Harry Potter Pilgrimage

[TXTransplant]

I'm making the pilgrimage with my son in just under 2 weeks. We have 3-day park-to-park passes and plan to spend 11/22, 11/23, and 11/24 in the parks. Staying at Royal Pacific, so we will have Express Pass

I am a seasoned Disney veteran but I have never been to Universal. My son is almost 10 and is a huge Harry Potter fan. Any tips to make this trip especially memorable? I feel like I haven't planned enough, considering I have spent more time buying tickets to MVMCP and making 3 FP+ reservations for the party on 11/21 than I have planning all three days at Universal.

I have purchased Blue Man Group tickets for 11/23, and I have a reservation for dinner at Tchoup Chop on 11/24.

Any tips for making the most of our three days? I feel like we are going to spend most of our time at the HP attractions, but maybe I'm underestimating the rest of the park? Any must-dos in terms of shows, shops, or special treats/places to eat? I am considering doing the Luau, but it starts early and I don't want to cut into park time too much.

Any thoughts or suggestions? I really want to make this trip special, as it's likely the one and only time we will make the Harry Potter Pilgrimage.

 

[mrsabbott]

The rest of the park is pretty awesome as well! Get your HP fill and then take some time to see the rest of the park! You will be pleasantly surprised, I thinks! Just FYI, the express pass only works on Hippogriff and Dueling dragons in the HP area.
Eat at Mythos. My absolute favorite!

 

[lazer]

Do the wand show at Ollivanders and get a wand! Make sure you ride the Hogwarts Express in both directions and grab a snack from Honeydukes.

We spent a lot of time at the HP stuff, but explored both parks. You'll have more than enough time to do the same with Express Pass and three days. It was our first Universal trip and we were amazed at the awesome rides and service we received everywhere. Since you're staying onsite, if save the water rides at IOA for the end of one day, walk or boat back to the hotel and change before grabbing a dinner and maybe mini golf at City Walk.

I'd also recommend eating at Mythos at universal studios. It was an awesome meal at a unique place.

 

[SAHMKC]

Some information regarding Tchoup Chop - They put a twist on traditional Asian food. My kids did not like the restaurant, because the chicken fried rice and Miso Soup were very different from what they were used to eating. I also ordered a California Roll and it had a sauce on top that was not usually on the roll. If your son is a picky or unadventurous eater, I would not recommend this restaurant. You can always venture out to one of the City Walk restaurants - everything is very close. I agree with the other poster that Mythos is a restaurant not to be missed! Your son also might find it fun to eat at the Leaky Cauldron or Three Broomsticks in the parks. Most important - the frozen Butterbeer is not to be missed.

 

[sorcerermick]

3 words.... butterbeer ice cream!

 

[kbelle8995]

Go to the Leaky Cauldron for some food or the Three Broomsticks. It is worth it for the Banger sandwich. Also the Ice cream place is excellent whether you get butterbeer ice cream or not. If he's a huge HP fan these are must dos.

Also check out Celestina Warbeck and Her Banshees. Totally worth it.
And the Puppeteer show. Also well worth the time.

 

[Mrs Lapo]

Thank you for this post I was literally coming to post almost the same thing. We'll be in Universal on 11/23 as well. It's also our first time. We'll only be there for one day though so we are specifically focusing on the HP parks and then if we have time we will venture out to check out some of the other attractions. We are staying on Disney property so I too have been mostly focused on that part of our vacation and feel as though I have not done enough research or spent as much time planning our one day at Universal. Thanks to those who posted the great tips. I have noted them all. We definitely want to try to eat at Three Broomstick or the Leaky Cauldron. My girls and I are obsessed with Harry Potter

 

[marauder]

We just got back from Disney and a single day 2 park trip to Universal.

This was the second trip for the entire family (I have been a few more times by myself when younger.) Since we saw the original Harry Potter section we first went to the new section. Went right to Gringotts (posted 75 minutes wait, actual about 60), make sure if you are a HP fan you DON'T do the single rider line first, you lose out on the story-line. The second time I got on Gringotts I did single rider line and the main wait was 30 minutes, it took me 20 minutes in single rider. The single rider line skips the bank vault, the "elevator" ride, and the security photos.

After doing that for we used our wand for awhile in that area then took the train (10 minute wait). After riding the older ride (20 minute wait) and the roller coasters in the old section (longest wait was 5 minutes) we did the few wand locations there and then did the circuit of IOA. We stopped at anything that interested us (Doctor Doom free-fall, a few things in Seusical, Spiderman, Jurassic Park, the Jurassic Park play area/gliders) then made it back to the HP area and took the train back to the other section (15 minute wait.) That was when I rode Gringots for the 2nd time via the single-rider time while my kids played with their wands. Then we did the circuit of the older park only stopping at rides that really interested us (MIB, ET (for the kids), Mummy, Transformers) and that was pretty much our full day.

 

[TXTransplant]

Thanks for all of the great suggestions (and please keep them coming)! I'm taking notes that I will bring with us!

 

[coastgirl]

We haven't been to the DA part yet but have had two trips that included the Hogsmeade part, and we are all huge fans.

