1st timers to FL need some planning help

[Keekers]

Hello! As you've read, we (my boyfriend and myself) are first timers to Florida and by extension Universal Studios! We're really excited to finally be going (I've been wanting to go since Hogsmeade was first rumoured!) and I've soft planned everything but I'm one of those ultra planning people. So I was hoping to get a little insight from the vets. We will be traveling down from Oklahoma at the end of October. This is what we're looking at right now:

Arrive Thursday afternoon/evening: Booked shuttle to take us to Avanti Resort
We'd love to find a good sushi place around the hotel for dinner that night (fish from the actual coast? Yes please!)

Friday: Go early to Hogsmeade, take Hogwarts Express to Universal for 9:30 breakfast at LC
Check out regular Universal - don't really know what to do, find lunch
Head over to IOA before HHN (we aren't doing HHN)
Check out CityWalk and get dinner before heading to BMG at 6:30

Saturday: Go early to Hogsmeade, breakfast @ 9:30 @ 3B
Spend time in Hogsmeade, take the train
Live it up in Diagon Alley, 2:00 Shutterbuttons reservation

Sunday: Go to Epcot, spend the day

Monday: Fly home, we have a shuttle for that too

I'm really interested to hear about food and what to see/do while we're there. We aren't big roller coaster people so rides aren't really an attraction for us. Also the weather, how do we pack for the week? I've heard that's its really humid which makes the days super hot but the nights super cold? Also we're planning to do a little Halloween cosplaying while we're in the Wizarding World. Kind of a casual Remus/Tonks thing and I want to know what clothes would be comfortable for this time of year.

Really any and all help is so appreciated! I'm so excited to finally be going! My young, inner witch is over the moon to finally be achieving this 10 year dream! Thank you in advance for all the help!

 

[Robo56]

Ok I will jump in here and then let the rest of the vets add in. This is 25th anniversary of HHN and its going to be busy.

I always stay onsite as do pretty much all of the regulars. This allows express pass included with stays at PBH,HRH and RPR. All resort guests get early admission. One hour before other park guests.

You have to have park to park tickets to ride the Hogwarts express between the Potter parks. Ride it back and forth between the two parks the experience is different in each direction.

I am not a breakfast person so I have never eaten breakfast at 3 broomsticks or Leaky Cauldron, but I have had lunch at both and I prefer the 3 broomsticks.

I would suggest a lunch a Mythos in IOA you will need
Reservations probably for this and you can make them under the dining site at Universals site. This is a great place to eat, the food is wonderful.

Now as to weather. It is usually very nice that time of year in Orlando. It can be pretty warm during the day and sometimes slightly cooler in the evening. The weather that time of year is a mixed bag. You can also get rain at times during the day. My advice is to look at the 10 day forecast before you leave. If it shows rain don't be upset. It can show rain and it might be sunny and beautiful during the first part of the day and then rain and then it might not rain at all. Things to bring for sure is a rain poncho. You can get those at Walmart for about 3.99.

There are so many more rides then just the coasters. I would suggest you go to the Universal web site and pull up the maps at the bottom of the page. It gives you the layout of both parks. With all the attractions listed. If you are a planner you will love this.

Also the dining site lists all the restaurants in both parks and city walk and their menus.

If you want your coffee fix in the morning there is Starbucks at City walk or one inside IOA.

In IOA my favorite places to eat Mythos, Confisco Grill and of course the 3 Broomsticks in Hogsmeade.
You have to try a butterbeer. You can get this at either Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley

In Universal you have to try a Lard Lad big pink frosted donut in the Simpsons area.

Fav places to eat in Universal Finnegan's, Lombards (you can get ressies for both of these) and Beverly Hills boulangerie (nice sandwhiches and deserts).

They sell interactive wands with maps included to direct you to areas in both Potter parks to do magic spells.

Really walk around Diagonal Alley look for all the hidden gems. It easy to miss things. It is awesome..

Have a great time planning

 

[potterfanatic]

Have a great time with your trip. I agree with every tip stated above, especially staying on site. It looks extra pricy but the early admission and express passes are worth the extra money. There is also a Double Tree right outside the parks that great too and has good AAA and government discounts if you are looking for something off site.

I have had breakfast at the 3 Broomsticks and it is wonderful. In October there will be great cool weather and sitting outside the 3 broomsticks on their back patio with a view of the Hogwarts castle is one of my favorite things to do at Universal.

Universal has amazing lines for all of their rides. I know the Forbidden Journey has a separate entry for people who just want to tour the castle (you can tell the workers in the front you only want to do the tour not ride the ride). I have also asked cast members if I could just not ride the ride once I got to the end and they directed me out of the attraction. I also highly recommend Poseiden's Fury at IOA. It is a walk through show. It is amazing!

I hope you have an absolutely wonderful time!

 

[agavegirl1]

I will echo the PP and suggest an onsite stay on Universal. There is no comparison to the easiness of this plan. Stay at a Deluxe Resort (Royal Pacific is the least expensive but Hard Rock is closest to the parks). The benefits of cannot be overemphasized. I have had breakfast at 3 Broomsticks but not the Leaky Cauldron. Breakfast is pretty good but you will lose some early touring time of the area. If you explore the rest of the park after breakfast and go back toward evening, your plan could still work well with or without Express, but only for the Harry Potter areas where Express doesn't work on the headliners. As for the roller coaster thing, don't worry about it. There is plenty to do. Street entertainment can be very entertaining.

I enjoy eating at City Walk but inside the parks, I enjoy Finnegins at Universal, Three Broomsticks, Confisco Grill (but it wasn't open in late October last year). I don't know about the Lard Lad doughnuts. They were so huge that even sharing with my fiance' seemed too much. We did enjoy a Duff Beer in Springfield. My favorite here is Mythos. Lots of choices and a great atmosphere. You are likely to get in without a ressie at this time of year but not on the weekend. You can reserve a table. I have used Open Table in the past for in park reservations.

The temperatures last year during late October were perfect...lower humidity, temps in the 80's during the day and low 70's at night. Our last day, November 1st, it got cooler but we went home. Florida natives informed us that our two weeks in late October were the best weather they had experienced in many months. We got lucky.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[nkereina]

I'd recommend doing rope drop at Diagon Alley one day, particularly the day after HHN. Those who attended HHN the night before will likely be sleeping in. Getting to Diagon Alley at opening will get you on Gringotts without much of a line, and you should do Gringotts through the line once because if you go on single rider, you miss the best queue! Also, make sure you ride Hogwarts Express from Diagon Alley to Hogsmeade at least once. The ride is different going and coming.

Can't speak to any restaurants around your resort, but Cowfish at City Walk has great sushi.

 

[Keekers]

What about the dining plans? Are they really worth it? We'll only have the 2 days (Friday and Saturday) to spend in the park and I'm sure it'll be busy so I want to see as much as can be seen. Honestly I personally don't like rides because they move (I have the worst motion sickness, I'm beginning to wonder if my inner ear is floating around in my head) or 3D stuff (motion sickness + astigmatism. I got the short end of my family genes).

I will however be experiencing as much of Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley as is possible. Do they have non-interactive, non-character wands? I know they have each category but don't know about any that meet both. I've kind of been considering making my own wand for a personal but authentic feel.

Thanks for the tips everyone!