MY 14-YEAR-OLD grandson Gabriel adores Harry Potter. He has read every book 16 or 17 times and has seen all the films.

Every year my husband Stephen, Gabriel's godfather, has a special godfather's day, usually a trip to the cinema or a meal out.

This year Gabriel said: "I'd love to go to The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter in Orlando."

Well that's some godfather's day but we couldn't deny it was an excellent idea.

Gabriel's brother Charlie, 17, was also keen to come so our group ended up comprising both my late daughter Caron's boys, my son Michael, Stephen and myself.

Click here for amazing Orlando deals

Our first day in Orlando was spent entirely at The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter, one of six "islands" at Universal's Islands Of Adventure.

It more than lived up to our expectations.

Harry Potter creator JK Rowling was apparently very hands-on with the design of the 20-acre park and it really did look like Hogsmeade village with its higgledy-piggledy snow-capped buildings.

In Zonko's Joke Shop staff rang bells and whooped every time a Pygmy Puff was "adopted", while next door in Honeydukes' sweet shop the chocolate frogs were selling like hot cakes.

Charlie and Gabriel are now a bit old for the Owl Post, where younger children were relishing writing their Harry postcards stamped with the Hogsmeade postmark, but they couldn't wait to try the white-knuckle rides.

Dragon Challenge is a double rollercoaster themed around Harry Potter And The Goblet of Fire's Triwizard Tournament.

Two dragons, a Chinese fireball and a Hungarian horntail, compete to see which can perform the most aerobatics.

It made me feel queasy just looking at it.

Then came the big one, the most talked about of the park's three rides: Harry Potter And The Forbidden Journey.

It is housed in Hogwarts Castle with its tall spires towering over the resort.

We entered via the dark and dingy castle dungeons, past the animated portrait hallway and Dumbledore's office where a lifelike projection brought the Hogwarts headmaster to life.

The twists and turns of the ride as we followed Harry on his broomstick were unbelievable.

We really did feel like we were flying through the air playing Quidditch.

Along the way we had a close encounter with a Whomping Willow and were spat at by giant spiders before coming face to face with a fire-breathing dragon.

Once was enough for me.

Other highlights included the Hogwarts Express's jovial station guard who never tired of being photographed; and Butterbeer, a fizzy, caramel-tasting drink with a foamy top that was just like we had imagined and came in a souvenir glass.

IT WOULD have been churlish not to try some of the other Islands Of Adventure attractions.

The boys loved The Amazing Adventures Of Spider-Man where you career through the streets with the superhero in an eye-popping, high-tech thrill ride and next door in Universal Studios they adored The Simpsons.

Some attractions encouraged audience participation, which I discovered to my peril when someone shouted: "Is there a granny in the audience?"

I was swiftly volunteered by my grandsons to take part in making a fool of myself in a movie shown on a simulated train ride on the action set of Disaster!

They thought it was hilarious. Gabriel declared the trip one of the best holidays of his life and wants to make it an annual event.

For great Orlando offers, click here

The great thing about spending a week with the boys was the joy of seeing them every day.

When they were small they used to spend hours playing in our garden in Sevenoaks, Kent.

Now, as teenagers, they have their own lives but it was wonderful spending some quality time with them.

I feel I am also doing it for Caron. It's the sort of thing she would have loved to do with them. I am only too happy to fulfil their dreams.

Gloria was talking to LIZ BIRD

GETTING THERE

Virgin Holidays (0844 557 3870/virginholidays.co.uk) offers seven nights at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando from £1,029pp (two sharing), room only.

Price includes return flights with Virgin Atlantic from Gatwick or Manchester to Orlando, car hire and 2-Park Bonus Ticket.

For departures between January 10 and 12, 2012.

Universal Orlando (0800 408 4834/universalorlando.co.uk) offers 2-Park Bonus Ticket giving unlimited access to Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands Of Adventure for 14 consecutive days, £100 per adult, £89 per child (three to nine years).