July 28-30 IOA/USF Trip - Offsite HP Package

clrntgrrl24

Earning My Ears
Joined
Aug 4, 2010
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Hello all! Just got back from a trip to IOA and USF, the main purpose of which was, of course, everything Harry Potter. I used these forums extensively before leaving to plan my trip, so I figured I would return the favor. (Sorry for the length, but I love detail!!)

We had six in our group: me, 18; my brother, 13; my parents, early 50s; and my aunt and uncle, mid-60s. First time to USF/IOA for all of us.

We spent 3 days/4 nights in and around Universal. We bought the HP Vacation Package through Universal, but we stayed off-site, at the Homewood Suites by Hilton. I was incredibly impressed with the hotel and definitely recommend for travelers who, like us, are on a budget. They were quick to respond to any needs we had and our room was clean and spacious, even with all 6 of us. It had a full kitchen as well, which came in handy. Also, we could see a teeny tiny bit of a Hogwarts spire from our window!! I knew we had to get our various tickets from a kiosk, so Dad and I drove to Royal Pacific. Worked brilliantly, and no one questioned us, even though we weren't hotel guests. This saved time in the morning.

One downside was the shuttle to the park in the morning. Our first morning, we took the early shuttle, which left from our hotel at 7:15am. We figured this would give us plenty of time to take advantage of our early entry. Ha! What we weren't told was that our shuttle also had to make stops at 4 other hotels. This, naturally ate up quite a bit of time, and we were dropped off at the US bus stop at 7:45am. Quite frustrating, since I knew the 8am early entry was often turned into 7:30...but no worries we were mostly too excited to care. When we got to the gate, our tickets were scanned and so were our fingers for a fingerprint. Remember which finger you scan! as it must be the same one every time you use the ticket. They make you write your name on the ticket, I recommend writing which finger you used, too. Once through the gate, we went to the right for early entry. The team members call for hotel guests and for you to show your room key. This only works if you're at one of the 3 onsite hotels. If you're staying offsite with the package, your ticket will say UPRV and that's what you have to show to get the early entry. Keep the tickets/room keys out because they re-check them at the entrance to WWOHP.

As expected, fantastic, amazing, etc. I was snapping pictures like a madwoman. Our plan was to see Ollivander's first, but by the time we got in the line was already forming. It was probably 100 people or less so we should have done it, but it looked longish so I shuttled everyone to FJ. Posted wait time was 20min so we went for it in the regular line (we had planned to take the single rider if it was anything more than 30 to maximize morning time). Lockers are quite the situation. The team members passively mentioned that there were more beyond the initial room you're sent through, but in the commotion, no one was really getting the message. Our backpack didn't fit into the locker too easily, but after moving some stuff to aunt&uncle's locker, it worked. Queue was awesome, as expected. However, you spend AGES in the greenhouse and then practically run though all the good rooms. These ought to be spread out a bit more, but oh well. All of us quite enjoyed the ride itself, but mom and aunt thought the movements were a bit much for them.

Being mild coaster enthusiasts, brother and I wanted to do Dragon Challenge next. Dad and uncle came with us, mom and aunt waited in the owlry seating. Posted wait time 10min, but I think that's mostly to walk through the insanely long queue. Look up when you reach the loading room, shadows of dragons flying, pretty neat. We decided to ride the Chinese Fireball, as I had heard it was better for people who aren't coaster people. It proved to be too intense for my uncle, who came off feeling unwell. By that time, it was around 9:15am, and we decided to vacate WWOHP. Uncle need somewhere cool to sit, so we stopped at Cat in the Hat, through the store and sat by the exit in what I think was the Child Swap area. Mom, brother, and I rode the ride, no wait at all.