My kids both got picked during the "wand show" and it was honestly the highlight of a lifetime for them. (Ds just used it as a presentation in gr 9, one of those "memorable moments" assignments!! ) I know there used to be lots of threads about how to get picked...my kids were just honestly so thrilled to be there, polite and wide-eyed, and the perfect age for it (both were 10 at the time--like your kid). And they were both wearing HP gear at the time...not the whole robes thing, but t-shirts that they'd clearly had for a while. I think it's more fun for everyone when they know they are picking a true fan.

That's still a long shot, but my fingers are crossed for your boy.

For a true fan, make sure you talk to the people working there. Everyone I met who was working there was also a well-informed fan, and they loved chatting with people who had the same enthusiasm. So even if he doesn't get picked in the wand ceremony, get someone in the shop to help him pick his wand. If he knows which house he would like to be sorted into, get him some house swag early in the trip, if he doesn't already have something. We purchased and wore house lanyards (2 Gryffindors and 2 Ravenclaws!), and we were constantly greeted by fellow house-members who were on duty.

The rides are fun, but we could just wander around Hogsmeade all day, poking in the shops, sitting in the Hogshead with a butterbeer, watching for the house elves, etc., all day. The rest of the resort is fun and we enjoyed many of the attractions, but I'd take an hour in Hogsmeade "not doing anything" over any of the headliner rides elsewhere. YMMV! The fact that you called it a "pilgrimage" though, indicates you may feel the same way!

I hope you have a fabulous time.

 

[TXTransplant]

We haven't been to the DA part yet but have had two trips that included the Hogsmeade part, and we are all huge fans.

My kids both got picked during the "wand show" and it was honestly the highlight of a lifetime for them. (Ds just used it as a presentation in gr 9, one of those "memorable moments" assignments!! ) I know there used to be lots of threads about how to get picked...my kids were just honestly so thrilled to be there, polite and wide-eyed, and the perfect age for it (both were 10 at the time--like your kid). And they were both wearing HP gear at the time...not the whole robes thing, but t-shirts that they'd clearly had for a while. I think it's more fun for everyone when they know they are picking a true fan.

That's still a long shot, but my fingers are crossed for your boy.

For a true fan, make sure you talk to the people working there. Everyone I met who was working there was also a well-informed fan, and they loved chatting with people who had the same enthusiasm. So even if he doesn't get picked in the wand ceremony, get someone in the shop to help him pick his wand. If he knows which house he would like to be sorted into, get him some house swag early in the trip, if he doesn't already have something. We purchased and wore house lanyards (2 Gryffindors and 2 Ravenclaws!), and we were constantly greeted by fellow house-members who were on duty.

The rides are fun, but we could just wander around Hogsmeade all day, poking in the shops, sitting in the Hogshead with a butterbeer, watching for the house elves, etc., all day. The rest of the resort is fun and we enjoyed many of the attractions, but I'd take an hour in Hogsmeade "not doing anything" over any of the headliner rides elsewhere. YMMV! The fact that you called it a "pilgrimage" though, indicates you may feel the same way!

I hope you have a fabulous time.

Great tips...thanks so much! Where do you get the lanyards? They sound like something we would like.

And yes, it is a "pilgrimage" for us. We have been to WDW three times, and my son has asked on at least two of those trips if we could also go to HP. I always opted not to because of the logistical issues getting back and forth betwen WDW and Universal. I also knew he probably wasn't quite old enough to fully enjoy everything the HP parks have to offer. I almost booked a trip for this past summer but decided to wait because I wanted to be sure Diagon Alley would be open. I don't want my son to miss a thing! My son has read all of the books (more than once). Unfortunately, I never did get around to reading them (I was in college by the time most of them came out). I'm looking forward to letting my son educate me about the details of the story!

 

[bumbershoot]

The lanyards are available all over Wizarding World and beyond. About $10. Worth every penny.

 

[coastgirl]

You can have a look here: https://www.universalorlando.com/Merchandise/Shop/Harry_Potter/Lanyards.html

Anything that "marks" you is good though! But the lanyards were small, unbreakable and useful.

The books are worth reading...try the first one if you have time. The detail is so rich, which is part of what make the WW so neat.

Have a great time, and then tell us how much fun your kid (and you!) had!

 

[bumbershoot]

Unfortunately, I never did get around to reading them (I was in college by the time most of them came out).

I was in my 30s when I read them. Age doesn't matter. They are good books. Read them. Start now.

 

[damo]

Try the fishy green ale. It is non-alcoholic and very fun.

 

[damo]

I was in my 30s when I read them. Age doesn't matter. They are good books. Read them. Start now.

Agreed. Just because they are categorized as books for young adults, that certainly doesn't mean that adults shouldn't read them! At least get the first book read before you go.

 

[SAHMKC]

I was in my 30s when I read them. Age doesn't matter. They are good books. Read them. Start now.

Yes! I agree. I re-read all the books over the last few months in preparation for our Thanksgiving trip! You are never too old for Harry Potter.

I am hoping DS gets picked for the wand demonstration this time. DD got picked last time and didn't even want the wand! She a minion fan. We have a giant "It's So Fluffy" Unicorn from our last trip. She will be sporting a Minion lanyard and DS will be getting a Ravenclaw one.