Last Night... at Universal...

[ScreamingMeemie]

Take care everyone.

~Laura

[Shandris]

1. Even with somewhat decent eyesight now, I can't see what I'm looking at. Can...

...someone please help out? What's the orange thing?

[auntpurl]

2. I can explain some, but not all.

I'm pretty sure this is the Harry Potter Hogwarts castle at Universal. There's a scene in the books/movies when someone dies, when everyone raises their wands in tribute up to the castle, from whence they fell.

I'm assuming this is about Orlando, but I don't know exactly how.

EDITED to remove spoiler, whoops.

[Shandris]

7. OOOOOOOH!

Thanks. I never would have made the connection. I saw Harry Potter, but only the first couple and it's been sooooo long ago. I didn't know about the rest of it, and 'Universal' didn't automatically click as Orlando to me.

Thanks a bunch you two.

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

3. I believe it's a wooden wand.

That's got to be from the Harry Potter world at the Universal Studios theme park.

(End of the sixth movie had a poignant scene where the students raised their wands to the sky and lit them for a reason that's a spoiler for the end of the movie)

On edit: What auntpurl said above.

[auntpurl]

6. Oh shit sorry! I'll edit.

I assume everyone has already seen these films. Whoops.

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

9. Heh. Quite all right.

It's been years since the movie came out. Even longer for the books.

[ScreamingMeemie]

13. Last night at Universal, my daughter and her fellow employees attended a wand ceremony

for Luis and for the other Forbidden Journey crewmember who remains in the hospital. When she sent me this, it gave me chills.

[Sylvarose]

4. I think they're wands...

I'm not the biggest Harry Potter fan (have only seen the movies) but I believe this is what the students and adult witches do to salute their fallen heroes. One of the slain at Pulse worked the Harry Potter theme area.

[maryellen99]

5. One of the victims worked at Universal in the Harry Potter section

J.K Rowling posted a tribute to him on FB

[ScreamingMeemie]

12. See explanation below.

This was planned by Luis' co-workers. They are attempting to get a wand named after him. I think it is awesome JK took notice.

[Bluenorthwest]

8. more

Wands Raised in Tribute to Orlando nightclub victim at Wizarding World of Harry Potter

J.K. Rowling pens Twitter tribute to Harry Potter theme park worker killed in Orlando massacre
http://www.salon.com/2016/06/13/j_k_rowling_pens_twitter_tribute_to_harry_potter_theme_park_worker_killed_in_orlando_massacre/

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. See explanation below.

[ScreamingMeemie]

10. More Info: my daughter took this last night. After work, Universal employees

gathered outside of Hogwarts castle (which is also the site of the Hidden Journey ride that Luis worked on). They raised their wands in tribute. Tony's (another Universal employee-sorted into Slytherin-I think it's awesome they do that) brothers were there to give an update on their brother's condition.

It provided a lot of closure for the employees... I have spent the last two days just wanting to hug my kid, which you can't do from 1100 miles away.

[Jackilope]

14. Chills and tears

What a moving tribute.