Considering 1 day to IOA from Disney/Need Help

[Tbella]

My 11 year old daughter is a big Harry Potter fan and is dying to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. We are going to Disney in mid-September and I was weighing whether we could swing a day visit to IOA. I think I would leave my husband and 2 year old back in Disney so it would be my 11 year old dd, my 9 year old ds, and me.
Here are some questions I have:
First, do you think it's crazy to go for one day when you calculate the expense of it?
Is this a slow time of year for Universal as it is for Disney?
How much is a taxi to and from?
I know I can't use express pass so how long should I expect to wait in line if I get to IOA for park opening and do you have any advice on how to tour it affectionately?
What is the cheapest option for us in terms of tickets and where should I purchase them from?
How long do you spend at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter?
How much money do you spend on souvenirs and are there any cool must haves? Isn't there a wand you can buy?

Any help is greatly appreciated. I really want to this for my dd but I think it will be a hard sell for dh.

 

[damo]

Mid September is an excellent time to go. You won't need any express passes. We were there this past September and it was wonderful. I'd estimate on at least $100 for a wand for each child plus butterbeer and snacks.

I don't think you need much of a plan. I'd buy the tickets with transfer from Dreams Unlimited. Get there for a 8:45 opening and head straight to WW. After you have had your fill, just circle the park.

I don't think you are crazy at all. It is a special place.

 

[macraven]

you can use Dreams Unlimited for the side trip.

buy your ticket for the parks thru them and receive shuttle service from your hotel at the motherland to the darkside parks.


or you can buy the rt shuttle for $19 per adult, $16 per child.
you sign up for it at your hotel lobby conceirge the night before.

you pick a set time for pick up at your resort.
the shuttle can go to other resorts along the way before it heads out to the darkside.


if you go by taxi, count on $35 + gratuity.

if you get the taxi at DTD, it will be cheaper than from your hotel.


you can buy your tickets online and do the pick up at the kiosk outside of the park.
easy peasy and you save a lot of time.



you are not crazy.
you just want to show your child parry hotter.
she will end up treating you like a queen for doing this for her.

money comes and goes.
how often do you have the opportunity to do something fun for your kids that they are anxiously waiting for...


btw, peeps that stay onsite at the darkside have the same comments.
"isn't it a lot of money to pay out for a one day trip to the motherland"

 

[mjohnson96]

btw, peeps that stay onsite at the darkside have the same comments.
"isn't it a lot of money to pay out for a one day trip to the motherland"

how do you know I was thinking this today DD is 2.5 and loves anything that has Mickey and Minnie on it so I was thinking about a 1 day trip over there

But for the OP, I would do it. You will have a great time and get there for Park Opening and have a blast! I also think $100 per child will be good for the wand and other items they will just have to have DD saved up her money when we were there for the opening to get a wand and picked there to go this year and is already saving to get another wand ( I guess her mood has changed )

 

[Tbella]

Thank you all! You've convinced me. I'm so excited! I'm definitely going to make the trip. But, $100 per wand! OMG!!! That is going to cut into their Disney souvenirs but I will leave the choice up to them. Thank you all again for the info and advice!

 

[macraven]

basically, the wands are $30.

i think damo was referring to a total for the day in gifts/souvies and treats when she said $100 per child.


if you shop at the candy store at HP, frogs, cauldron cakes and bertie beans do add up!
it's not like going to the dollar store for candy treats...


if you do a couple of meals (lunch, dinner), popcorn snacks, wand, penny machines, honeydukes or whatever the candy store is named, souvies, it could add up to $100 per child for the day.


if you shop early in the day at parry hotter's, you'll end up with bags to carry.
you can have the purchases sent to the front store that you can pick up when you are leaving the park. tell the TM that rings you up you want to have your bags sent to the front. you'll get a ticket stub as your receipt.
it's a free service.

i believe the cut off time for this service ends 2 hours (maybe 1.5 hrs) prior to park closing..

that way all purchases can be logged in up front before the park closes.

it's a great way to shop and not have to carry chocolate around melting in the bag during the day.

btw, if you lose your ticket stub like i always do, you can still get your belongings you purchased.
you will need to show an id and they will open your bag and ask you what is in it.

of course, i shopped so much i couldn't remember what i bought that day...but i still got my bags given to me.
i'm so blonde at times i kill myself.......

 

[Metro West]

Thank you all! You've convinced me. I'm so excited! I'm definitely going to make the trip. But, $100 per wand! OMG!!! That is going to cut into their Disney souvenirs but I will leave the choice up to them. Thank you all again for the info and advice!

 

[Tbella]

Thanks Macraven for that info. All that stuff you mentioned and the candy stores sound sooooo cool!

