Early entry Harry Potter planning help

[Abii]

So ive just seen the opening times for the two days in June we will be at Universal and both days has just IOA opening early at 8am and US opening normally at 9am.

We were obviously hoping for them to alternate but i guess not

So my question is how would you lovely people go about getting the most out of the Harry Potter stuff and with the shortest queues? We have express passes for everything else so that's not so much of an issue

thanks

 

[Robo56]

I am assuming you are staying onsite at one of the Universal resorts. Early entry is a perk for those staying onsite. If the early entry says 8 am. Be there at 7:30. They will usually let everyone in a little early.

June is when people start vacationing with their children here in the US so parks will probably be busy. Take advantage of single rider lines if needed and this will shorten wait times on rides.

Take advantage of your time in Hogsmeade IOA to wonder the shops have a meal at Three Broomsticks and a have a butterbeer.

I would be on the Hogwarts Express as soon as it starts running to Diagon Alley. Ride Escape from Gringottts and see Ollivanders wand shop show. Look through all the shops in Diagon Alley. There are things easily missed if Diagon Alley is full of people. Like the snake speaking parseltongue in the side window of the Magical Menagerie shop.

You have to have a park to park ticket to ride Hogwarts Express.

Have a meal in Leaky Cauldren at Diagon Alley.

There is a sticky on the Universal boards of all the things to look for in the Potter Parks. Have a glance at that. Will help your experience there be more complete.

A lot of people love the interactive wands. They are about $ 50.00 with taxes and there are sites in Hogsmeade and Diagon Ally for you to do spells. Map is in the box marking spell sites.

Universal does sometimes change their early entry parks on certain days. So to be sure you can find out from your onsite resort day before. Early entry park signs are also posted at the water taxi entrances.

Have a great time. If you have anymore questions someone here will help you.

Have a great time at Universal

 

[lilroo442]

With our early access we were at the gate before opening and we went straight to the most popular ride, so for us it was forbidden journey since IOA opened early all the days we were on site. After riding that we went straight to the train for the first ride over to the other park and then went and got in line for other main ride. Since the Harry Potter rides don't take the express pass we wanted to get the rides of the way so we could enjoy the other aspects of HP. We ended up park hopping by riding the train to see/do all the other HP relate things.

 

[Abii]

I am assuming you are staying onsite at one of the Universal resorts. Early entry is a perk for those staying onsite. If the early entry says 8 am. Be there at 7:30. They will usually let everyone in a little early.

June is when people start vacationing with their children here in the US so parks will probably be busy. Take advantage of single rider lines if needed and this will shorten wait times on rides.

Take advantage of your time in Hogsmeade IOA to wonder the shops have a meal at Three Broomsticks and a have a butterbeer.

I would be on the Hogwarts Express as soon as it starts running to Diagon Alley. Ride Escape from Gringottts and see Ollivanders wand shop show. Look through all the shops in Diagon Alley. There are things easily missed if Diagon Alley is full of people. Like the snake speaking parseltongue in the side window of the Magical Menagerie shop.

You have to have a park to park ticket to ride Hogwarts Express.

Have a meal in Leaky Cauldren at Diagon Alley.

There is a sticky on the Universal boards of all the things to look for in the Potter Parks. Have a glance at that. Will help your experience there be more complete.

A lot of people love the interactive wands. They are about $ 50.00 with taxes and there are sites in Hogsmeade and Diagon Ally for you to do spells. Map is in the box marking spell sites.

Universal does sometimes change their early entry parks on certain days. So to be sure you can find out from your onsite resort day before. Early entry park signs are also posted at the water taxi entrances.

Have a great time. If you have anymore questions someone here will help you.

Have a great time at Universal

Thats great thank you!!

 

[Abii]

With our early access we were at the gate before opening and we went straight to the most popular ride, so for us it was forbidden journey since IOA opened early all the days we were on site. After riding that we went straight to the train for the first ride over to the other park and then went and got in line for other main ride. Since the Harry Potter rides don't take the express pass we wanted to get the rides of the way so we could enjoy the other aspects of HP. We ended up park hopping by riding the train to see/do all the other HP relate things.

So you didnt stick around IOA after the ride to look round?

 

[vinotinto]

I've been wondering about this too. We'll have 2 days. Since there's no early entry to USF, if we want to ride Gringotts, is it faster to take the Hogwarts train from IOA after Forbidden Journey (at around 8:30 ish?) or to wait for USF to open at 9 am?

 

[Robo56]

Since Forbidden Journey is so popular people will get that done first thing. You also have Flight of the Hippogriff and Dragons Challege. Then you can look around the shops and be on the Hogwarts Express as soon as it starts to run over to Diagon Alley then head straight to Escape from Gringotts.

Then go back and check out the shops in both Potter parks as much as you want. You have park to park tickets.
Also use the single rider lines on Forbidden Journey and Escape from Gringotts if needed if lines are long.