Despicable Me before Gringotts for Early Entry?

[wareagle57]

We are going to Universal and IOA for one day this Thursday. Staying at Cabana Bay and it is listed as a "slow" crowd level day. Hopefully so. Since we only have one day, I'd like to get in as much as possible so I'm considering this for a Rope Drop strategy.

If we head straight to Despicable Me at rope drop, will we be able to ride it with no wait? I know Gringotts waits will build faster and we will probably sacrifice a good bit of time in line by doing this. But if we head straight to Gringotts and happen to be done in 20 minutes, then we have a ton of time to kill before HE opens to take us to IOA.

We want to spend most of our time in US. In IOA the only must dos are Hulk, Spidey, maybe a ride or two in Suess Landing, and HPFJ, which we will do when the HE arrives, and then again a time or two on single rider before we right the HE back to US where we will spend the rest of our day.

So am I crazy for trying to do DM before Gringotts? Should I just suck it up and wait an hour for it or possibly try to do it as the last thing before we leave that night.

 

[johde]

I know Touringplans.com recommends flipping those 2. Gringotts (ride only), Despicable ME then "power riding" the rest of the morning in USF before hitting the Hogwarts Express over to IOA (HRRR, Mummy, Transformers, MIB etc.). Then in the evening returning to Diagon Alley on the HE to tour it after dark (and get a second ride on Gringotts).

Flipping the two I think would be a bit safer for Cabana Bay Guests that want to ride both minimal wait because you'd be "guaranteed" to get in both lines during Early Park Access.

I've not tried the strategy myself but I'm going for several days in January and had the same thought about flipping the two.

 

[wareagle57]

Flipping the two I think would be a bit safer for Cabana Bay Guests that want to ride both minimal wait because you'd be "guaranteed" to get in both lines during Early Park Access.

That's what I was thinking. Assuming there isn't a wait at DM it shouldn't cost me that much time in line at Gringotts but who knows. It also just seems like a lot of walking to go all the way back to Gringotts and back to the front of the park again, only to go back to DH again. Plus, if Gringotts ends up taking closer to 45 minutes, by the time we get to DM lines for it might have already formed.

It seems like I have my mind made up unless someone tells me I'm an idiot for considering this.

 

[HM]

I think your plan makes sense in that you won't be backtracking to DM after Gringotts. I'd actually been thinking of this myself....if we made EE.

 

[TikiGoddess07]

We'll be attempting to do EE this Friday. (we have to pack up, move the suitcases out to the car, and then get over to US from Royal Pacific in time...)

Most likely we'll do DM first as it's on the way to Diagon Alley. From the wait times I've seen posted in the last two weeks we should be okay with Gringotts. We'll be exploring Diagon Alley for a while so we can keep an eye on the wait times.

Kathy

 

[VirginiaMom]

Why are Cabana Bay guests guaranteed to get on both rides? Is this for all guests staying on site or is there something special with this hotel? I'm staying at Royal Pacific the week after Christmas (yes- crazy week) and am curious if there are better perks at some hotels. thanks!

 

[johde]

No, it's nothing special about Cabana Bay. The other 3 hotels (the deluxe hotels) include unlimited express in addition to Early Entry. Once the park opens, the guests at Cabana Bay are in the regular line unless they pay for express pass. The only way for a Cabana Bay guest to "guarantee" a short line on both rides is to try and hit them during Early Entry. Where guests at the deluxe can use either Early Entry or the Express Line for a shorter wait on Despicable Me.

So my point was to "guarantee" a short line on both attractions it's safer to hit Despicable Me first if your staying at Cabana Bay because you'll easily get through Despicable Me and into Diagon Alley during the Early Hour. On the other hand, if you did Diagon Alley and Gringotts first, you may spend your entire hour there and by the time you get to Despicable Me the park may be open to day guests.

For the Deluxe resorts, it's more of a toss up. You get to use the express line for Despicable Me. But from what I've heard, it's the slowest express line on property. The wait express is typically 1/2 the posted wait time. That's why it's hit so early in so many plans.