Holy Diagon Alley Batman!

[FLchick415]

Thats' because you don't need to reserve!

Stay at their resort and you get unlimited front of line all day, no reservation, as much as you want, no need to plan ahead. If you aren't a resort guest they charge for a day pass.

For us...we always stay at a Disney resort, so we look at the Universal system with envy. We'll be there (US) soon for the new HP attraction, can't wait for their frustration-free express pass system and universally friendly employees.

Unfortunately, the HP rides (both Forbidden Journey and Gringotts) don't use Express Pass (at least, to my most recent knowledge)

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

You are correct. Original HP area is at IOA. New Diagon Alley is at Universal Studios and they are connected by a train. A pass that includes both parks includes the train. Universal has Universal Express which is free for unlimited 'Fast pass' type access to all attractions IF you're staying onsite (except for Cabana Bay). If you're not staying onsite you can purchase Universal Express, but have no idea what it costs.

One adult, park hopper with Uni Express is $190/day for a child it's $185

 

[sethschroeder]

How about if we go back to pre 1989 when it was just MK and Epcot. World wasn't that much different then. Was WDW a destination? How about when MGM Studios just opened and was far less than the half day park some consider it to be today?

If you still believe that was a different world, then we can go right to the present. The following are not destinations, correct?

Disneyland/California Adventure
Disneyland Paris/Walt Disney Studios
Tokyo Disneyland/Disney Sea

Europe and Japan are not the US so I have no clue but I would agree Disneyland is not a destination its something you do on a trip out to California for most people. I cant see paying to get all the way out there and not hopping down to San Deigo for the zoo, getting to San Francisco Fishermans Warf, or many other places.

On the other hand I can easily see going to WDW and never stepping foot off property even for 1 1/2 weeks.

Also in Europe or Japan is the only reason you are going there to go to Disney? I would guess not and part of the reason those parks attendance numbers are not the same as WDW.

 

[sonofanarchy]

Not sure if it's been posted yet, but the current wait time for Gringotts is 7 hours.

 

[PlutoMars]

Not sure if it's been posted yet, but the current wait time for Gringotts is 7 hours.

Plus the time it takes to get to Diagon Alley which was about 2 - 2.5 hours earlier. Looks like they are now giving return time tickets for Hogwarts Express. If someone isnt in Diagon Alley by now, they probably will not get to ride Gringotts.

 

[DisUniversal]

Europe and Japan are not the US so I have no clue but I would agree Disneyland is not a destination its something you do on a trip out to California for most people. I cant see paying to get all the way out there and not hopping down to San Deigo for the zoo, getting to San Francisco Fishermans Warf, or many other places.

I see that geography is another thing that you could probably brush up on a bit.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

Not sure if it's been posted yet, but the current wait time for Gringotts is 7 hours.

Plus the time it takes to get to Diagon Alley which was about 2 - 2.5 hours earlier. Looks like they are now giving return time tickets for Hogwarts Express. If someone isnt in Diagon Alley by now, they probably will not get to ride Gringotts.

You could start one of the books when you line up at DA and polish it off right before you ride!

 

[sethschroeder]

I see that geography is another thing that you could probably brush up on a bit.

Why?

Edit- Oh likely because San Francisco is not right next to Disneyland.

If I were planning a trip to California I would start in San Deigo, move onto Disney, drive hwy 1 along the coast, try to catch a MLB Game between the Giants and Brewers, hit the great sites of San Francisco, up to Sonoma, and then fly back.

PS - flights from Milwaukee to Orlando are about $250 if I were to go to California it would be $450+

By the way I like how you ignore the fact that you ignored that I said I found those other Disney parks not to be destination just like how I agree Universal by itself is not a destination. Not the person who brought it up originally but I agree with it. It DOES NOT take anything away from HP or Universal they just are not to the point of being a one stop shop for Vacations which might not be a bad thing for them.

 

[PrincessV]

Should add Gringotts wasn't open. Gonna try and do it tomorrow. Honestly folks, this is the most immersion theme park experience I can possibly imagine. I'm still in awe over what they have done. For fans of the books and movies, I can't imagine what they must think.

