Only a half day, what Harry Potter park?!

[TheDabblingCrafter]

Hello!

I am going to be at Universal studios for a business conference. Looks like I will only be able to get a half day away to do one of the Harry Potter worlds. I'm a big fan so I am happy with any time I can get!

So with only a half day, seems to make sense to only do one of the parks. I am having a hard time deciding even after reading about both. If you had to pick one, which one would you pick? Why?

As a side note, ride wise I hate roller coasters that have drops. Ie I loathe space mountain and splash mountain but I love to go fast so I like test track and thunder mountain in WDW. I was having a hard time telling if either big HP ride had those.

 

[disneylove69]

Hello!

I am going to be at Universal studios for a business conference. Looks like I will only be able to get a half day away to do one of the Harry Potter worlds. I'm a big fan so I am happy with any time I can get!

So with only a half day, seems to make sense to only do one of the parks. I am having a hard time deciding even after reading about both. If you had to pick one, which one would you pick? Why?

As a side note, ride wise I hate roller coasters that have drops. Ie I loathe space mountain and splash mountain but I love to go fast so I like test track and thunder mountain in WDW. I was having a hard time telling if either big HP ride had those.

Harry Potter in IOA is smaller but more of a happier feeling. Walking it I feel like a Hogswart student. I like it better. There seems to be more magical things happening. I also like the side shows. I have not been on the Forbidden ride but they have an entrance that you can just walk Hogswart castle at your leisure so you can really examine everything. Daigon alley is very dark in the sense of evil. There are some things that are cool but it as loud and not as magical. I did not do Gringots and there is not path to just walk it. So if you like the series 1-3 then do IOA. If you like the later years do Universal. If you are going off season and don't mind paying more you could get a park hopper and take the train over and do both. I went in November and it was very doable.

 

[HM]

I think I'd also choose the IOA side with Hogsmeade. I like Forbidden Journey better than Gringotts both the ride and the queue. The Three Broomsticks is a good place to eat and really well themed. Ollivander's shop is in both and worth watching the show, I think. Obviously you won't plan on doing the Dragon's Challenge coaster, so the number of rides will be the same for you on either side. But if you do this side, make sure you walk the outside part of the queue for the coasters so you can see Hagrid's house and the Weasley's car.

However, there seems to be more to look at in Diagon Alley, with a few more shops and lots of little nooks and crannies. I also like the shows they put on there with Celestina Warbeck and The Tale of the Three Brothers.

 

[Newsies]

Definitely IOA over US. It's so much brighter and happier, like disneylove69 pointed out. I had a blast and was in tears of happiness when I went because it was so magical and fun. It really is a great place to be if you're a Harry Potter diehard.

 

[mellyf]

I also liked the feel of Hogsmeade *overall* more than Diagon Alley, but I'm not sure if that's partly because it had early entry, so we mostly experienced it during very uncrowded times. I did get choked up as we were walking thru IoA and I saw the castle. Diagon Alley got packed by late morning. The detail in both is amazing, but I thought DA was particularly incredible, with the amount of detail. My husband and I loved both FJ and Gringott's, so not sure I could pick a favorite ride.

 

[DOOM1001]

Diagon Alley at Universal is the best themed area at any park,its also bigger with much more to see than the IOA side.Of the main rides in both Potter areas neither one is a real coaster,both are more dark rides than anything.As far as the rest of the parks,if you hate coasters IOA has more major coasters so another reason to go with Universal over IOA.Rip Ride Rock it is the only one at Universal that is a true coaster.Mummy is a dark ride with a coaster part,many people consider it one of the best rides in the park and is definitely worth riding.I would go with the Universal park.

 

[DPCummerbund]

Hello!

As a side note, ride wise I hate roller coasters that have drops. Ie I loathe space mountain and splash mountain but I love to go fast so I like test track and thunder mountain in WDW. I was having a hard time telling if either big HP ride had those.

Hmmm... I've also been researching the drops / speeds / motions of the various rides, and everyone is affected differently - what bothers one person won't bother another. So, in that sense your response doesn't seem all that surprising. However, in actual movement Thunder Mountain and Space Mountain have similar drops - both in the range of 25-30 feet, from what I've been able to find. I happen to love both of those rides, and find them very similar. OTOH, Splash Mountain has a drop in the range of 50 feet, so that's noticeably taller.

I think what may make Space Mountain feel "taller" is that it all happens in the dark so you can't really see what's happening. My suspicion is that many of the rides at UO are similar. Being basically motion simulators, FJ, EFG, Spider-Man, Transformers, etc. aren't roller coasters, and don't actually have big drops. However, if you don't like the "feeling" of a big drop on Space Mountain, it's possible that you won't like the feeling of a big drop on those other rides either.

So, as general rule, I'm still using Star Tours as my baseline for "what to expect" from many UO rides. I know that they're not really similar to Star Tours, but the type of motion you'll experience at UO is probably more similar to Star Tours than to any roller coaster.

 

[nkereina]

Tough call! We preferred Diagon Alley more for moseying around/killing time - it feels bigger, there's more to look at, felt less crowded. However, Hogsmeade has more rides so if you're paying that money to get in, you may want to ride more than just Gringotts. Forbidden Journey is a great ride and we actually liked it better than Gringotts. So, if you're more interested in the rides/attractions - choose Hogsmeade. If you want to hang out and spend time looking at the details, choose DA.

If you think you'll have time to do more than just HP, we prefer Universal Studios over IOA as two adults. The Potter stuff did not take us half a day at each park, so I'd suspect you may have some time to explore more of the park if you want. So, US may be a better option for that. OR you could always get a two park pass and ride HE over to the other side

 

[glocon]

I would suggest Diagon Alley. It is bigger with more to look at (London, Diagon Alley, Knockturn Alley). You can get into Ollivanders faster there also. And Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Shop is there...

The line at Hogwarts IS awesome though...