Quick way to Diagon Alley from Universal entrance?

[V2000]

Hi! I am looking for some tips on my first visit to Universal on October 21st.

I will list my plans below. If you have any tips or suggestions please let me know!

I am taking a Uber (for the first time) from Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort to Universal. Planning to leave at 7:15am to be at gates open. Is there a special drop off for the Universal studios entrance?

Also, what is the quickest path to get to Diagon alley? I read somewhere that I need to ride Gringotts right when the park opens.

I am planning both parks in one day but only focusing on the WWoHP. This is also a Horror Night so the parks close early.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

All of the off-site drop-off is outside of CityWalk, so you'll go up a big escalator through security then through CityWalk. The Studios is to the right; IOA is to the left.

Diagon Alley is in the far corner of the park from the entrance. There are several ways you can go, and someone has probably done the math on which is quickest, but my general approach is to stay to the left/north side of the water.

 

[bumbershoot]

Give yourself a good amount of time from drop off to being at the park entrance. There's some serious real estate you're traveling, and you'll have people and bag check to deal with.

 

[HM]

I like going to the right past Hollywood and the Simpsons and then cut across on the bridge to the HP area. I don't know that it's faster, but it seems less traveled so less crowded. And when we went near opening last year, they had people move all the way to the end of London to enter through a roped off area so coming in from the MIB side seemed wiser.

 

[katybugsmom]

When we were there last summer there was only one way to reach Diagon Alley! They had employees with barricades blocking other paths. Now this was not long after this section opened so crowds were huge! It took us quite a while to reach our destination!

 

[Hootch]

I would head past Minions and Rip Ride Rocket. You will have zig right then zag left to hit the San Francisco area. (Great place to enjoy a cocktail by the water.) Then up that street.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Is it better to,get dropped off at hrh?

 

[V2000]

Is it better to,get dropped off at hrh?

What's hrh?

 

[schumigirl]

HRH.......Hard Rock Hotel

 

[2girlsmom]

You would save yourself SOME walking, but not a lot. Definitely a prettier walk and less crowded that way, though.