EE question

[jenhum]

On the days that we are looking at going to Universal, IOA is scheduled to open at 9, while USF is scheduled to open at 8. I guess because it's closing early a few nights a week for HHN? Should I expect USF to be the EE park on those days? Or would they open IOA at 8 for EE, and then they are both open at 8? If both are open at 8 (1 regular hours, 1 EE hours), which park would you start with (focusing on HP lands)?

Thanks!

 

[Disxuni]

This is the full early entry schedule.

https://www.universalorlando.com/Resort-Information/Early-Park-Admission.aspx

Personally, in the case on if both parks are open my personal suggestion is Hogsmeade. While I think Diagon Alley is more breath taking and has more "wow" power (however this just a personal opinion of mine), Hogsmeade is more narrow, seems smaller, and therefore can fill up rather quickly, which means feeling more claustrophobic and crowded. So, for me, if I have a choice, I'd rather go to Hogsmeade to get my fill in that section before it gets too hectic.

 

[Robo56]

Jenhum go to the Universal Orlando website hit on the link Plan Your Visit. It will drop down options for you to look at park hours for the time you will be visiting and the early entry hours.

You can see that Universal closes at 5 pm on HHN nights.

I just looked at the last two weeks of September and the whole month of October under the early entry calender and they have Universal studios opening at 8 am and IOA at 9 am. These are listed as regular park hours. With no early entry.

So with that in mind I would be at Universal Studios at rope drop and head to Diagon Alley and do Escape from Gringotts. Check out Diagon Alley then when the Hogwarts Express starts running go to Hogsmeade.

Parks will be busier on weekends with locals and HHN going on.

If you are staying onsite at one of the deluxe hotels with unlimited express included for a few days and you are not limited on your time take it easy and enjoy the parks at a more leisurely pace.

Hope this helps

 

[jenhum]

Thanks for your replies- I think maybe I didn't word my question very well. I know that the regularly scheduled opening hours are 9:00 (IOA) and 8:00 (USF) for my dates. They haven't announced EE parks for October yet (there is guaranteed to be at least one, right?).

I was asking, that when the regular hours are different, would the park that opens first be most likely to have EE? That would mean USF would open at 7 and IOA at 9. Or if IOA is the EE park, it would open at 8, while USF would also be open at 8 for regular hours. Does that make sense?

I guess I'm mainly wondering if they would do EE for one park while the other park opened for regular guests at the same time.

Sorry for being confusing, haha!

 

[macraven]

Ioa does not have ee for October and I wish it did


With Kong and hulk open, that would be great if ioa would have EE when I am there

Since the op is going in September, only Friday, Saturday, and Sunday would have that 5:00 closing of the studios

You never know if both parks will have EE based on expected crowds on your dates

Not known in advance for it but announced at the hotels the night before when that happens if both parks with EE

Happened to me last year and year before when the second park opened early for hotel guests

 

[macraven]

If a park is opened to the public at 8, then EE would be at 7 am

Onsite hotel guests are given one hour prior to the official opening of that park

The other park that does not have EE will open at 9

 

[Robo56]

At this point the regular calender hours in October are showing IOA opening at 9 am and US at 8 am with no early entry option yet. My guess is regular hours had been pushed back for US to 8 am and it is closing early because of HHN.

Early entry hours are as stipulated on the early entry calender.

Regular park hours are 9 am usually for park visitors not staying onsite.

Early entry is a perk of staying onsite at one of the resorts.

So for example if IOA is showing on the early entry calender opening at 8 am you can be there at 7:40. They usually open a little early. Then US will open at the regular time 9 am for you and non resort guests unless it is also slated for early entry.

Hope this helps answer your questions.

 

[khgreen]

I have the same question. Currently there are no EE hours posted for September...so it is hard to plan. I too am wondering if we will have to get to the park at 7:00 am.

 

[Robo56]

Mac knows.

 

[macraven]

If the park opens at 8
EE will be at 7
(That is if it is the EE park)

I don't do EE often as I stay for 16 days onsite

But I was stupid enough to meet up with friends twice last October for EE

It's dark at 6:45 in the morning !
But it was fun kind of

I don't fall asleep early as I usually am up until 1 or 2 am so doing EE parks is not my goal in vacation
Lol


If you do EE be at the park 6:50 if it is the 7 opening time

 

[jenhum]

Oooh, I didn't think about it being dark...that actually is kind of exciting, because with USF closing at 5 I was a little bummed about not seeing Gringotts at night- maybe we can catch it before the sun comes up!

 

[littlejimmy]

op. I think I am understanding you. 3 possibilities here. and focusing on hp lands only.

1. us has ee and opens at 7 for ee, and ioa opens at 9 as regular admission. no brainer, you start at us and do diagon alley and gringotts. after doing gringotts, you continue to do gringotts in single rider line. you can get in 4 or 5 rides before the masses get there. then take Hogwarts express to ioa, as soon as you can and do fj.

2. both parks have ee. so us opens at 7 and ioa opens at 8. not likely based on this time of year. so you do the exact same plan as for #1.

3. ioa has ee and opens at 8. us opens at 8 for regular admission. i would do gringotts first as those lines tend to be longer. then i would get on the Hogwarts express, to fj as soon as i could as many of the ee people in ioa will already be in line for kong and most of the masses coming in when it opens at 9 regular will go to kong first also keeping fj less crowded than it would normally be early.

hope this is what you are looking for.

 

[rosehart23]

Does this mean there will be ee even in October? I'm confused. We will be there October 15-16 at cabana bay.

 

[macraven]

Yes
All months have EE for the onsite hotel guests

 

[jenhum]

op. I think I am understanding you. 3 possibilities here. and focusing on hp lands only.

1. us has ee and opens at 7 for ee, and ioa opens at 9 as regular admission. no brainer, you start at us and do diagon alley and gringotts. after doing gringotts, you continue to do gringotts in single rider line. you can get in 4 or 5 rides before the masses get there. then take Hogwarts express to ioa, as soon as you can and do fj.

2. both parks have ee. so us opens at 7 and ioa opens at 8. not likely based on this time of year. so you do the exact same plan as for #1.

3. ioa has ee and opens at 8. us opens at 8 for regular admission. i would do gringotts first as those lines tend to be longer. then i would get on the Hogwarts express, to fj as soon as i could as many of the ee people in ioa will already be in line for kong and most of the masses coming in when it opens at 9 regular will go to kong first also keeping fj less crowded than it would normally be early.

hope this is what you are looking for.

Yes! This is exactly what I was looking for . Thanks for understanding my confusing questions, that answered it perfectly!

 

[squirrel]

When will the calendar show EE for September? Would I be correct in guessing that IoA is EE into the Labour Day weekend and then it switches to US?

 

[macraven]

Thought the hours were up

One park opens at 9 and the other at 8

Let me go look into again .......

 

[squirrel]

Both parks have a * next to the hours and it says above that if a * the park doesn't have EE.

 

[rimrack]

Any update on this? My Fiance and I are staying at Sapphire Falls September 11-16 and, as squirrel said, neither park has early entry listed yet.

 

[woodynjessiesmomma]

Any update on this? My Fiance and I are staying at Sapphire Falls September 11-16 and, as squirrel said, neither park has early entry listed yet.

From what I can tell September and October both have * by the hours so: *Early Park Admission is not available at this park on this date. The time listed is the regularly scheduled park opening time.
I'm not sure when the EE hours are announced, possibly right up until the day before if I understand Macraven correctly or there are no EE hours. Sounds like US is a better bet than IOA though. Looks like even late August still has * by the hours, not sure if they will update or no EE.