Questions for upcoming trip

[nlenguyen]

My family is planning a trip for January 2022 and we have never been to Universal in Florida, just Hollywood but that was about 10 years ago. We are debating if we should do 2 days, or just 1 day park-to-park ticket. Since it has been so long, we have not been able to do the Wizarding World, plus they will have by then the velocicoaster.

Would you say that 2 days is a must or could we possibly do most of the rides within 1 day?

 

[Daisy7425]

Will you have the express pass? Even with the express pass I think it would be hard to fit everything in in one day. If you do not have the express pass then you will need more than one days.

It also matters when in January you are going. If you go on New Years Day or Martin Luther day/weekend, expect huge crowds.

 

[nlenguyen]

Will you have the express pass? Even with the express pass I think it would be hard to fit everything in in one day. If you do not have the express pass then you will need more than one days.

It also matters when in January you are going. If you go on New Years Day or Martin Luther day/weekend, expect huge crowds.

We probably wont do the express pass. We are going the week after New Years

 

[Shellyred8]

My family is planning a trip for January 2022 and we have never been to Universal in Florida, just Hollywood but that was about 10 years ago. We are debating if we should do 2 days, or just 1 day park-to-park ticket. Since it has been so long, we have not been able to do the Wizarding World, plus they will have by then the velocicoaster.

Would you say that 2 days is a must or could we possibly do most of the rides within 1 day?

Who is in your family? Are they Harry Potter fans? If so, I would recommend two days. This will give your HP fans some time to explore the HP lands and not feel too rushed, but also give you time to do other parts of the parks.

 

[nlenguyen]

Who is in your family? Are they Harry Potter fans? If so, I would recommend two days. This will give your HP fans some time to explore the HP lands and not feel too rushed, but also give you time to do other parts of the parks.

We just like the movies. The problem is that one of my family members have concerns about the long line for Hagrids. They said if the wait is 2+ hours, then they would not wait in line. How often is the line over 2 hours?

 

[bchbetha]

I honestly think 3 is the ideal number so certainly I'd pick 2 days over 1 day. January park hours are often very short too (closing around 6-7pm) so a full day isn't very long.
Hagrids won't be the hot ticket in January.

 

[macraven]

Have to agree that 3 is the magic number of park days for that time period

 

[03GirlsMom]

We just like the movies. The problem is that one of my family members have concerns about the long line for Hagrids. They said if the wait is 2+ hours, then they would not wait in line. How often is the line over 2 hours?

Right now, Hagrid's only runs a standby line during early entry. Once the park officially opens, it runs on a virtual queue. It's unknown right now if it will be still on VQ once Velocicoaster opens. We're all hoping it will move to standby w/ EP by then but nothing official has been announced.

 

[nlenguyen]

Have to agree that 3 is the magic number of park days for that time period

That is good to know. Thanks

 

[nlenguyen]

Will you have the express pass? Even with the express pass I think it would be hard to fit everything in in one day. If you do not have the express pass then you will need more than one days.

It also matters when in January you are going. If you go on New Years Day or Martin Luther day/weekend, expect huge crowds.

Would you say that express pass is worth the extra money then?

 

[bchbetha]

Would you say that express pass is worth the extra money then?

I think staying at a hotel that includes Express Passes is the better, more economical solution.

 

[ClapYourHands]

We just like the movies. The problem is that one of my family members have concerns about the long line for Hagrids. They said if the wait is 2+ hours, then they would not wait in line. How often is the line over 2 hours?

Hagrid’s easily reaches 2 hours during EPA when they run it standby. For the rest of the day, the only way to ride it is to score a Virtual Queue time when they drop (usually 3-4 times during the day). If you get a VQ spot, that is not a reservation to ride at that time; it’s just permission to get in line to wait (usually about an hour).

 

[Daisy7425]

Would you say that express pass is worth the extra money then?

Short answer is yes.

Long answer depends on your touring style. If you have a many, many days there and are mostly there for the food, atmosphere, family time, then maybe you don't need it. If you aren't necessarily interested in the big headliners and instead are happier with the more low key experiences, like shows, meeting characters, window shopping, people watching then maybe you don't need it. Also, if you rope drop and can get in a few rides before the large mid-day crowds come, then again maybe you don't need the express pass.

 

[ClapYourHands]

Hagrids won't be the hot ticket in January.

Right now, Hagrid's only runs a standby line during early entry. Once the park officially opens, it runs on a virtual queue. It's unknown right now if it will be still on VQ once Velocicoaster opens. We're all hoping it will move to standby w/ EP by then but nothing official has been announced.

I don't think the demand for Hagrid's is going to be going down anytime soon. My prediction is that it will continue to be a hot ticket for some time to come. Between the shut down, travel restrictions, capacity limits, and complexity of VQ procedures, there are still a lot of people who haven't ridden Hagrid's, and probably will continue to vacation without a chance to ride it for at least the coming months. Also, Hagrid's has a broader appeal than Velocicoaster. There are a lot of people who will ride an immersive Harry Potter coaster who don't have the stomach for a looping thrill ride like Velocicoaster. Between me and my two sons, only one of us wants to ride Velocicoaster (the same one who rides Hulk and RRR), though we all rode Hagrid's multiple times last trip. Of course, there are people who will go to the parks specifically for the kind of thrills that Velocicoaster dishes out, and there will be a lot of overlap in the ridership of the two, but I see those people as increasing the demand for Hagrid's (go for Velocicoaster, stay for Hagrid's), not taking away from the demand for Hagrid's driven by Potter-fandom and enjoyment of good animatronics and milder thrills.

 

[nlenguyen]

I honestly think 3 is the ideal number so certainly I'd pick 2 days over 1 day. January park hours are often very short too (closing around 6-7pm) so a full day isn't very long.
Hagrids won't be the hot ticket in January.

Do you know when they usually release park tickets for the next year. With my family planning the trip we are just trying to budget how much it is going to cost. I'm assuming they will raise ticket prices but I'm honestly not sure anymore

 

[macraven]

Buy your tickets once you see a price you can live with
They won’t expire until they are first used

I’m still holding two park admission tickets from 2003


the parks are starting to open more now with less restrictions

 

[nlenguyen]

Oh, but is that a rule for 2+ days? I know like Disney you have to use it within a specific time frame

 

[macraven]

The tickets I mentioned have not been used yet
But can be used in the future as I bought them as non expiring passes

I had to go thru guest services as they are 18 years old won’t scan with the present system
I use my ap to enter the park
The tickets I have will be used by my son next time he goes with me

 

[Pooh's World]

Buy your tickets once you see a price you can live with
They won’t expire until they are first used

I’m still holding two park admission tickets from 2003


the parks are starting to open more now with less restrictions

How much were they?

 

[RamblingMad]

2-3 days.