Please help me plan my 1st two hours in the parks!

[bfaber]

I’m going early June when Universal opens early (staying on property and have express pass for 1st day). Priority is getting on Hogwarts first and Velocicoaster assuming still a soft opening. Is it worth doing early entry to Universal? If so, what ride 1st and when do I head to IOA? And what is fastest way to get there? Is there some walkway between the parks without having to go out and back in?? I’m guessing Hogwarts Express would be too long of line to travel between parks to get to iOA at opening??Thanks for help!

 

[macraven]

Take advantage of the early entry since you are staying onsite

You can get a few of the major rides done before you move over to the other park

My opinion is it can be faster to walk to the other park than taking the HE.

I feel doing EE is worth it
Lines only grow longer once it is 11:00.
You can get a lot of rides in the first few hours the parks are open.

A lot depends on the day you are going.
Weekends tend to have more guests in the parks.

Take a look of the maps of the parks
Know in advance the locations of the rides you want to do.

Wishing you a very fun time at UO!

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

When you write, Hogwarts, do you mean Hogwarts as in Hogwarts Express or do you mean Hagrids? If you mean Hagrids and Volocicoaster, I would probably aim for IOA rope drop, whether or not it has early entry that day. Be at the turnstiles at least an hour before opening. First day I would aim for Hagrids and listen out for soft opening of Volocicoaster, but maximum use of EP. You should have time to ride every ride in both parks with EP. Second day RD IOA again, but perhaps aim for Volocicoaster first if you are certain that soft opening is likely. If at the turnstiles the CMs inform you that no soft opening is likely, aim for Hagrids again and then return visit your favourite rides.

 

[bfaber]

When you write, Hogwarts, do you mean Hogwarts as in Hogwarts Express or do you mean Hagrids? If you mean Hagrids and Volocicoaster, I would probably aim for IOA rope drop, whether or not it has early entry that day. Be at the turnstiles at least an hour before opening. First day I would aim for Hagrids and listen out for soft opening of Volocicoaster, but maximum use of EP. You should have time to ride every ride in both parks with EP. Second day RD IOA again, but perhaps aim for Volocicoaster first if you are certain that soft opening is likely. If at the turnstiles the CMs inform you that no soft opening is likely, aim for Hagrids again and then return visit your favourite rides.

Yes, I met Hagrids. So not worth trying to start at Universal then for early entry? It is a Monday if that helps. Is there a walking path connecting the two parks vs leaving one and entering other through main entrances??

 

[Makmak]

Yes, I met Hagrids. So not worth trying to start at Universal then for early entry? It is a Monday if that helps. Is there a walking path connecting the two parks vs leaving one and entering other through main entrances??

There’s a walking path near the front of USO that takes you to Suess Landing in IOA. If this is not open early though you’d be better off rope dropping IOA. We just returned and Hagrids was not on a virtual line except weekends but you should still check the app starting a minute prior to IOA opening. If you get a virtual time, screenshot it, because if they “go off” virtual line it will disappear entirely from the app.

 

[Makmak]

Also just FYI they were starting the Hagrids line at the Poseidon theatre and it looked really long and was posted as an hour. However they were letting ppl through to the actual que and it was walk on from there. It was very odd they were not using the actual que as part of the wait. I say that so you will know the wait times are not always accurate.

 

[fredandkell]

It really depends on what kind of Potter fan you are, but my favorite experience for early opening was the hour in Diagon Alley where we had it virtually to ourselves.

 

[AJA]

How long are you staying and how much do you like the HEAT.

Even if you have express pass (and have 2 days or less) I would still do early entry. At the Studios during early entry hit Transformers, Rip Ride Rocket and Gringotts.

If you have 2 days + and you like/can do full days in the Florida heat, With express pass, you don’t need to get up for early entry but it would free up time for exploring the Harry Potter areas or a nice relaxed meal in City Walk.

You can get a lot done in the parks before 11am.