Harry Potter strategy

[Rose DiVerona]

This is our first time at Universal since they opened Wizarding World. We want to do both Forbidden Journey and Escape from Gringotts first thing tomorrow morning. Would it be better to start in IoA and then take the Hogwarts Express to Universal, or vice versa? Or does it matter? We are resort guests so we get in to the HP lands an hour early anyway.

 

[canadiankim]

Do both parks have early hours? If they do then I would do Universal first and then head over to IOA only because the US side of Potter is the newest. I thought that I had read somewhere that only IOA has early hours which would mean starting there.

 

[Pkltm]

I would agree do Gringotts first, that line gets pretty long quickly.

 

[flateacher]

If they are both open at the same time - I agree do Gringotts first as it is the newer ride. If IOA is open first - then do Forbidden Journey the take the Hogwarts express over to Universal to do Gringotts.

 

[randbmom]

Okay, I'm staying onsite at HRH, and have been monitoring the park wait times with the Lines app. Gringotts has the longest lines right at 8:00 am, believe it or not. We arrived yesterday about 10 AM and line times were going down, not up. Since DH did not want to leave his big camera in a locker, we decided to ride in the afternoon instead. About a 30 minute wait.
This morning, we tried to make early opening, but with sons 15 and 20, we just about made it for 8:00 AM. 7:00 AM was just too difficult. We opted for IOA and Forbidden Journey first with a <15 minute wait, folowed by Dueling Dragons with no wait. We then jumped on Hogwarts Express to US-Kings Cross Station. Since we inadvertently missed the "vanishing" effect the day before, we walked the queue as if getting back on Hogwarts to IOA, and then exited before getting on the train again. We then rode Gringotts (15 minute wait) and got Butterbeer ice cream while exploring Diagon Alley in detail while it was still mostly shady. By about 10:30 AM we headed to visit other US attractions, but that 2.5 hour immersive Harry Potter two park immersive experience was really wonderful. I highly recommend it.

 

[heywagners]

This is so helpful, as I was wondering the same thing. Can you explain the "vanishing" thing that you referred to?

 

[randbmom]

This is so helpful, as I was wondering the same thing. Can you explain the "vanishing" thing that you referred to?

As you wind through the queue you see official looking exit signs in blue. You keep going and pass through brick partitions in a zig zag way and you hear "magical" musical sound effects. If you experience that, you've gone too far! The way to view the disappearing is looking through a see through screen in the corner before this. We held one family member back to video the disappearing of the rest of us. I'll try to see if I can upload the video.

 

[heywagners]

Sounds cool! Thanks for explaining!