Diagon Alley - should I arrive by train or "through the wall"?

[cschaaf]

I prioritize ride waits, so I would say do Gringott’s @ Diagon Alley during early hours and the park hope via foot to Hagrid’s. After that make your HP lands plan.

May be easy for me to say since I am not an HP fan, but I would also go for the shortest wait times. I'd rather give myself a chance to do more things than to try to do things in some 'right' order - particularly if you only have one day.

I'd hit IOA in Early Entry and ride Hagrid's first. Then FJ. If you want a great ride that is outside of HP stuff, do Velocicoaster next. Alternately, you could just walk around Hogsmeade and check out the shops, wand locations, grab a butterbeer, etc.

Then I'd take the train to USF and do all the Diagon things: Gringott's, Knockturn, Butterbeer or other drink of choice. ice cream, shops, wand spots, etc.

Depending on closing hours, I'd probably try to hop back to IOA to ride Hagrid's at night and see the Hogwarts show. Also gets you to walk through the platform wall and get the train experience in the opposite direction. To me, the train takes a lot of time, so I would try to limit to riding once in each direction max.

Interested - why were you wanting to end the night in Diagon?

 

[tentaguasu]

Interested - why were you wanting to end the night in Diagon?

I've just heard that it's the nicer of the two, and I thought it'd be a particularly nice area to wander and shop after dark as we wrap up our day.

Since IoA is open an hour later, it may not work out that way anyway, but here's our current plan. Not sure if it's doable, though Touring Plans seems to think so. For reference this is a midweek day in early December, currently projected by TP to be in the 3/10 range for crowds:

That's roughly my current plan. I'm on a Potter-centric day, so if I have to cut, it'll be from non-Potter stuff. My non-Potter priorities are probably

1. Spiderman
2. Bourne
3. Mummy
4. Velocicoaster
5. Kong

(That's taking into consideration my family preferences...)

Always thrilled to hear feedback!!

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I do not think you need to do Ollivanders twice, since it is the same show.

Are there other later times for Tales of Beedle? I like getting the ice cream and eating while watching the show. Alternatively, there are quiet areas to sit with that lovely goodness in Knockturn Alley.

Depending on your family, you can easily do re-rides of Forbidden Journey or Gringotts (or first rides of Spiderman / Mummy) via the single rider lines.

 

[twincruisers]

May be easy for me to say since I am not an HP fan, but I would also go for the shortest wait times. I'd rather give myself a chance to do more things than to try to do things in some 'right' order - particularly if you only have one day.

I'd hit IOA in Early Entry and ride Hagrid's first. Then FJ. If you want a great ride that is outside of HP stuff, do Velocicoaster next. Alternately, you could just walk around Hogsmeade and check out the shops, wand locations, grab a butterbeer, etc.

Then I'd take the train to USF and do all the Diagon things: Gringott's, Knockturn, Butterbeer or other drink of choice. ice cream, shops, wand spots, etc.

Depending on closing hours, I'd probably try to hop back to IOA to ride Hagrid's at night and see the Hogwarts show. Also gets you to walk through the platform wall and get the train experience in the opposite direction. To me, the train takes a lot of time, so I would try to limit to riding once in each direction max.

Interested - why were you wanting to end the night in Diagon?

Yeah USF is open an hour earlier so you can get 2 hours at USF before IOA opens, so I went with minimizing my wait times by riding Gringotts first and maybe a few more USF rides, then PH over to IOA to be in the opening rush for Hagrids and then to Velocicoaster since it's so close. After that it's pretty chill to do whatever you want. I found that I covered almost all the rides at USF and IOA in one day with the express pass. Made day 2 very easy to repeat our favorites and have lunch and dinner on our schedule.

I would finish up with the projection show at Hogsmeade myself, but you can choose based on what you like best.

 

[cxr]

Both..

my daughter er was like 8 when we first went she just stood there for like 5 min. with her mouth wide open.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

Both..

my daughter er was like 8 when we first went she just stood there for like 5 min. with her mouth wide open.

i went for the first time in my 40s and I stood there with my mouth wide open.

I would definitely end at IOA if it’s open later and take in a later projection show.

 

[gharter]

you really need to do both as both are amazing and different.
Walking in through the wall, you walk in and are in the movie. The train is itself an amazing ride and still a good entrance.

 

[cxr]

Remember to do the train both ways

when on the London side and you are scanning your tickets have your kids ask about the train to hogwarts

 

[gharter]

Remember to do the train both ways

The train, both ways, is a great attraction in itself. Just so well done. Its a must do every trip.

 

[MrBellatrixLestrange]

That's roughly my current plan. I'm on a Potter-centric day, so if I have to cut, it'll be from non-Potter stuff. My non-Potter priorities are probably

1. Spiderman
2. Bourne
3. Mummy
4. Velocicoaster
5. Kong

(That's taking into consideration my family preferences...)

Always thrilled to hear feedback!!

Without knowing the preferences you're looking to accommodate I can only say for me I would go with the following list:

1. Velocicoaster
2. Hulk
3. Springfield/Simpsons ride
4. Bourne
5. Spiderman

I've never actually ridden Spiderman so it's on my list not because it's good but because I don't know if it's good or bad. Hulk seems to be a very polarizing ride, some love it others hate it, but it's a pretty intense coaster so if some aren't up for it that would be understandable. Dr. Doom is the only ride I can think of that there's zero chance of me ever riding. Not gonna happen.

 

[gharter]

That's roughly my current plan. I'm on a Potter-centric day, so if I have to cut, it'll be from non-Potter stuff. My non-Potter priorities are probably

1. Spiderman
2. Bourne
3. Mummy
4. Velocicoaster
5. Kong

I would put Velocicoaster at the top as the line builds quickly.
Have not done Bourne yet.
When are you traveling? Mummy goes into rehab about January (?)
Spiderman is well worth doing (similar to Transformers)
Not a fan of Simpsons ride
Kong is fun
1. velocicoaster
2. Spiderman
3. Mummy
4. Kong
5. Bourne

 

[MrBellatrixLestrange]

I would put Velocicoaster at the top as the line builds quickly.
Have not done Bourne yet.
When are you traveling? Mummy goes into rehab about January (?)
Spiderman is well worth doing (similar to Transformers)
Not a fan of Simpsons ride
Kong is fun
1. velocicoaster
2. Spiderman
3. Mummy
4. Kong
5. Bourne

Yeah, Simpsons seems to be another polarizing ride, I love it but I've heard that it can bother others.