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

[tentaguasu]

This will be my first time at the Wizarding World. Since we're staying on-site, we have the early entry benefit. For our days, it'll be early entry at Islands of Adventure.

So from there, at some point I'll go to the Diagon Alley side. I've heard lots of people say that the "right" or more impressive way to arrive is through the wall (whatever that means... I try to avoid spoilers).

Should I make a point of leaving the Hogsmeade side doing some of the non-Potter stuff and getting to Diagon Alley "on foot" or is that a lot of hassle when arriving by train is equally fun?

(To complicate things, I hope to end my day at Diagon Alley, but definitely want to ride the train at least once, but I'll figure that out.)

 

[DuskKodesh]

Even if you go by train you still have to go -through the wall-. The train station doesn't let out right into the land. It's off to the left of it so you still have to exit the station and walk a very short walk to the wall.

 

[tentaguasu]

Ah, excellent! I had no idea. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[Pooh's World]

The order of the movies is to go to Diagon Alley first and then ride the train to Hogsmeade/Hogswarts.

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

The wall. Then take the train to IOA

 

[goofballs]

I highly recommend you take the train each direction at some point during your trip.

 

[georgina]

So from there, at some point I'll go to the Diagon Alley side. I've heard lots of people say that the "right" or more impressive way to arrive is through the wall (whatever that means... I try to avoid spoilers).

Since this makes no sense, as you go through the wall into Diagon Alley either way, I wonder if they meant where you go through the wall to get on the platform 9-3/4 to go to Hogsmeade? It is a very cool effect a lot of people miss observing.

 

[Kit Jackson]

Finding the entrance to Diagon Alley (not the train) requires paying attention. It is easy to walk by the entrance and miss it, at least that's what happened to me during my first visit.

 

[wickedwrister]

I highly recommend you take the train each direction at some point during your trip.

This! The train is different in each direction so make sure you ride it both ways.

 

[Travelgrrl]

We are coming at the beginning of Dec, with two people who have not only never been to Universal, but have never been to a theme park! Even though IOA is the Early Entry park that week, our plan is to head to USF early for rope drop on our first day, then head straight to Diagon Alley. I think that's the most magical way to begin. We should be able to get on Gringotts and maybe the Ollivanders show and spend some quality time there, maybe taking the Hogwarts Express to Hogsmeade when we're done.

The following day, we'll hit IOA for Early Entry and try to hit Hagrids and Forbidden Journey before things get too crowded. At some point we'll take the Hogwarts Express in the opposite direction. We have four full park days so I know we'll have a chance to see everything we like, twice - but this is the order I'd use to introduce the worlds to a newcomer.

 

[StageTek]

As others have said;

In order to stay immersed in the World of Harry Potter you really should do as Harry did. Start by walking through the wall into Diagon Alley, then take the train to Hogsmeade.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I prefer the opposite for a first time, starting with Hogsmeade first.
1. Diagon Alley is more impressive, I like to save the "best" for last.
2. Forbidden Journey is chronologically earlier than Gringotts. IE, the actors are younger. It makes more sense first.

That said, you can really do either way, it'll be lovely regardless.

 

[twincruisers]

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.

 

[tentaguasu]

We are coming at the beginning of Dec, with two people who have not only never been to Universal, but have never been to a theme park! Even though IOA is the Early Entry park that week, our plan is to head to USF early for rope drop on our first day, then head straight to Diagon Alley. I think that's the most magical way to begin. We should be able to get on Gringotts and maybe the Ollivanders show and spend some quality time there, maybe taking the Hogwarts Express to Hogsmeade when we're done.

The following day, we'll hit IOA for Early Entry and try to hit Hagrids and Forbidden Journey before things get too crowded. At some point we'll take the Hogwarts Express in the opposite direction. We have four full park days so I know we'll have a chance to see everything we like, twice - but this is the order I'd use to introduce the worlds to a newcomer.

As others have said;

In order to stay immersed in the World of Harry Potter you really should do as Harry did. Start by walking through the wall into Diagon Alley, then take the train to Hogsmeade.

I prefer the opposite for a first time, starting with Hogsmeade first.
1. Diagon Alley is more impressive, I like to save the "best" for last.
2. Forbidden Journey is chronologically earlier than Gringotts. IE, the actors are younger. It makes more sense first.

That said, you can really do either way, it'll be lovely regardless.

Thanks for all of these thoughts!

It's my first time to the Wizarding World, and I also was wondering about where to start. We'll only be there for one day. I tentatively thought that it would be better to do Diagon Alley first, but IoA is the place with Early Entry that morning.

Since we'll only be there one day, I figured I'd start at Hogsmeade, even though that seems like the less fun way to do it.

But I'm encouraged that at least some of you think Hogsmeade is the right place (or at least reasonable place) to start.

Any other thoughts on where to start on a one-day trip where IoA has early entry?

 

[Pooh's World]

I prefer the opposite for a first time, starting with Hogsmeade first.
1. Diagon Alley is more impressive, I like to save the "best" for last.
2. Forbidden Journey is chronologically earlier than Gringotts. IE, the actors are younger. It makes more sense first.

That said, you can really do either way, it'll be lovely regardless.

If that is the case then the logical move is to go to Diagon Alley first (but don't do Gringotts)
then ride the train do Hogsmeade and Forbidden Journey,
then ride the train back and go to Diagon Alley to do Gringott's.

 

[DuskKodesh]

That early entry hour is invaluable and only at IOA right now. It was the only time I saw the land not completely packed aside from when it was full downpour rain. Do use the extra hour. It was much easier then to do any shopping and we used it to get a butterbeer from a completely lineless cart but if Hagrid's is running and standby and you want to ride you'd be smart to hit that line first.

 

[Pooh's World]

That early entry hour is invaluable and only at IOA right now. It was the only time I saw the land not completely packed aside from when it was full downpour rain. Do use the extra hour. It was much easier then to do any shopping and we used it to get a butterbeer from a completely lineless cart but if Hagrid's is running and standby and you want to ride you'd be smart to hit that line first.

There's no reason to wait in line for the butterbeer cart.

You can get butterbeer from inside the Three Broomsticks restaurant.

 

[Travelgrrl]

If I had only one day, I WOULD take advantage of Early Entry and go to Hogsmeade first. The train to Diagon Alley often has a shorter wait than the one to Hogsmeade, so you'd be saving time there, too.

 

[DuskKodesh]

There's no reason to wait in line for the butterbeer cart.

You can get butterbeer from inside the Three Broomsticks restaurant.

When I went the cart was a shorter entry than the restaurant. Must have been an odd day.

 

[georgina]

They also have butterbeer at the Hogs Head bar, sometimes that line is shorter! On the other hand, in the evening when the bar line is long I have gone to the 3 Broomsticks instead just to get regular beer.

Since we'll only be there one day, I figured I'd start at Hogsmeade, even though that seems like the less fun way to do it.

Any other thoughts on where to start on a one-day trip where IoA has early entry?

It's all fun, definitely use the early entry and do Hagrid's first (try to get there at least 1/2 hour before the EE time to be near the front, maybe earlier if it's a busy time)