Planning question for early entry next week

[aggiegirl1234]

Hi everybody! I'll be at Universal Studios next Tuesday and Wednesday We'll have early entry both days at 8am, but I noticed on their calendar that it will just be for Islands of Adventure. The first day, I think we'll just ride Forbidden Journey first thing, but I was wondering if they started running the Hogwarts Express to Universal prior to 9am? Basically, I'm wanting to beat the rush when Universal opens to ride Gringott's. Or would I be better off forgoing early entry one of the days to be at the Universal gate (would this result in a shorter wait time for Gringott's than riding the train over)?

Also, I've heard that they'll sometimes open the parks a little earlier than the posted times. Is this true even for early admission and if so, how early should I be at the gate? Thanks!

 

[bchbetha]

I can't help you on train time but I just wanted to reassure you that you won't need to hustle to beat the crowds. It's not a busy time and most people meander in 10:30-11. Until then, crowds are nice.

 

[aggiegirl1234]

I can't help you on train time but I just wanted to reassure you that you won't need to hustle to beat the crowds. It's not a busy time and most people meander in 10:30-11. Until then, crowds are nice.

Ah, that's a relief! I think we'll just do both early mornings at IOA and hop on the train then. Thanks!

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

When we were there in November the early day was US and, no, the Hogwarts Express did not start running until 9 AM. We are going back in February with our granddaughter, and the calendar shows I of A is open early both of our park days (wonder why they don't alternate?). So I think the first day we will do HP area and Forbidden Journey and the next day we may just start our day a little later and go directly to Diagon Alley. It is quite a walk to get from the entry gate to Diagon Alley, so my guess is that if you get on Hogwarts Express at 9, you will get off around the same time those who entered the park at 9 get there.

 

[aggiegirl1234]

When we were there in November the early day was US and, no, the Hogwarts Express did not start running until 9 AM. We are going back in February with our granddaughter, and the calendar shows I of A is open early both of our park days (wonder why they don't alternate?). So I think the first day we will do HP area and Forbidden Journey and the next day we may just start our day a little later and go directly to Diagon Alley. It is quite a walk to get from the entry gate to Diagon Alley, so my guess is that if you get on Hogwarts Express at 9, you will get off around the same time those who entered the park at 9 get there.

Ah okay, that's good to know. Yes, I was wondering why they didn't alternate the parks with early entry as well. The last time I was there back in 2014, I think this was also the case but the early entry park was US (which I was fine with since it meant I got to ride Gringott's first thing two mornings in a row with no wait ).

 

[kim31kim]

Hi everybody! I'll be at Universal Studios next Tuesday and Wednesday We'll have early entry both days at 8am, but I noticed on their calendar that it will just be for Islands of Adventure. The first day, I think we'll just ride Forbidden Journey first thing, but I was wondering if they started running the Hogwarts Express to Universal prior to 9am? Basically, I'm wanting to beat the rush when Universal opens to ride Gringott's. Or would I be better off forgoing early entry one of the days to be at the Universal gate (would this result in a shorter wait time for Gringott's than riding the train over)?

Also, I've heard that they'll sometimes open the parks a little earlier than the posted times. Is this true even for early admission and if so, how early should I be at the gate? Thanks!

We're going to be there the same days and I've been wondering the same thing. I think we will do early entry on the first day at IOA then the next day I was thinking we would just go get in line for the other park early. I read in our tour guide that they often let people back early (I think maybe sooner if you're staying on site but I'm not site about that) and that you can go ahead and get in line at gringotts but that the ride won't actually start until officially open.

I am hoping that this is one of the lowest crowd times of the year so things will never be too crazy like they'd be dieing peak season. We will see!

 

[kim31kim]

Now that I type that out I feel like I'm wasting my early entry LOL. Would be great if we could use early entry into IOA and get on the train early to head over to the other park. Please post back if you find out the schedule for the hogwarts express.

 

[gotomu212]

When we were last there they let us start getting in the HE queue at about 8:40 and our train was loaded and rolling at 8:58. This was much easier than going through the front gates since Diagon Alley is at the back of the park and we beat those through the gates. (In fact it was so empty that some people couldn't find the entrance to Diagon and we led a little informal parade of people over)

 

[kim31kim]

When we were last there they let us start getting in the HE queue at about 8:40 and our train was loaded and rolling at 8:58. This was much easier than going through the front gates since Diagon Alley is at the back of the park and we beat those through the gates. (In fact it was so empty that some people couldn't find the entrance to Diagon and we led a little informal parade of people over)

So you entered IOA/hogsmeade for early admission at 8:00 then rode Forbidden Journey etc then around took the HE over to USF/Diagon Alley? (I'm still learning the layout, hope I got those names right) That sounds like a good plan because then you don't have to walk all the way back there from the main entrance to USF. I think we will do it this way too!

Hogsmeade is smaller too, right? So I guess it's a good thing we get early admission to that park. I love all things HP and really want to take that hour to soak up the details!

 

[gotomu212]

So you entered IOA/hogsmeade for early admission at 8:00 then rode Forbidden Journey etc then around took the HE over to USF/Diagon Alley? (I'm still learning the layout, hope I got those names right) That sounds like a good plan because then you don't have to walk all the way back there from the main entrance to USF. I think we will do it this way too!

Hogsmeade is smaller too, right? So I guess it's a good thing we get early admission to that park. I love all things HP and really want to take that hour to soak up the details!

