First ever visit .... advice please

[awfpack]

We arrive Dec 20 leaving on Dec 22 staying at HRH. We have 3 girls ( 2 daughter 11,7 and niece 11) They love Harry Potter. What should we first? Get wands? Do the Hog. exp? Which park? We did get the quick service dining plan for one day. How do we get our mugs? Can we pick which day we us the dining plan?
Thanks

 

[skylock]

Get the wands during early morning hours.

First park should be the one that has early morning hours.

You can get your dining whenever you choose.

The dining plan does not need to be bought ahead of time. You can buy it at the register when you get your meal.

You will have express pass from the hotel, so I would spend my time getting the wands and doing spells early in the morning. Late evening is also a good time. Then you can do the rides later.

 

[bchbetha]

I've never done the dining plan and I hate lugging things around so no mugs for us- can't help there.

But, absolutely hit early entry- it's IOA when you are there, opening at 8am. Wands first, ride Forbidden Journey then sight see. You can ride Flight of the Hippogriff later. Spells first before the crowds build. You'll be able to ride with EPs so prioritize sights at the beginning of the day.

Take the train next.

When you get off the Hogwarts Express, stop and see the Ministry of Magic phone booth outside of the King St. station, talk to the Knight Bus conductor, look for Kreacher at Grimmauld Place then go into Diagon Alley. Consider an early lunch/ late breakfast to beat the crowds.

Orlando Informer website has some great itineraries, fyi.

I would plan to bookend your day with HP stuff. Spend the afternoon exploring other stuff.

Don't miss Camp Jurassic mid-day when you want a break from rides. Super fun!

 

[bobbie68]

Hi I would go to IOA like pp stated and do FJ and maybe wands. However, I would take the train right after over to the studios and go to Diagon Alley and go explore there once again you have the crowds coming in or the other option is to go there at night. I would agree with doing an early lunch in there to beat the crowds, this is what we do.

I have used the dining plan and it is really easy. Like pp stated you can just decide at that stand to get it in either park. We found Thunderfalls Terrace in IOA is a good quick service dining option. You can get the mug at any of the stands that have it first thing. I would use your snack credit that day if anybody is going to do butter beer. It covers it and butter beer can get expensive.

I agree with pp after you get the HP stuff done then look at other areas since you have the express pass.


Enjoy your trip!

 

[nkereina]

I agree with PPs that with EPs, do the wands and looking around/photos first while its the least crowded, and do the rides later. Ride wait times are not important with express pass.

As for which park first, it really doesn't matter. Some diehards like to follow Harry's footsteps in the movie and start at Diagon Alley (in UO), and then ride the train to Hogsmeade (at IOA). We prefer to start at UO only because it takes us longer than IOA, so we break up our time at UO by adding IOA in the middle. Whichever park you do in the morning on day 1, I would do the other park in the morning on day 2.

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

You are going to love it! We are big Potter fans and cant seem to get enough! LOL!

My advice to first time visitors is always:

Look over park maps in advance just to get a feel for where things are located. Maps are posted online.

- Arrive early! When the park opens at 8 am, I like to be in line at the gate at 7 30 am.

- You can pack snacks in your bag, just no glass containers

- Download the wait times app in advance. You may not need it if you have Express Pass but I helps to gauge how busy the parks are if you are in one section and are considering going over to a different section.

- Butter beer is a YUMMY but also really sweet. It comes as something similar to a cola or a frozen slush or hot in the winter. It is about $6-7 per serving so you might consider getting one [or two different types] to share before buying your whole group one and this way you can see which kind you prefer. They gave us an extra cup last time

- If the park closes at 10 pm, as long as you get in line at 9:59 pm, you can still ride even if the wait is an hour long….

- Crowds will come and go throughout the day. HP sections are small and popular so it may feel crowded at one point of the day, but at a different point in the day it may thin out.

- Be sure to see both sections, Diagon Ally and Hogsmead, in both the day and night…they are so pretty at night.

- Id get the wands early in the day so you can use them all throughout the trip. The Olivanders in Diagon Ally is larger so it the line moves faster…..