First timer-Harry Potter questions

[firstwdw]

Considering a few days at Universal Orlando to experience Harry Potter in April. Wasn't on my radar until my kiddo recently breezed through the first 4 books and is now a huge fan.

It appears that with the exception of the train, that the Harry Potter attractions are coasters/thrill rides? Is this accurate? Is there enough to "experience" without doing the thrill rides to justify the $155 park to park ticket? My kids don't do thrill rides!

Also I am guessing it will be VERY crowded a few days after Easter? Is this an accurate assumption? We wouldn't be staying at a Universal resort-we'd be driving over from Disney for a day or two.

Thanks for any insight-this is all new to us! We had planned to have one non-Disney park day and I feel like if we do Universal, we'd need two days of the Universal park-park tickets at least.....

 

[sandam1]

It appears that with the exception of the train, that the Harry Potter attractions are coasters/thrill rides? Is this accurate? Is there enough to "experience" without doing the thrill rides to justify the $155 park to park ticket? My kids don't do thrill rides!

Can you give more details? How old are your kids and how tall? What rides at Disney do they like/not like?

Without knowing the answers to the above, I would answer "probably" to your underlying question. The rides are only a small part of the Harry Potter experience. There is a magic in walking through the shops, eating at the Leaky Cauldron and 3 Broomsticks, and using an interactive wand (cost $50 each - well worth it IMHO) that is hard for people who have never been there to imagine. The detailing is beyond belief. And even if the kids don't want to go on the rides (Gringotts is tamer than Forbidden Journey), you definitely want to do a walk-through of each of the queues.

Outside of Harry Potter, Universal has many rides and shows that are not "thrill rides" that you may enjoy as well.

My first trip to UO/HP we went for one day. We did HP and literally two rides and one show outside of HP - and that was at a very quiet time of year. I don't do crowds so I can't give you any help with the time around Easter.

 

[luvsJack]

I can only say from my own experience. I don't do thrill rides. I did ride Forbidden Journey just because I couldn't resist but did not ride Gringotts. Nor did I ride the Dragon roller coaster. DD and Dh rode them all. I would go again in a heartbeat and pay the extra for the park to park. Now, we are huge HP fanatics. But we were blown away by Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. Like the pp said, eating at both 3 Broomsticks and the Leaky Cauldren, meeting Stan and the Shrunken head from the Knightbus, seeing the shows in both parts (the frog choir was my favorite) were all great fun. Riding the train was something I imagine your kids will love. Going through the castle without riding is quite the HP experience and so is Gringotts. DD and I spent one evening just exploring every shop in Diagon Alley. They all have something a bit magical in them. Its truly like walking into the books.

I would say that it is well worth it.

 

[bchbetha]

Consider whether you can swing a one night stay at a Universal hotel that includes express passes. You can arrive bright and early day 1, drop off bags, get your express passes (and tickets though buying ahead on line is often cheaper), hit the parks, roll back to the hotel and repeat the next day with early entry. You get express passes BOTH days with a one night stay. Going at a crowded time, this option might be good.
I think 2 day park to park is ideal. Like pp said, the HP parts are so much more than rides. We could spend 1-2 hours in Knockturn Alley alone.
I don't think Gringotts and FJ are so hardcore that they need to be avoided. My non thrill riding grade schooler rode all but Dragon Challenge. The queues for them are so cool too.

 

[EdgeOfGlory]

The experience alone is worth the $155 (and make sure you get the park to park because you will be disappointed by not being allowed to board the train otherwise). If you have the time you should consider actually booking for two days as I'm sure your kids will find enough to do at not only the HP areas but the rest of the park as well. The lines for the two "main" rides at Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley are going to get pretty ridiculous a few days after a holiday, probably over an hour each. I LOVE thrill rides but felt very sick from "The Forbidden Journey". "Escape from Gringotts" is a fairly tame indoor roller coaster/3D ride. I personally can't seem to handle the combo of shaking and 3D anymore but rolling along a track is always fine.

If they don't do thrill rides, they'll still probably love the smaller coaster, Flight of the Hyppogriff, at Hogsmeade. But again, will have a fairly long line which unfortunately isn't really worth it as the ride is over in about 30 seconds.

 

[firstwdw]

Thank you all for your helpful responses!

 

[jon18uk]

Dragon Challenge is a proper rollercoaster, and therefore definitly a thrill ride.

Gringotts uses a rollercoaster as a base and the 3D is amazing, it is definitely worth riding and is not too thrilling. Forbidden Journey uses the same base as Sum of all Thrills so can throw you about a lot more and gives more motion sickness issues.

Diagon Alley as an area is amazing as is the Hogwarts Express.

 

[wookiebeck]

I vote 'yes it is worth it'.

You will have a great time being fully immersed in the world of Harry Potter. And that is only a section of each theme park. There is plenty to do.

Make sure you at least walk through the queues if you don't plan to ride the HP rides. And for what it is worth, I wouldn't call Escape from Gringotts a thrill ride. More of a 3-D ride like Star Tours. But they sure are FUN!

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

My kids really enjoyed walking around the HP areas and going into stores. Butterbeer was a hit. Wands were a hit, although often tough for my 4yo to work, Honeydukes was a hit. I loved just being in such a totally well themed area.

Interesting that most people feel Gringotts is tamer. None of my kids liked it. It was one and done. My thrill ride loving child went on FJ twice, my thrill ride hating child did it once and liked it better than Gringotts. I think my kids dislike scary more and Gringotts was more intense.

 

[biochemgirl]

We've only been to HP in Hollywood. My son and I love the franchise and were blown away by the details. It's an immersive experience worth seeing even if you don't love the rides. I get motion sick so I only rode Forbidden Journey once, but took the castle tour twice.

 

[damo]

My kids really enjoyed walking around the HP areas and going into stores. Butterbeer was a hit. Wands were a hit, although often tough for my 4yo to work, Honeydukes was a hit. I loved just being in such a totally well themed area.

Interesting that most people feel Gringotts is tamer. None of my kids liked it. It was one and done. My thrill ride loving child went on FJ twice, my thrill ride hating child did it once and liked it better than Gringotts. I think my kids dislike scary more and Gringotts was more intense.

Gringotts is one of those rides that gets better the more you ride it.

 

[bumbershoot]

We've only been to HP in Hollywood. My son and I love the franchise and were blown away by the details. It's an immersive experience worth seeing even if you don't love the rides. I get motion sick so I only rode Forbidden Journey once, but took the castle tour twice.

In Hollywood its 3D. It's not 3D in Orlando, at least not this summer! Makes a big difference for me in terms of illness. FYI.