Haven't done US/IOA in many years... help!

[ashley0139]

I am going to US/IOA for one day in October, and trying to get a handle on things. I am going solely for WWoHP. I don't need to do anything outside of it. We are staying at Disney and will be driving over for the day, and plan to go on a Monday or Tuesday so there is no Halloween Horror night. Since we won't have onsite perks, can anyone help me with a plan of how to see and do as much as possible in HP in one day?

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

HP isn't all that big- between Diagon and Hogsmeade there are only five rides. You can cover it all in a few hours.

 

[bsiev1977]

I am going to US/IOA for one day in October, and trying to get a handle on things. I am going solely for WWoHP. I don't need to do anything outside of it. We are staying at Disney and will be driving over for the day, and plan to go on a Monday or Tuesday so there is no Halloween Horror night. Since we won't have onsite perks, can anyone help me with a plan of how to see and do as much as possible in HP in one day?

-Be there at park opening.
-you need two park admission to be able to ride the Hogwarts Express.

 

[ashley0139]

HP isn't all that big- between Diagon and Hogsmeade there are only five rides. You can cover it all in a few hours.

Thanks. Should I pick one side first over the other? Do I need to do Forbidden Journey first or should I do Gringotts? I know Forbidden Journey has single rider but I don't know what the line for Gringotts is like and I'd rather not do single rider with my friend. I also want to do things like Ollivanders and see any shows or performances there are.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

I personally like to do Harry's journey- start in Diagon, take the train over and then go to Hogsmeade and Hogwarts. I think it's personal preference. Both of the major rides can have pretty long waits, but in October the lines shouldn't be too bad. Check the park map do show times- there are two shows on each side (Celestina/Tales of Beedle the Bard in Diagon and the Frog Choir/Tri-Wizard Spirit Rally in Hogsmeade). They alternate every 30 minutes. Do Ollivander's in Diagon Alley. I've never waited for a show there.

 

[ashley0139]

I personally like to do Harry's journey- start in Diagon, take the train over and then go to Hogsmeade and Hogwarts. I think it's personal preference. Both of the major rides can have pretty long waits, but in October the lines shouldn't be too bad. Check the park map do show times- there are two shows on each side (Celestina/Tales of Beedle the Bard in Diagon and the Frog Choir/Tri-Wizard Spirit Rally in Hogsmeade). They alternate every 30 minutes. Do Ollivander's in Diagon Alley. I've never waited for a show there.

This is so helpful thank you!

 

[bumbershoot]

and plan to go on a Monday or Tuesday so there is no Halloween Horror night.

If you were to start at Universal Studios *park* first and get it all done before 5, you could go on a HHN day and it wouldn't be a problem. It's just the one park that closes for the party.


Some way to take Harry's journey. My son, a red-head, was happy to take Ron's journey. (or any wizard from a wizarding family) He reasoned that any kid, especially a kid with older siblings like Ron had, from a wizarding family would have been to Hogsmeade before. It is a working, lived-in town, after all, so while Rowling didn't show us holidays where family came for visits, they might very well have had such events. So the families would have gone back and forth, and going to Diagon first is only something for those from non-wizarding families.

Of course, since we first went to Uni when there was ONLY Hogsmeade, and he had been there several times, it also went along with his experience.


That said, to get BOTH ways on the train, you need to start in park A then go back immediately to tour the Park B (and then take the train again to tour Park A) or start in A, tour around, go to B, tour around, go back to A to get both train rides.

 

[ashley0139]

That said, to get BOTH ways on the train, you need to start in park A then go back immediately to tour the Park B (and then take the train again to tour Park A) or start in A, tour around, go to B, tour around, go back to A to get both train rides.

Can you explain this part? I'm confused.

 

[macraven]

let me translate for bumber....

take the train one way to the other station in the other park.
see the show/video on the windows while on the ride.

later, take the train again from that park back to the first park.
it will be a different viewed show in the cabs.

i think bumber was telling you to do the train ride to the other side, get off and get back on the entrance for the train that is traveling back to the original park you started from.

 

[agavegirl1]

I would recommend being there for park opening at whatever park does NOT have early entry for onsight guests. Fully enjoy either Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley (save Olivander's for Diagon Alley). Take the Hogwarts Express to the other park. Enjoy the second park at a leisurely pace. Be sure to catch all the shows. Toward evening, return to your first park via Hogwarts Express and grab snacks and purchase what you would like.

However, on a weekday in October, this will not take you all day. You may find you have plenty of time to experience a few other headliners.

 

[kbelle8995]

If you love Potter I would do both sides and the train. It is worth it. I also suggest checking out Celestina Warbeck's show as well as the The Tales of Beedle the bard shows. Both are well worth checking out. While Universal Studios has Diagon Alley my favorite Potter section, IOA is my favorite parks and it is worth stepping beyond the borders of Harry Potter areas. Keep in mind that both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley is extremely popular and can get quite crowded. Oh and Gringotts has a singer rider line as well but you will miss most of the line and the elevator as well as the pre-show which is worth checking out at least once.