So we will be down in Orlando from late Thursday night - Monday.
We've never done US before, and were talking about making it out there by opening Friday morning to do IoA/WWoHP. I'm a massive HP fan, we just haven't gotten out there yet. I know that the Friday of Memorial Day weekend is a crazy time to go!
So, any basic tips for getting everything in WWoHP done?
Suggestions for other IoA must dos?
General tips?
Anything would be great - I'm a bit nervous about going and not knowing anything about it.
Well on any day, WWoHP will be extremely busy. Think about the busiest rides at WDW. Then imagine a whole land based on those rides (size etc.). So instead of a FastPass, you just make sure you get there early. And I mean very early!
People on special vacation bookings are allowed in at 7am (seasonally). ALL Universal Orlando resort guests are allowed in by 8am. The park opens to the general public at 9am (i.e. YOU). You won't be allowed in until 9am under any circumstances.
So this is what I mean about getting there early! Any later than 11am and I imagine you will gain entry to IOA but be TURNED AWAY from the WWoHP section of the park due to overcrowding. In that instance, you would be given a slip of paper telling which time you can come back to WWoHP (I guess this is like a FastPass - a TM will give you the slip of the paper as you try to enter/refused entry to WWoHP).
The rest of IOA is absolutely fine. Sure it's busy at times, but it's one of the best theme parks in the world with some great IP (Harry Potter, Marvel, Seuss) so it is to be expected to be busy.
Without Universal Express (which all hotel guests get free as a perk of staying onsite) you will be waiting I imagine no more than 30-45 mins on any non-WWoHP ride, with the possible exception of the water rides in Toon Lagoon, which get busy when it's very hot.
My suggestion to you is to arrive at IOA for 9am. No later. Go straight to WWoHP, via Seuss Landing direction, do Forbidden Journey ride in Hogwarts (best theme park attraction in the world, trust me, worth admission price alone), and/or Olivander's Wand Show if you have smaller kids. However, be warned, this show only admits around 20 people each time, and the wait line can reach hours on a busy day. Don't queue up for long for Olivanders. In fact, you may want to do Olivanders first thing, then head over to Forbidden Journey.
When you have perhaps ridden Flight of the Hippogriff, or the thrillseeking Dragon Challenge coasters, take a look in the shops of WWoHP, and try to eat lunch at The Three Broomsticks table service restaurant. However, this gets very busy too (i.e. full capacity and queuing outside to get in) at meal times.
When you leave WWoHP, you may not be able to get straight back in, as the aforementioned ticketing system may be in place (i.e. come back at 5pm). But the rest of IOA is fantastic, there is something for everyone.
Let us know how you got on!
