Early Park Entry

[ACJT]

How well does early park entry work as far as Harry Potter is concerned. I understand express pass wont work there and so we're considering staying onsite for one night to get the early entry. We are going in July. Can we assume that the hour early entry will allow us to do the HP sections without crowds and waits? Or will the onsite resort guests themselves make it crowded from the get go?

 

[bobbie68]

Hello we have stayed on site two years and will be doing it again this year at the end of July. The EE is a big help for Harry Potter World. Yes you will have the other hotels taking advantage of it but as long as you are there like 20 minutes before EE time you will be good. You will be able to do the rides in that section multiple times without much wait. You will see a big difference when the GP is in. The last two times we went in 2014&2015 they EE in both parks. Sometimes they will do this in the summer. We won't know till closer to then if they do. What you can do is be in line for the Hogwarts Express (if you will have park to park) by 8:45 be on the train for the first ride and get to the other park. There is a good chance you will make it before the GP reach it. I would stay onsite for the one night especially in July. Enjoy

 

[wagman67]

Also remember, if you stay onsite, you get EE for 2 days...the day you check in and the day you check out. So, if you want to take advantage, check into the hotel as early as you can...your room may not be ready, but they can hold your bags until it is and text you when it is ready.

 

[ruthies12]

well heres my take for what's it's worth, which isn't much lol. We stayed at RPR for one night last November and then Holiday Inn across the street from universal for another 2 nights. We went to early entry one morning during that time.

All onsite hotels were pretty booked up, there had been a hurricane earlier in October that cancelled two of the Halloween nights and they ended up rescheduling them for the first weekend in November which is when we were there, not sure if that had anything to do with the hotels being booked up or what.

We got to the park right at opening at 8 am, walked straight back to Diagon Alley and found the line for Gringotts lined all the way to the entrance of Diagon Alley. I'm not kidding, the line ended in front of weasleys wizards wheezes. We opted not to get in that ridiculous line and walked around a bit instead.

Then we went out at 8:40 to head to the train station, there was a huge crowd standing in a big semicircle round the entrance with employees trying to keep them back. We all stood there in a big cluster until about 9:10 when they finally announced that there were technical difficulties and the train would not be operating for some time.

All in all, EE was a big waste for us, not worth it even in the slightest. express passes for the rest of the parks made it worthwhile for the onsite hotel though for the one night.

My next trip we are doing RPR again for one night for the express passes, and this time EE is at IOA. We may get up early for it just to see an uncrowded hogsmeade. If you want to ride the rides, I'd be out front of the parks at least a half hour before EE starts IMO, too may hotel guests for too few rides open at that time of day.

 

[kohlby]

It helps - but it also depends what time of year you go. We were there this past Sunday and Monday on-site and had early hour but never made it to it. We still didn't have to deal with much of a line. (I think it was 15-20 minutes for FJ and 10 for Hippogriff). I was in the parks yesterday morning and FJ was a walk-on at about 8:30am. But - it will help quite a bit during crowded times, so don't feel you don't need it just because we were fine without. When we were onsite a year ago during moderate crowds, Gringotts line was too long once we got there - and we got to the park right at 8am. The next morning, we got to the park by 7:45 and Gringotts took us less than 10 minutes to get on. During crowded times, you'll want to be there earlier). Also, the EE hour is great for those who want to use their wand. Normally, you get stuck in lines using your wand so you see what others do and then it's not as magical IMO. Plus, it's hard to walk around in the HP areas at times. Using your wand during the EE hour greatly helps this.

 

[bchbetha]

well heres my take for what's it's worth, which isn't much lol. We stayed at RPR for one night last November and then Holiday Inn across the street from universal for another 2 nights. We went to early entry one morning during that time.

All onsite hotels were pretty booked up, there had been a hurricane earlier in October that cancelled two of the Halloween nights and they ended up rescheduling them for the first weekend in November which is when we were there, not sure if that had anything to do with the hotels being booked up or what.

We got to the park right at opening at 8 am, walked straight back to Diagon Alley and found the line for Gringotts lined all the way to the entrance of Diagon Alley. I'm not kidding, the line ended in front of weasleys wizards wheezes. We opted not to get in that ridiculous line and walked around a bit instead.

Then we went out at 8:40 to head to the train station, there was a huge crowd standing in a big semicircle round the entrance with employees trying to keep them back. We all stood there in a big cluster until about 9:10 when they finally announced that there were technical difficulties and the train would not be operating for some time.

All in all, EE was a big waste for us, not worth it even in the slightest. express passes for the rest of the parks made it worthwhile for the onsite hotel though for the one night.

