Early Entry Question

[StephC1217]

Hi Everyone

We are going to be at Universal Studios Thurs/ Fri this week (staying at Royal Pacific). I have a question on Early Entry (because we messed up the last time we were there!). How do we know which park will be open early on each of the mornings and what time? And lets say we do early entry into IoA- can you take the Hogwarts Express right away to Diagon Alley? Or will that not open until regular opening time for US? I find it confusing- last year we waited in line for early entry at US, only to find out that only IoA was opening early and we wasted the whole hour Any help this time around would be greatly appreciated

 

[damo]

Both parks are open right now for early admission.

 

[bsiev1977]

Hi Everyone

We are going to be at Universal Studios Thurs/ Fri this week (staying at Royal Pacific). I have a question on Early Entry (because we messed up the last time we were there!). How do we know which park will be open early on each of the mornings and what time? And lets say we do early entry into IoA- can you take the Hogwarts Express right away to Diagon Alley? Or will that not open until regular opening time for US? I find it confusing- last year we waited in line for early entry at US, only to find out that only IoA was opening early and we wasted the whole hour Any help this time around would be greatly appreciated

Ask at the front desk of your resort. They'll be able to tell you.

 

[StephC1217]

Thank you both!!! I will double-check with front desk but that is great news that both are open early entry right now! Early entry is only Harry Potter World though, right? When should we venture into the rest of the park to try to get ahead of the line for Minions/ Transformers?

 

[bsiev1977]

Thank you both!!! I will double-check with front desk but that is great news that both are open early entry right now! Early entry is only Harry Potter World though, right? When should we venture into the rest of the park to try to get ahead of the line for Minions/ Transformers?

You're welcome, as far as Minions or Transformers goes, since you're staying at Royal Pacific you have Unlimited Express pass privelege. That eliminates the need to rush to anything except the Harry Potter attractions.

 

[StephC1217]

Awesome- thank you!!

 

[damo]

Minions is open for early admission when Universal Studios has it. It gets a long line quickly. Sometimes, even with express, it is quite long. Just be prepared to wait for a bit for it.

 

[bumbershoot]

Eh I'd get in line for Minions asap. Express Pass can be quite LONG for it. Sure, not as long as standby, but still.

 

[StephC1217]

Minions is open for early admission when Universal Studios has it. It gets a long line quickly. Sometimes, even with express, it is quite long. Just be prepared to wait for a bit for it.

So if US is open for early entry, should we go straight to Minions rather than Diagon Alley to try and avoid that line? How is the Transformers line? When we went, it was opening day for Transformers so the line was 2+hrs all the time- not sure what it is like now?

 

[damo]

I wouldn't worry about Transformers. Lines are usually quite short. Lines for Despicable Me are usually much longer than for Gringotts. Personally, I'd do Despicable Me if you are near the beginning of the line first thing in the morning and get it out of the way. Gringotts lines have been very reasonable lately.

 

[StephC1217]

I wouldn't worry about Transformers. Lines are usually quite short. Lines for Despicable Me are usually much longer than for Gringotts. Personally, I'd do Despicable Me if you are near the beginning of the line first thing in the morning and get it out of the way. Gringotts lines have been very reasonable lately.

Thank you so much for the help! Maybe one day we will start with FJ at Hogsmeade and the other day we will start with Despicable Me

 

[Cheesehead9]

Is early entry still available at both parks? Starting today, TouringPlans shows it as only available at IOA.

 

[Cheesehead9]

I just called, starting today Early Entry is at IOA only.

 

[StephC1217]

noooooooooo....... lol. So close!! Thanks for letting me know though- I would have gone to the wrong park again.

 

[StephC1217]

So both Thurs and Fri, we should go to IoA for early entry.....when should we get in line for Hogwarts Express to go over to US and catch minions?

 

[damo]

Oh no!!!!! Sorry I misinformed you!!!

I'd ask at Hogwarts Express when the first train will go and try to be on it. Gringotts may be open a bit before the general public gets in but Minion Mayhem is a bit of a walk from Diagon Alley. I would pay attention the first day to see if you would be able to get over there on your second day before the masses are let in.

 

[StephC1217]

Oh no!!!!! Sorry I misinformed you!!!

I'd ask at Hogwarts Express when the first train will go and try to be on it. Gringotts may be open a bit before the general public gets in but Minion Mayhem is a bit of a walk from Diagon Alley. I would pay attention the first day to see if you would be able to get over there on your second day before the masses are let in.

No worries!!!! I was so close to early entry at both parks!! lol.

I will pay attention the first day- is there a good app to use for wait times?

 

[littlejimmy]

first day, go to ioa for early entry. do harry potter stuff, and then rest of ioa. as soon as it is open. we almost always ride Jurassic park alone. now the second day, I would queue up at us at 8 am. they will open park at 830 or around there. you can get to gringotts and diagonalley before the masses coming from the Hogwarts express from ioa. you don't need to check fanny packs either. if you don't have to check anything, you can get into the bank before anybody else. my daughter and I got pics by the goblins and we were literally alone for 3 minutes.

 

[kbmartin]

Thank you so much for starting this thread. I'll be there Thursday but without early entry, so I'll definitely be headed to USF first!

 

[jtowntoflorida]

OP, we were at Universal in June, and despite all these horror stories about DM's EP wait, we were doing the pre-show within 5 minutes of entering the queue. So don't assume it's going to be bad. If the EP line ends up taking longer than you'd like, just bail and try again later. That's the beauty of EP!