Cabana Bay to Gringotts, 8/4 report

[kwdw]

So, IOA EE was 7am, but US was 8 am today. I caught bus at CB at 6:30 am and between the ride and the walk, was at the gates at US a bit before 7 am. They kept trying to steer us to go to IOA, but nobody did that. They opened at 7:30 for the mad walk/run to DA. I had been about 10th in line at my opening gate, but by the time they queued us up outside the bank, there where a couple hundred folks in front of me. That said, I entered into the elevator room at 8:01, so obviously a group or two had gone before me.

So, here's my opinion on the runners. It's a dumb thing to do. BUT, it's a LONG ways to go and since you have to be scanned into the park, and then funneled to check room keys, people aren't in a big mass. Folks are spread out. There is space. So, I never felt like I was going to get run over by a careless runner. And it wasn't just kids and teenagers that opted for that, many where over 30. That said, it wasn't that many of them. But, yes, it's definitely a fast walk.

You really don't need a package deal to do breakfast at Leaky Cauldon. They do switch between breakfast and lunch about 10:15 am, so there a small windows right then when you can order either.

Advice right now, take water in the morning. It's hot out there. Even though you can't take the bottle on the ride, you'll appreciate it before then.

 

[crazycatlady]

Thanks for the report. We will be there in less than 2 weeks and am really interested in how the mornings have been going. Very helpful report.

 

[martymcflyy85]

Hopefully someone can go into IOA first, and then try to ride the train over to Diagon to see if that would be quicker?

 

[susieh]

Hopefully someone can go into IOA first, and then try to ride the train over to Diagon to see if that would be quicker?

yes that's what I want to know too. We're there in 8 days time and can't decide whether to do IOA and ride over (IOA opens at 8am) or wait for the 9am opening at US. Need some advice from those who have tried it!!

 

[kwdw]

yes that's what I want to know too. We're there in 8 days time and can't decide whether to do IOA and ride over (IOA opens at 8am) or wait for the 9am opening at US. Need some advice from those who have tried it!!

It's not. So, if IOA early entrance is 7 am, but US early entrance is 8 am, train doesn't start running until 8am. BUT, they let folks through the gates at US probably thirty minutes before that. So there will be lots of folks in line already. Do one park first one day, and the other one on a different day.

Now, if you don't have early entrance, and IOA is 8 am, and US is 9 am, they won't let you on the train until 9 am, even though they will let early entrance people on the train. Walking between IOA and US versus taking the train, probably about the same amount of time, but the train is air conditioned and is a nice ride on its own.

Expect to wait at least two hours for Gringotts unless you have EE AND are at the front gate of US a bit more than a hour in advance of opening.

 

[Kcross3625]

Yes kdwd, that was our experience too. We never saw any pushing or shoving or people getting run over by the runners. The runners ran and the rest of us walked and there was plenty of space between us. Even at a slow walk, my friend and I made it over to DA in 20 min (approx.) and rode with a 15 min wait. The couple behind us in line took off running after they were through the turnstile and ended up one car in front of us in Gringotts.