My next trip we are doing RPR again for one night for the express passes, and this time EE is at IOA. We may get up early for it just to see an uncrowded hogsmeade. If you want to ride the rides, I'd be out front of the parks at least a half hour before EE starts IMO, too may hotel guests for too few rides open at that time of day.

That's crummy. I don't think your line was open yet for Gringotts. It snakes inside and wouldn't be spilled out onto Diagon Alley had it been open. So it was probably a very short line, in reality. There's definitely the capacity back behind the ride for the line to be very, very long.

We had a hard time making early entry because it was so early. But, on the days we did it was great! I loved having the peace on Diagon Alley (note: you can get that again at the end of the night too).

 

[soniam]

We always do it. Gringott's can look really long at EE opening, but it's just because the inside queue is closed. It moves incredibly fast once they start up the ride. We would never miss it. It's a great way to get a leg up on the regular line for Kong too, because the queue is really amazing.

 

[janicept]

Even at slow times there are waits at early entry it's just less of a wait compared to if you get there after early entry and have to wait behind the EE guests. I was there on Thanksgiving last year. Studios had early entry so I went to Minions first. I was probably in the second theater/ride. Then to Gringott's and the wait was an hour. I never would have stayed since I have an AP but I was with family that only had the one day. Even though the wait was an hour it was still better than if we didn't get in until regular open.

I was there one slow time and they opened Studios at 7 am - only about 20 people walking in with me and rode Gringott's about 5 times before 8 am. I don't go to Orlando in the summer but I would guess it is busy since kids are out of school.

 

[ACJT]

Thanks for all the replies. To add to my original question we are a party of three. My daughter (15), myself, and my 8 yr old who is autistic. He loves thrill rides but can't handle the lines, even short waits can be challenging.... Too much incursion on his personal space. I understand universal has a system similar to the DAS at Disney, but we were thinking if we had EE and express pass (by staying onsite) we'd be good to go. Now I'm wondering if we should also get the guest assistance pass that universal offers as well? Would it be accepted at rides (such as the Harry Potter ones) that don't offer express pass?

 

[bobbie68]

Hello yes it works at all the attractions. We do the same thing we use the EP then the assistance card where we can't use the EP. It works good.

 

[ACJT]

A few more questions:

1. Where do you go to get the assistance card?

2. Do the water taxis require strollers to be folded? We will have a Liberty Special needs stroller.

3. Can we walk from Loews Royal Pacific? This I ask as I wonder if the water taxi would be crowded first thing with EE guests, and if its just as fast to walk?

 

[bobbie68]

Hi we have gotten the pass at the guest assistance building. It is located to the right of the ticket windows at IOA. You can get it inside the turnstiles or out. We do it outside. It would be the same guest services building at US.

We did not have a stroller so not sure how that works.

Yes you can walk that is what we do on EE.

 

[pcstang]

A few more questions:

1. Where do you go to get the assistance card?

2. Do the water taxis require strollers to be folded? We will have a Liberty Special needs stroller.

3. Can we walk from Loews Royal Pacific? This I ask as I wonder if the water taxi would be crowded first thing with EE guests, and if its just as fast to walk?

1. I suggest GS inside the gate Either either park. Outside GS is a zoo in the morning.

2. IM not sure wat kind of stroller that is but no, when you board the boat walk straight ahead and park it.

3. Yes, it's a 10 minute walk topsoil and you come out next to margaritaville very close to IOA.

 

[ACJT]

So should I plan to get the assistance card the morning we check in, outside the park? We don't plan to do the parks till our second day. I'm thinking we could save time by doing it the day ahead, vs. chewing up our potential EE time the morning of

 

[bobbie68]

Hi I was going to suggest if you can get it early it's good. We did that on our last trip. We got in late in the afternoon and went over to IOA and got the pass so we were ready to go the next morning. It will be good the duration of the trip. You will give them the days and they will put an expiration on it.

 

[bobbie68]

Hi sorry yes you can do it the day before outside the park.

 

[ACJT]

Hi sorry yes you can do it the day before outside the park.

I also assume my son will need to be present with me when I get the asssistance card?

 

[bobbie68]

Hi I would say yes. I always have my daughter go up with me whatever park we are at.

 

[ACJT]

Hi I would say yes. I always have my daughter go up with me whatever park we are at.

Do they not take a picture of your child like Disney does for their DAS?

 

[bobbie68]

As of 2015 they did not do a picture. I am not sure if they have changed it. The last time I used Disney's was before they went to picture ones.-