That's exactly how we did it the first morning. I'm really impatient and wanted to do FJ and then Gringotts as fast as possible. So the first morning I don't spend a ton of time wandering in Hogsmeade. However, I always go back and forth between the parks and usually pop back over to Hogsmeade later in the day when things calm down or the second morning to explore/enjoy the theming and stores

 

[aggiegirl1234]

I love the dialogue! Y'all have made up my mind for me; I think we'll just ride the train over rather than wasting an early entry. Hope you have fun Kim! I cannot wait to get there

 

[kim31kim]

Hope you have fun Kim! I cannot wait to get there

Will this be your first trip? It's our first time and I'm so excited! I love love love all things harry potter! If you see someone sick in the bushes after riding FJ early that first day that will be me! I have major motion sickness issues but my love for HP will win out and I've got to ride all those rides at least once.

 

[aggiegirl1234]

Will this be your first trip? It's our first time and I'm so excited! I love love love all things harry potter! If you see someone sick in the bushes after riding FJ early that first day that will be me! I have major motion sickness issues but my love for HP will win out and I've got to ride all those rides at least once.

This'll actually be my third trip. I went in 2011 when Hogsmead opened, again in 2014 to check out Diagon Alley, and now I'm going back again because my boyfriend and best friend's husband have never been. I'm excited to see their reactions! You'll love it. It really feels like you're stepping into the movies/books.

As far as your motion sickness goes, I have the same problem. I take Bonine. One chewable pill in the morning and I'm good for the whole day. You can find it at Walmart or Walgreens next to the dramamine (this has the exact same effect but is non-drowsy). During my 2011 trip, I forgot it the first day, rode The Simpsons and thought I was going to die. I remembered it the second day, rode Forbidden Journey and was totally fine. I wanted to test it out on the Simpsons this week but I saw that it's closed for refurbishment :-( Anywho, you're going to have a blast!

 

[kim31kim]

This'll actually be my third trip. I went in 2011 when Hogsmead opened, again in 2014 to check out Diagon Alley, and now I'm going back again because my boyfriend and best friend's husband have never been. I'm excited to see their reactions! You'll love it. It really feels like you're stepping into the movies/books.

As far as your motion sickness goes, I have the same problem. I take Bonine. One chewable pill in the morning and I'm good for the whole day. You can find it at Walmart or Walgreens next to the dramamine (this has the exact same effect but is non-drowsy). During my 2011 trip, I forgot it the first day, rode The Simpsons and thought I was going to die. I remembered it the second day, rode Forbidden Journey and was totally fine. I wanted to test it out on the Simpsons this week but I saw that it's closed for refurbishment :-( Anywho, you're going to have a blast!

This'll actually be my third trip. I went in 2011 when Hogsmead opened, again in 2014 to check out Diagon Alley, and now I'm going back again because my boyfriend and best friend's husband have never been. I'm excited to see their reactions! You'll love it. It really feels like you're stepping into the movies/books.

As far as your motion sickness goes, I have the same problem. I take Bonine. One chewable pill in the morning and I'm good for the whole day. You can find it at Walmart or Walgreens next to the dramamine (this has the exact same effect but is non-drowsy). During my 2011 trip, I forgot it the first day, rode The Simpsons and thought I was going to die. I remembered it the second day, rode Forbidden Journey and was totally fine. I wanted to test it out on the Simpsons this week but I saw that it's closed for refurbishment :-( Anywho, you're going to have a blast!

I hope the meds work as well for me! Bummer about the Simpsons. My husband would have enjoyed that one! Any other rides down that you know of? I think one of the water rides is down but not sure if we'd have time to ride those anyway with me taking in every detail of potter.

 

[aggiegirl1234]

Just the Simpsons and the Dudley Doright Ripsaw Falls log ride should be closed. I'm not too sad about the second one because I don't don't want to get my hair wet anyways!

 

[kim31kim]

Just the Simpsons and the Dudley Doright Ripsaw Falls log ride should be closed. I'm not too sad about the second one because I don't don't want to get my hair wet anyways!

Yeah and I've heard those things soak you all the way to your underwear... not just a gentle sprinkle.

 

[Alison_in_Wonderland]

Just got back. The first 3 days we got to the parks 8:15ish. FB was about 30m already. We did Flight of the Hippogriff (a few times), one kid rode Dragon Challenge, did spells, and had breakfast before heading to DA about 10:30/11. By then Gringotts was about 30-40m. On the last day, we were at the gates by 7:40 and among the first people in. FB was about 10-15m (but at that speed you miss a lot of the castle details) did Hippogriff several times and Dragon Challenge before taking the train (without a wait) to DA about 9:10. Gringotts was 15m and DA was pretty empty (for the first few minutes!)

 

[georgina]

. FB was about 10-15m (but at that speed you miss a lot of the castle details)

When the line for Forbidden Journey is running fast I just stop in strategic places and let people pass me up. I linger in the portrait hallway where the Hogwarts founders are speaking, in the classroom where Ron, Hermione and Harry talk, and Dumbledore's office.

 

[kim31kim]

When the line for Forbidden Journey is running fast I just stop in strategic places and let people pass me up. I linger in the portrait hallway where the Hogwarts founders are speaking, in the classroom where Ron, Hermione and Harry talk, and Dumbledore's office.

I was hoping this strategy would work. Is there plenty of room to let people go around? I want to take my time the first time I ride it so I can see everything but I hate to waste time going through the tour only line and then having to go back and get in the regular line for the ride.

 

[aggiegirl1234]

Back from our trip, we had a blast! So last Tuesday, we got to IOA at 8 for early entry. The line for FJ was almost a walk-on. Then we rode Flight of the Hippogriff, which also had a pretty short wait. We looked around Hogsmede a little. At 8:45, they let us line up for Hogwarts Express to Diagon Alley, and I checked my watch when we were walking off the train. It was 9:03 and I think we beat a lot of the people who came in the front gate of US because Gringott's was close to a walk-on as well. So I would definitely recommend going to IOA for early entry and riding the Hogwarts Express to US