A different kind of Diagon/Gringott's question...

[PrincessV]

I booked CB for 2 nights in a couple weeks, thinking we'd use EE to ride Gringotts. But I'm seeing now folks are still waiting hours just to get in, then to ride, even with EE. Uh.... NO. Not willing to get to the gate at 5am. Not gonna happen.

If we don't ride Gringotts this summer, it's okay; we're local and can wait for fall and lower crowds. But we'd really like to go back to explore more of Diagon Alley (saw it last weekend in soft opening - amaaaaazing!!!) Again, though, I'm unwilling to wait hours to get into DA.

Sooo... I'm wondering what approach to take. Try for EE at 7am and if Gringotts isn't bad, ride it, or skip it and wander DA if the Gringotts wait is too much? Skip EE and go later to use a return time ticket? Skip staying onsite altogether and save DA for a slower time? I'm open to suggestions!

 

[damo]

I'd wait to ask this question in 10 days or so. It's really hard to judge right now. Firstly, there are a kazillion people there and secondly, they're not running at full capacity yet.

 

[PrincessV]

I'd wait to ask this question in 10 days or so. It's really hard to judge right now. Firstly, there are a kazillion people there and secondly, they're not running at full capacity yet.

I'm glad I asked though - this is EXACTLY the kind of intel I need! I had no idea they weren't yet operating at full capacity. Yeah, I won't cancel anything yet, and TBH CB is sounding like a fun stay, regardless (especially at FL resident rates), so I'll wait and see how things shake out. Thanks!

PS: is it wrong to book a stay just to get some Butterbeer ice cream???

 

[damo]

I'm glad I asked though - this is EXACTLY the kind of intel I need! I had no idea they weren't yet operating at full capacity. Yeah, I won't cancel anything yet, and TBH CB is sounding like a fun stay, regardless (especially at FL resident rates), so I'll wait and see how things shake out. Thanks!

PS: is it wrong to book a stay just to get some Butterbeer ice cream???

You're asking the wrong person......I'm gonna go broke on Butterbeer ice cream!!!!!!!!

 

[PrincessV]

You're asking the wrong person......I'm gonna go broke on Butterbeer ice cream!!!!!!!!

Right?!

 

[Bluer101]

They have been issuing return ticket times. If you want to do just DA (no Gringotts) then go later in the day. The return tickets are right beside fear factor on the left side. Just one person per party needs to do this. It will list some time frames of what available. Yesterday we got return tickets for the same time we were there. Got ticket and walked over and in.

 

[PrincessV]

They have been issuing return ticket times. If you want to do just DA (no Gringotts) then go later in the day. The return tickets are right beside fear factor on the left side. Just one person per party needs to do this. It will list some time frames of what available. Yesterday we got return tickets for the same time we were there. Got ticket and walked over and in.

Awesome - thank you! I wasn't sure just how that works. I think we'll plan on trying for Gringotts at 7am and if we get in without more than an hour wait, great. If not, we'll skip it. Then go back in late afternoon/evening to use the return ticket, if needed.

 

[markmcalear]

I am at Universal on August 25th and 26th (staying at WDW). Hopefully DA has quietened down a lot by then

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

I am at Universal on August 25th and 26th (staying at WDW). Hopefully DA has quietened down a lot by then

I am Oct 28th in US! I hope the same!

 

[Bluer101]

I am Oct 28th in US! I hope the same!

Between HHN at night and DA during the day it's going to be busy.

 

[Kat913]

They have been issuing return ticket times. If you want to do just DA (no Gringotts) then go later in the day. The return tickets are right beside fear factor on the left side. Just one person per party needs to do this. It will list some time frames of what available. Yesterday we got return tickets for the same time we were there. Got ticket and walked over and in.

What is a return ticket time & what makes you eligible for one.

 

[marylandteachergirl]

You're asking the wrong person......I'm gonna go broke on Butterbeer ice cream!!!!!!!!

Since Butterbeer and Butterbeer ice cream were invented for the magical, non-muggle world, there can't be any calories in either of them, right?

 

[RMulieri]

What is a return ticket time & what makes you eligible for one.

Return tickets are kind of like the old paper fastpass.You get one out of the machine and it gives you a time to return to enter Diagon alley.It DOES NOT get you on Gringotts,( that is an additional wait time) , it only gets you into Diagon alley.

 

[Kat913]

Return tickets are kind of like the old paper fastpass.You get one out of the machine and it gives you a time to return to enter Diagon alley.It DOES NOT get you on Gringotts,( that is an additional wait time) , it only gets you into Diagon alley.

ahh-makes sense. Thanks.

 

[atricks]

From a friend of mine in line at Gringotts, at 9:45 it wasn't running yet, but they were close to getting it up. And Universal is giving out free bottles of water to people in the line, and selling sandwiches, fruit, etc, and allowing people to use the restroom by handing out return tickets. Wait time is up to around 6 hours.

 

[PrincessV]

Since Butterbeer and Butterbeer ice cream were invented for the magical, non-muggle world, there can't be any calories in either of them, right?

 

[PrincessV]

Ugh - sounds like things have gone from bad to worse today. I'm thinking of changing our CB reservation to only 1 night and forgetting Gringotts altogether for summer. We'll focus on Hogsmeade and other US/IOA rides and if we can get into Diagon easily for an ice cream, great; if not, it'll still be there in the fall.

 

[Bluer101]

Return tickets are kind of like the old paper fastpass.You get one out of the machine and it gives you a time to return to enter Diagon alley.It DOES NOT get you on Gringotts,( that is an additional wait time) , it only gets you into Diagon alley.

Yep, we ended up using them a few times on opening day.

We got extra one to frame with park map. The maps, return tickets, and such are all dated.

 

[atricks]

Friends let me know that Gringotts just got up and running 15 minutes ago. (11:30 AM, yikes)

 

[MIChessGuy]

Would it be possible to find out from a TM the approximate "last call" for Gringotts, and then join the queue near that time? I was wondering whether that would reduce the total wait compared to getting there first thing in the morning. (And for those without EE, like me, the morning approach is hopeless anyway.)