Early Admission strategy

[sunsetbeachgal]

We will be visiting Universal Studios Florida this Saturday with two granddaughters who can't wait to experience Harry Potter. We are staying at the Royal Pacific so will have the one hour early admission which looks like it is for Universal Studios park that day.

Could I get some advice on touring so we can take maximum advantage of the first hour? Since we have the express pass included with this hotel and I read that the Harry Potter rides are not included in the express pass (is this true?) we probably will concentrate the first hour on Harry Potter. My stepdaughter says she heard that you should buy some kind of "magic wands" on the way to the Harry Potter rides? Please advise!

Thanks so much!

 

[TommyJK]

Yes indeed. Head straight up to Diagon Alley and spend at least your first hour there. Ride Escape from Gringotts.

As it relates to the wands, you can buy "interactive" wands that come with a map that show you where in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade there are spells you can cast with it to make fun/interesting things happen. They aren't cheap ($50 each) but they are a lot of fun for the kids. You can buy them just in one of the wand shops, but you would most likely want do the wand presentation at Ollivanders. They bring in people in groups, then a Wizard comes out and selects one of the people in the group to do a wand selection ceremony (i.e. The wand chooses the wizard like in the movies).

 

[bumbershoot]

Early entrance allows you to more easily get on the rides not covered by express pass.

So don't waste early entrance on Flight of the Hippogriff or Dragon Challenge, because those two have express pass.

If you are truly only sticking with Wizarding World then get the interactive wands if you wish. If you're not just spending your one day on Potter, though, get the cheaper non-interactive ones so they have wands for fun, but you're not spending ages standing in line at the spell casting spots.


Did you know that if you buy two day Ickes you have access to early entrance and express pass for both check in and check out days with your one night stay? Not sure if your plans allow for that, but if plans do allow for both days, you might consider it.

And make sure you have "park to park" tickets (at Disney they would be called hoppers) so you can ride Hogwarts Express.

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

Yes indeed. Head straight up to Diagon Alley and spend at least your first hour there. Ride Escape from Gringotts.

As it relates to the wands, you can buy "interactive" wands that come with a map that show you where in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade there are spells you can cast with it to make fun/interesting things happen. They aren't cheap ($50 each) but they are a lot of fun for the kids. You can buy them just in one of the wand shops, but you would most likely want do the wand presentation at Ollivanders. They bring in people in groups, then a Wizard comes out and selects one of the people in the group to do a wand selection ceremony (i.e. The wand chooses the wizard like in the movies).

We are traveling with family and I am sure they want to buy the kids the interactive wands. Do these need to be bought first? My stepdaughter is under the impression that while waiting in line for the HP rides the wands can be used (I'm not sure for what!). Or should we do the rides first then do the wand thing and spell casting spots? I hate to waste the first hour, before the crowds, shopping in a wand store, but if it is necessary then so be it!

 

[pcstang]

Do the rides first then get the wands at ollivanders. The are specific spots, and a few hidden, around the two lands. However, nothing in the ride lines.

 

[TommyJK]

I don't believe you can even take your wands into the ride queues and they may you put them in a locker before you get in line.

 

[janicept]

I would ride Minions first since Gringott's seems to be delayed a lot in the am. I believe only Minions and Gringott's are open the one hour early so there's not much to do. I would say at least one out of four days I go to Gringott's first the ride is not yet running. I usually leave the line after about 20 minutes so I'm not sure how long it's usually down. If you will be going more than one day, on the second day you can go straight to HP and get some cool pics with almost no one in the park. They had some early entry in October at 7 am and it was still dark out. I got one pic with absolutely not one person in the entire area as if the park was closed.

 

[bchbetha]

Be sure and visit Diagon Alley in the evening no matter where you start your day. It's so magical.