions, to face the Harrisburg City Islanders (8-8-6, 30 points), a team who recently lost only one game in their last seven and rode a three-game win streak heading into tonight’s match.
Nonetheless, Orlando City SC (15-2-4, 49 points) was coming off a convincing win over Charlotte, becoming the first team to secure a playoff berth in the USL PRO for 2014. Unfortunately, despite a valiant last half offensive charge, the Lions lost 3-2 tonight at Skyline Sports Complex.
City dominated most of possession and dictated the pace of play early in the game. The offense created a number of chances with some great runs toward the net, resulting in a couple of early corner kicks and set plays.
Orlando’s best chance came in the 16th minute as Dennis Chin cleverly chested a ball into the path of a charging Kevin Molino. The Trinidadian fired a shot, forcing a spectacular save from Nicholas Noble to keep the Lions off the score sheet.
Photo: Orlando City SC
Lady luck however, turned her back. After receiving a free kick outside the penalty box, Harrisburg’s Derschang curled an unstoppable shot into the upper 90 beyond an outstretched Gallardo in the 20th minute. In the 29th minute, Antoine Hoppenot was tackled by Adama Mbengue just inside the penalty area, and the Islanders were awarded a penalty shot. Derschang converted to post a brace for the match.
The early part of the second half was just as challenging. Following a missed penalty kick by Hoppenot in the 46th minute, he found the back of the net by sliding a ball past Gallardo in the 53rd minute for Harrisburg’s final tally of the match.
After a few key substitutions by Head Coach Adrian Heath, the Lions’ intensity notably increased as the team built solid plays, made good runs into space and opened scoring opportunities in the Islanders’ defense. In the 81st minute, Molino added to his league scoring title chase by redirecting a crossed header from Justin Clark into the back of the net. Six minutes later, Mbengue slid a precise line to Giusepe Gentile – who found the net for the first time as a Lion since joining the team in July.
Commenting on the performance after the match, Coach Heath said, “It started slowly and in difficult conditions for both teams. I thought they wanted to win the game more than we did and (our effort) was too little too late. The last two or three weeks, our away form has been very concerning. We’ll have to improve it if we want to do what we want to achieve. Otherwise it will be a big disappointment.”
SPECIAL NOTE: Prior to the match, The Harrisburg City Islanders organization held a special presentation with OCSC Head Coach Adrian Heath, recognizing the longstanding relationship between the clubs and Orlando City’s move to the MLS in 2015.
NEXT Match: Orlando City will face Harrisburg City Islanders at the ESPN Wide World of Sports on August 16at 7:30 pm ET.
For more information on Orlando City SC, 2015 MLS Season Tickets or tickets to the Club’s remaining USL Pro home games, visit www.OrlandoCitySC.com or call 855-ORL-CITY. Also, follow the latest Orlando City news and updates via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Orlando City SC Match Recap
Team 1 2 Final
Orlando City SC 0 2 2
Harrisburg City Islanders 2 1 3
Scoring Summary:
HAR – Robbie Derschang (Unassisted) 21’
HAR – Robbie Derschang (Unassisted) 30’
HAR – Antoine Hoppenot (Yann Ekra) 53’
ORL – Kevin Molina (Justin Clark) 81’
ORL – Giuseppe Gentile (Adama Mbengue) 87’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando City SC – GK Miguel Gallardo, D Tyler Turner (Justin Clark 45’), Brad Rusin, Tommy Redding, Adama Mbengue, M Aodhan Quinn (Adrian Heath 73’), Ian Christianson, Brian Span (Giuseppe Gentile 45), Kevin Molino, Austin da Luz, F Dennis Chin (Corey Hertzog 45’)
Harrisburg City Islanders – GK Nicholas Noble, D Neil Shaffer, Coady Andrews, Richie Marquez, Matthew Bahner, M Yann Ekra, Jose Barril (Jamiel Hardware 79’), Antoine Hoppenot (Jason Pelletier 68’), Robbie Derschang (Clesio Bauque 75’), F Morgan Langley (Colin Zizzi 87’), Pedro Ribeiro
