Harry Potter in a day staying offsite

[Rachel L]

I've seen several threads about seeing all the HP stuff while staying on site and getting in an hour early. However, we are staying at Disney (POR) for a week and want to spend 1 day at Universal to see the HP stuff. Main goal is to experience everything HP (we'll have Park to Park tickets) and anything else would be a bonus. Do we need to get there super early? We are used to doing rope drop at Disney but will have to catch an Uber so not sure about timing. Will we be able to see everything without the extra hour from staying on site? Right now we are planning to do Universal Sunday, Nov 5. Thanks for any advice!

 

[sherlockmiles]

yes, but you will likely not see much else. get there as close to opening as possible - probably go to diagon alley then hogsmeade

 

[schumigirl]

Get there as early as you can........they can open the gates early on occasions........most folks I know are there around 30 -45 minutes before opening.......don't think anyone regretted doing that.

You can do a fair bit in a day........glad to see you have park to park......both Potter areas are very immersive.......if that's your priority then take your time in both areas and don't rush it.

It's a shame you won't see much else in the parks, but since fully experiencing Potter areas is your priority then certainly focus on that to get the most out of your day.

You could always return another time to experience the rest of the parks.......they are fabulous and best enjoyed when you're not rushing and trying to fit too much into one day.

 

[Rachel L]

Get there as early as you can........they can open the gates early on occasions........most folks I know are there around 30 -45 minutes before opening.......don't think anyone regretted doing that.

You can do a fair bit in a day........glad to see you have park to park......both Potter areas are very immersive.......if that's your priority then take your time in both areas and don't rush it.

It's a shame you won't see much else in the parks, but since fully experiencing Potter areas is your priority then certainly focus on that to get the most out of your day.

You could always return another time to experience the rest of the parks.......they are fabulous and best enjoyed when you're not rushing and trying to fit too much into one day.

Thanks! My kids are still fairly young (10 and 7) so we are still focusing mostly on Disney. I LOVE HP though and have never been so I really just want to see the HP stuff. I am sure we'll go back to Universal in the future when the kids are older and will enjoy the other rides more.
I've read several different posts talking about ways to do the HP stuff. Should we try to start in Diagon Alley and go through it like HP would have? Or just start wherever?

 

[schumigirl]

You'll have an amazing time. They truly are the most amazingly themed places......we aren't the biggest Potter fans in the world, we do like the books and films, but not hard core fans.........but, both Potter areas absolutely blow us away every time we visit........we never get bored there.

Some suggest doing Diagon Alley first then crossing to Hogsmeade as that's the way Harry did it.........wouldn't matter to me one way or the other.......but make sure you do the Hogwarts Express both journeys as they are different both ways.

I hope it's dark enough for you to see the castle all lit up, as it is spectacular to see it like that....but, it's still impressive regardless.

 

[janicept]

When your dates get closer check when early entry is for the parks. Nov 5 shouldn't be too busy even though it's a Sunday. At really busy times they have early entry for both parks and really slow times there is no early entry at all. Get the Universal app so you can keep track of ride times at both parks. Usually one park closes earlier than the other and you can go back and forth with a 2-park ticket. After you've seen the HP train both ways you can go out and around the front entrance - good time to get a sundae at Toothsome. If you want to go to Ollivander's show go in Studios since they have more rooms and the line will move faster. Both HP restaurants have lines that move fairly fast so don't give up trying to eat there even if the line looks bad.

 

[Rachel L]

When your dates get closer check when early entry is for the parks. Nov 5 shouldn't be too busy even though it's a Sunday. At really busy times they have early entry for both parks and really slow times there is no early entry at all. Get the Universal app so you can keep track of ride times at both parks. Usually one park closes earlier than the other and you can go back and forth with a 2-park ticket. After you've seen the HP train both ways you can go out and around the front entrance - good time to get a sundae at Toothsome. If you want to go to Ollivander's show go in Studios since they have more rooms and the line will move faster. Both HP restaurants have lines that move fairly fast so don't give up trying to eat there even if the line looks bad.

Good to know, thank you!

 

[mherb]

We are doing the same thing next Wed! Any idea what time we should get Uber/Lyft from Disney hotels to get to park early enough?

 

[eleven24]

We are doing the same thing next Wed! Any idea what time we should get Uber/Lyft from Disney hotels to get to park early enough?

My son and I just got back from our getaway weekend. Stayed at Bay Lake, used Lyft to get from there to Universal. From hotel I went out front, requested Lyft and it was there in about 10 min. Leaving from Universal, cross the sky walk and go down to where the yellow Mears cabs are. Request Lyft and it will be there in < 5 min. Ride was 30 min, cost was $17 plus a tip.

For us, Universal closed at 6pm (!) so we left around 5 to avoid the rush and spent the rest of the night at MK.

 

[mherb]

My son and I just got back from our getaway weekend. Stayed at Bay Lake, used Lyft to get from there to Universal. From hotel I went out front, requested Lyft and it was there in about 10 min. Leaving from Universal, cross the sky walk and go down to where the yellow Mears cabs are. Request Lyft and it will be there in < 5 min. Ride was 30 min, cost was $17 plus a tip.

For us, Universal closed at 6pm (!) so we left around 5 to avoid the rush and spent the rest of the night at MK.

Very helpful!! Thanks so much What time in the morning did you get the Lyft?

 

[eleven24]

Very helpful!! Thanks so much What time in the morning did you get the Lyft?

First day we left Bay Lake around 9am, second day we left at 7:45am. Driver's advice was if Lyft says too long of a wait, look on Uber as there are more drivers using Uber. Lyft seemed to be $2-3 cheaper as well.

In Universal, we didn't pay the extra $90 per person for the daily "fast pass" and really had no lines over 30 min to deal with.

Good luck & have fun!

 

[mherb]

Thank you sooo much!!!

First day we left Bay Lake around 9am, second day we left at 7:45am. Driver's advice was if Lyft says too long of a wait, look on Uber as there are more drivers using Uber. Lyft seemed to be $2-3 cheaper as well.

In Universal, we didn't pay the extra $90 per person for the daily "fast pass" and really had no lines over 30 min to deal with.

Good luck & have fun!

 

[shanew21]

As long as you get there early I don't think you'll have any issues. Early November isn't that busy.

 

[bumbershoot]

My kids are still fairly young (10 and 7) so we are still focusing mostly on Disney.

FWIW our first Orlando trip was when DS was 6.5, we spent 4 days at Universal, and he fell in LOVE with the place. By 10 he was clamoring to ride all the coasters. Your kids might very well not be on the young side for Universal love...

Should we try to start in Diagon Alley and go through it like HP would have?

That's a choice you get to make because your first trip is now! When we went it was only Hogsmeade, so we saw that, and it was totally fine to start there.

We tend to look at it as though we're a wizarding family already. Doesn't hurt that I'm a Molly and my son is tall and has red hair. We figure our family has been going to Hogsmeade station for centuries (surely Hogwarts has family weekends even though JK doesn't get into it), so going to Hogsmeade and then back to Diagon (to pick up needed items) is something we've done bunches of times.

It's really only the total newbies like Harry or Hermione that hit Diagon first.

Just depends on what you want to do. You need to go *back* anyway, to see both "shows" on the train.