Best way to ride Gringotts with minimal waits?

[Magpie]

We'll be at Universal all next week, staying at the Royal Pacific.

What's the best strategy for getting onto Gringott's these days? We'll have six days to try to manage it, but my husband doesn't like waiting more than 30 minutes in line for anything.

I can drag him and the teenagers out of bed as early as necessary.

Advice?

 

[Bluer101]

Best bet us get up one morning and do EE.

 

[damo]

But don't just be at the gates for opening. They've been letting people in half an hour early, so make sure you are there well before that.

 

[RMulieri]

Best bet us get up one morning and do EE.

2nd---and hope it doesnt go down for technical issues

 

[mesaboy2]

But don't just be at the gates for opening. They've been letting people in half an hour early, so make sure you are there well before that.

And you mean 30 minutes before EE as well? So an 8:00a regular opening means a 6:30a opening for EE...?

 

[Magpie]

And you mean 30 minutes before EE as well? So an 8:00a regular opening means a 6:30a opening for EE...?

Actually, I'm thinking that a 9am opening (which is what it's going to be all next week), means an 8am early opening, but a 7:30 "unofficial" opening. So... best bet it sounds like I want to be at the gates by 7am.

And pray the ride doesn't break down!

 

[mesaboy2]

Actually, I'm thinking that a 9am opening (which is what it's going to be all next week), means an 8am early opening, but a 7:30 "unofficial" opening. So... best bet it sounds like I want to be at the gates by 7am.

And pray the ride doesn't break down!

Gotcha, same idea. I hadn't checked actual park open hours yet for my upcoming dates.

 

[damo]

Actually, I'm thinking that a 9am opening (which is what it's going to be all next week), means an 8am early opening, but a 7:30 "unofficial" opening. So... best bet it sounds like I want to be at the gates by 7am.

And pray the ride doesn't break down!

That's exactly right. The other best option seems to be single rider line around dinnertime.

 

[Dopey1808]

We are staying at royal pacific this week. We left hotel about 7:10. We arrived at gate at 7:30. They opened gate about 7:45. There was a long line already. We finally got on ride around 8:40. So even at EE it's at least an hour total wait. But once your in the bank there are many things to see and watch so it's not that bad. Loved the ride. My wife got off the ride and had a tear in her eye. I asked why. She said it was so good. The ride the whole diagon alley experience is amazing. Even if you get at the gate at 7:00. The ride still doesn't open until 8. So still an hour or so.

 

[Magpie]

That's exactly right. The other best option seems to be single rider line around dinnertime.

How late do they keep the line open? The parks will be open until 8:30pm, on most of our days.

 

[Magpie]

We are staying at royal pacific this week. We left hotel about 7:10. We arrived at gate at 7:30. They opened gate about 7:45. There was a long line already. We finally got on ride around 8:40. So even at EE it's at least an hour total wait. But once your in the bank there are many things to see and watch so it's not that bad. Loved the ride. My wife got off the ride and had a tear in her eye. I asked why. She said it was so good. The ride the whole diagon alley experience is amazing. Even if you get at the gate at 7:00. The ride still doesn't open until 8. So still an hour or so.

Thanks! It's good to hear from someone who's there now. Would it have helped, do you think, if you'd left the hotel a bit earlier?

 

[Dopey1808]

Maybe a little earlier would have helped. Not sure how much. Maybe a little. We might try again tomorrow.

 

[keishashadow]

That's exactly right. The other best option seems to be single rider line around dinnertime.

Have you read any reports on trying to be a twilight rider? Admit to not following the threads here, mostly because I'd like to leave some mystery for my 1st visit to Gringotts.

We hustle enough at WDW, always look forward to relaxing @ Universal. Our past experience for HP in IOA in October has ruled out hitting early entry & also closing down parks for HHN...not to mention the prospects of trying it the day after.

Was wondering if they have instituted a cut-off point when they stop permitting people to enter the line pre park closure time.

 

[traceyw]

Honestly, I wouldn't worry too much. We got to Gringotts a little before 4:00 this afternoon and it was a 90 minute wait, which was accurate. It was still 90 minutes when we were off the ride at 5:25. For us it was much better to wait the 90 minutes then than get up early (we're not morning people ), get to the gates at 7:00 a.m. and probably walk off Gringotts 90-100 minutes later.

 

[MarkinMA]

We were there last week - three of us. We were on a boat at 6:15am from Royal Pacific and in line (first) at one of the turnstiles at 6:30am. Yes, we basically spent our hour inline at the turnstiles, but not in the ride line. But, I walked up to Starbucks and got the coffee and breakfast, we sat and ate and chatted with others - didn't feel at all like an hour as we were able to get coffee, run to the restroom, etc. Worked fine for us.

We were let in at around 7:25 and were in the first 100 or so people let into Diagon Ally. Went right to the ride and were in one of the first few groups to go into the ride.

It did go down just as we were on the vehicle and headed in. We missed the first scene, but the rest was fine once it came back up and they let us go again.

The only thing about walking right on like we did, is that we didn't get the chance to check out the bank and really look around and take in the detail, we were rushing past it all (or else get knocked over by others tearing it up past us).

But nothing was as cool as being in the shops after with only a few others or no others around. That was worth the early morning.

 

[RMulieri]

Have you read any reports on trying to be a twilight rider? Admit to not following the threads here, mostly because I'd like to leave some mystery for my 1st visit to Gringotts.

We hustle enough at WDW, always look forward to relaxing @ Universal. Our past experience for HP in IOA in October has ruled out hitting early entry & also closing down parks for HHN...not to mention the prospects of trying it the day after.

Was wondering if they have instituted a cut-off point when they stop permitting people to enter the line pre park closure time.

From what I have read, they have been closing the line before the park closes .. Last night someone posted they closed the line at 730pm.

 

[housemouse]

But nothing was as cool as being in the shops after with only a few others or no others around. That was worth the early morning.

Are all the shops open in DA during early entry? I'll be there for several days so I was thinking of one day going in on early entry and skipping the ride just to browse around the shops without crowds.

 

[Dopey1808]

We hit gringots again today. Arrived at turnstiles at 7:30. Off the ride at 8:30. We walked out of Diagon alley at 9:15 there was still a line outside just to get into Diagon alley. Then the ride line was 3 hours.

 

[nanceliz]

Wow! I hope the lines go down some before our trip mid-december. The crowd level is supposed to be only 3 but it appears that is not the case for the HP attractions.

 

[damo]

Are all the shops open in DA during early entry? I'll be there for several days so I was thinking of one day going in on early entry and skipping the ride just to browse around the shops without crowds.

Yes, the shops are open as is Ollivanders.