Our family headed to Islands of Adventure on Weds, Oct 28th while on a vacation at Disney World. We booked a Mears taxi van (there were six of us) to pick us up at 7:30 a.m. at Pop Century and arrived at Universal shortly before 8 a.m. The cost for the taxi van was $32 each way and we booked it the night before.
We were the first people in line without Universal hotel early opening passes. Shortly after 8:30 we were asked if we wanted to help open the park. My grandson was too shy to do it, but my 10 year old granddaughter was eager to help. They gave her the script and a microphone, and she flamboyantly announced that the park was open! They gave us a complimentary family photo and a certificate. However, the park really wasn't open; they just needed room for more people at the gates. SuessLand was blocked except for hotel pass holders. They held everyone else back in the Super Hero section, no rides were open. At 9 a.m. they let everyone head towards Harry Potter. It was a mad rush so be prepared to hustle.
We headed immediately to Ollivanders and were able to get into the third show. My grandson bought a wand ($30). Then we hurried to Forbidden Journey. After an entertaining wait, we excitedly climbed onto the ride. However, it stopped twice during our ride (which we later found out was to clean up after someone who had been sick). Universal could learn a thing or two from Disney - we were not offered a fast pass to go on the ride again. But when we asked to speak to a manager, they did let us go on the ride again without waiting. The ride was fabulous, but if you have the slightest bit of motion sickness, postpone breakfast until after the ride and/or take some non-drowsy Bonine/Gravol. Later we went to Dervish & Bangs (very crowded and a lineup to help manage the number of shoppers in the store) where my 12 year old grandson bought a Hogwarts uniform with his own money ($100). (He wore it to the Disney Halloween party and it looked just like Harry Potter, scar and all. He finished it off with some Disney black rimmed sunglasses.)
We then headed to the Three Broomsticks to sample a butter beer and have lunch. The ribs got a big thumbs up, the turkey drumstick was deemed to be salty, the Cornish pasties were disappointing. The frozen butter beer was like drinking a caramel sundae with marshmallow fluff on top.
After poking around the balance of the Harry Potter park, we visited the rest of the park and then headed home. Lots of taxi vans outside the park.
We were the first people in line without Universal hotel early opening passes. Shortly after 8:30 we were asked if we wanted to help open the park. My grandson was too shy to do it, but my 10 year old granddaughter was eager to help. They gave her the script and a microphone, and she flamboyantly announced that the park was open! They gave us a complimentary family photo and a certificate. However, the park really wasn't open; they just needed room for more people at the gates. SuessLand was blocked except for hotel pass holders. They held everyone else back in the Super Hero section, no rides were open. At 9 a.m. they let everyone head towards Harry Potter. It was a mad rush so be prepared to hustle.
We headed immediately to Ollivanders and were able to get into the third show. My grandson bought a wand ($30). Then we hurried to Forbidden Journey. After an entertaining wait, we excitedly climbed onto the ride. However, it stopped twice during our ride (which we later found out was to clean up after someone who had been sick). Universal could learn a thing or two from Disney - we were not offered a fast pass to go on the ride again. But when we asked to speak to a manager, they did let us go on the ride again without waiting. The ride was fabulous, but if you have the slightest bit of motion sickness, postpone breakfast until after the ride and/or take some non-drowsy Bonine/Gravol. Later we went to Dervish & Bangs (very crowded and a lineup to help manage the number of shoppers in the store) where my 12 year old grandson bought a Hogwarts uniform with his own money ($100). (He wore it to the Disney Halloween party and it looked just like Harry Potter, scar and all. He finished it off with some Disney black rimmed sunglasses.)
We then headed to the Three Broomsticks to sample a butter beer and have lunch. The ribs got a big thumbs up, the turkey drumstick was deemed to be salty, the Cornish pasties were disappointing. The frozen butter beer was like drinking a caramel sundae with marshmallow fluff on top.
After poking around the balance of the Harry Potter park, we visited the rest of the park and then headed home. Lots of taxi vans outside the park.
