HP obsessed Universal newbies

[pfeifer1990]

Four adults arriving at Hard Rock Hotel approximately 11 am on May 13th. We will be staying 1 night and leaving approximately at 1 pm on the 14th.
Where should we start. We want to do all the HP rides plus Minions, ET, Jurassic River Adventure (NO VelociCoaster), Butter Beer,
Hogwarts Castle nighttime show, lots of shopping and we'll be purchasing an interactive wand.
We will go back to HRH when we can get into our room then head back to parks. No sit down reservations only QS (nothing HP because no vegan options).
Would appreciate any advice or plan of action. Which park should we start in on Friday? What rides? What should we start with on Saturday morning?
Thank you in advance for any and all advice.

 

[macraven]

It will be a tight schedule for you since you are not arriving early and leaving the next day

Read up about rides,shows, events and prioritize what your must have to experience

If your room will not be ready, have your luggage held for you and go to the park.
Don’t wait around at the hotel if your room is not ready

Do the water or wet rides last
Easier to end with them for the day and change clothes when back in your hotel room

Read up on some current trip reports to see how others handle plans for a one day plan in the parks

Read up about both parks and decide what rides are a must to do
Weekends bring in more to the park and even with the ep, there are still ride waits.

Any purchases you make, have them sent to the head of the park so you don’t have to carry merch bags with you during the day
Now if you buy a wand and want to do spells, keep it with you.
You can use lockers to hold your merch bags while you do rides

Have fun!!

 

[Mrs.AMC]

Personally, if I had that same schedule I'd do this.

I would start in Studio's. I'm not sure I'd go back to the room but if you do, just head out from Studios and back in again, picking up where you left off there.
You'll hit it first when walking over from HR. Plus, I think all Potter fans should trace Harry's steps to school.
Go on Minions when you walk in. Then do ET on your way to Diagon Alley. You've gotten those 2 out of the way.
I'd shop, eat and etc in Studios, buying your wand first thing upon getting to Diagon Alley. Do the Gringots ride, play with your wands, etc.
Hop on Hogwarts Express sometime in the last couple of hours in the evening.
Hang out in Hogsmeade till close, catching the show.

Next day start in IOA. Go as early as you can go, Early Entry if they offer it there. Go to Hagrid's first thing. Get in Forbidden Journey. You'll have to walk back out to get Jurassic River in so do that whenever you can, maybe right after Hagrid's. Hagrid's will be the only time suck as it is the only one without Express. Sometimes it's got virtual line, sometimes it doesn't. Impossible to plan really.
You want to be sure to take the train back to London so you see both directions.
Head back to Hard Rock from Studios side

 

[Baldy]

I’m so excited for you. You will have an amazing time. I just went for the first time last summer and am planning to go back this coming summer.

Just a quick note regarding your food options

Butter Beer… No sit down reservations only QS (nothing HP because no vegan options).

If you are vegan be aware that the foam topping on the butter beer contains dairy and the TM are not allowed to modify the drinks. There are lots of other Harry Potter themed drinks that are vegan. My favourite is the Pumpkin Fizz.

I do have good news about food options. Leaky Cauldron and Three Broomsticks recently added vegan options to their menu — just this week I think. I haven’t tried any yet but I’m looking forward to trying them on my next trip, especially the pasty in the third pic (not my pic BTW). I have read that there is a place that sells mini versions of the vegan pasties too. Maybe the Neep cart.?
Wizard World world is amazing. I was blown away by how immersive it felt.

Make sure you get park hopper tickets so you can ride the Hogwarts Express.

 

[georgina]

I'll be there then also. Unfortunately both parks close at 7 PM that Friday due to Graventure night for middle schoolers. (They can get in at 4 PM so crowds may go up and lines stay long until park close). If there is a light show happening in Hogsmeade you should be able to stick around to see it even if park is closing to day guests at 7. Not sure how they clear the park. Definitely take advantage of early entry for resort guests, which on the app says 8 AM Saturday for IOA. (US opens for everyone at 9 AM.)

MrsAMC was right on with go to Hagrid's first then Forbidden Journey at early entry. True Harry Potter fans should be aware that the EP line for FJ skips the garden/herbology area and quite a bit of the castle queue, so it is worth getting in the regular line once in the AM. Take your time in the line, there is a lot - in addition to some statues, the mirror of Erised, entrance to Dumbledore's office, talking portraits (my favorite to just stand in the room and listen to them!) Then of course the classroom and office presentations. The EP line does have talking portraits also, but misses a lot up to then.

 

[pfeifer1990]

I'll be there then also. Unfortunately both parks close at 7 PM that Friday due to Graventure night for middle schoolers. (They can get in at 4 PM so crowds may go up and lines stay long until park close). If there is a light show happening in Hogsmeade you should be able to stick around to see it even if park is closing to day guests at 7. Not sure how they clear the park. Definitely take advantage of early entry for resort guests, which on the app says 8 AM Saturday for IOA. (US opens for everyone at 9 AM.)

