Harry Potter trip planning question

[bamacmac]

Hi...I am helping friends plan a one day trip to Universal. Can anyone tell me how long you think it would take to cover both Harry Potter areas?

Is half a day realistic?

Thanks!

 

[VacaPlanner2012]

If they are true HP fans, then probably not. Much depends on the season. You have at least two major rides with no Express Pass, so at least 90 minutes of queue time total (again, you could get lucky and be less). Whether or not you want to ride the Hippogriff and dueling dragons coasters, that will add 45 mins to an hour. The train is probably a good 30 minutes. There are some stage shows to be seen. If you are going to get a wand, especially an interactive wand, that adds time. Two really cool restaurants, you will want to at least tour both and eat at one. Ice Cream treats, and enough time for at least 3 Butterbeers in between, oh yeah, and dozens of shops and at least 100 photos.

Again, it depends on season, wait times, and how immersive the desire is. Too walk around a bit, eat, have a Butterbeer, ride SOME of the rides, and hit up a shop, then yes - half a day is good. But at $175 for park to park one day tickets, take your time and enjoy.

For example, we are there for 8 days in June, we will spend easily 20 hours in HP world over the week - that does count riding the major attractions multiple times. And we are casual HP fans at best - my wife has not read one page or seen one minute of any of the movies - it is just that awesome!

 

[kbelle8995]

If they are major Potter fans or the crowds are heavy a half day will not be enough. A half day is pushing it in the best of circumstances.

It's not enough for me certainly. There's so much detail to see and the shops are very fun.

 

[bamacmac]

Thank you both!

I am helping the family I work for plan a one day trip. The Harry Potter part of it all is their main focus. I was in Diagon Alley for DISapalooza (my first time at Universal in 20 years) and bought their son an interactive wand. That has prompted this trip. But they will only have one day in the parks and it is during their spring break. (So it will be the day after Easter. EEEK!)

I'm trying to decide if express passes are a waste of money. Since the key Harry Potter things are excluded, I'm not sure they will even have enough time to venture into other parts of the parks to make it worth the extra money. (And for 6 people, that's a significant amount.)

 

[kbelle8995]

For Spring break express pass might not be a waste of money. It can get busy at parks especially around Easter and Harry Potter sections are the sections that will be one of the busiests. The only rides that take express pass in that section are Dragon Challenge and Flight of the Hippogriff. If they are interested in stepping beyond Potter I would say yes. It will cut time. If the potter sections are all they are interested in this might not be a deal or if they are not coaster people.

If they are okay with riding separately both FJ and Gringotts have a single rider lines but they will get split up so if riding together is important this will not work.

 

[cgattis]

If I was a huge Potter fan (which I am) and only had one day, I'd spend half a day in each Potter section and skip everything else. Therefore EP would not help. (But since I'm also a huge Simpsons fan, I'd do that once too )

 

[bamacmac]

For Spring break express pass might not be a waste of money. It can get busy at parks especially around Easter and Harry Potter sections are the sections that will be one of the busiests. The only rides that take express pass in that section are Dragon Challenge and Flight of the Hippogriff. If they are interested in stepping beyond Potter I would say yes. It will cut time. If the potter sections are all they are interested in this might not be a deal or if they are not coaster people.

If they are okay with riding separately both FJ and Gringotts have a single rider lines but they will get split up so if riding together is important this will not work.

Thanks for this info! So helpful. I'll have to talk to them and see if they think they will want to venture beyond the HP stuff much.

 

[bamacmac]

If I was a huge Potter fan (which I am) and only had one day, I'd spend half a day in each Potter section and skip everything else. Therefore EP would not help. (But since I'm also a huge Simpsons fan, I'd do that once too )

Very good to know...thank you! I imagine that once they get into the HP parts they are going to get so into all of it that they might not even care about anything else.

 

[Chelley00]

I can spend a full day easily in WWOHP so it depends on how much of a HP fan they are. Once we ride everything, we can spend hours browsing in the shops, watching the shows, trying snacks and eating at either Leaky Cauldron or Three Broomsticks.

 

[bamacmac]

I can spend a full day easily in WWOHP so it depends on how much of a HP fan they are. Once we ride everything, we can spend hours browsing in the shops, watching the shows, trying snacks and eating at either Leaky Cauldron or Three Broomsticks.

Are Leaky Cauldron and Three Broomsticks quick service or do they require reservations? No idea how any of that is at USO.

Thanks! The all are very interested in the books and have seen some of the movies. The youngest kids are starting to read the first book with Mom and the older 2 have read through all of the books and seen most of the movies. I'm starting to think that they could easily spend the whole day in WWOHP as well.

 

[schumigirl]

No reservation required for Leaky Cauldron or 3B's.......both counter service.

 

[bamacmac]

No reservation required for Leaky Cauldron or 3B's.......both counter service.

Great! Thanks!

 

[bamacmac]

Do any of you know if the Mardi Gras activities take place during the week or is that only on weekends? I think I read that the concerts are just on Saturdays or Sundays. But what about the parade...is that every night? And it sounded like the rides and attractions all close when the parade starts.

 

[pcstang]

Only on the weekends for Mardi Gras

 

[squirrel]

Hi...I am helping friends plan a one day trip to Universal. Can anyone tell me how long you think it would take to cover both Harry Potter areas?

Is half a day realistic?

Thanks!

I don't know if it's in their budget but staying onsite at one of the deluxe resorts would get them early entry so they could start at one of the HP areas (the park with the EE that day)

 

[dixonsontour]

Half a day isn't realistic. My DD loves the interactive wand but it is time consuming as they want to do all the spells. If it is busy there will be a small line for each one, plus if they have 4 children all wanting a turn time will soon add up.

I'd skip the express pass and just do the potter areas in both parks if that is their focus. We found evening just before closing a good time to visit both harry potter areas.

I'd definitely recommend eating in the leaky cauldron or 3 broomsticks. If the children are under 10 then the quick service dining deal is a good deal. Costs $12.99 but that is the cost of a child's breakfast plus they get an extra snack eg butterbeer or icecream from florean forescue and a drink.

The detail is so fantastic it would be a shame to rush and miss things.

My DD also enjoyed Ollivanders. Plus small things like changing money, getting a letter postmarked at owl post and trying the exlir potions. Plus lots of time browing in honeydukes and weesley wizard wheezes.

 

[bamacmac]

Thank you all so much for the help and suggestions! So greatly appreciated!