Castle "tour only"

[jillk]

Will arrive at Universal probably early afternoon on 6/20 and will get FOTL passes at RPR. Will head to US first. My kids will be chomping at the bit to see WWoHP, so we'll probably go over there in the late afternoon/evening to check it out. Do you think it would be a good idea to do the "tour only" in the castle first? My kids are super into HP, and I don't want to hurry thru. Do we still have to wait in the huge line to get up to the castle if we only want to do the tour?

If the line happens to really thin out toward closing, we'll ride, but we'll be back the next am for early entry, so we'll definitely get to ride FJ the next day. Also, will it be possible to ride FJ more than once without too much wait if we arrive for early entry? Thanks alot.

 

[mesaboy2]

You should be able to ride a couple of times during early entry without too much wait. Use the single-rider queue and I'll pretty much guarantee it.

You should not have to wait in a huge line for castle tour queue. If the line extends out past the castle gates, then those people are unknowingly waiting for lockers. Look like you know what you're doing, stroll up past that line, tell any TMs that you're doing the castle tour queue, and I bet they wave you through. The CT queue branches off to the right at the first TM stationed past the lockers---don't be afraid to ask any of them for directions.

 

[kim532]

Sorry if this is dumbquestion, but can you take a stroller thru the castle tour, or will I need to park it somewhere. I will be wanting to go thru with my little one, while DH rides.

Kim

 

[fairyprincess88]

Sorry if this is dumbquestion, but can you take a stroller thru the castle tour, or will I need to park it somewhere. I will be wanting to go thru with my little one, while DH rides.

Kim

You wouldn't be able to take a stroller through the castle as there a couple sets of stairs you have to climb and go down. Also even without the stairs, it would be a safety hazard I'd think to take a stroller in. Even if the castle tour line is relatively empty in comparison to the main line, there are still people walking through in areas that can be very dark and honestly, I wouldn't even want to imagine trying to get through the Hogwarts entrance on busy day pushing a stroller.

 

[kim532]

You wouldn't be able to take a stroller through the castle as there a couple sets of stairs you have to climb and go down. Also even without the stairs, it would be a safety hazard I'd think to take a stroller in. Even if the castle tour line is relatively empty in comparison to the main line, there are still people walking through in areas that can be very dark and honestly, I wouldn't even want to imagine trying to get through the Hogwarts entrance on busy day pushing a stroller.

Thanks. That will help me plan. I would have been silly and tried it.

Kim

 

[S'sMom]

I hate to seem dense, but we will be there the first time June 15th. We will have a 2 yo in tow, so I know that he cant ride that ride. However, if we can just take a "tour" that would be awesome for him.

I have already purchased our tickets and the Fast Pass for dd(8), dh and I. We will be doing some swapping (no issues there).

So what will happen on the tour? Is there a separate line? How long will the tour take? Any information would be great

 

[mesaboy2]

I hate to seem dense, but we will be there the first time June 15th. We will have a 2 yo in tow, so I know that he cant ride that ride. However, if we can just take a "tour" that would be awesome for him.

I have already purchased our tickets and the Fast Pass for dd(8), dh and I. We will be doing some swapping (no issues there).

So what will happen on the tour? Is there a separate line? How long will the tour take? Any information would be great

The queue you are in while you wait to ride Forbidden Journey has many interesting HP elements to help pass the time. The castle tour queue is a separate line that let's you see most of these same elements. At the end of this queue, the TM will show you the exit without riding. I've never seen a wait for castle tour, and you go through at your own pace. It can take 5 minutes or 50, depending on you and how many pics you want to take. No age or height requirements--anyone can do it.

 

[eeudj]

Will the cast members allow us to take fanny packs/backbacks for castle tour only?

 

[mesaboy2]

Will the cast members allow us to take fanny packs/backbacks for castle tour only?

Absolutely.

 

[S'sMom]

The queue you are in while you wait to ride Forbidden Journey has many interesting HP elements to help pass the time. The castle tour queue is a separate line that let's you see most of these same elements. At the end of this queue, the TM will show you the exit without riding. I've never seen a wait for castle tour, and you go through at your own pace. It can take 5 minutes or 50, depending on you and how many pics you want to take. No age or height requirements--anyone can do it.

Awesome!!! That is going on the list indeed

ds (2) and I will have "something" to do while we wait

Thank

 

[mesaboy2]

Awesome!!! That is going on the list indeed

ds (2) and I will have "something" to do while we wait

Thank

You're welcome. See Post #2 above for further help. The DADA classroom in the queues (with Harry, Ron, and Hermione speaking to you) has three separate show sequences, I've heard. Each has a separate little fun special effect. I've seem two of them I can recall. Wait around for it to repeat to see all of them.

 

[cruisingkat]

If the line happens to really thin out toward closing, we'll ride, but we'll be back the next am for early entry, so we'll definitely get to ride FJ the next day. Also, will it be possible to ride FJ more than once without too much wait if we arrive for early entry? Thanks alot.

If you want to do Ollivander's wand experience, then I would suggest that you line up for that first thing in the morning with early entry. We didn't the first time we stayed onsite - went straight for FJ and by the time we got out the wait to get into Ollivander's was huge. The next time we went to Ollivander's first and were admitted within 15 min. Then we went to FJ. When left the castle, the line for Ollivanders was at least an hour long.

 

[mesaboy2]

If you want to do Ollivander's wand experience, then I would suggest that you line up for that first thing in the morning with early entry. We didn't the first time we stayed onsite - went straight for FJ and by the time we got out the wait to get into Ollivander's was huge. The next time we went to Ollivander's first and were admitted within 15 min. Then we went to FJ. When left the castle, the line for Ollivanders was at least an hour long.

Yes, yes, yes, a thousand times yes.

 

[Hunter182]

While the Castle Tour will get you a basic look at what's in the castle, you'll miss bits that you can only see in the actual queue.

My suggestion to people is always do the regular queue first and experience the ride that way, then for reapeat visits take the single rider line. The Universal team put so much work into this attraction, it's a shame so many people miss it on an attempt to skip the line for everything. :/