Quick 2 Park Touring Question

[marciemi]

This Sun (10/19) - if US opens at 8 can we get in and do a couple rides (RRR, Mummy, Transformers) and then get in line for IOA opening at 9 and still make it quickly to Forbidden Journey? Is there a better option? What time would we want to be in line to get through the turnstiles quickly at IOA? We're getting our AP's for Sunday so will be back so don't even want to try to hit Diagon Alley this time. Thanks!

 

[johde]

First of all, Forbidden Journey does not have the crazy long lines it once did. Looking at Touring Plans projections for the day, http://touringplans.com/islands-of-...-forbidden-journey/wait-times/date/2014-10-19 , they don't expect the wait time to get over 25 minutes all day. If this is your first trip, you may want that long just to look at all of the details in the queue.

To answer your question, if you want to make RD at the Hogwarts Express you could probably do Mummy, Transforms, and RRR if everything goes smoothly. If one of them has a long line, you could swap it out for MIB. With a little bit of luck, you might even get all 4 ridden in that first hour before IOA opens.

 

[marciemi]

Thanks! So you'd recommend taking the Hogwart's Express to get to IOA right at 9 o'clock rather than leaving the park and going in the main entrance? Will everyone else have the same idea and we won't get over there until late or are most people hanging in Diagon Alley a lot longer? Does Hogwart's Express open at 9 or earlier?

 

[macraven]

marcie, i know many stay onsite for that early entry.
i just came back last night and didn't have any issues with the new potter rides when i went around 11:00 and again around 2:30.

could be that it was pure luck i only had a limited wait.

never used the early entry for all 12 mornings onsite.
too early for me, as EE was at 7:00 during october.


once i entered the building for the new ride, only had about a 15-20 minute wait to get on the ride.
i was in the right place at the right time after reading about how long others had to wait.

a few times the ride was down since the wait had hit 90 minutes for it.
the TM told the group outside that they are closing the line so that all inside could finish the line before the park closed.
ride wasn't down but they did this so all would be done around park closing.

you asked about rides, TF and DE always had lines when i went by it.
when i went on them, i used the express line and the waits were very short.

you will love being able to do the parks regularly now that you live in florida.
have fun at the darkside.

 

[marciemi]

Thanks so much Mac and so sorry I didn't get to see you! We considered maybe staying a night like sometime in January once we actually get the AP's and can see rates but for now with the Premier Pass we can at least use the regular express after 4 and just go a bit more frequently until we accomplish everything. Last time we were at Uni was in 2007 (when SAN first formed!!) so there's a lot new to us besides HP.

And I'm sorry but I'm totally lost on acronyms for Uni - assuming TF is Transformers? But I can't figure out DE even using my unofficial guide! Thanks and I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[johde]

Thanks! So you'd recommend taking the Hogwart's Express to get to IOA right at 9 o'clock rather than leaving the park and going in the main entrance? Will everyone else have the same idea and we won't get over there until late or are most people hanging in Diagon Alley a lot longer? Does Hogwart's Express open at 9 or earlier?

From looking online, it look like gates tend to open about 15 minutes early. So, USF could open at 7:45, IOA 8:45. The HE will probably start running about the same time. Part of my thinking with taking the HE is 2 fold. First, walking from MIB to FJ is about a mile but a short walk and 7 minute train ride by HE. Secondly, I don't think getting to IOA at 9:00 or 9:30 is really going to matter that much in the grand scheme of things.

 

[marciemi]

Thanks - I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow!

 

[macraven]

marcie, be sure to come back and let us know.

have fun at the dark side