MrsAMC was right on with go to Hagrid's first then Forbidden Journey at early entry. True Harry Potter fans should be aware that the EP line for FJ skips the garden/herbology area and quite a bit of the castle queue, so it is worth getting in the regular line once in the AM. Take your time in the line, there is a lot - in addition to some statues, the mirror of Erised, entrance to Dumbledore's office, talking portraits (my favorite to just stand in the room and listen to them!) Then of course the classroom and office presentations. The EP line does have talking portraits also, but misses a lot up to then.

Thank you for this information. I have so many questions swirling in my head with this knowledge! So what should our plan of action be for Friday after 4? Where would you recommend we not be or where should we be? Is shopping a good idea between 4 - 7? Or getting dinner? Three Broomsticks or Leaky Cauldron? What area should we definitely avoid? (I'm assuming HP areas).

 

[kbelle8995]

HP areas are quite crowded. Diagon Alley is usually better for shopping. The shops are bigger and you have more room to browse. Diagon Alley also handles crowds better. Except for the sweet shop. You might want to go to Hogsmeade for that one. I'm more for the Leaky Cauldron. Others might prefer the Three Broomsticks. You are going on a weekend so it will be busy. Many have told you take advantage of early entry and your express pass. That might help you get more rides done. Also if you want to ride the train you do need a park to park pass (Park hopper).

You have a lot of rides that you want to do. Make a priorities list. What are the top three most important rides that you want to hit? Anything else is extra. Not that you won't be able to do more. But which ones would it absolutely be not okay to miss. Also if the butterbeer line is too long. You can go to other places to get it. The Hogshead is a good stop for Butterbeer.

 

[georgina]

Thank you for this information. I have so many questions swirling in my head with this knowledge! So what should our plan of action be for Friday after 4? Where would you recommend we not be or where should we be? Is shopping a good idea between 4 - 7? Or getting dinner? Three Broomsticks or Leaky Cauldron? What area should we definitely avoid? (I'm assuming HP areas).

I agree with the previous suggestion of starting at US and knocking out Minions and ET with your EP. Soak up some atmosphere walking through Springfield (the aliens in the Twirl and Hurl are kind of funny). Explore Diagon Alley, shop, ride Gringott's, if you want to eat at Leaky Cauldron probably the earlier the better for shorter lines. Take the train over to Hogsmeade (if you have park-to-park tickets), knowing it will be crowded there. I wouldn't necessarily avoid it, just expect a lot of people. At some point you should ride the train back to US to get the opposite story line. Hogsmeade has a great atmosphere in the evening. If the Hagrid's or FJ line isn't too bad, you could hop in one before closing. I really don't know what is happening with Hogwarts castle light show right now. When it runs it goes several times in the evening, but sunset isn't until after 8 PM in May.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

I’m so excited for you. You will have an amazing time. I just went for the first time last summer and am planning to go back this coming summer.

Just a quick note regarding your food options
If you are vegan be aware that the foam topping on the butter beer contains dairy and the TM are not allowed to modify the drinks. There are lots of other Harry Potter themed drinks that are vegan. My favourite is the Pumpkin Fizz.

I do have good news about food options. Leaky Cauldron and Three Broomsticks recently added vegan options to their menu — just this week I think. I haven’t tried any yet but I’m looking forward to trying them on my next trip, especially the pasty in the third pic (not my pic BTW). I have read that there is a place that sells mini versions of the vegan pasties too. Maybe the Neep cart.?
Wizard World world is amazing. I was blown away by how immersive it felt.

Make sure you get park hopper tickets so you can ride the Hogwarts Express.

OMG I'm so excited to see this! My vegetarian kiddo was going to be short on options but we wanted to try each venue at least once, and I was leaning towards breakfast. But maybe we'll give lunch a go instead!

 

[kbelle8995]

Before the Pandemic, I watched a video of someone going to Leaky Cauldron who was with a vegetarian. They ordered the Ploughman's lunch and they stated they could remove items that were not okay. As someone previously posted new options have been added. There are websites for people with different dietary needs or wants. I know many places that have vegetarian burgers. Things are becoming much better and more options are offered. If you google vegetarian options at Universal orlando, various articles from other sites do come up.

 

[RamblingMad]

If you get in early, I'd hit Gringotts and then take the train over and hit Forbidden Journey. Then, I'd do lunch at Three Broomsticks and get your butter beer there.

The new ride is Hagrids, so if you do that one, you might end up spending a good chunk of your day in line. It really depends on crowd levels, which wouldn't give you much time to hit the other attractions. I'd definitely hit both Spider-man and Transformers. I'd cool down at ET. And give your time for some down time watching a show. Jurassic River Adventure is a short walk from Forbidden Journey. I'd bring a rain coat for that ride.

I usually give myself three days, not one. So it really depends on how much you want to wait to ride versus ride some older rides.