First time assistance...

[vancesmom]

This will be my families first venture from Disney to Universal. We leave in 2 weeks. I'm looking for "game plan" ideas and general tips. Like I said, this is our first Universal experience but we would like to focus on Harry Potter. We are only going one day and will visit both parks. I know we won't see it all but what do you recommend are the DO NOT MISS attractions. Does anyone have a recommended itinerary? Ready set go!

 

[damo]

Things I would not miss outside of the Harry Potter things are Spiderman, Mummy, Men in Black, Jurassic Park River Adventure, Transformers and ET.


You don't really need an itinerary. If you are staying offsite, just pay attention to wait times and go from there. You should take a look at the website because there may be movies of which you are a big fan. Don't expect to see everything because it is impossible in one day.

 

[Robo56]

Ditto on what Damo said.

You are going to be there during Halloween Horror nights. This is the 25th anniversary of HHN and get could be busy while your there. Check ahead to make sure which park is closing early do to HHN. I think it's usually Universal. This would affect your planning if it's on the day your visiting. Look at the Universal site to see which days HHN happening and plan accordly. They have the days listed.

If it's The Wizarding World of Harry Potter ithat is your focus then I would be at either at Universal or Islands of Adventure at rope drop.

If you head to Hogsmeade in IOA then head first of Forbidden Journey then Flight of Hippogriff then Dueling dragons.
What a lot of people don't know is that if you don't want to ride FJ can still do the walk through. Get a butter beer
Walk around the shops. Then catch the Hogwarts Express to Diagon Alley and head straight to Escape from Gringotts. If it is really busy then come back later in the evening sometimes it eases up a little in the evening. The experience at Diagon Alley is really awesome later as it starts to get dark. You can use single rider line if needed to get through Gringotts if it's really busy.

You need a park to park ticket to ride the Hogwarts Express. Ride it in both directions as the experience is different in each direction.

Make sure to see the wand show at Ollivanders. They pick a child out of the audience for the wand show. Maybe buy a interactive wand for the little ones to do magic at both the Potter parks. There is a map in the wand box for all the sites they are able to do magic at as well as a metal medallion marking the magic spots in both Potter parks.

Have lunch or dinner at the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley or Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade. Have a great time.

 

[damo]

Ditto on what Damo said.

If it's The Wizarding World of Harry Potter ithat is your focus then I would be at either at Universal or Islands of Adventure at rope drop.

If you head to Hogsmeade in IOA then head first of Forbidden Journey then Flight of Hippogriff then Dueling dragons.
What a lot of people don't know is that if you don't want to ride FJ can still do the walk through. Get a butter beer
Walk around the shops. Then catch the Hogwarts Express to Diagon Alley and head straight to Escape from Gringotts. If it is really busy then come back later in the evening sometimes it eases up a little in the evening. The experience at Diagon Alley is really awesome later as it starts to get dark. You can use single rider line if needed to get through Gringotts if it's really busy.

You need a park to park ticket to ride the Hogwarts Express. Ride it in both directions as the experience is different in each direction.

Make sure to see the wand show at Ollivanders. They pick a child out of the audience for the wand show. Maybe buy a interactive wand for the little ones to do magic at both the Potter parks. There is a map in the wand box for all the sites they are able to do magic at as well as a metal medallion marking the magic spots in both Potter parks.

Have lunch or dinner at the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley or Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade. Have a great time.

My mom who was 88 at the time, and myself, got picked together for the Ollivanders show. People of all ages seem to have a shot at having the wand choose them. It is definitely a not to miss attraction for Harry Potter lovers!

 

[angierae]

My mom who was 88 at the time, and myself, got picked together for the Ollivanders show. People of all ages seem to have a shot at having the wand choose them. It is definitely a not to miss attraction for Harry Potter lovers!

Oh man, what a fun experience for your mom!