Hogsmeade + Diagon Alley in January - How Long?

[FantasmicMike]

My family is planning on spending only one day at US/IoA, with doing as much of Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley as we possibly can as our primary goal.

While I know that HP fans (which we are!) can spend a great deal of time there soaking the whole thing in, I'm wondering if our plan to do most of the major attractions/shops in one day is reasonable?

We're planning on going Thursday, January 8th, and will arrive prior to rope-drop. Just how long should we plan to spend to see it all (or mostly)? Will we be able to leave by mid-late afternoon, or plan on eating dinner there as well? Am I crazy to think we might be able to return to WDW for dinner?

Ideally, I'd love to do Diagon Alley in the morning (hitting up Gringotts first), Olivanders, other shops, and then either eating at the LC, or taking the train to Hogsmeade for lunch there. Then Forbidden Journey and other attractions after lunch (not too concerned about the dragon coasters, tbh).

 

[KorbensMomma]

At that time if year if you are only doing HP it might be do able. But I would plan on staying open to close, the hours are real short during that time of year. Also there are large tour groups during that time of year.

If you are not staying on property than Grigotts may have a pretty good line by the time you get in. Maybe you should plan on Olivanders first. It seems the lines have been getting a LITTLE shorter a little later.

You would probably still have time for a later dinner at WDW when you get back.

There are a few threads about Gringotts wait times, line a lot shorter if doing single rider also. Unless you are wanting a group pic or have littler ones then you may want to use the single rider and meet up after.

 

[FantasmicMike]

We do have a little one (DD6) that MAY want to ride Gringotts (she's too short for Forbidden Journey). But that's useful information on the lines. Olivander's might be a great place to start (for several practical and theme-y reasons!).

 

[subtchr]

I just want to add that you are obviously spending a LOT of money for one day park-to-park tickets. If I were you, I'd want to maximize that investment by spending every minute I could in the parks.

Yes, the HP areas are fantastic and should be your emphasis, but there are other great areas, too. Why would you want to rush back to Disney?

Don't get me wrong, I'm a Disney fan, too, but if I was investing that much in a Universal day, I'd get everything out of it I could.

 

[RMulieri]

Possible.BUT...Keep in mind...Park hours are ALOT shorter usually 9-6ish and there are large amounts of tour groups there during that time frame .I also agree with the pp..One day tickets are expensive.I would get my monies worth and plan on being there the whole day and enjoy dinner .Disney isn't going anywhere

 

[steelersforlife24]

Crowd levels are high beginning of that week because of Tour Groups. However they diminish as week goes on and Thursday is historically the best day of the that week according to historical wait times at Touring Plans it will be a busy but not crazy 5/10 day. Hours should be 9-7 both parks. We are going the following week as the parks are historically only 2/10 as Tour groups are gone by then.

 

[FantasmicMike]

Thanks for all of the input. I agree, too, that it's a lot to do a mad-dash through HP and then leave. I wasn't really intending that - more that we're less concerned with doing more, but will if we have the opportunity.

The complicating factor in all of this is that my brother is only with us in Orlando for 2 days (out of the 7 that I, DW, DD6, DS10, and my mother are there for). So his priority was HP and then Friday in MK with the kids. I was half hoping to do dinner with him back in Epcot or otherwise, but maybe we'll just plan to finish the evening in US, and then eat there or on the City Walk.

I did also target Thursday given that historical data (that it was likely the best day of that week to go). It, of course, could be different this year, but we'll enjoy it regardless.

 

[johde]

Touring plans currently has Saturday projected as the lowest crowd day followed by Wednesday and Thursday. http://touringplans.com/universal-orlando/crowd-calendar# Using Express Pass prices though, they are still fairly cheap for those dates suggesting not quite so crowded. I'm spending 3-4 days at Universal at that time so I'm hoping the crowds are low. If you hunt around the Touring Plans website and Orlando Informers, they both have 1 day/2 Park Harry Potter centric touring plans. Without EE, most of the touring plans recommend Hogsmead first (because onsite guests hit up Diagon Alley First) then hit up Diagon Alley in the early evening.

If the crowds cooperate, I'd try to squeeze in some of the other great Universal attractions. Men in Black, The Mummy, E.T., Transformers, Despicable Me at USF; Cat in the Hat, Spiderman, in IOA plus the water rides if the weather cooperates.

 

[subtchr]

I was half hoping to do dinner with him back in Epcot or otherwise, but maybe we'll just plan to finish the evening in US, and then eat there or on the City Walk.

As much as I love dining in Epcot, it would not be worth shortening your Universal day to do so, IMHO. I would stick with my earlier recommendation to enjoy the parks open to close, then find dinner there. With kids, I would recommend Margaritaville, Bubba Gumps, or Red Oven.

Or since you will be driving back to Disney anyway, there are countless choices of restaurants offsite.

 

[FantasmicMike]

As much as I love dining in Epcot, it would not be worth shortening your Universal day to do so, IMHO. I would stick with my earlier recommendation to enjoy the parks open to close, then find dinner there. With kids, I would recommend Margaritaville, Bubba Gumps, or Red Oven.

Or since you will be driving back to Disney anyway, there are countless choices of restaurants offsite.

I think my brother would object to Bubba Gumps, having worked at the NYC location for a short time.

But thanks for the tip! I do think I'm altering my sense of our plan a bit, given the expense of getting to (and into) US/IoA in the first place. All of this definitely helps.