It's been years since I last went to a Harry Potter-related thing, and it's been ages since I last ventured out to Sentosa.
But had to go check out this Visions of Magic thing la. So finding out when was the best time (read: cheap/off-peak) to go was one of the first steps.
I got a ticket on Ticketmaster (also available elsewhere) and didn't want to splurge another few bucks for a collectible lanyard. The snag is I had to pick a time slot and I dunno why I picked 5.30 p.m.. I guess to account for how long it'll take me to get myself sorted out and to get there, etc? Open time ticket would be great, but oh wells.
Then I realised that I have not gotten a ticket for the Sentosa Express, which I didn't know you could also get on Agoda these days in 2025, so okay.. so I did before leaving the hotel, making sure to screengrab the QR code before leaving the hotel in case of connectivity issues. You just scan the QR on the gantry for entry.
By the time I got to Vivo it was 4.30 p.m., so I decided to go out there and see if I could go in earlier. Turns out, can. Also, it wasn't terribly crowded inside and it was a small group going in. Of course you get to take a picture with the fancy background and all, which you can choose to pay for on your way out at the gift shop. I was definitely not up for that, so I skipped, and waited at the line to enter the thing proper.
As you walked in, you get a prop wand that lights up when you touch the groove on it... At the start of the thing, you get to watch a briefing video about what the wand does and what you do with it: point it at the swirly lights if you see them as you go around.
It's like experiencing what it's like to be a wizard in the Potter-verse (and also the Fantastic Beasts movies), with the wand waving and what not. Of course you have to start the journey, you have to start with the Knight Bus...after which you go through 12 Grimmauld Place, the various Ministries of Magic, Hall of Prophecy, Chamber of Secrets, Newt's Menagerie, Knockturn Alley, Room of Requirement, The Trap Door, and The Pensieve. It's like IKEA in that you can't go back, but you can spend as much time as you like. I'm not gonna spoil it for anyone by posting more pics here.
The only nice thing about being there during off peak is being able to take as many (mo liew) pictures as you like. I took A LOT of pictures.
All in all, it's a pretty cool experience if you're a Potter fan.
NGL, I'm surprised I was there over an hour, including the time spent in the gift shop, dithering about what to get. Ended up getting a t-shirt (that all the kids working there were also wearing LOL), stickers and washi tape. I know. For some reason I could not Paywave there, so had to use PIN instead. Glad the card I used did not get blocked or declined.
Before I left Sentosa, I decided to swing by the casino to see if my RWS card still boleh pakai or not. (Of course not, it had been about 8 years since I was last out there). But I had to get into the casino to change the card, so I had to go through the rigmarole of registering my tourist status so I don't have to pay for the entry levy. Show my passport and even the arrival "card" so that they can check my travel status. Went in and found the membership counter where I can change the card. The guy working there was nice enough to help this tired, dungu tourist change card by kiosk. Once I got the new card, I didn't stay long cos I got no money to gamble LOL. And I was getting hungry and would rather go back to Vivo to eat, so I caught the train back to find dinner. Finally got to try out Guzman Y Gomez. Only got a small burrito bowl, but wished I got the regular size instead. Oh wells. But not before stopping for Ben & Jerry's (only store left on the island), bought a scoop using Klook. Mango flavour was new, but also kinda ehh.
Was getting tired, so I bought a pandan tart from Tai Cheong and went back to the hotel - changing lines and also having to schlep back on foot... I should mention that I had been lugging a maple bacon donut (in a takeaway box) from Surrey Hills Grocer in ION the entire time, which I had only taken a couple bites out of. Ended up having both the donut and tart for breakfast the next day, both were delicious despite the lack of refrigeration.
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