Harry Potter World, what is a stand by enterance??

[V2000]

Hi there

This will be my first time at Universal Orlando. I was reading up on some tips on Harry Potter World.
I saw that you may have to get a ticket for the stand by entrance. When are these issued? I am not sure I understand the concept.

Also, I heard that if you go at opening time you may want to enter the park through the Blue Man Group entrance for less crowds? Is this true and would you recommend this?

 

[Queen of Oakville]

Are you referring to the single-rider line? If so, you and your party can go through the single rider line as a group, recognizing that you may be split up. If the ride seats 4 to a row, and there is a party of 3, they will call on 1 from the single rider to fill that row. You and your hubby could end up sitting together, in different rows of the same car, or on completely different cars, but you will spend much less time waiting for the ride. You can chat together in line, but may be split up on the ride (but who chats during the ride?). It's the way to go if you are only adults.

With little kids, it was not an option for us.

 

[elaine amj]

I read that the timed ticket entry was instituted when crowds were crazy when the land first opened. It hasn't been used in a while and it is unlikely unless crowds hit the crazy point.

 

[macraven]

the entrance to the park through the blue man group is not always opened.
i wouldn't count on using that way at opening time.

i've used it on occassions during the afternoons when i come from ioa to the studios.



i think you are talking about when the park is at capacity or the ride in parry hotter is at capacity, you need to wait until peeps leave before you can either enter the park or get in the ride line.

this happened first in 2010 when the studios ph opened.

i haven't read guests having to wait to enter the park except on some dates during the christmas to ny eve period.

don't worry about this.
it is only when certain holidays are effected.

 

[elaine amj]

I just found more info about the Blue Man Group entrance from a TouringPlans blog entry:

It is important to note that this entrance does not open with regular park opening (or early admission). It generally opens up around 10AM. This is the way I leave the park, as well. My recommendation? If not taking the Hogwarts Express over to USF, after you finish Islands of Adventure, take a sharp left at the end of the Hard Rock Cafe, check out a piece of the actual Berlin Wall, and continue on to the side entrance of USF.

 

[V2000]

Thanks so much for that clarification!

 

[elaine amj]

So I just had to take a look at this alternate entrance (excuse my scribble marking HRC - Hard Rock Cafe). It doesn't look like it saves any walking time - I can see it being useful if the main entrance is crowded - not sure how often that happens. So not sure what the advantages are - guess its nice not to have turnstiles to deal with.

 

[elaine amj]

Here's the full info from Touring Plans about this entrance.

# 1 – There is a Second Entrance to Universal Studios Florida
This is my favorite “secret” and one I use all the time as the turnstiles at every theme park drive me bananas. I always seem to be behind someone whose ticket media is a piece of paper they printed out from home that has been folded 15 times and of course not gotten out their pants pocket until the second they are asked for it directly. I have been behind parties of 8 in which one person has all the tickets and no one realized that each ticket is assigned to a specific person. I have even been behind guests trying to use Disney park tickets at Universal (front line Cast Members at Disney and Team Members at Universal have the patience of Job at times). Thankfully, at Universal Studios Florida there is a second entrance that is located near the Blue Man Group. This area has one person working, has no turnstile (the Team Member still checks your ticket media and does the finger scan) and never has a wait. Ever. It lets you into the park right in between the entrance to Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem and the Studios Store. You also get up close and personal with a good portion of Rip Ride Rockit as you make your way to this entrance. It is important to note that this entrance does not open with regular park opening (or early admission). It generally opens up around 10AM. This is the way I leave the park, as well. My recommendation? If not taking the Hogwarts Express over to USF, after you finish Islands of Adventure, take a sharp left at the end of the Hard Rock Cafe, check out a piece of the actual Berlin Wall, and continue on to the side entrance of USF.

 

[johde]

At least according to mapmyrun.com, there is no significant difference in distance starting at Despicable Me. So, the the difference would be how crowded it is.

 

[V2000]

Here's the full info from Touring Plans about this entrance.

# 1 – There is a Second Entrance to Universal Studios Florida
This is my favorite “secret” and one I use all the time as the turnstiles at every theme park drive me bananas. I always seem to be behind someone whose ticket media is a piece of paper they printed out from home that has been folded 15 times and of course not gotten out their pants pocket until the second they are asked for it directly. I have been behind parties of 8 in which one person has all the tickets and no one realized that each ticket is assigned to a specific person. I have even been behind guests trying to use Disney park tickets at Universal (front line Cast Members at Disney and Team Members at Universal have the patience of Job at times). Thankfully, at Universal Studios Florida there is a second entrance that is located near the Blue Man Group. This area has one person working, has no turnstile (the Team Member still checks your ticket media and does the finger scan) and never has a wait. Ever. It lets you into the park right in between the entrance to Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem and the Studios Store. You also get up close and personal with a good portion of Rip Ride Rockit as you make your way to this entrance. It is important to note that this entrance does not open with regular park opening (or early admission). It generally opens up around 10AM. This is the way I leave the park, as well. My recommendation? If not taking the Hogwarts Express over to USF, after you finish Islands of Adventure, take a sharp left at the end of the Hard Rock Cafe, check out a piece of the actual Berlin Wall, and continue on to the side entrance of USF.

you are so funny! Thanks! This is a awesome tip! I will keep it in mind!

