Need advice on going to US/IOA on a HHN.

[JMSMommy]

My husband and I are complete over-planners, and yet this trip is killing us slowly but surely! LOL

We have been planning all along to do US/IOA (yes, both in one day with 4 kids but 2 don't really ride roller coasters at all and I don't care for them that much). We've done both parks in one day before, so I know how exhausting it is going to be. We do plan to get at least 3 front of the line passes, or whatever they are called - the use once for each available ride and done. Might get 4. I think my husband is planning on 6 though, and then the boys get to ride any coaster they want twice...but that's beside the point.

Anyway, we are now trying to figure out if we can get MNSSHP worked into our schedule. Our original plan was this:

Sunday - MK
Monday - Epcot
Tuesday - US/IOA
Wed - MK
Thursday - rest/Disney Quest
Friday - DHS
Saturday - AK

Thursday and Friday MNSSHP are both sold out now, leaving us with Sunday or Tuesday. IF we do Sunday, we would like to use our regular park ticket admission on Saturday 10/25 (which means we must add a room only resort reservation).

We could do Tuesday 10/28 MNSSHP though. But we'd have to move our US/IOA day to Thursday which is a HHN. How exactly would this impact our schedules at US/IOA that day?

1 - we plan to be there at opening, staying in a Disney resort.
2 - We plan to start with IOA with Hogsmeade, taking Hogwarts Express to Diagon Alley, tour US, then go back to IOA and finish up there.
3 - Since this is not our first trip, and because it's all about thrill rides for the boys, there will be some we will be skipping in both parks.

Tuesday 10/28 is supposed to be very UNCROWDED
Thursday 10/30 is only supposed to be 1 more level in crowds

The last time we did both parks in one day was Thanksgiving week 2010, and I remember sitting with the girls quite a bit. While I don't expect to sit with them as much this time, I do think it's still doable for our family.

Next question no one can answer, and that is how well will our family do without a full 24 hour "rest" day?! LOL It's so weird to finally be planning a trip without anyone who naps still, and where we even have to question if we need the stroller (don't worry it's going).

 

[damo]

When we were there last week on a HHN night, they kept Diagon open an extra hour for those not doing HHN. They blocked it off so you couldn't get in or out after the park closed, except for the route to catch the Hogwarts Express. Everyone was given a wrist band to show that you were not doing HHN. It was very nice and unexpected. You could take the Hogwarts Express from IOA to Universal until 5 pm but you could stay in Diagon until 6 and take the train back.

 

[JMSMommy]

When we were there last week on a HHN night, they kept Diagon open an extra hour for those not doing HHN. They blocked it off so you couldn't get in or out after the park closed, except for the route to catch the Hogwarts Express. Everyone was given a wrist band to show that you were not doing HHN. It was very nice and unexpected. You could take the Hogwarts Express from IOA to Universal until 5 pm but you could stay in Diagon until 6 and take the train back.

Thanks! That helps. I had already read that nothing scary would be uncovered during the day, so this sounds like they limit "scary" in Diagon Alley as well until the party starts officially. Good to know just in case the boys want to head back there "one last time" before we finish up our day.

Now to determine IF we would rather do US/IOA on Thursday and book a MNSSHP on Tuesday....I can sleep later, right?!

 

[damo]

Thanks! That helps. I had already read that nothing scary would be uncovered during the day, so this sounds like they limit "scary" in Diagon Alley as well until the party starts officially. Good to know just in case the boys want to head back there "one last time" before we finish up our day.

Now to determine IF we would rather do US/IOA on Thursday and book a MNSSHP on Tuesday....I can sleep later, right?!

HHN is not in Diagon at all. There are no outside props of any sort.

 

[JMSMommy]

Even better! I screamed during Toy Story (I scream when ANYTHING pops out at me/jumps out at me). HHN would be awful for me. I don't even want to think about my girls who have issues with parts of The Avengers!

 

[dicar123]

HHN is not in Diagon at all. There are no outside props of any sort.

We'll be at Universal Friday, Saturday and Sunday of this week. We do not plan to do HHN.

Damo, how would we know if Diagon Alley is staying open later? Is it best to just be sure to be in the area between 4:00-5:00?

 

[damo]

We'll be at Universal Friday, Saturday and Sunday of this week. We do not plan to do HHN.

Damo, how would we know if Diagon Alley is staying open later? Is it best to just be sure to be in the area between 4:00-5:00?

We didn't find out until we boarded the Hogwarts Express at IOA at about 4 o'clock and they were putting wrist bands on everyone. I would ask a Hogwarts Express team member earlier to get exact times.

 

[yulilin3]

just a quick trip report on this:
we were there yesterday (Sunday) and started at US. Were there at 8am went straight to Diagon alley, did Gringotts (walk on) toured the entire area and saw the actors portraying the Tale of the Three Brothers, left around 9:30am rode Transformers (walk on), Mummy twice (both walk on) Terminator show at 10:30am. had lunch and then rode MiB (about a 5 min. wait). Then rode the Hogwarts Express (20 min wait) to IOA. Did Dueling Dragons (walk on) Forbbiden Journey (20 min), Hulk (10 min) Dr. Doom twice. Then back on to Hogwarts Express around 3pm to Diagon Alley.
At this time they were already putting wristbands on you for the trip back to US and letting everyone know that Diagon Alley would stay open until 6pm but that you couldn't leave that area and had to come back to IOA if you were leaving after 5pm.
The only reason we went back was to get butterbeer Ice Cream and that ended up being our longest line (about 20 min.)
We were spent so we just left thru US around 4:30pm.