This week, I'm mixing things up a little bit. Sundays will always be for Disney, but the Tuesday after the marathon is going to be (for me) for Universal Orlando. I'm taking the family for the first time and we're doing both parks so we can check out all of the Harry Potter stuff (one day, two parks. yeah, it's going to be crazy).
So, who has been to Universal? Who is going around marathon weekend? What random tips, tricks, or advice do you have for this first timer?
I don't have any plans to go to Universal in the near future, but I have been there and will eventually return. Universal did an incredible job on the Harry Potter parks, and they are the only reason I've gone to Universal to be honest. The theming in both parks is phenomenal, especially if anyone in your family is a Harry Potter fan.
Random tips/tricks/advice:
- Ride the train between both parks both ways. The experiences are different.
- The interactive wands are expensive, but if it's in the budget they are fun to use to cast "spells" in numerous areas throughout both Harry Potter parks. They can be frustrating for some children if they have trouble performing them correctly, but they usually have people posted at different areas to help!
- I love the Forbidden Journey ride, but I know a lot of people prone to motion sickness don't do well with it.
- The queue of the Forbidden Journey is a walkthrough of the castle. If someone doesn't want to ride, they can still walk through the castle. There is a ride-swap room where those not riding can sit and watch Harry Potter movies while the rest ride.
- I also love Escape from Gringotts, even though I hate roller coasters. It has one drop in the beginning that I have to brace myself for, but the rest is my speed.
- The Harry Potter rides are eligible for the Express Pass. If you're using the Express Pass and the regular line isn't crazy, go through the regular queue at least once so you can experience all of the details they included in the queues.
- Knockturn Alley is almost hidden in Diagon Alley, but it has a couple places to cast spells and a shop if you're interested.
- There's a stage in Diagon Alley where they do performances throughout the day. I love to sit there and watch them perform The Tales of Beedle the Bard. They perform a couple different stories - the most common one being The Tale of the Three Brothers. It's definitely worth watching at least once. While you're waiting, grab a butterbeer (I'm partial to the frozen one) or an ice cream from Florean Fortescue's shop!
ETA:
- If you're interested in the Ollivander's wand choosing ceremony, the shop in Diagon Alley is the better choice because it has more rooms, so the line moves faster. One person in each ceremony (usually a child, but not always) will be selected, and they will find the wand that chooses them. After the ceremony the selected person has the opportunity to purchase the wand, while everyone directed into the gift shop where they can chose a wand of their own to purchase.
