Hogwarts Express over to IoA at park opening time?

[jenhelgren]

We are visiting the last week in October and UO has EE at 7 and IoA opens at 9. I posted an earlier thread about the best way to get to FJ and was told waiting in the line at park opening is faster than riding Hogwarts Express. The rest of my family have decided that they would still rather ride Hogwarts Express over to IoA so we don't have to do the whole "turnstile stampede" twice in one morning

Around what time do we need to line up for Hogwarts Express if we want to be on the first train and will the train not start until right at 9 even if people are let into IoA earlier than 9 that morning?

How much more crowded/longer line will FJ be if we wait and just ride Hogwarts Express over? If its a few minutes I'm on board-but if its a huge difference I'll talk them into waiting at the gate at open!!

 

[macraven]

I usually get in line for HE about 8:20 and wait it out
Always was able to get in the first train that leaves the station

Times that I did not get in line until 8:40, first train was filled

Of course it depends when you are there date wise

Some days you do not have to be in line for HE as early as I have done

 

[kip0992]

If you are on the first or second HE to leave the station you'll still beat the vast majority of the folks coming from the main gate. It probably is quicker if you are waiting at the gate at the front of the line, but you would need to get to the gates early (cutting into your park time). And it is a fairly long walk out of UO, across the entryway, and all the way back to Hogsmead (both the HP sections are about as far from the gates as you can get).

 

[jenhelgren]

Wow!! 40 minutes is longer than I was expecting
The two days we will want to try this will be Wednesday and Thursday 10/26-10/27. This is our first trip so I have no idea how morning crowds work or how midweek will be with HHN going on!

 

[Fiddysmum]

Where do you wait in line for HE vs waiting at the front gates?

 

[kip0992]

The HE is in the Harry Potter section of each park. They start running it right about the same time the other (non early entry) park opens. The difference in arrival time at the other park's HP section is how long it takes to walk from the front gate to HP vs. how long it takes to wait in line for the HE (probably not all that long early in the morning) and the ride time (5 minutes or so).

 

[amy1115]

When we were there in late May, we rode HE from IOA at EE to US. We rode Forbidden Journey, and then just took a little time to take in Hogsmeade, and we didn't get in line for HE until about 8:35 or so. We were basically against the rails and first ones on HE when it started running. However, I'm not sure if there is a huge difference when you're coming from US to IOA.