Need a little help

[friendoffigment]

not really an expert by any means with universal

going May 8, Monday. only one day due to schedule. want to do both parks. touring plans has both parks rated as a 2. IOA has early entry. IOA open until 7 UO till 9. we like to do almost everything but know this will be impossible. we will be at rope drop

what park would you start in. would getting the express pass be worth it. $84 for 2 park EP

Thanks for any assistance and please feel free to offer other advice. Thanks again

 

[danielocha30]

start at US at Diagon Alley hop to the Howgart Express and finish Hogsmead, now I will tour IoA starting at Jurassic Park right next to HP land and go around and then Hop back to finish US

 

[Robo56]

Early entry is for onsite guests only. I don't know if you are staying onsite or not?

If you stay onsite at PBH, RPR or HRH you get unlimited express included in your stay. So that means if you stayed for only one night you would get Unlimited Express for the the day you check in and also the day you check out.

IT really starts getting busy towards the end of May, but even if it is busy during your time there you can wait and access your need for Express pass and purchase it there.

There are two types of Express Pass. The regular Express Pass which allows you one Express ride on participating Express rides or the Unlimited Express pass which allows unlimited rides on Express rides.

The Forbidden Journey in Hogsmeade and Escape from Gringotts in Diagon Alley and Hogwarts Express do not have Express.

The maps of both IOA and Universal is located on the Universal Orlando website. Download the pdf's and look at them this will help alot.

The Harry Potter Parks are the most popular so on rope drop people tend to head to them first.

Make sure to purchase the park to park ticket. You have to have this to ride the Hogwarts Express.

If you are a Potter fan I would agree with above poster. Be at park of your choice at rope drop.

If I only had one day I would start at Universal and head to Diagon Alley (if you are a Potter fan). Escape from Gringotts is the only ride there. Wonder the shops and check out Knockturn Alley.

If Gringotts is busy use single rider line.

Take Hogwarts Express over to Hogsmeade and do Forbidden Journey, Dragon Challenge and flight of the Hippogriff.

Do Ollivanders wand show at Diagon Alley the one in Hogsmeade gets busy.

Have lunch at Mytho's in IOA. Great food and service. It's one of our favorites.

Get a picture of the fire breathing Dragon on top Gringotts bank. It happens every 10 to 15 minutes. You will see people standing in the streets waiting to take a picture.

If Potter parks are a after thought the most popular rides with longer wait times in Universal are Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, Rip Ride Rocket, Revenge of the Mummy. In IOA it would be Hulk, Spiderman and Jurassic Park River Adventure. Kong is also very popular to.

Also the new Jimmy Fallon ride is in Universal. It is a virtual reality ride return system. So you might want to scoot over there to set up a ride time. Will give you time to return for your ride.

Downloading the Universal app on your phone would be useful in helping give a reasonable time on ride wait times if it is busy.

The fact that you are going in early May should help alot.

This should get you started if you have anymore questions. Just ask someone will help

 

[janicept]

I will be there that day. If you don't have early entry you could try to get in with another family or me. I can get in early with my AP and they only need one person to show the pass to get in. I was there one time early and I saw this couple talking to an employee - obviously confused about why they couldn't get in. I went up and asked if they could go in with me and the staff member said yes they could.

If you have early entry you have to start at IoA. You'll end up going back and forth a few times to catch everything but there are plenty of places to take a break. The Jimmy Fallon ride you can get a virtual ticket in the morning on your phone so you don't have to walk all the way to the waiting area. Of course that means you have to carry your phone with you and use the lockers. I personally try not to bring anything I have to put in a locker - wastes so much time. Of course when my husband comes with me and keep my phone in his pocket since he won't ride things that require lockers.

 

[NDollie]

I'll be there the same day....

thanks for asking this question.....great help for me too as we are first timers to Universal.

 

[janicept]

Deleted

 

[macraven]

Please read the sticky of Disboards rules

It is in each forum I moderate

Do not circumvent rules openly in threads

If you want to help someone, use the pm system

I can not read anyone's pm and what I can't read, I can't give points on

Always nice to help others but don't post ways that go against park policies

Don't count on the TM's allowing guests to use EE with only one in the group that qualifies

Many times people leave their hotel key in the room and need to retrieve it to enter for EE

 

[macraven]

I will be there that day. If you don't have early entry you could try to get in with another family or me. I can get in early with my AP and they only need one person to show the pass to get in. I was there one time early and I saw this couple talking to an employee - obviously confused about why they couldn't get in. I went up and asked if they could go in with me and the staff member said yes they could.

If you have early entry you have to start at IoA. You'll end up going back and forth a few times to catch everything but there are plenty of places to take a break. The Jimmy Fallon ride you can get a virtual ticket in the morning on your phone so you don't have to walk all the way to the waiting area. Of course that means you have to carry your phone with you and use the lockers. I personally try not to bring anything I have to put in a locker - wastes so much time. Of course when my husband comes with me and keep my phone in his pocket since he won't ride things that require lockers.

You were misinformed on how bring people you are not with in to the parks without the credentials