New to Universal - is this an okay strategy?

[aliceg]

We are on our way to Universal in two weeks for the first time, and we are so excited! But I feel very unprepared, compared to our Disney trips. We've done Disney World a few times in the past 10 years, and I had fast pass plans, knew which areas of the park to start in, knew where we were eating, etc. And this time...we have none of that. And it's making me nervous.

My sons are extreme Harry Potter fans (which is the only reason we're doing Universal, really) so we'd like to do all the Harry Potter stuff. In both parks. We have (or will be purchasing soon) a 3-day, 2-park ticket. We're staying at Sapphire Falls, so we'll have early admission, but we will not be purchasing the Express pass. It's just not in our budget.

So. I guess we'll be starting at Universal Studios for early express, and go straight to the HP section? And then get the train to IOA and do that? I have no intentions of doing Hagrid's ride, because there is no way my children (or I, or DH) can handle a wait more than 60 mins. We've written Hagrid off, and are ok with that. Maybe next trip.

And my daughter is 4 and just hits 40", if she wears her big shoes. So we're prepared on switching off Child Swapping with her while we're in the HP sections. And we'll make it up to her with Dr. Seuss land.

Sorry if this is long and rambling. I never thought I would miss the excessive planning a Disney vacation required, but it sure made me feel more confident in our vacation plans!

Thanks for any help you may provide.

 

[skylock]

3 days should get you around to doing what you want. It would be a lot more relaxing with an express pass, but you can still do it with 3 days with park to park tickets.

A one night stay at one of the three top hotels will get you express for up to 5 people for 2 days. Very cost effective.

Download the app and check it for wait times.

Early entry is mostly for the potter area really. You should consider an interactive wand purchase or two.

Stop comparing with disney and you will enjoy your time better.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Heading straight for the HP section is a solid choice!

What we did was go to that section in whichever park was early entry, then take the train as soon as the other one opened. - That lets you start "in the back" of the other park when everyone else is just coming in the front.

You won't have "finished" the first HP area, but you can go back over later (the train ride is different in each direction) or do the same thing the next day and do what you missed.

 

[macraven]

Read some of the trip reports to get an idea how other families with young children handle park rides and shows

Outside of the Potter section your boys would also enjoy animal actor live show
It’s entertaining for all ages

Check the website for height requirements for rides so you will know in advance rides your daughter could do

Use early entry and hit Potterville
You can cover it all during your 3 day visit

Hope the vacation goes great for you and the family!

 

[PollyannaMom]

Outside of the Potter section your boys would also enjoy animal actor live show
It’s entertaining for all ages

Ooooh, I second this! DS got picked for it one year, and he had a blast!

 

[aliceg]

Oh, good! Thank you all! I wasn't sure if 3 days was enough, or too much.

And, yes, we will be doing other park stuff besides HP. The animal show is a great idea! I personally am hoping to persuade someone to ride The Mummy with me. Neither of my sons liked Space Mountain, though. And I'm gathering this is rougher?

I have downloaded the app, and have been watching the wait times at various times during the day. Is it fairly accurate?

 

[Blue32]

Oh, good! Thank you all! I wasn't sure if 3 days was enough, or too much.

And, yes, we will be doing other park stuff besides HP. The animal show is a great idea! I personally am hoping to persuade someone to ride The Mummy with me. Neither of my sons liked Space Mountain, though. And I'm gathering this is rougher?

I have downloaded the app, and have been watching the wait times at various times during the day. Is it fairly accurate?

I really hope you do try Mummy. It’s my favorite ride at Universal. I haven’t ridden Hagrid yet though. ☺
I think the coaster portion is not near as rough as Space Mt. at WDW. But the feeling is similar in that it’s fairly dark but not so much that you can’t see the track. It’s quick but the drops are not that big.

 

[macraven]

The Mummy ride is good

Much of it follows a story line and you stop in different sections for a brief time to hear/see those few story sections

The actual coaster portion of the Mummy might be 90 seconds or 2 minutes tops

 

[Rowlf the Dog]

3 days is more than enough even without express passes, especially if you are mainly interested in the HP-parts.
As I was with my mum in March 2018, who was only interested in HP, on her once-in-a-lifetime-trip, we Uber from Disney one day with a park-to-park-ticket w/o Express-Pass. We were done halfday with the following plan without rushing: Started in Diagonal Alley at the opening with Gringots, some shopping and sightseeing in DA, took the Hogwarts Express to Hogsmeade, ride FJ, some shopping there. Than King Kong, Spiderman, Jurassic Park, explore the rest of the park before heading back with the Hogwarts Express to US, where we rode the Mummy, saw Shrek 4D, rode E.T., explore the rest of the park, stopped for the Meet and Greet with Puss in Boots, than two rides for me on RRR, a quick stop for me on Hulk and we were done at 3p.m.
As I was there on my own for two days w/o Express Pass, I rode everything and some of it multiple times without any problems and visited some of the shows.
So yes, it is very doable with 3 days and without much pre-planning and your kids would also have enough time to visit Olivanders, get their wands and do some magic in Hogsmeade and Diagonal Alley and you also could reride your favourites multiple times.
Have fun! And no stress with pre-planning, just look that you do rides like Minions, King Kong or the HP-rides at the start of the day, during EE or before park closing.