Newbie & 1 day for Islands of Adventure - help!?

[Ana~n~Joseph]

Hi all.

I'm a huge Disney World person and have only stepped foot in Universal once in my life and I was 14! BFF and I will be in Disney World this September (Labor Day week) and we have set aside 1 day for Islands of Adventure. Our main goal is doing Harry Potter.

Does anyone have any advice for us? We have no problem getting up early and being there at opening but we are just not sure what type of "plan" we should have. Also, any suggestions for cool restaurants for lunch?

Thanks in advance!

 

[macraven]

you have plenty of time to read up about the darkside parks.

check out some of the stickies here for information on food places and anything you need to know about basics.

read some of the threads regarding food and restaurants.
everyone has a favorite place for lunch/dinner.

don't worry about having a plan.
just be there early and do parry hotter once you arrive.


have fun!

 

[raydurz]

If you're there at rope drop, head for Forbidden Journey. Like all of the thrill rides/coasters at Universal, if you have items like a backpack, purse, camera, anything loose, you'll have to put it in lockers. There are lockers at Forbidden Journey which are free for either the first 30 or 60 minutes. I've read that if you use the lockers near the Hogwarts Express for like $3, the wait time is a lot less. You could also opt for the single rider line, if you don't mind riding separately. After that ride the Dragon Challenge or Griffin ride if you'd like.

I would wait for dinner to eat at 3 Broomsticks. Don't get butterbeer at the cart, get it inside at Hogshead instead, there's usually a shorter line.

Ummm after you spend the morning exploring HP, be sure to check out the rest of Islands of Adventure, its an awesome park! Then swing by HP again in the evening. That's what I did and it went fairly well.

 

[Ana~n~Joseph]

Thank you macraven and raydurz for the input! I really appreciate it. Quick question about the lockers - if you pay the $3, do you have access to the locker all day?

 

[macraven]

the large lockers at the front of the park are the family/large lockers.
they are $8 and $10 for the entire day.

the other lockers ($3) are by the hour.

 

[mtmbyck]

I was at IOA 48 hours ago and I too know Disney like the back of my hand but knew little about this park ( though I was there 3 years ago). We arrived for rope drop. Headed straight to FJ along with everyone else. Posted wait time was 45 minutes (as park is open early to resort guests) but we waited no more than 15 and queue keeps moving and is very interesting. Harry Pooter fans who aren't riding should walk the queue and you can wait at the ride entrance exit for your party (there's a little waiting room). I bought DDs express passes. Not sure it was good value ( only really needed for spiderman and Hulk). Ripsaw Falls was closed as was DrSeuss trolley. My impression of IOA hasn't changed - not much to do and shouldn't cost the same as Disney parks. I base this on the lack of rides for those who don't like thrill rides or major movement. I did ride Jurassic Park thinking it was like Splash Mountain. IT'S NOT! You get soaked! My head was completely soaked. As we're my shorts. This park is a bathing suit park! The family raft ride also soaks you. I opted out when I saw riders coming off dripping from head to toe. They even have you remove your running shoes as they know you will get soaked.

Saw the Sinbad show and it was horrible ( sorry US fans ). Nothing like a Disney show. The trolley finally did open and we waited 40 minutes and the ride is about 90 seconds. Nothing like the people mover.

WWoHP was cool but there were lines for everything. Even to get into stores! The Butterbeer would have to be the only drink for hours to get me in that line!

I totally get that everyone wants to do this park to say you did it, but not sure you'll rush back. You cannot compare any of it to WDW. My recommendation for anyone going would be to book a room for 1 night at one of the Universal hotels - rooms come with express pass ability and early entry which can be worth over $120 per family of 4.

We did 4 Cafe for lunch. Good deal getting a large pepperoni pizza, 3 drinks and garlic sticks for $35. City Walk looks cool so definitely if we decide to go back (DDs want to do US now) we'd stay onside for a night to walk the City Walk and dine there.

I know I'll get blasted by the US fans but I just didn't see the value at all. Sorry. Yet it's part of the Orlando experience so we'll no doubt be back in a few years.

 

[macraven]

no need to say sorry.
everyone is entitled to their opinions.
we can all like different things, which is good.


it can be difficult for a newbie at the darkside when it is compared to the motherland.
they are totally different parks in many ways.

for those that do stay onsite at least one night, they can do the park at a slower pace and take in the ambiance of the parks.

the hotel perks are a nice added bonus.

the studios, seems to me, tend to have a slower pace and has a calm relaxing atmospere to it.
maybe you'll enjoy that park more the next time you visit.

 

[jlemieu1]

If you could spare some money stay on site to get the extra hour so you can run back to the Harry part of the park.
If you can't do on-site then run back there right away when they open for Harry ride. Take the right way to get back there.

 

[jfreaks5]

Hi all.

I'm a huge Disney World person and have only stepped foot in Universal once in my life and I was 14! BFF and I will be in Disney World this September (Labor Day week) and we have set aside 1 day for Islands of Adventure. Our main goal is doing Harry Potter.

Does anyone have any advice for us? We have no problem getting up early and being there at opening but we are just not sure what type of "plan" we should have. Also, any suggestions for cool restaurants for lunch?

Thanks in advance!

Do as much as you can, the rides are great! The Harry Potter ride is definitely like nothing you will ever ride, however I still think nothing tops Spiderman!! It's all worth your admission price, except I will say, if there's a long line for "High in the sky Suess trolly train"...don't waste your time. It's pretty lame. If you've got little ones, they would probably enjoy it. I'm a HUGE Disney fan too, but when we visit, we never miss Universal or Islands of Adventure!

 

[Ana~n~Joseph]

Thanks everyone for your opinions and suggestions! It's just BFF and I (no kiddies, yay...hehe) and we are going in September. Do you guys think September is any slower at Universal? I know at Disney it is an awesome time to go (we got the same week ever year).

Thanks again! You guys are awesome!

 

[Metro West]

Thanks everyone for your opinions and suggestions! It's just BFF and I (no kiddies, yay...hehe) and we are going in September. Do you guys think September is any slower at Universal? I know at Disney it is an awesome time to go (we got the same week ever year).

Thanks again! You guys are awesome!

The crowds slow down a lot after Labor Day so you shouldn't have any crowd issues.