BIG Potter fan here and I couldn't agree more! I visited Diagon this past weekend and honestly ran out of superlatives to describe it in social media. Jaw-dropping. Stunning. Immersion like I've never experienced anywhere else. My son and I just wandered around looking stupefied, lol!

It wasn't until someone asked me about it the next day that I even thought about Gringott's not being open - the place stands on its own, even without the ride!

And I'm with you... we visited DHS the following day and it was such a let-down, comparatively. Now some of that has to be due to old/well-known vs. brand new territory... but not much. Mostly, Universal has simply out-Disney'd Disney.

 

[L&Lfan]

Europe and Japan are not the US so I have no clue but I would agree Disneyland is not a destination its something you do on a trip out to California for most people. I cant see paying to get all the way out there and not hopping down to San Deigo for the zoo, getting to San Francisco Fishermans Warf, or many other places.

On the other hand I can easily see going to WDW and never stepping foot off property even for 1 1/2 weeks.

Also in Europe or Japan is the only reason you are going there to go to Disney? I would guess not and part of the reason those parks attendance numbers are not the same as WDW.

Au contraire, mon ami, when we go to DL we spend the week there and never leave Disney property. And we fly there from Philadelphia! DL is definitely a destination for us as would be Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong or Shanghai. No interest in seeing anything but the Disney Parks there.

 

[mom2rtk]

Au contraire, mon ami, when we go to DL we spend the week there and never leave Disney property. And we fly there from Philadelphia! DL is definitely a destination for us as would be Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong or Shanghai. No interest in seeing anything but the Disney Parks there.

It was for us too. We flew from half way across the country, took a shuttle (so no car) and stayed an entire week. We stayed onsite and spend our one down day in the resort. We're doing the same again this year.

 

[Beer Me]

One adult, park hopper with Uni Express is $190/day for a child it's $185

I went to IoA two years ago (no park hopper). We had gone the year before and lines were awful so I bit the bullet and paid ~$55 per person (memory is a bit fuzzy) for the express pass. It probably saved us about 3 hours in wait time that day.

I didn't realize it at the time but the one you buy, unlike the express pass on site guests receive, can only be used once per ride. And only a very select number of rides have an express line. it's certainly helpful but has a limited utility. At some point in the day we had done every express pass attraction at IoA (maybe 5?) at which point the passes became worthless.

If I had known Universal hotel guests got an unlimited pass it may have changed my math in deciding not to pay $450 / night (the lowest available rate at the time) to stay on site. Then again maybe not.

 

[skylizard]

Just saw some videos of Diagon Alley posted on youtube and all I can say is WOW! I can't wait to go back to Orlando and check out Universal. It looks pretty impressive! I love Disney, but Universal is a lot of fun too!

 

[sethschroeder]

Au contraire, mon ami, when we go to DL we spend the week there and never leave Disney property. And we fly there from Philadelphia! DL is definitely a destination for us as would be Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong or Shanghai. No interest in seeing anything but the Disney Parks there.

Everyone has a different definition of a destination resort. Some people think Universal is a destination as well which is fine, I just personally don't which was DISuniversal's attack on me with the other locations.

It would be a crime to go to Paris and not go to 1 French bakery, 1 French art museum, or 1 French national landmark. Look off in the distance there is the tip of the Eiffel tower. haha

Do you go on vacations outside of Disney? Or is Disney your primary and really only "vacation" that you plan? Not a weekend trip but vacation where you are gone for a week or something.

PS - nothing wrong with only doing Disney vacations, since going to WDW last summer for our honeymoon I am basically SOLD on WDW moving forward if we can afford it but likely will need to do 1 or 2 off years going forward to save up.

 

[over50visits]

You have to like Disney World for what it is. Truth is, the parent company is pouring TONS more money into Disney than is Universal into itself, just not in Florida. There was a thread a month or two back where someone detailed the incredible array of expansions to current properties along with entirely new theme parks around the world. Disney will continue to make tons of money in Orlando without mondo-major expansions there. They are looking at the big picture. The best way to grow the company is NOT huge Florida expansions, but instead entirely new presence around the globe.

Disney can build the most spectacular theme parks around the world, but it doesn't affect me. We live near and visit Orlando all the time. Sorry, but tell me they are improving parks elsewhere is irrelevant.

 

[DisUniversal]

Why?

Edit- Oh likely because San Francisco is not right next to Disneyland.