We then made our way to the front of the park and rode the Hulk coaster, 25min., and Spiderman, 35min. Uncle decided he needed to rest so mom and dad delivered aunt and uncle to the front of the park, where they called a shuttle to pick them up at the bus stop. Brother and I continued to Dudley Do-right, 90 min posted wait so we single rider'd it, about 10min. Met up with mom and dad and had lunch at the big cafe in Toon Lagoon (can't remember the name!). I'm vegetarian, and had pretty much the only thing I could, cheese pizza. Satisfactory, but not that great. After lunch, did Popeye & Bluto, 35min wait. Got wetter then I have ever gotten on a ride in my life!! No miniscule part of me was dry at all!! Definitely recommend bringing swimwear to change into just for this ride. Went to Jurassic Park next, 65min posted wait time, all did single rider, walked on and rode in the same boat. This is the way to go for any ride with the single rider line, if you don't mind being separated by a bit, and don't have smaller, or easily frightened children who would need to be with a parent. Continued in a circle, saw the Poseidon show, about 30min wait, but at least inside and air conditioned. Good show, but why do we have to stand?! Next, went to Suess Landing, did the Trolley Ride, 30min wait, way too long if you don't have little kids. Highly skippable ride. We then went to One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. Listen to the song, it keeps you from getting squirted. We avoided the squirting during the ride, but the fish fountains that go while you're loading got blown by the wind and we were, once again, soaked.

As it was now 5-6pm, we headed back to WWOHP in hopes of finding the crowds toned down a bit. We ate dinner at the 3 Broomsticks, got the feast for 4 (didn't nearly eat it all, probably enough food for 6 people) and I, the veggie, had mac n cheese kids meal. Came with grapes and applesauce. Also, first butterbeer experience. Delicious!!!! Both frozen and regular are great, I preferred regular. Rode FJ again using single rider, as posted wait was 75min. Left stuff with non-riding mom to avoid locker disaster part 2. Single rider took 35min, and you saw NOTHING of the queue! Only the Gryffindor common room. Rode Hippogriff, 30min wait. Fun ride, not too thrilling, good for kids. Mom and I then waited about 10min to get into Honeydukes/Zonko's. Kind of disappointing. Not that much stuff of worth in either shop, but we bought 2 chocolate frogs and 1 package of Bertie Bott's (actually are every flavor-ew!). At that point we decided we were done for the day, and called aunt and uncle to come pick us up. Whew!!

Day 2: USF (will attempt to make shorter, sorry!!!)
Decided to avoid shuttle fiasco, and drove (aunt&uncle's car legally holds 6!). Arrived at gates at 8:45am -ish. Discovered they were already letting in "hotel guests." So we flashed our tickets and got in. Headed for HRRR, closed with no estimated opening time. So we went to MIB. Rode twice, no wait both times. Then moved to the Simpson's Ride. Uncle, still not 100% decided to wait it out. The rest of us loved it! (none are simpson's fans) 15-20 min wait. Next we all rode ET, 5min wait. So cute! Good but in a nostalgic way. Brother, who has never seen the movie, didn't get it. Also, I sat next to a 4yr old who was scared to death because of the dark and the overall creepiness of the forest-themed queueing area. Did fine on the ride, but just an idea for parents to prepare younger kids that the line will be dark, but that ET is a nice alien or something like that. Next we all rode Jaws, 10min wait. I hate getting scared so I had watched a youtube of the ride so I knew when the shark was coming. Closed my eyes through the entire boathouse bit and was totally ok. Crowds were beginning to thicken at this point. We headed for Disaster, wait time 25min. Uncle decided not to go, due to the simulator part. Brother also decided not to, due to fear of fire. At that point, heat and crowds proved too much so we went back to the hotel for a nap and lunch/dinner. Came back to the park around 7, HRRR now working, brother and I did single rider, 25min wait. We then all saw T2. Brother and I then went to the Mummy, also single rider, walked on, and actually sat next to each other. Adults had gone to see Shrek. Brother and I tried to ride again via single rider, but the ride broke. It was 15 min to close, so they cleared us all out. Met back up with the adults, and did a bit of shopping in the big store at the front. AHA!! All the HP products that SHOULD be in Zonko's are here!! (Quaffles, remembralls, etc). Just looked, didn't buy, and headed back to the hotel.

