Half day... help!

[emsstacey]

We will be heading to Orlando this summer for National Beta Convention. Our sponsor has decided to bless us all with 1 day Universal tickets on a day we don't have a lot planned. Unfortunately, we won't leave Disney to head to Universal until around 1:30.... on a Friday. June 30th.

Talk straight to me... is it going to be awful or will we be able to have some fun despite such a late start and crowded time of year?

I haven't been to Universal since I was a little girl and I'm so excited to see the Harry Potter stuff!!

Thanks!

 

[janicept]

You will definitely be able to walk around the HP area. I would recommend going to Studios since the HP area there is new. As soon as you get into the park try to reserve a Jimmy Fallon spot in line with the Universal app on your phone. They do seem to open a stand by line about 2 hours before park closing but you never know what will change between now and then since it has only been open just over a month. I personally would skip the nighttime show and go on Gringott's right before park closing. You might still have a long line but as long as you're in line you should be able to ride. Also I would try to ride earlier in the afternoon since it does go down sometimes.

Not sure how late they stay open in the summer but there is plenty do see/do even if the lines are super long. The Horror Make up Show is pretty good and also Terminator seats a huge crowd. When crowds are large they open up a second theater for Shrek. Simpson's and Minions always seem to have long lines and load pretty slow.

 

[damo]

Free tickets? I'd sure go, even for half a day!

 

[emsstacey]

Thank you for the great advice! I'm excited to go!

 

[damo]

Get your sponsor to get you park to park tickets so you can see each Harry Potter area and ride the Hogwarts Express.

 

[jeffbeardreams]

Even if you have single park tickets, you'll still find plenty to do for an afternoon. I was in town for training recently at one of the Universal Resorts and we were able to pop out into the parks at about 4:00 in the afternoon a couple of times. Even with just three hours, we had plenty to do and see. You just can't count on getting on like 5 headliner rides or something unrealistic.