If I were planning a trip to California I would start in San Deigo, move onto Disney, drive hwy 1 along the coast, try to catch a MLB Game between the Giants and Brewers, hit the great sites of San Francisco, up to Sonoma, and then fly back.

PS - flights from Milwaukee to Orlando are about $250 if I were to go to California it would be $450+

By the way I like how you ignore the fact that you ignored that I said I found those other Disney parks not to be destination just like how I agree Universal by itself is not a destination. Not the person who brought it up originally but I agree with it. It DOES NOT take anything away from HP or Universal they just are not to the point of being a one stop shop for Vacations which might not be a bad thing for them.

Yes, I'm sure everyone who visits DL takes a 400 mile road trip to S.F.

Well, you never really responded when I asked at which point do you think WDW became a destination except to say it was a different world when it was MK only. So, in your opinion when did WDW become a destination? Was it when it was only MK, Contemporary and Poly? Was it when they added Epcot? MGM? Added ToT and RnR to MGM? Added AK?

Clearly you think that two major theme parks, a nightlife/dining area and four resort hotels falls short of being a destination so curious if the same 'logic' applies to Disney.

 

[Hummingbird]

I went to IoA two years ago (no park hopper). We had gone the year before and lines were awful so I bit the bullet and paid ~$55 per person (memory is a bit fuzzy) for the express pass. It probably saved us about 3 hours in wait time that day.

I didn't realize it at the time but the one you buy, unlike the express pass on site guests receive, can only be used once per ride. And only a very select number of rides have an express line. it's certainly helpful but has a limited utility. At some point in the day we had done every express pass attraction at IoA (maybe 5?) at which point the passes became worthless.

If I had known Universal hotel guests got an unlimited pass it may have changed my math in deciding not to pay $450 / night (the lowest available rate at the time) to stay on site. Then again maybe not.

They do sell the unlimited express pass to non-resort vistors. Also there are a lot more than 5 rides that accept EP. It is excepted on everything but the following:

Universal Studios Florida
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts™
Hogwarts™ Express


Universal's Islands of Adventure
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™
Hogwarts™ Express
Pteranodon Flyers®


Just pointing that out so folks have the to date info

 

[DisUniversal]

Everyone has a different definition of a destination resort. Some people think Universal is a destination as well which is fine, I just personally don't which was DISuniversal's attack on me with the other locations.

It would be a crime to go to Paris and not go to 1 French bakery, 1 French art museum, or 1 French national landmark. Look off in the distance there is the tip of the Eiffel tower. haha

So, is it a crime for someone to visit WDW and not spend a day at a beach, visit Key West, tour the Everglades, check out the Kennedy Space Center and perhaps even drop in at Universal Orlando?

 

[FlipHipster]

If I had known Universal hotel guests got an unlimited pass it may have changed my math in deciding not to pay $450 / night (the lowest available rate at the time) to stay on site. Then again maybe not.

We're going back down in Dec. and I can't wait to do US. I originally planned to spend ~3 days at US and maybe a day at legoland or SW out of a 9 day trip. I can't see paying the premium to stay at a Disney deluxe this year since 1/3-1/2 our trip will be offsite so we moved offsite. I am seriously thinking of booking a night at Royal Pacific for our US days even if we don't need the room. It's $165/night and we get 2 days of FOTL passes vs. a ~$300 add on for Express pass for our family of 4 for 2 days. Seems like a no brainer to me.

Edit: Actually looks like its $503 for 2 days of unlimited express pass for 4? That sounds crazy, not sure that's right sounds high to me.

 

[Mad Hattered]

We're going back down in Dec. and I can't wait to do US. I originally planned to spend ~3 days at US and maybe a day at legoland or SW out of a 9 day trip. I can't see paying the premium to stay at a Disney deluxe this year since 1/3-1/2 our trip will be offsite so we moved offsite. I am seriously thinking of booking a night at Royal Pacific for our US days even if we don't need the room. It's $165/night and we get 2 days of FOTL passes vs. a ~$300 add on for Express pass for our family of 4 for 2 days. Seems like a no brainer to me.

Just do it! It's well worth the perk of FOTL. But the hotel is really nice so I would stay there too if I were you. That way you are at the gates when you get your early entry to HP!