Looking For Input On My Universal Plan

[Andytoo]

My son and I will be doing 2 days at Universal in the middle of our Disney trip the week before Easter. We have never been to Universal Florida before, but visited Disney several times. Our priority is to see the HP areas. We will be staying 1 night at Royal Pacific and 2 days at the parks. I am hoping they will be doing EE at both parks the week before Easter. Here is the plan so far assuming Tuesday is EE at US. If it's IOA we'll reverse the days.

Day 1

• Get to RP about 5:30, check in, get EP, walk to US to wait for RD
• Head straight to Gringott's, then Olivander's then look around and see some of the stage shows
• Eat lunch at Leaky Cauldron
  
• Take HE to Hogsmeade
• Look around Hogsmeade and ride any rides that use EP or have OK wait times
• Ride rides in IOA until room is ready
  
• Head to room, rest for a couple of hours
  
• Dinner (any suggestions for CS at RP or CW?)
  
• Back to one of the parks for last few hours 8-10

Day 2

• RD at IOA, head to FJ
• Ride other Hogsmeade rides, look around, watch stage shows
• Lunch at 3 broomsticks
• Take HE to DA
• See anything in DA we missed
• Ride rides in US until ready to leave
• Head back to Fort Wilderness

Would love any suggestions or pointers. TIA!

 

[HM]

I think it sounds good. I'm not sure about what EE will be. It's been IOA all winter.

 

[Planogirl]

Did you notice the restaurant sticky at the top? That might help you with restaurants.

Your plan sounds good to me. A few non-Harry Potter attractions can get pretty busy too so as always as early as possible or just before closing can be good for some of those.

 

[damo]

Sounds good! You're smart to stay one night onsite.

 

[Andytoo]

Thanks! I really appreciate the feedback! 4 weeks to go......

 

[nkereina]

For restaurants, we enjoyed the City Walk ones more than the in-park ones. Red Oven was QS pizza which was very good, and Antojitos was our favorite TS.

 

[glocon]

If you are Harry Potter fans, then I would recommend eating at the Three Broomsticks and the Leaky Cauldron. Also Mythos at IoA. Those are all part of the theme park experience to us. CW does have some good choices, but the 3B and LC are so Harry Potter, so HP fans would love them. And Mythos is just plain cool and delicious (I'm talking to you risotto of the day) but affordable. And it's nice not taking the time to leave the parks- even though CW is very close.

Are you going to get the interactive wands? Although we planned to, we didn't get around to it and now I regret it.

 

[wiscbugs]

Talked to Guest Services yesterday and both parks will have early entry that week.

 

[macraven]

Talked to Guest Services yesterday and both parks will have early entry that week.

Yaaaa for those that will be there then.

 

[sharona]

My son and I will be doing 2 days at Universal in the middle of our Disney trip the week before Easter. We have never been to Universal Florida before, but visited Disney several times. Our priority is to see the HP areas. We will be staying 1 night at Royal Pacific and 2 days at the parks. I am hoping they will be doing EE at both parks the week before Easter. Here is the plan so far assuming Tuesday is EE at US. If it's IOA we'll reverse the days.

Day 1

• Get to RP about 5:30, check in, get EP, walk to US to wait for RD
• Head straight to Gringott's, then Olivander's then look around and see some of the stage shows
• Eat lunch at Leaky Cauldron
  
• Take HE to Hogsmeade
• Look around Hogsmeade and ride any rides that use EP or have OK wait times
• Ride rides in IOA until room is ready
  
• Head to room, rest for a couple of hours
  
• Dinner (any suggestions for CS at RP or CW?)
  
• Back to one of the parks for last few hours 8-10

Day 2

• RD at IOA, head to FJ
• Ride other Hogsmeade rides, look around, watch stage shows
• Lunch at 3 broomsticks
• Take HE to DA
• See anything in DA we missed
• Ride rides in US until ready to leave
• Head back to Fort Wilderness

Would love any suggestions or pointers. TIA!

Is there a 2nd Olivander's in Diagon Alley? I thought it was at Hogsmeade and DA has the cart?? Have not been inside the one in Hogsmeade so not cure of this.

Don't forget to ride Gringott's and FJ again using the single rider lines. Also, on FJ there is a lot to see in the queue so if it's walk on when you get there at RD, you may want to walk through the SB line again when there is a small wait so you can really see everything in Hogwart's or take the tour but if you're going to go through you may as well ride again. It's really fabulous and should not be rushed.

Also, make sure you see the Gringott's dragon breath fire at dusk or after dark. Very cool.

 

[macraven]

yes, there are 2 in DA
(they are identical so no need to decide on which shop to use.)


this helps keep the waiting lines shorter that going to olivanders at IOA parry hotter.

 

[johde]

The only thing I would add is Despicable Me can get a "long line" even in the Express Line. I've heard the Express Line tends to be about 1/2 the normal line. If you want to do Despicable Me, I would consider either hitting it first at RD before heading back to DA, or possibly backtracking back up there at the very end of the Early Entry Hour.

 

[sharona]

Despicable Me is a "show" ride so not continuous loading, that is why even the express line can appear long but once they start loading a new show the line will move quickly as they'll be loading 60 (more?) people at once.

 

[Andytoo]

Thanks so much for the help. Will my tickets I got from UT work as-is at the turnstiles, or do I need to exchange them?

 

[macraven]

the UT tickets are valid as they are.
you can use them at the park gate.
no exchange is needed