Help planning with limited hours

[Lesley Wake]

We are headed to Orlando in September, main focus is WDW, but we are doing one day at Universal with focus on Harry Potter, so we have park-to-park tickets ($$$). We are going Thursday Sept 14 (no way to change that date now that FPs are all booked). Just checked those park hours and both parks are only open from 9-7 So I need help from people that are more experienced! We live in LA so have been to USH in the past year, but it's not our favorite so don't go often. And we aren't interested in any of the shows.

Our general plan:
Arrive for 9am opening.
Go to USO first and go direct to Diagon Alley and Gringotts.
Take Hogwarts Express over to IOA.
Ride Forbidden Journey. By that time, Dragon Challenge will be closed and we've done hippogriff at USH and it's not worth it to us.
Explore rest of IOA. The only rides we wanted to do are Dr Doom, Hulk Coaster, Spider-Man (maybe), skull island (only if short wait).
Go back and explore Hogsmeade, getting lunch at Three Broomsticks. Maybe ride Forbidden journey again single rider.
Take Hogwarts Express back to USO
Explore USO. Rides we are interested in include Rip Ride Rockit, transformers, Mummy, Men in Black.
Explore Diagon Alley, dinner at Leaky Cauldron, maybe try to ride Gringotts again.

Some questions:
Does this appear doable in one day?
Does Universal do the same thing as Disney where as long as you get in line for a ride before park closing, you can ride it?
Does the dragon still breathe fire after park closes but guests are still there (sunset is 7:15 but park closes at 7).
Right now it looks like IOA doesn't have early admission but USO does. Should we instead do IOA first? We would definitely want to take Hogwarts Express both directions.
Should I get a touring plans subscription to US? I have one for Disney, but is it needed?
Anything else I am not thinking about?

 

[mjhtvchick]

We are headed to Orlando in September, main focus is WDW, but we are doing one day at Universal with focus on Harry Potter, so we have park-to-park tickets ($$$). We are going Thursday Sept 14 (no way to change that date now that FPs are all booked). Just checked those park hours and both parks are only open from 9-7 So I need help from people that are more experienced! We live in LA so have been to USH in the past year, but it's not our favorite so don't go often. And we aren't interested in any of the shows.

Our general plan:
Arrive for 9am opening.
Go to USO first and go direct to Diagon Alley and Gringotts.
Take Hogwarts Express over to IOA.
Ride Forbidden Journey. By that time, Dragon Challenge will be closed and we've done hippogriff at USH and it's not worth it to us.
Explore rest of IOA. The only rides we wanted to do are Dr Doom, Hulk Coaster, Spider-Man (maybe), skull island (only if short wait).
Go back and explore Hogsmeade, getting lunch at Three Broomsticks. Maybe ride Forbidden journey again single rider.
Take Hogwarts Express back to USO
Explore USO. Rides we are interested in include Rip Ride Rockit, transformers, Mummy, Men in Black.
Explore Diagon Alley, dinner at Leaky Cauldron, maybe try to ride Gringotts again.

Some questions:
Does this appear doable in one day?
Does Universal do the same thing as Disney where as long as you get in line for a ride before park closing, you can ride it?
Does the dragon still breathe fire after park closes but guests are still there (sunset is 7:15 but park closes at 7).
Right now it looks like IOA doesn't have early admission but USH does. Should we instead do USH first? We would definitely want to take Hogwarts Express both directions.
Should I get a touring plans subscription to US? I have one for Disney, but is it needed?
Anything else I am not thinking about?

Here are my answers to your questions...
- Seems doable to me
- Not sure
- I think so but can't be sure
- Not sure what you mean by this - do you mean USO? You said you were already going there first?
- I don't think you need it; the Universal app should suit you fine.

Check out this thread for some other great tips!: First trip to Universal

Hope this helps!

 

[Lesley Wake]

Here are my answers to your questions...
- Seems doable to me
- Not sure
- I think so but can't be sure
- Not sure what you mean by this - do you mean USO? You said you were already going there first?
- I don't think you need it; the Universal app should suit you fine.

Check out this thread for some other great tips!: First trip to Universal

Hope this helps!

Sorry-meant IOA! Abbreviations are getting me down. I've corrected the post!

 

[mjhtvchick]

Sorry-meant IOA! Abbreviations are getting me down. I've corrected the post!

Personally, I would do USO first - I like riding from London to Hosgmeade first, like Harry! I think your plan also works well if you want to end up back at Diagon Alley in the evening.

 

[gotomu212]

My only advise is that I would leave the HP areas midday when they get crowded and then go back around 4ish. They really do clear out later in the evening and you can get 2x more done in less time.

How big is your party? You could also get express passes day of if you feel like you aren't getting to do enough.

 

[Lesley Wake]

My only advise is that I would leave the HP areas midday when they get crowded and then go back around 4ish. They really do clear out later in the evening and you can get 2x more done in less time.

How big is your party? You could also get express passes day of if you feel like you aren't getting to do enough.

It's only 2 of us. We considered Express passes, but figured we don't want to spend the money when we wouldn't be upset if we missed any of the other rides due to long lines.

 

[bchbetha]

Show up at Universal parking lot or via Uber (etc) about an hour before opening so you aren't still walking/ doing security/ waiting in ticket line as the park is opening to off site people.

 

[macraven]

do what bcbetha said......go and be there one hour early.
there will be peeps in the studios already

or if you prefer to start at IOA, that park opens at 9 to all.

you could take HE to the studios at noon time and stay there until it closes at 5
then take HE back to IOA or just walk over there if HE line is too long.

IOA will be open more hours once the studios closes

 

[imprint]

Yes, I think it is certainly doable. It will be a lot of steps, but it's doable. Have fun!