HELP!! EPA this week for Hagrids or Ollivanders??

[cookiemonster80]

Hi everyone,
I’m trying to get my strategy in place for Wednesday and Thursday of this week and don’t know how to tackle both Hagrids and Ollivanders. We do have EPA but no express passes so I know we’ll be in line most of the day.

give me your pointers and stragies!!
Thanks everyone!!

 

[bobbie68]

Hi I would plan to split the EPA each day if you don't want to wait in a long line. IOA has early admission for both those days. If Hagrid's is important to you I would do that on Wednesday morning. The early entry time is at 8 so I would be at the gate by 7:15 7:30 the latest. Once the gate opens you will go through Seuss Land (you will have to show your hotel key card or season pass) to get up to HP and they will direct you into the line for Hagrid's. When you get off Hagrid's you end up by the Olivander's shop there, so you could check the line and see if you want to get in it. You may still be able to do it right after Hagrid's. This way if you do then Thursday morning you could do Hagrid's early entry again.

If it looks too long then Thursday morning go right into Hogsmeade and get in line for Olivander's then see when you are done to do next.

Hagrid's at that point will probably be very long wait for stand-by or have gone to virtual.

Personally we go for early entry and ride Hagrid's first thing in stand by. I think both times we did it we were through the queue and off the ride within 30- 45 minutes.

Keeping my fingers crossed we will be there in line for early entry on Wednesday and head to Hagrid's'.

Enjoy!

 

[Daisy7425]

Good advice, bobbie68. I hope you don't mind if I ask a question, too cookie monster. We are definitely interested in Hagrids, but a priority for us would be Ollivanders. I was thinking we would go directly to Ollivanders and then just get a VQ time for Hagrids when those become available. So for those with experience, is this a good plan? Are there usually long lines at Ollivanders? So VQ for Hagrids is still 60-90 minutes? I was hoping it'd only be about 15 minutes.

 

[bobbie68]

Good advice, bobbie68. I hope you don't mind if I ask a question, too cookie monster. We are definitely interested in Hagrids, but a priority for us would be Ollivanders. I was thinking we would go directly to Ollivanders and then just get a VQ time for Hagrids when those become available. So for those with experience, is this a good plan? Are there usually long lines at Ollivanders? So VQ for Hagrids is still 60-90 minutes? I was hoping it'd only be about 15 minutes.

Hi and thank you. I understand about Olivander's being a priority, the only thing to think about that it is possible you will not be able to get a VQ time if it goes to it. One day we were in the park and could not get one, so we decided to do early entry the next day for Hagrid's. Yes once you are in line it is generally an hour or so depending on the time of day. I think the shortest time after getting in line for a VQ time was 45 minutes.

Olivander's will have long lines but I think it is shorter than Hagrid's. If you only have one day then I would do Olivander's if it is a priority to cut down your wait time.

Good luck and any other questions feel free to ask!

 

[Daisy7425]

Hi and thank you. I understand about Olivander's being a priority, the only thing to think about that it is possible you will not be able to get a VQ time if it goes to it. One day we were in the park and could not get one, so we decided to do early entry the next day for Hagrid's. Yes once you are in line it is generally an hour or so depending on the time of day. I think the shortest time after getting in line for a VQ time was 45 minutes.

Olivander's will have long lines but I think it is shorter than Hagrid's. If you only have one day then I would do Olivander's if it is a priority to cut down your wait time.

Good luck and any other questions feel free to ask!

Thanks, bobbie! I don't understand when people know when Hagrids will go to VQ. So when it rope drops, it is standby and then at some magical moment, they change it to VQ?

 

[bobbie68]

Thanks, bobbie! I don't understand when people know when Hagrids will go to VQ. So when it rope drops, it is standby and then at some magical moment, they change it to VQ?

I understand I had trouble the first day. LOL I lovethe magical moment comment. It's kind of like that you may not know ahead of time. Hagrid's will rope drop and do stand by on early entry days if it looks like it is getting busy they will go to VQ around 9 am or so and stop stand-by There was a slower day I went that it didn't go to VQ, the app is really the best way to find out what they are doing being able to look at wait times and VQ. It really helped us a lot. If they know for a fact it will be busy like a Saturday, they will open VQ lines at park opening time. When we went one day and didn't do early entry I checked the app at 9 am cause that was openeing time and there was a time and I selected it. You have to be on property,( Citywalk or one of the parks to do VQ). This is done on the Universal app. you go to the VQ and find Hagrid's then check it. If Hagird's is doing VQ they will have "dump times" at 11, 2 and sometimes 4.

I hope this helps, if not I can try and clarify better. I know it is so overwhelming with all the changes.

 

[bobbie68]

You're welcome

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

If the OP has Park to Park passes and the Studios side is not opening for early entry, could one strategy be to RD Hagrid's, then take the train to Diagon Alley and do Ollivanders over there? I've been thinking of doing that for our upcoming trip. RD Hagrid's, Forbidden Journey, then train to Diagon Alley for Ollivanders. I'm hoping that will save us two rides where we don't have to bother with lockers, before having to deal with the wands and their boxes from then on.

 

[jimmymc]

Do Hagrid's first. Olivander's will have a line, but it's much more reasonable than Hagrid's.