Here now Aug20-22

[kkendle]

We arrived at royal pacific around 4pm. By the time we checked in and got to the park it was maybe 5:30. We rode Despicable Me express which was about 10 min wait. Then we saw Shrek and waited maybe 10 min. Walked onto Transformers and then headed to Diagon Alley. I have the universal app and knew it was a posted 90 wait but wanted to look around.

The area is awesome. We explored some and then ate at the Leaky Cauldron. By 7:30 Gringott's had closed due to capacity for the evening.

We then rode Hogwarts express with about a 10 min wait. Walked around harry potter area and rode forbidden journey with about a 20 min wait. That ride makes me ill and I only lasted about 10 seconds before I had to close my eyes and pray it would end...my husband had never ridden it and really liked it.

By then my knee was hurting a lot....arthritus.....and we made the long walk to the water taxi.

They are calling for rain early evening for a couple hours tomorrow so my original plan was to stay until it rained us out tomorrow...but after my knee hurting and the insane heat....I think we will go early tomorrow and then come back to room and relax and maybe swim some. We will see if we go back after that.

I was told at check in and by the water taxi driver that they start running the water taxis at 7 for the 8am early opening. I thought I read it was earlier but was told multiple times it would be 7. We will see tomorrow as I plan on getting to the water taxi early tomorrow.

Any questions I will try and check this and report back tomorrow. I was very impressed with Diagon alley...there is a lot there.

 

[HairyChest]

Thanks for the report! Is forbidden journey too intense? How do you like the royal pacific? Have you checked out the other hotels? How many days/nights is good to explore universal before doing disney?

 

[kkendle]

Forbidden journey always makes me have motion sickness...I ride it once every time hoping it wont happen but it does every time. If you are prone to Motion sickness you may have a problem. My husband didnt have a problem at all.

I have stayed at royal several times...usually before or after a dianey trip. We are generally here 2 nights...but go to the park the day we check out...so usually 2 days maybe 3. For us...2 days is enough to see everything...but that was before diagon alley opened. I think it would still be plenty...but it doesnt allow for much resort time so if that is important to you...keep that in mind.

I always do just a standard room so nothing fancy. I think the room is nice enough...although this time I am in tower 3....not sure if this is why....but the room is looking a bit older. It is clean...but well used I guess you could say.

I am on the water taxi now ...but the guy said it wont leave until 7. Im sure many people are walking but I need yo save my knee fot everything else today.

 

[damo]

Forbidden journey always makes me have motion sickness...I ride it once every time hoping it wont happen but it does every time. If you are prone to Motion sickness you may have a problem. My husband didnt have a problem at all.

I have stayed at royal several times...usually before or after a dianey trip. We are generally here 2 nights...but go to the park the day we check out...so usually 2 days maybe 3. For us...2 days is enough to see everything...but that was before diagon alley opened. I think it would still be plenty...but it doesnt allow for much resort time so if that is important to you...keep that in mind.

I always do just a standard room so nothing fancy. I think the room is nice enough...although this time I am in tower 3....not sure if this is why....but the room is looking a bit older. It is clean...but well used I guess you could say.

I am on the water taxi now ...but the guy said it wont leave until 7. Im sure many people are walking but I need yo save my knee fot everything else today.

Keep us posted on your day. Things seem to be changing quite a bit as the summer winds down.

 

[kkendle]

We were about 7th in line at the gates. They started letting us through about 7:30. By the time we got to the line for diagon alley we were back about 120 people...obviously an estimate. Most people walked...fast...but orderly. There were a couple runners who ignored the workers who told them to walk.

When we got into the line in Gringott's it was 7:50...we got off the ride at 8:17. The posted wait time when we entered was 30 min. When we got out it was posted 90 min

I thought the ride was amazing and would definitely do it again. So glad we came early.

Money exchange place was cute and we exchanged some money and then got ice cream.

It is about 8:50 now and we will start heading out to the rest of the park and hopefully ride Hogwarts express from IOA back here.

 

[sydneysmom]

sounds like you're having a wonderful time!!! Did you get ice cream in Daigon Alley? If so, what was your favorite? Also, how was Leaky Cauldron? (we've never been so I'm reading pretty much EVEYTHING everyone writes about their trips!)

Hope the rest of your trip is wonderful and I can't wait to hear more!

 

[kkendle]

The over cream was good...had salted caramel...which was my favorite and some kind of toffee which was just ok. Husband had apple crumble which was ok and strawberry peanut butter which I didnt like at all. Weird combination I guess.

Leaky cauldron we had a chicken sandwich and shared and he also had a kids fish and chips. That consisted of 1 piece of fish. He said it was ok...the chicken sandwich was also fine..nothing great but ok. The fries were good. They had a lot of stuff made with sausage and that isnt my favorite so we stuck with the chicken.

By the time we were out of Diagon alley the workers were telling people it was a 2 1/2 hour wait....my app said 120 min. Later around 11 the app said 165 min.

We decided to come back to hotel and swim and rest up a bit and will go back in a couple hours. Hope it doesnt rain on us but we wont melt. Hoping to go into IOA as we havent spent much time there and then ride hogwarts back to diagon alley at the end of evening.

 

[kkendle]

Oops..I meant ice cream in my last post.

 

[kkendle]

Thought I would update on our last day....Friday Aug.22. We arrived at the park on first water taxi which left at 7 and was about 7 or 8 back in line. They started letting us in at 7:30. We lined up again and they let us into diagon alley at 7:45. We were off the ride at 8:19.

We were at universal from wed night through friday late afternoon. Aside from gringotts. ..we didnt wait for anything more than 10 minutes with express.

One thing that happened thursday evening was that they stopped running the water taxis because we were told there was lightning within 5 miles. They told us the park was closing as well but during the entire walk back to royal pacific we saw and heard things running.

We got back to the hotel and swam a while although it was so hot out the pool was like a warm bath but still refreshing. We saw lightning while in the pool and decided to get out. I found it a bit strange that they didnt close the pool as well...I mean the water taxi is right next to the pool.

Anyway...had a great time but will try and return during a bit cooler weather as the heat really was terrible. I guess im not used to being in the heat all day...my weather app said it felt like 105 both days.

We also found the meal deal...the one that costs 19.99 to be a decent deal. We got 1 entree and a drink and then another drink and snack...saved a few dollars. Not much but was nice to save a bit anyway. Obviously the downside is that you can only eat at a few different places.

 

[kkendle]

Forgot to add to be sure to stop by the blue bus out in front of diagonal alley and.visit the conductor and the shrunken head. I dont think the conductor is there until the regular park opening. They were hilarious!

Also...there is a red phone booth nearby and when you go in it says to dial "magic". I am not sure what is supposed to happen but every time I did it...nothing happened at all.