 

[V2000]

I guess I have to use the main entrance at opening. I want to ride the Gringotts ride and I am looking for solutions to wait times.

 

[johde]

I guess I have to use the main entrance at opening. I want to ride the Gringotts ride and I am looking for solutions to wait times.

I've pretty much decided if you have the time, I potentially take my lumps on Gringotts unless I can hit it during Early Entry. Then themeing of Gringotts in the main queue is good enough that a 45 minute wait doesn't feel outrageous especially for your first trip. If you don't have Early Entry (or Express) at USF, I would hit Despicable Me, HRRR, ROTM, Transformers, Simpsons and Men in Black in quick succession before heading into Diagon Alley. You should have short lines on all of those rides and the time you have there is worth it for a possible slightly longer wait for Gringotts. And the wait may not be longer. Everybody heads to Gringotts at opening so often times wait times spike then back off at opening before building again in the afternoon.

 

[V2000]

I've pretty much decided if you have the time, I potentially take my lumps on Gringotts unless I can hit it during Early Entry. Then themeing of Gringotts in the main queue is good enough that a 45 minute wait doesn't feel outrageous especially for your first trip. If you don't have Early Entry (or Express) at USF, I would hit Despicable Me, HRRR, ROTM, Transformers, Simpsons and Men in Black in quick succession before heading into Diagon Alley. You should have short lines on all of those rides and the time you have there is worth it for a possible slightly longer wait for Gringotts. And the wait may not be longer. Everybody heads to Gringotts at opening so often times wait times spike then back off at opening before building again in the afternoon.

Hmmm...something to think about. We are going in October during the day but the park closes early for HHN. I wonder if crowds will be high on day the park closes at 5pm.

 

[johde]

Hmmm...something to think about. We are going in October during the day but the park closes early for HHN. I wonder if crowds will be high on day the park closes at 5pm.

It's my understanding the parks are fairly quiet most of the day in October. Similar to MNSSHP days the crowds start picking up in the late afternoon. But, unlike MNSSHP, they clear the park before HHN starts. People already in the park go to one of a couple of "holding areas" while they finish clearing the park and transition over to HHN they then get early access to a couple of houses. Locals with AP will frequently show up shortly before closing instead of waiting outside for HHN to start. If you have a 2 park ticket, if you plan to hop over to IOA before 3:00-4:00 you should almost definitely have a quiet day. If your not planning on a 2 park pass, I'd see if you could go on a non HHN night to get the extra park time.

 

[V2000]

It's my understanding the parks are fairly quiet most of the day in October. Similar to MNSSHP days the crowds start picking up in the late afternoon. But, unlike MNSSHP, they clear the park before HHN starts. People already in the park go to one of a couple of "holding areas" while they finish clearing the park and transition over to HHN they then get early access to a couple of houses. Locals with AP will frequently show up shortly before closing instead of waiting outside for HHN to start. If you have a 2 park ticket, if you plan to hop over to IOA before 3:00-4:00 you should almost definitely have a quiet day. If your not planning on a 2 park pass, I'd see if you could go on a non HHN night to get the extra park time.

You are so awesome! Thanks for letting me know. I am doing the 2-park so I will hop over to IOA probably at 3pm. I think they close at 8pm on HHN. This is my first time to see the Harry Potter theme park so if you have any other tips, please let me know! We are doing both parks in one day with an early park close. We might not be able to see everything but we thought something is better than nothing.

 

[hydrotony]

Hmmm...something to think about. We are going in October during the day but the park closes early for HHN. I wonder if crowds will be high on day the park closes at 5pm.

Last year they tried a new thing when HHN closed the park early. If you were in Diagon Alley at the early closing time, you were allowed to stay longer if you had a 2-park pass and would take Hogwarts Express to IOA before IOA's closing time. I did this one night and it was crowded, seemed like every non-HHNer did this and the HE line was long and the Forbidden Journey line was really long. Single rider line was packed too.

 

[V2000]

Last year they tried a new thing when HHN closed the park early. If you were in Diagon Alley at the early closing time, you were allowed to stay longer if you had a 2-park pass and would take Hogwarts Express to IOA before IOA's closing time. I did this one night and it was crowded, seemed like every non-HHNer did this and the HE line was long and the Forbidden Journey line was really long. Single rider line was packed too.

Ha! That makes a lot of sense because Universal closes so early at 5pm. 2-park pass peeps will surely make their way over to IOA. Yikes.
I wish I could go to IOA first but I don't see how I can make that work seeing two parks in one day with Uni closing at 5. Maybe I can make my way over to IOA like at 1pm. My first time a Diagon alley. Do you think 4 hours will be good there?

 

[macraven]

Hmmm...something to think about. We are going in October during the day but the park closes early for HHN. I wonder if crowds will be high on day the park closes at 5pm.

can you switch your dates around and go on the non hhn nights?
you'd have more hours in the parks then.