Hagrids & Velociraptor Plan

[UniversalForever]

My family and I are heading to Universal Sept 20-26 for our annual vacation. We have been going to HHN in mid/late September for 10+ years and always stay at HRH, but missing the last two years due to COVID has me feeling off my game at bit.

Mostly, I am wondering the best plan to hit Velociraptor and Hagrid's since there is not EP for either or early entry at IOA. I am mostly worried about getting my husband on both the two days he is joining us (Th/F). He has never been to Universal, so we are planning to hit as much as possible while he is there. From what I am reading, Hagrid's has the shortest lines in the evening, but we are hitting HHN both nights he is there, so that is out of the question.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated! Theoretically we could try to go late on Wednesday when he gets in or do rope drop on Th/F, but waiting in line for 2+ hours doesn't seem all that exciting when he has such a short amount of time.

 

[KristaZ]

Hit Hagrid's first and try to get there as quick as you can. Velocicoaster tends to have a significantly shorter wait throughout the day. I was there this past weekend and Hagrid's was posting 120 minute waits, while Velocicoaster posted 20.

 

[greeneyedchick]

I second that. Velocicoaster's line moves fast. Rope drop Hagrid's if you cant go in the evening. You can also use the single rider line to get through the line a bit faster. It's the best ride in the park and worth the wait. Usually the line only gets worse as they day goes on (until evening).

 

[gharter]

We were there in April and rode both 3 days in a row. Get there EARLY (at least 40 minutes before EE) and go directly to hagirds. Should have a wait under 20 minutes if you are toward the front of the line. As soon as you are off the ride, walk over to Velocicoaster. Most days the wait was still under 20 minutes.
If your wait at Hagrids is over 30 minutes, expect Velocicoaster to be 30-40 minutes.

 

[UniversalForever]

Thanks, all! We decided to just move his flights to get there earlier in the day on Wednesday and we will hit it Wednesday evening. My last trip in 2019, I did a Wednesday morning rope drop (after landing at 2am ) and still waited 3 hours for Hagrids. I know it was a different time, but it still felt like a huge time suck on my first day.

All of that being said, I loved it!

 

[Deb1993]

Hi - we were just there a few weeks ago. We did early morning (on first boat out of PBH at 7am), waited at the turnstiles, walked briskly and were on Hagrid's in 7 minutes. Got off and walked briskly to VelociCoaster. Were off that and back in the front of the park at around 9am. We didn't do early again and did two "as the park is closing" rides. We went to VC first at around 8pm (park closed at 9pm) and it took around 40 minutes, then went to Hagrid's with about 10 minutes to spare and rode that. Tried it again the second time and only got VC at around 8pm, when we got to Hagrid it was at capacity (at 856pm) and we were not able to get on.

 

[emonade8]

Mostly, I am wondering the best plan to hit Velociraptor and Hagrid's since there is not EP for either or early entry at IOA.

IOA has early entry for all of September

 

[UniversalForever]

IOA has early entry for all of September

Interesting. No idea how I missed this on the website. I guess I am just so used to showing up and rolling with things day-to-day that I was looking in the wrong place.

 

[emonade8]

Interesting. No idea how I missed this on the website. I guess I am just so used to showing up and rolling with things day-to-day that I was looking in the wrong place.

In all fairness, they did change EE after they originally posted it

 

[djmeredith]

Just returned from a Labor Day trip; my 3rd trip in a year. If you do rope drop and get there an hour before opening, you will have a short wait time for Hagrid's. Otherwise, first thing in the morning is the longest wait of the day because the vast majority head there and decide to stay. Over Labor Day weekend, wait time dropped to 60 mins mid day every day. Over Memorial day, we jumped in line a half hour before closing when it said 80. It only took 60 and we didn't have to deal with the heat and sun of midday. As others have said, VC line builds slower. If you get to the turnstiles early and head straight to VC, you can usually get 2 rides in with very little wait.