Rope drop results--Hagrid's and Volcano Bay

[KGolf31]

When IOA has Early Entry it is standby line.
When the standby line gets long they close the standby option and switch to VL. During Spring Break with the crowds that was at official park open.
You will probably have to use VL for your trip.

Appreciate it. Consensus is ~10-15 minutes before park open is when the first VL/VQ opens?

During EPA Hagrid’s starts out as standby and moves to VQ when it fills up, which is before EPA is over. I was there this week, and it was standby for about the first half hour of EPA, and then went to VQ, usually when the standby time sustained at 120 minutes, though one day didn’t switch over until after the listed wait climbed to 150 minutes.

I don’t know if Hagrid’s will start at standby and fill the queue during a regular opening or not. It’s possible. Usually the VQ return times we saw started an hour or two out (so the 8:30 VQ drop saw return times starting at like 9:30 or 10:00). Probably a good idea to check back in a couple of weeks after the EPA changes over to US to see what they do. I’m sure someone will report.

We'll be there for 3 days total for IOA/Universal so it's worth giving it a shot one day to see if it's standby (and check to see what others are reporting in the meantime). Otherwise we'll just go ahead and try the VQ route. Appreciate the advice from both of you!

 

[finedice]

Some good info here for sure! I am curious (because I tend to be a neurotic rope drop planner) as to what the best route is to Hagrid's at rope drop? Is there even a choice of direction (does staff funnel everyone to go one way)? Looking at the map it looks like it would be shorter to go to the right after the entrance rather than the left direction. Any tips for the shortest route to the queue?

On the same note, although we don't know many details about how they will handle demand quite yet, what will be the shortest path to Velocicoaster this summer?

 

[shawthorne44]

In both cases, follow the crowd.

 

[Erica Ladd]

Go right through seuss land for Hagrids

 

[cschaaf]

Some good info here for sure! I am curious (because I tend to be a neurotic rope drop planner) as to what the best route is to Hagrid's at rope drop? Is there even a choice of direction (does staff funnel everyone to go one way)? Looking at the map it looks like it would be shorter to go to the right after the entrance rather than the left direction. Any tips for the shortest route to the queue?

On the same note, although we don't know many details about how they will handle demand quite yet, what will be the shortest path to Velocicoaster this summer?

For Early Park Admission, you'll have the initial decision of left or right. Left goes to Hulk, right goes to Hagrid's. Once you pick a direction, you'll follow the crowd.

If it's not EPA, follow the crowd to the right. There is a bit of a shortcut that skips the main portion of Suess Land. When you cross the little bridge, take the path to the left. Most of the crowd typically goes straight.

https://www.google.com/maps/@28.472...4!1sVpJq4cvl7J3-CbSHDwzLsg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

See where the guy in the white is pointing He's probably saying, "No, seriously, I saw this on DisBoards, we should go THAT way," while the rest of the family thinks, 'Ugh, he's talking about DisBoards again'.

 

[TikiTikiFan]

We're Disney rope drop pros but UO newbies... I imagine it will be a madhouse when we go in June if Disney's sold out calendars are any indication. What time should we plan on getting there? An hour before park opening? We'll probably just Uber from Pop Century in WDW. If we hustle at the 'fast walking but not really running but kinda running' tactic, do you think we have a shot of getting in that line before VQ starts? If there's no EPA, that is.

And hoping the new Jurassic ride will take some of the heat off Hagrids....

 

[finedice]

From what I've read, if it is NOT EPA, there will be no standby line. VL only. Of course, that may change after Velocicoaster opens. Looks like June will be IoA EPA anyway...

 

[CAPSLOCK]

On slower days there is a standby line and no VQ. It is one or the other at a time and may change throughout the day as capacity dictates.

 

[TikiTikiFan]

From what I've read, if it is NOT EPA, there will be no standby line. VL only. Of course, that may change after Velocicoaster opens. Looks like June will be IoA EPA anyway...

So it shouldn't matter then which park we start at if we're just going to use the VL? How long do they give you to return to the ride when your turn is called?

 

[CAPSLOCK]

You select a time slot - ie 1:20-1:40 - and show up then.

 

[finedice]

So it shouldn't matter then which park we start at if we're just going to use the VL? How long do they give you to return to the ride when your turn is called?

You select a time slot - ie 1:20-1:40 - and show up then.

But when you return, there will still be a "standby" line of 60+ minutes... Your return time just allows you to enter it.

 

[dancergirlsmom]

But when you return, there will still be a "standby" line of 60+ minutes... Your return time just allows you to enter it.

Yep, and it's HOT!! But the ride is great. Love it!!!

 

[TikiTikiFan]

But when you return, there will still be a "standby" line of 60+ minutes... Your return time just allows you to enter it.

Yep, and it's HOT!! But the ride is great. Love it!!!

Good to know so we can plan! One last question.. when you access the VQ does it list times for the whole day? Basically just grab what you can get in a similar time crunch panic like the ROTR boarding groups?

We're coming in June so really hoping the Jurassic coaster takes the heat off Hagrids.

And since we're coming in June we're prepping like we're visiting the surface of the sun.

 

[dancergirlsmom]

The virtual queue times drop a few times each day. There is generally one around the regular opening time if it goes virtual straight away, then one at 11, 2 and 4. Last time we were there we rode first thing due to early entry, missed out at 11 but got one at the 2pm drop. I think it was for around 3 or 3:30. We were over in Studios at the time and based on a previous experience, we headed straight back to IOA. The Hogwarts Express can take a Loooong time even with Express Pass so be careful. I understand there is a short cut between Minions that you can walk back to IOA and come out near Seuss Land which is close to where you enter the virtual queue for Hagrids. We will use this in July if needed. We missed our window in October by 15 minutes but they did allow us in and said their was a 15 minute grace period. Take a picture of your time when you get it. That saved us when we were late. I start looking at the app about 10 minutes before the drops. They aren't like Disney and drop on exactly the hour. I have got them before the hour and after the hour. Also make sure you have bottled water/drink before you get in the queue.

 

[heartpumper]

We were at IOA last Friday and Saturday. Marched with everyone else that had early entry and road 40 minutes later (so worth any wait! Just an amazing ride!!) The virtual queue started at 9 but I missed it. That afternoon/evening there was no VL, just wait times. When we got to ride, wait said 55 minutes but was closer to 30. It was almost closing time so we hopped in line again at 7:59. So amazing to ride at night and we were lucky enough to ride 3 times that day. Saturday they never did VL (park was at capacity) and a wait of 90-120 minutes all day. Since we had been on it the day before we skipped this wait. Not sure why they didn’t use VL.