First family trip over Labor Day weekend

[LSUfan4444]

My last trip to IoA or USF was before Harry Potter but my ten year old is obsessed with all things HP. We were supposed to go in April but we all know how that went and moved those plans to November prior to our cruise but as we start to get closer the reality of that cruise not happening is becoming more and more real so we decided to head over for Labor Day weekend. We are staying at Endless Summer so will have early access and will arrive sometime around noon or so on Thursday, Sept 3. I'll be purchasing my tickets by using credit card points and reserving my hotel separately.

On Arrival day I am assuming (using our Disney logic) that it's best to go check-in the resort first then head to the park so out first day will just be a couple of hours in the park. We will have park-to-park tickets so my thought was to head to Universal first so we can start with Diagon Alley and taking the Hogwarts express over to IoA. If HP is our main focus, does this make sense?

We are planning early arrival to IoA on Friday, Universal on Saturday and Volcano Bay on Sunday.

 

[andieb0602]

That's the way we always seem to do it. While Hogsmeade is impressive there is just something about walking into Diagon for us that puts us in vacation mode. (I'll admit that Diagon makes me cry just as much as Cinderella castle.) If you're planning on experiencing Ollivander's I've also heard that the one in Studios is bigger than IOA. IOA is open an hour later than Studios so it just makes sense IMHO to hit Studios first.

 

[TommyJK]

As an FYI, early entry is usually just to one of the two main parks, and it's almost always Universal (it's been over a year since I've seen IoA as the park that has early entry).

Volcano Bay has early entry for onsite guests regardless so you're fine there.

So your Friday plan, if you want to do early entry, would likely be into USF instead of IoA.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Thanks..yeah, right now only USF has early entry so my thought was to hit IoA on Friday and save USF for the weekend since I can use early entry there. I am going to assume lighter crowds (maybe just slightly but hopefully still accurate) on Friday than Saturday so figured the early entry would be more "valuable" there.

If you're planning on experiencing Ollivander's I've also heard that the one in Studios is bigger than IOA.

yes...definitely plan to get her a wand so that sounds awesome. Get her wand first at Studios then Hogwarts Express over to IoA.

Many thanks!!!

 

[TommyJK]

Thanks..yeah, right now only USF has early entry so my thought was to hit IoA on Friday and save USF for the weekend since I can use early entry there. I am going to assume lighter crowds (maybe just slightly but hopefully still accurate) on Friday than Saturday so figured the early entry would be more "valuable" there.

Yes. That'll work. Also if you do IOA as your starting park for the Friday, You could potentially do rope drop so you can go to Hagrid's right away (if they aren't doing VQ). But crowds will likely be light in theory Friday morning with schools already being in full swing in Florida for a few weeks already.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Thats my plan..I figured our best bet for Hagrids was rope drop on Friday and we always had Sunday or Saturday at close if that didnt work out for some reason.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Another question here I cant seem to find much info on. So, we decided to upgrade to preferred APs and I have downloaded the app and set up my CC in my wallet. Once we arrive and get our APs I was wondering how the discount is applied?

Do I need to link my APs to my wallet? Is my AP discount applied if I use mobile food & drink ordering from the app or Tapu Tapu at Volcano Bay?

 

[DoryGirl1963]

Another question here I cant seem to find much info on. So, we decided to upgrade to preferred APs and I have downloaded the app and set up my CC in my wallet. Once we arrive and get our APs I was wondering how the discount is applied?

Do I need to link my APs to my wallet? Is my AP discount applied if I use mobile food & drink ordering from the app or Tapu Tapu at Volcano Bay?

You'll show your UOAP card to get your discount at the time if purchase. With mobile order, it'll ask you to either scan your barcode or enter the # on your card before you "check out" & the discount will be applied.

We can never keep track of which places do or don't have AP discounts - the overwhelming majority DO - so I just whip that sucker out every...single...time !

Sorry, we don't do Volcano Bay so hopefully another AP can help you out with that.