Hogwarts Express worth the extra $55 each?

[OGHOWIE]

Our family is going to Universal Studios Florida / Disney World the week of 4/2, but only have time to go to Universal for one day. Is the 2 park per day pass worth it if it's really only for the Hogwarts Express? We are from California, so we've already been to Hogsmeade and on the Forbidden Journey ride and only planned on checking out stuff that isn't available to us in CA. Would we even be able to ride the train both ways due to the fact we are there during Spring Break? Kids are Harry Potter fans, but not sure it's worth the extra $220?

 

[escapeartist]

Imo no, not worth it unless the kids really really want it. Spend the money on interactive wands instead, maybe?

 

[jrt1176]

It's a pretty cool experience, but I don't think I would do it again because of the wait!

Then again, we are not really into HP, so it wasn't a big deal to us.

 

[OGHOWIE]

Imo no, not worth it unless the kids really really want it. Spend the money on interactive wands instead, maybe?

They already have those. lol

 

[danielocha30]

for the HE only not, to visit both parks yes! To ride all other attractions beside HP at IoA

 

[Puffy2]

$220? No. It's not. Really. Since you only have one day and it's spring break and will be crowded, just focus on one park - Universal Studios and enjoy your day there. Gringgots is the best ride.

 

[lebeau]

Absolutely not. It's a neat experience, but not worth $220.

However, that's not the primary advantage of the park-to-park ticket. It's just a nice perk. You buy the park-to-park ticket because you want to be able to traverse parks at your leisure. We like not being restricted to one park per day. But if you are only going for one day and you don't want to cram both parks in, by all means, save some money with the single park ticket.

 

[Robo56]

You said the kids are Potter fans, so yes it is worth it. It is part of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter experience.

I think for some folks it comes down to what you can afford comfortably. To me vacation is about making memories. I bring my grandchildren to Universal Orlando every May for a extended stay every year. We love the Potter parks and never get tired of riding the Hogwarts Express.

It will be busy during Spring break. If you are staying onsite at one of the deluxe resorts you would have early entry to park or parks that have early entry (open one hour early to onside resort guests) and Unlimited Express for day of check in and check out.

If your not staying onsite be at the parks at rope drop. If you have done Hogsmeade in California then be at Universal Studios at rope drop and head straight for Diagon Alley and ride Escape from Gringotts and enjoy Diagon Alley first. Then if you have park to park tickets take the Hogwarts Express over to Hogsmeade then get on it again and take it back to Diagon Alley. The scenes are different each way.

No matter what you choose have a great time at Universal Orlando. You all will love it

 

[schumigirl]

You said the kids are Potter fans, so yes it is worth it. It is part of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter experience.

I think for some folks it comes down to what you can afford comfortably. To me vacation is about making memories. I bring my grandchildren to Universal Orlando every May for a extended stay every year. We love the Potter parks and never get tired of riding the Hogwarts Express.

It will be busy during Spring break. If you are staying onsite at one of the deluxe resorts you would have early entry to park or parks that have early entry (open one hour early to onside resort guests) and Unlimited Express for day of check in and check out.

If your not staying onsite be at the parks at rope drop. If you have done Hogsmeade in California then be at Universal Studios at rope drop and head straight for Diagon Alley and ride Escape from Gringotts and enjoy Diagon Alley first. Then if you have park to park tickets take the Hogwarts Express over to Hogsmeade then get on it again and take it back to Diagon Alley. The scenes are different each way.

No matter what you choose have a great time at Universal Orlando. You all will love it

Plus 1

We have only ever done park to park and couldn’t imagine not being able to do so.

The HE is a nice way to do it, and if they are Potter fans it really is a must do.

But if you only have one day to do Universal, you won’t see much in either park.........stick to one park and make as much of that park as you can. You still won’t do everything but it’s better than trying to squeeze in two parks in one day which doesn’t sound like fun to me.