 

[damo]

Thank you all! You've convinced me. I'm so excited! I'm definitely going to make the trip. But, $100 per wand! OMG!!! That is going to cut into their Disney souvenirs but I will leave the choice up to them. Thank you all again for the info and advice!

Lol, no I meant $100 total for a wand for each of the kids ($30 each) plus some butterbeer and snacks. I wasn't including any meals.

 

[gometros]

you can use Dreams Unlimited for the side trip.

buy your ticket for the parks thru them and receive shuttle service from your hotel at the motherland to the darkside parks.


or you can buy the rt shuttle for $19 per adult, $16 per child.
you sign up for it at your hotel lobby conceirge the night before.

After reading this, I checked DU and didn't see a package for a one-day ticket. So if I want to do the shuttle (is that Mears?) I just let the concierge that I need a shuttle to IOA? Last time we went, we took a cab, but at $19/rt for two people $38 is cheaper than $70.

 

[damo]

After reading this, I checked DU and didn't see a package for a one-day ticket. So if I want to do the shuttle (is that Mears?) I just let the concierge that I need a shuttle to IOA? Last time we went, we took a cab, but at $19/rt for two people $38 is cheaper than $70.

There is a one day/two park including transfer ticket for $129.99

http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/universal/#

It is in the big blue box right under the first photo.



If you are just going to use Mears, I suggest calling them personally the day before. Remember that you will most likely be sharing the shuttle and stopping at other resorts to pick up people. So make sure you add extra time.

 

[2girlsmom]

We have remarkably few "must have" souvenirs from Universal, but my dd has a wand (I was thinking it was $40, not $30), other dd has Thing 1 stuff (really into that). We have a butterbeer mug, as well as the refillable bottles. They have a couple t shirts and tanks, but those aren't really must have things, just fun things they have accumulated. I would agree that with kids this age it is worth the trip (and would agree that 2 year old won't get much out of it).

 

[lions1995]

My family took a day away from Disney to IOA last November. We took a taxi ($35 each way). I just looked at my kids wand box and it says $29.95. I would advise arriving early. We got to the gate (about a 5 to 10 minute walk from where they drop you off) at 8:30 and we were in the park by 8:45. If you are heading straight to WWoHP, go right into Suess Land and then bare left and walk along the water. It wil cut a minute or two off your trip. We rode the FP twice before 9:15. You may need to decide if youa re going to do Olivanders. If so, you may want to do that first. My opinion - watch it on You-Tube and skip.

Well, I hope you have a great time.

 

[gometros]

There is a one day/two park including transfer ticket for $129.99

http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/universal/#

It is in the big blue box right under the first photo.



If you are just going to use Mears, I suggest calling them personally the day before. Remember that you will most likely be sharing the shuttle and stopping at other resorts to pick up people. So make sure you add extra time.

We're only doing IOA and I didn't see a one-day/one-park ticket with shuttle listed.

My question was is the shuttle referenced above Mears or was I confusing two different services?

 

[damo]

We're only doing IOA and I didn't see a one-day/one-park ticket with shuttle listed.

My question was is the shuttle referenced above Mears or was I confusing two different services?

You're right, there is no one day/one park package. The shuttle used is Mears and that is the one that Mac referenced as well.

 

[Tbella]

My family took a day away from Disney to IOA last November. We took a taxi ($35 each way). I just looked at my kids wand box and it says $29.95. I would advise arriving early. We got to the gate (about a 5 to 10 minute walk from where they drop you off) at 8:30 and we were in the park by 8:45. If you are heading straight to WWoHP, go right into Suess Land and then bare left and walk along the water. It wil cut a minute or two off your trip. We rode the FP twice before 9:15. You may need to decide if youa re going to do Olivanders. If so, you may want to do that first. My opinion - watch it on You-Tube and skip.

Well, I hope you have a great time.

Thank you for the tip on the short cut! Does Olivanders get crowded? Is that why we would want to do it first?

 

[macraven]

We're only doing IOA and I didn't see a one-day/one-park ticket with shuttle listed.

My question was is the shuttle referenced above Mears or was I confusing two different services?

if you stay at a disney resort, you can sign up for the Mears shuttle to the darkside.

it is a round trip ride.

adults are $19 for fare and kids are $16.

you sign up at the lobby concierge the night before so you can guarantee your seat and a schedule can be created by Mears.

sometimes you loop to other onsite hotels at the motherland, sometimes you don't.
it depends on the time you scheduled your ride.

no tickets are involved with this.
just the shuttle ride from your motherland resort to the darkside drop off point.

thanks for having my back on explaining this damo!