Day 3 - back to IOA
Drove (again) and arrived at 7:30am. Headed straight to Ollivander's, waited 10min. I was expecting a hokey show, nothing special. I was amazed! Even if you aren't chosen the experience is truly magical. The little girl who got picked was simply ecstatic. Dervish & Banges is a madhouse!! Although, there is a larger selection of products than in Zonkos. We got out ASAP. Went to FJ for a walking tour/photo op. Only dad, brother, and i rode, but everyone walked through. A lot of other people in line looked at us funny for wanting to stop and take pictures. I don't understand, in a fantastic queue like that, why you would want to just walk through without looking at it!! Anyway, still great the second time around, but we got stuck! It was at the film part of the dragon. Got restarted quickly, but timing seemed just slightly off after that. We went to the 3 Broomsticks for our included breakfast at 9am. Delicious!! Tried Pumpkin Juice - good to try but I wouldn't have it again. Mom loved it.

I had made Hogwarts letters to send to friends and bought stamps at the cart outside Dervish & Banges on day 1, so I found the stamper and had him stamp the letters and mailed them. Note: only 1 kind of stamp outside, 4 (better) choices inside. We then left WWOHP. All but uncle rode Jurassic Park, single rider, walked on. Then saw the Sindbad show. Incredibly cheesy, and not air conditioned. Only see if you don't have anything else to do. We were hungry, so decided to go back to the hotel for another lunch/nap/dinner. Aunt and uncle stayed back to catch up on rest. Arrived back around 6pm. Brother and I did Hulk via single rider, hardly any wait. Also did Dr. Doom's Fearfall single rider. Twice no wait. Keep your eyes open, view is great!!

Brother and I then did Jurassic Park, again via single rider. We rode together, last row. All fine and dandy until the final drop. Someone in front of me had on a visor, which flew off. The plastic adjustor hit my lip, causing a rather large (for a lip) gash and a lot of bleeding. Went to Health Services, very nice guy gave me ice and filled out an accident report. This is why you TAKE OFF ALL LOOSE ARTICLES!!!! grr.

Due to the incident, relaxed over a glass of butterbeer on the Hog's Head balcony. Then rode FJ (again!) via single rider, 15min wait. Brother and I did the Hungarian Horntail side of Dragon Challenge, first row. I recommend waiting the extra bit for the front row on at least one track, gives a great view of near misses. Then watched the final Triwizard Spirit show for the day. Get there about 5min before, sit down in the front-middle of the circle, and you'll be first to take pics when they're done. That's what we did, worked beautifully. Brother wanted to do Hulk one last time, so we went to the front for that. Single rider now closed (:sad1:) so we waited in the regular line, and went for the front row (25min because of front row wait). As we were getting off, it was 10:08pm, and they were announcing that if you wanted to ride, to move to rows 2-8. So if you really have your heart set on row 1 on any coaster, get in line earlier rather than later. We then left with the throngs of people.

Overall, a great trip. Questions welcome!!
 
Great report! Thanks for sharing. :thumbsup2

Are you going to post any pictures?
 
Great TR! So, you can purchase HP merchandise in the big US store?! How about the big store at the front of IOA? I'm just wondering if I can avoid some of the huge lines for shopping by skipping the small stores in WWOHP...

Thanks!
Maria :upsidedow
 

Great TR! So, you can purchase HP merchandise in the big US store?! How about the big store at the front of IOA? I'm just wondering if I can avoid some of the huge lines for shopping by skipping the small stores in WWOHP...

Yes, there's a whole HP section of the big stores in both parks. It was a much better shopping experience, and besides wands and maybe stamps, I don't think there's a whole lot in the Wizarding World shops that you couldn't get from those two big shops.
 
Yes, there's a whole HP section of the big stores in both parks. It was a much better shopping experience, and besides wands and maybe stamps, I don't think there's a whole lot in the Wizarding World shops that you couldn't get from those two big shops.

Excellent news! My ds definitely wants a wand, but if we can avoid some lines for other stuff, he will be thrilled!

Maria :upsidedow
 




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