 

[bumbershoot]

Spend the money on interactive wands instead, maybe?

I go the other way. I sit and watch other people use their wands, see the effects, and spend nothing. My husband and son have a wand obsession and I truly do not see the point.

They already have those. lol

Be sure to have them bring the wands and ask at the wand shop for an Orlando map!!

(I might not care about the wands but I know others do lol)

Gringgots is the best ride.

Ugh I don’t agree. I personally like all of hogsmeade more than Diagon.

And...I really like the train. I would try to find some other rides you would like to do at IOA to increase your value of the park to park and just do it.

 

[GoldmanTrust]

You said the kids are Potter fans, so yes it is worth it. It is part of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter experience.

I think for some folks it comes down to what you can afford comfortably. To me vacation is about making memories. I bring my grandchildren to Universal Orlando every May for a extended stay every year. We love the Potter parks and never get tired of riding the Hogwarts Express.

It will be busy during Spring break. If you are staying onsite at one of the deluxe resorts you would have early entry to park or parks that have early entry (open one hour early to onside resort guests) and Unlimited Express for day of check in and check out.

If your not staying onsite be at the parks at rope drop. If you have done Hogsmeade in California then be at Universal Studios at rope drop and head straight for Diagon Alley and ride Escape from Gringotts and enjoy Diagon Alley first. Then if you have park to park tickets take the Hogwarts Express over to Hogsmeade then get on it again and take it back to Diagon Alley. The scenes are different each way.

No matter what you choose have a great time at Universal Orlando. You all will love it

This is really a great post. Plus 1!

Park 2 Park means that you will be more flexible, jumping between the parks and getting more rides done (by looking at wait times and maximizing the number of times you get on ridea).

But if you dont want to do it, then dont feel bad about skipping it.

 

[mamapenguin]

I would do it, hopefully you will get another trip there one day. One day is not enough time to enjoy Universal Orlando, but one day is always better than none.

 

[cadawson]

If you are coming from CA, I think you should do Harry Potter in both parks. You should also do the new Marvel section in IOA. I'd spend a day going back and forth. The train station in Diagon Alley FEELS like London - it's amazing, and I love walking around Hogsmeade. I'd hate for your HP fans to miss out on 1/2 the experience.

 

[kbelle8995]

If you are not a Harry Potter fan than no it would probably not be a must do. If you have HP lovers on you than they might consider it.

I really like it.
1) chance to get out of the weather.
2). Different either way
3). Inventive and yet relaxing at the same time.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

Ugh I don’t agree. I personally like all of hogsmeade more than Diagon.

Gringotts wasn't much of a ride IMO. Forbidden Journey is way better.

 

[jaceraden]

I thought it was a pretty cool experience but not worth the wait or $$. I was actually floored by the wait one of the times I went. Yikes.

 

[nkereina]

As mentioned, if you have express pass, the wait for Hogwarts Express will be minimal so you'd be able to ride it in both directions in that case.

We are just casual HP fans, and knowing the ride, I don't think it's worth the cost just for it. We didn't even do the ride at all during the 4 days we were there two weeks ago. BUT we also go fairly frequently.

IMO - if you don't expect to return and your kids are die hard Potter fans, probably worth the money. Otherwise, I wouldn't.

 

[12jdc]

Is there another way to get from park to park besides HE like a walkway between the 2 parks that is inside the parks? I rode HE it was beautiful and so immersive however the compartments are cramped, hot and it made me a little motion sick so looking for another way to park hop.

 

[SaintsManiac]

As a fanatic of all things HP, yes it is worth it.

 

[Slapshot1188]

My opinion is: NO WAY

If that's really the only reason you would get the tickets then I do not think it would be worth it. The ride is... OK. You sit in a train car as it slowly goes from 1 park to the other and you can watch a video screen showing some cool scenes outside. The doors to your booth also have some fun stuff. Is it worth a short wait? Absolutely! Would I pay $55 per person just to ride it? Heck no.