Animal Kingdom, Harry Potter World, or Disney Water Park??

[V2000]

Hello!

I have one day left to plan on my October trip. I am taking my husband (30's) and my 16 year old daughter. I can't decide whether to go to Animal Kingdom, Harry Potter World, or a Disney water park.
This will be on October 24th a Saturday. I know Harry Potter world will probably be busy and the park closes early for HHN. If I do go to Universal, it will only be to see Harry Potter world.

I can't decide what is the best choice.

Please help with your suggestions.

 

[LovesTimone]

For us I would stay at WDW. All that extra traveling back and forth would not be worth it for us.

If you are just going to see Harry Potter area at Universal, you still would have to pay for 1 day park admission and if only to see one area and if you want to ride the train(which we have ridden and it is very well done) I think you have to have admission to both parks for this ride, as it takes you between them. So you would need a 1 day -2 park pass which adds on to the cost. If you are going to go this route, I would consider staying all day just to get your moneys worth.

You could spend the day at one of the water parks or at AK then head to DTD for the evening, for dinner and shopping, make sure to check out the entertainment if you are there on Friday or Saturday nights, Especially Drops of Green over by Raglan Road. We love these guys, super talented.

 

[nkereina]

There's a small chance the weather could even be iffy that time of year, so I might think twice about a water park. We were there two weeks after your dates this past year, and it was way too cold to swim (highs in the 50s and 60s). I'd probably stick with visiting AK - it's your cheapest and easiest option. Uni will be crowded and to really experience the Potter stuff, you should buy park to park tix. It would be an expensive day, and a long day to boot.

 

[amber_cntrygrl]

I'd probably stick with AK also. Mostly because I love it, but also because I wouldn't trust the weather enough to plan a waterpark day rather than an actual park. I also wouldn't want to spend the money and fight the crowds at Universal just to see Harry Potter if there's nothing else there that would interest you.
Whatever you decide, I'm sure you'll have a great time!

 

[goofyintoronto]

Waterpark wouldnt be ideal for that time of year. Between AK & Harry Potter, i'd like to say Harry Potter BUT its rather pricey. If its in your budget, i'd go see Harry Potter. Im not a big fan of animal kingdom but if youre trying to save $$$, it might be the best (and easiest) option.

 

[LISAMWDW]

Let them decide.

We had the same decision, I was thinking which Universal Park and they all wanted to go to Animal Kingdom, husband included.

Done deal!

 

[Catvondita]

Honestly I would say Universal or Islands. You could get the park to park and visit the best rides at both or just stay at one and see everything. Keep in mind to see either Harry Potter Park you still have to pay for the regular park ticket so may as well see everything you can. AK is great but its a half day park for me or even less. I only really go on the safari, EE and Dinosaur and honestly you can see animals at the zoo.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

My vote is for Harry Potter. ONLY because it is the only one I haven't been to and I really want to go since I love HP.

 

[MataHari22]

I love Animal Kingdom, that would be where I would go. For me, I'd be afraid it'd be too chilly to plan for the water park and I'm not much for water parks anyway. If your only interested in HP, at US, that's a lot of money to spend, but that's your call. Hope you have a great trip.

 

[brinkley07]

Universal does have a fast pass type option you can buy and add on to your ticket which I would suggest getting. Also the Harry Potter areas do have a tendency to fill up and if they do then they are closed off and you are given a return time, so get there as soon as the park opens. I enjoyed going there and seeing the Harry Potter stuff, but even with free tickets dangled in front of my face for our next trip down there I'm staying at WDW the whole time. We love AK and would go there instead.

 

[Eandbmom]

I would put it to a vote. Keep in mind that Uni will be a much larger cost. As much as we love Harry Potter we skipped it last time, and will this next trip too.

 

[hsmamato2]

If you want to save money, stay at Disney and add a day at AK.... if you want to have a BLAST go to Universal- it is incredible! (I love Disney too, but barring money issues AK is kind of...boring right now too,many walls)

 

[hsmamato2]

a note- if you get to Uni and it is a heavy crowds day, you can add an optional 'fastpass' (their version) if you need to, the website has details- I like that last minute option to do it- but I would get to the gates well before opening, and head straight to your destination first thing, then just enjoy the rest of it for the day-

 

[hskaggs11]

For the amount of money it takes to see Harry Potter-----and you would want to see BOTH parks, since Hogsmeade is in IOA and Diagon Alley is in US---its expensive. Plus, the money to park/taxi over there is another expense. BUT, if you are a HP fan and have never been, it's worth it! There is not many rides in HP besides Forbidden Journey/Escape from Gringotts, and those two you cannot use the ExpressPass for; so if you were truly only doing HP, I wouldn't bother with EP.

There is a link I saw on the budget board for cheaper US tickets, especially the 1 day park-to-park (truly needed if you want to see ALL of HP) I would certainly do a search for it.

 

[Hootch]

You really do not need to decide until the last minute. That would drive my wif crazy, but it is the truth.

All three have merits. DAK is an unusual park. There are paths to explore and things to see. If you want to go an extra day at the parks is really cheap after the fourth day.

We have gone to the water parks one day each of the last four trips. I enjoy them but four hours is bout what we do.

Universal will be expensive but thr detail is amazing in the Harry Potter areas. If money is not an issue, I would sdpend a night at a Universal deluxe hotel and explore both parks. Both the Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley are amazing. There are other rides t Universal worth seeing. You're looking at a 30 minute drive but I think it is worthwhile.

 

[Lisaloo]

Universal will be expensive but thr detail is amazing in the Harry Potter areas. If money is not an issue, I would sdpend a night at a Universal deluxe hotel and explore both parks. Both the Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley are amazing. There are other rides t Universal worth seeing.

Exactly this.

 

[Accident]

If money is an issue, consider staying at one of the hotels for 1 night anyway. I did a day trip just to see harry potter, father/daughter only trip. We easily would have spent half the amount of money that we did staying at the cheapest hotel they have to offer because it includes 2 days and all the extras plus some extras that you only get because you stayed there (hotel guest extras can vary from hotel to hotel so look at exactly what your after).